Bright Shadow Films

Have you visited the bund last week? If you did, two things could be very interesting for you:

1) The golden Cow statue has just been located on the bund, as one of the lucky stock sign, this one is just like WallStreet.

2) The big warehouse built quickly for the Dior fashion show, John Galliano as the designer give Shanghai fashion a big hit! Bright Shadow Films got chance to provide the film production for this amazing fashion event, same time catch up with the new fashion trendy wave, meet the cool people.

The project was simple but complicated, we need to connect with 5 SONY HDW camera, also provide the live switch signal to sina.com and some other media.

In the beginning we were struggling with the HDW camera, for 9 HDW camera in Shanghai it’s difficult to have them together, another problem is that HDW series is designed for HD tape recording instead of the live mixing.

We managed to found 9 camera in a really short period of time, not just that, we also found a good solution for client, we spent 2 days in the set up in the warehouse, putting the cable together, set up the camera, connect to the mixing table, monitor, backstage  LCD for John Galliano.

Do you know that we used film tripod instead of the TV tripod? No joke, we found 4 really heavy tripod for the client’s back up, in the end it turn out to be a good idea, there were some other media staying with the camera, so even if they touch the tripod, it’s hard to move them.

Here are some pics of that night, Clark as the production manager worked that day for 24 hours for our clients, from 7AM Saturday to 7AM Sunday, Rick Tullis as the steadicam guy also worked on this project, his previous working experience including some big project with Jackie Chan.

[View with PicLens]

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As a film production company you might deal with many clients everyday, ever since film production turn into a industry, people start to think about the idea of making everything faster, in this way you will have more advantage than others who don’t care about the communication. Nowadays, people try to make this better by digital revolution, all the stuff you heard of: google calender, skype, gmail, etc.

When it comes to the solid solution, a proper server always comes first, you might heard of server as a IT term, it’s not as far as you think in film production, in the big company you heard of: icon film, dreamwork studio, HBO, etc, that’s where the big server boxes can be founded.

So what exactly does it help in a production company?

Today, I want to show you a little bit of what a server can do in film production company.

1) Files Back up: now if you think your harddrive is stable enough then you should google “harddrive broken” and find our how many people suffering from harddrive everyday, we are talking about keeping you and your employee’s document safe somewhere else out of the computer, same logic for the post-production, footage, project files, all needs to be saved somewhere else as a back up.

Most server can run the back up with your LAN connected computer, daily, weekly or according to your schedule. Moreover, if you are running a linux server, the harddrive partition works better than PC, no worries for the maintaince, linux will take care of it.

2) Printer sharing server: printing is such a basic office work, if you have a printer with a net adapter then good for you, but if you don’t, server will take care of that, with a printer sharing server, you can share the printer all over the LAN, even with the VPN while you are miles away from the office.

One other thing you should consider as a good thing, printer is not consider as a healthy thing in the office, it polluted air as much as a mine powered car does(I guess), so keep the printer away from the person is the best thing you can do when you hope the office air gets better.

3) USB nanny: USB and mobile harddrive is everywhere nowadays, same as the virus, you can’t really risk your post production computer to have it, nor does your production office PC, so having a server could make it easier, normally a server with anti-virus software could help you avoid those virus, same time some 64 bits OS(WIN 2008, Linux, Mac) doesn’t have trouble with virus since most of the virus are 32 bits.

When the virus scanning is done(usually less than 10 seconds by Kaspersky), you can copy the file through the LAN to anywhere you want safely.

One more thing you should remember, Anti-virus software is not recommanded to be installed in PC, so having a server can save you from that awkward situation.

4) Internet Routing: this is a function which server can offer nicely, the server can simply control the bandwidth of your internet, especially stop the Bit-torrent, over-speed download. Server will simply arrange the speed for each computer in a average way or the way you want it to be.

5) Communication: it’s not ancient time and people no longer shout to each other in the office, you need a platform to organize a office, you can find so many server based communication software out there, such like IBM lotus, Microsoft ERP, etc.

For a production company you can easily have a platform between pre-production, management, post-production, or even with the creative guys, by having this platform, people no longer need to stick post-it everywhere, share the info by a few mouse click. The idea is share the info in group, the software in server usually offer some function like task map, status update(like twitter), file sharing, calender sync.

It’s one of the key function people looking for, a good platform now could work not only with Computer, but also with your mobile phone.

6) Website: website runs on server somewhere you probably never been to, but it could be closer! If you have enough bandwidth and one static IP(in China it’s expensive), set up a website on your server is just cool.  Even if you don’t have a website but you want to create one for the people in the company, you can do that, by creating a company wiki, you editor now could explain to most of people how to upload the footage from camera to the computer, and it’s only in your company.

