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What is Rack Focus?


"Rack focus" is a camera technique in which a blurry image is slowly adjusted into focus for dramatic effect. We could try to force that metaphor to be our blog's mission statement, but we're not going to push it. 
 
Rack Focus shares production stories, ideas and tips. To learn more about our personal and family heritage documentaries, visit our new Reel Profiles blog

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Why our video archives are safer than the NASA moon landing tapes

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Losing a client's raw footage is inexcusable. In fact, we think the issue should be addressed by firing squad.  But because accidents do inevitably happen, it is our job to make sure we take every preventative measure to avoid disaster.

On this glorious 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, it still seems incomprehensible that NASA archivists deliberately ERASED THEIR ORIGINAL TAPES of the event.  Oh yes, according to NASA senior engineer Dick Nafzger, 45 of the original reels vanished in a black recycling hole in the 1970s and 80s.

The specially formatted tapes were reused to record something else. This reminds us of the "Everybody Loves Raymond" episode in which Ray taped over his wedding video to record the Super Bowl.

At Award Productions, we won't tape over your raw footage for a football game, sitcom or anything else.  But more critically, we take great safeguards to make sure your original material doesn't disappear, period.  And if it does, we've got backups.

Your raw tapes are sealed in airtight, waterproof containers -- but only after being digitized and archived on two separate mirrored hard drives that are stored in two different locations.

Isn't keeping three copies of your original footage a little bit of overkill?

Ask that question to NASA!

 

 

Blu-ray discs vs. DVDs: Which format is right for your project?

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2-bluraylogo

Everyday more and more people are purchasing Blu-ray players and Playstaion 3 to watch high definition movies or play video games on their High Definition TVs.

What is blu-ray? Blu-ray was developed by a group called the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). Some of the members are Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Phillips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and TDK to name a few.

DVD and CDs use a red laser to read and write data on the discs and typically a DVD can hold about 4.7 GB per disc. By focusing a blue violet laser in a thinner beam, blu-ray discs are able to store 25 GB to 50GB on a disc - that’s 10 times as much information as a standard DVD!

Who’s using Blu-ray? Right now movie studios are the driving force behind the movement. Blu-ray is looked to be the successor to the DVD.

Is Blu-ray right for me? If you want to showcase a High Definition video at tradeshows, museum demonstrations or anyplace where all you need is a single player, this is the format for you.

Just don’t count on every consumer to have a Blu-ray player yet — especially in this economy.

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