The Tao Colorist

Dead Man's Lake: The Grade-Along

Launch Date: Halloween

The Tools

• [Training] Up and Running with Adobe SpeedGrade - The newest SpeedGrade training is brought to you by close friend of the Tao, colorist Robbie Carman, and Lynda.com. (Lynda.com)

• [Video] DaVinci Resolve 9: Grading in Log - This is two tutorials in one. The first half covers how to understand the new Log grading tools. The second half covers using scopes to help you match shots... specifically using the Composite scopes with the RGB colors turned on. (vimeo.com  via @JimWicks)

• [Video] DaVinci Resolve 9: Using a Reference Movie to Check Your Conform - As usual, a nice job by Warren Eagles about a often confusing feature. He also discusses adding the mix to your project so you can listen while grading. By the way, we go very deep into this functionality in Tao's upcoming 'Dead Man's Lake' Grade-Along (to be released on Halloween) - if you want to practice doing this yourself. (Vimeo.com)

• Smoke ConnectFX: Colored Frame, Combine, Curves & Compound - A quick overview of of some powerful ConnectFX nodes in the latest version of Smoke. (premiumbeat.com via @jorge_soto_vigo)

• Flanders Scietific: New Firmware Update - Adds a larger timecode display, an on-screen tally light for when the hood is being used and the new XYZ color-space support is included (though still in beta). (FlandersScientific.com)

• [Video] IBC 2012: Cinema5D Interviews Bram Desmet of FSI - Covers their range of monitors, along with a good discussion about the limitations of 'puck-style' calibration probes, the latest monitor from FSI - a 17" 10bit display - and the announcement of their Europe-based service center which opened this month. As usual, Bram gives a terrific and informative interview. (Vimeo.com)

• [Video] IBC 2012: Interview with CEO of Assimilate - Assimilate's CEO offers up interesting tidbits on the beginnings of Scratch and where they see the future going. Plus, an overview of Scratch v7 features. Listen carefully for proof that the term 'DI' no longer means what it used to. (ProductionHub.com)

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The Business

• Red Bull media house takes live production to new heights with Stratos space jump - An article with the production details of last week's record-breaking suborbital parachute jump. (SVGeurope.org)

• Looper: An Interview - With the digital effects shop, Atomic Fiction. A well-rounded discussion that includes talk about the optimal size for an effects house and the advantages of cloud-based on-demand render farms. (DigitalFilms.wordpress.com)

• Rumble 2012: The Appeal and Dangers of Online Video - Comedy Central's Jon Stewart and Fox News' Bill O'Reilly teamed up for a comedic cultural showdown in an online-exclusive debate at George Washington University... only to be marred by server glitches that unleashed a flood of negative publicity. (VideoNuze.com)

• MoviePass Launches All-You-Can-Watch Movie Theater Service - There was piece in this newsletter a year ago about this company, which got lots of blowback from theatrical exhibitors. They've revamped and are back with a Netflix-style program for attending real-life theaters. (HollywoodReporter.com via @FilmmakerIQ)

• How Robots Killed the Hugo Awards - Just as the writer for an episode of Dr. Who was getting a Hugo Award for his science-fiction script, thousands of people who tuned in to watch the streaming video from Ustream found it cut off and banned... for copyright violations via an automatic take-down robot. Read on for full details, including how Ustream seems to be trying pointing fingers rather than accepting responsibility for their inability to turn the stream back on. (io9.com)

Outside 'The Box'

• Jarle's Premiere Pro CS 6 Presets - A set of 63 free presets. From color correction, to looks, to transforms and scaling. Looks impressive. (PremierePro.net) 

• [iApp] Shot Designer - Block out your cameras and storyboard with this nifty-looking iPad tool. (HollywoodCamerWork.us via @DigitalDuckInc)

Edumacate Yer'self

• [Book] Color Grading with Media Composer 6 and Symphony 6 - I collaborated on this new project-based color grading book. The link is a blog post from the author, Bryan Castle Jr., about what you can expect. I had a great time writing the supplemental 'Notes from the Colorist' sidebars. If you're an Avid editor and want to understand how to push it's color grading capabilities... look no further! (community.avid.com)

• SMPTE: Student Membership Challenge - A SMPTE Fellow has funded a program that grants students a free membership to SMPTE. Students just need to fill out an application and then wait to find out if they've been selected. (smpte.org)

• SMPTE: Volunteers needed for Fall Conference - In Hollywood. Volunteer in the morning, attend the afternoon for free. Volunteer for the day, attend the next day free. Oct.23-25 (smpte.org)

• File-Based Workflows: From Production to Distribution - NYC, October 25. Geared toward mobile production, includes discussions on file-based acquisition, image analysis, Quality Control and integrating wireless with cabled cameras. (tek.gcsevents.com)

• RAW Formats, Shooting, Workflow and Post with Geoff Boyle - In Atlanta. Part lecture, part hands-on... understanding how to work with RAW formats. Also check this page for different training programs across the U.S. in the months of November and December. (training.abelcine.com)