Above are the 6 key functions I can think of how a server could help a film/video production company better, a little bit more:

A branded server usually cost you some money, to achieve the function, you might need:

XEON CPU*1, 2G Memory*1, Harddrive 2T to 10T or more, stable power supply with a UPS supply in case, a solid server tower case, a cool place to store it.

Usually it won’t cost you more than 2000USD for everything, depends on how big your server harddrive.

There are so many article out there introduce the server, but did you know you can set up a server with a old PC? We are going to show you how later this week how we did it.

If you have any comment or info want to share with us, feel free to leave them here, we really appreciate it.

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We had a shooting in Hongkong beginning of this year, the client requested the production support from us, the client didn’t know how would it go, they required location scouting, equipment rental, production support and expect everything to be finished in one week, with the great network and resource we have, we manage to arrange the shoot smoothly, the client were happy about the result.

Just in case you have to have a quick look:

There is a Bright Shadow Production assistant live in HK? Of course we do, JoJo is our hero in this shoot!

• Green Screen Expo Project
• 123RF.com Launches New Website with Many Exciting Features
• Gallery
• Equipment
• Server For Film Production?
• Adobe CS 5 release today!
• Foosball in the Office Now!
• Nike 6.0 Stoked Tour-1
• Dior Fashion Show-Action!
• A new look

Well if you haven’t watch this movie, you should spend some time online reading about the review, sadly due to the current situation of the Avatar situation in China, the box office is not going very well, although it seems the DaDi Film Co is trying something in foreign land.

Here is a few things came from Screendaily:

Chow Yun-fat is the main attraction in Confucius, a ponderous and weakly-imagined attempt at repackaging the ancient sage for the blockbuster era. Hu Mei’s (For All Eternity) film includes both battle sequences and an attempted seduction of the legendary philosopher in hopes of drawing mainstream audiences, but a lack of narrative development results in a film that is neither entertaining nor enlightening.

From what you can see in the trailer actually the film images looks alright, although the main complain from the audience are focus on “story”, but it’s still worth most people and their pop-corn.

• Green Screen Expo Project
• Shooting In HongKong?Let’s do it!
• 123RF.com Launches New Website with Many Exciting Features
• Gallery
• Server For Film Production?
• Adobe CS 5 release today!
• Foosball in the Office Now!
• Nike 6.0 Stoked Tour-1
• Dior Fashion Show-Action!
• A new look

Nature.

A Sino-foreign co-production, simply put, is a contractual arrangement between a foreign party and a Chinese party to conduct filming in China. There may be multiple parties on each side, provided that the Chinese party/parties must be production entity/entities accredited by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) (for details, see “Structuring a Sino-foreign co-production”). For purposes of Sino-foreign co-production, investors or producers from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administration Regions and the territory of Taiwan are considered as overseas parties.

Relationship of the parties.

The parties to a Sino-foreign co-production organize and conduct affairs of the co-production, including division of rights and obligations, in accordance with the co-production agreement entered into between them. The parties do not set up a separate entity for purposes of the co-production.

Approval.

All Sino-foreign co-productions must obtain the approval granted by the SARFT before any filming activity commences, and when the film is completed (that is, the censorship approval). Every co-production project can only be directed at producing and shooting one film, and a separate application is required for each project. The approvals are granted on a case-by-case basis depending on the relevant authority’s review of, among other things, the screenplay and the completed film. The regulatory regime captures all film genres and all formats in which filming will be conducted.

Governing authority.

The governing authority for Sino-foreign co-production is the SARFT, in particular, the Film Bureau of the SARFT. Nevertheless, the SARFT has appointed China Film Co-production Corporation (CFCC) as its sole agent to assist in managing and coordinating the applications, conducting preliminary review of the screenplay and completed film, and other logistical matters relating to Sino-foreign co-productions.

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This article is originally from here

Photographers are heading to China in droves right now, whether for the coming Olympics in Beijing (August 8-24), to cover the aftermath of the tragic May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province — or just to shoot stock: China’s ferocious growth and rapidly changing economy have made it a perennially hot news property.

“It’s an unusual time of openness in China, which is traditionally a xenophobic country, thanks to the Olympics and the earthquake, ” says Jeff Greenwald, executive director of Ethical Traveler , a project of the Earth Island Institute. “That openness is a two-way street. People traveling to China, particularly Americans, can try to counteract some of the negative images that China has of us from its media.”

But this is a very politically sensitive country. Attempting to shoot certain subjects—anything to do with say, Tibet, religion, state executions, and disease—can get you in trouble with the authorities. Along with Greenwald, PDNOnline talked to ten photographers who have shot in mainland China to get their tips for those new to the country. Several living in or frequently working in China spoke on the condition of anonymity. Those who spoke to us on the record are:

Monte Isom, a commercial photographer who specializes in portraits of athletes
Catherine Karnow, photographer behind National Geographic Traveler: Beijing
Wayne Liu, a Taiwan-born fine-arts shooter
Mads Nissen, a freelance photojournalist based in Shanghai
Sara Remington, a food and travel photographer
James Whitlow Delano, a Tokyo-based photographer with Redux Pictures and author of Empire: Impressions from China

BEFORE YOU GO

Vaccines: Many photographers recommended getting the Hepatitis B vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control has a Web site for China with a full health briefing.

Visas: Note that your passport has to be valid for at least six more months. The visa situation has changed several times in the past few months. Check the Chinese Embassy’s Web site for the most up-to-date requirements.

Everyone had an opinion on getting a tourist or business visa versus an official journalist visa:

“We went in on a tourist visa to shoot a wedding and pick up stock. The photographer I went with and I had four camera bodies and 10 lenses. But she and I purposefully made ourselves look younger and separated ourselves.”—Remington

“When I was freelancing, I was on a business visa because I wanted to stay completely off the radar. Now, I am staff and on a J-1 (resident journalist) visa, as it is required by my company. There are benefits to being unregistered and registered. Unregistered allows more freedom to move and work on sensitive stories, but you run the risk of being deported, arrested, or having your contacts get arrested. Being registered allows you to do official events and work openly, but it is restricted. Registered journalists are not allowed to visit Tibet unless invited, and the invitation is difficult to obtain.”—Photojournalist based in China

“It depends on how much you have to lose. If you were going to come and shoot a big production with a lot of lights and models, you kind of need to get a proper visa. The police can close your operation down in a second.”—Beijing-based documentary photographer

“The business visa situation was changing constantly this year. Even my local Chinese producer couldn’t get it all put together. We needed a letter of invitation from the company hiring me, proof the airfare was confirmed and booked, hotel confirmed and booked, two passport photos, a letter from me to my assistants saying I was hiring them and they needed a visa, and an official invitation from the correct department. And that’s for one month. For a multiple-entry visa you need to prove why you need to come in and out.”–Isom

SHOOTING

Street/stock photography:

“The first thing to remember about China is that it’s not just one ethnic group. You can’t make assumptions about how people will feel about having their photo taken, or the courtesies involved. People in Beijing on the street might be OK with you shooting without asking, but Muslim Chinese people in the southern regions might react every differently.”— Greenwald

“As a woman, you just look a lot less threatening. Sometimes I wear little open-toed sandal with a pedicure. I wanted to shoot this massive demolition scene from above. There was a hotel nearby overlooking it, but there is no way in China you can just go up to the manager and explain you’re shooting for a National Geographic guidebook and get permission. I pretended I was checking in, looked at several rooms, and then I ended up sneaking in through the kitchen and shooting from the fire escape. I stuck my camera in my nice big Coach purse.”—Karnow

Photojournalism and sensitive topics

“Sometimes the political situation is dominant (anti-NATO riots 1999, the annual party congress), and sometimes it fades. But during the Olympics you can be sure it will be forefront. It’s not like there are cops everywhere telling you not to shoot, but subjects might get touchy about mildest things during times of political stress. Be subtle and act innocent. —Documentary photographer

“There is a saying in China that it is easier to ask forgiveness than for permission (read: access). Act first, and chances are if you are mild mannered, good natured, and wear a smile, even authorities will forgive a photograph of a bridge, soldier, or some other moderately sensitive subject in this often loosely controlled one-party state.”—Whitlow Delano

Commercial photography

“Chinese clients typically do not pay the agency and have them pay you. If they did, it would cost them about 12-15 percent more because of invoice taxes etc. So the client pays you directly—except the client does not want to pay anyone outside of China because that incurs a 15 percent tax; there is a loophole in Hong Kong. So the best way to go about doing a job there is to find a local production, hire them to produce your job, and then they pay you. They will charge a premium, but it makes the Chinese company more willing to hire you. Also, negotiating with Chinese clients is much different than in the United States. They want a deal. Doesn’t matter where the starting price was, they want it to be lower. “—Isom

LOGISTICS

“Skype is great for calling back home. With an unlocked cell phone, you can get a local SIM card, put $50 on it, and SMS back and forth to your local clients and back to the States. People in China text a lot and won’t like paying international fees to text you while you’re just across the city.”—Isom

“For those of us who are accustomed to uploading and downloading via FTP, you will realize as soon as you get to China that FTP speeds are nowhere near where it once was.”—from Nissen’s handy posting on
Lightstalkers.org for using the Internet in China

“It’s easy to find cheap hostels; I used Lonely Planet. Don’t pay until you see the rooms. They might be sketchy, dirty, rat infested. I felt safe leaving my film and extra camera equipment in the hostels I stayed in.”—Liu

“The bathroom situation is interesting for women. Pack your own toilet paper —and hand sanitizer is good, too.”—Remington

FOOD

“I basically eat what the locals eat. But if I’m doing a pollution story on, for example, in a ‘cancer-village,’ I’ll bring my own food or eat instant noodles, though it can be pretty boring for a whole week. “—Nissen

“I always have antibiotics on hand because my experiences is that one gets sick at 2 a.m. not 2 p.m.”—Delano

“The person I was traveling with was allergic to gluten, which was impossible to explain to people. So if you have food sensitivities, bring plenty of protein bars, almonds, etc.”—Remington

PEOPLE

“If you don’t speak Chinese, find a hip and friendly bilingual local assistant. It’s pretty easy to chat young people up, but older folks feel more comfortable with a local person talking to them. Avoid the scams where English-speaking ‘art students’ try to show you ‘their works’ that you buy because they are so friendly, or take you to a tea shop where each cup is practically $50.”—Documentary photographer

“A good guide, a good ‘fixer,’ is absolutely critical. Smart, tireless, their English has to be good but not necessarily great. When I am shooting portraits, for me to be able to coax the expressions and gestures out of people, I need almost simultaneous translation.”—Karnow

ETHICS

“Be aware that your actions when uncovering sensitive issues may bring heavy consequences upon people who can not leave the country. Do not post names, photograph faces of people who are quoted commenting on sensitive topics that are contrary to government policy. The story is not worth ruining a good person’s life. Period.”—Delano

“If I were covering a sensitive story I would hire a translator who is not a Chinese national—who has a foreign passport, but who speaks Chinese fluently. I would try not to use a minority, like a Tibetan, to work on these issues. Because they’re already in a politically sensitive situation. As the photographer I do what I can do to protect the people I work with and who I photograph, but in the end it’s a really messed-up situation.”—Beijing-based documentary photographer

Freelance writer Bonnie Azab Powell lives in Oakland with her husband, portrait photographer Bart Nagel . She would like to go to China someday — but maybe after the Olympics.

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Here is a video from our Client ” Soul Fire”, listen to what they say about us!

[flv]http://www.brightshadowfilms.com/medias/fichier_56.flv[/flv]

• Green Screen Expo Project
• Shooting In HongKong?Let’s do it!
• 123RF.com Launches New Website with Many Exciting Features
• Gallery
• Server For Film Production?
• Adobe CS 5 release today!
• Foosball in the Office Now!
• Nike 6.0 Stoked Tour-1
• Dior Fashion Show-Action!
• A new look

Arriving on foreign soil, where everyone speaks a different language and the tastes, smells and sights are all so unlike anything you are used to, can be a daunting experience. An experience that immediately hits expats on arrival in modern, cosmopolitan Shanghai.

Then magnify this feeling if you are starting a business. And more people are starting businesses because Shanghai is hot and its rapid rate of growth makes it a very desirable place to set up shop.

Four expats — from Canada, France, the United States, and Germany — explain how they started their own unique and successful companies. And an Australian is getting ready to start his own.

They are thrilled at the opportunities, while citing regulations as inevitable but not unsurmountable to those with drive, ingenuity and often a Chinese partner.

“My approach was a lot more speculative,” says Charlie Moretti, Bright Shadow Films managing director.

Starting his Shanghai-based film production company in 2004, the French producer explains, “I threw myself in at the deep end. Only buying a one-way ticket here, I thought, ‘I am at an age when I can take a risk so I may as well do it now in a place that is growing and where there is not yet much competition.”

Moretti has been invited to be in the “Who’s Who” guide to Shanghai and his company is starting to be recognized internationally as a small facilitator to the Chinese movie industry. (continue reading…)

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• Green Screen Expo Project
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• 123RF.com Launches New Website with Many Exciting Features
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• Server For Film Production?
• Adobe CS 5 release today!
• Foosball in the Office Now!
• Nike 6.0 Stoked Tour-1
• Dior Fashion Show-Action!
• A new look