This week Chicago will be host to the Chicago Cine Tech Expo. FreshDV will have a crew on the scene to get a look at the latest product offerings and demos from exhibitors and report back here. For those that are fortunate enough to attend in person, you’ll find a number of informative and interesting workshops and demonstrations including the “HD 24P Workflow” session (free admission), “Back to the Future with Filters”, “Steadicam”, “Reality TV”, “Thousand Dollar Budget, Million Dollar Look: The Cinema Revolution for Digital Video”, “Professional Lighting”, a 90 minute presentation entitled “Chicago Production: Past, Present, and Future”, “Producing/Directing: Experiences from around the Globe”, and a “Distribution” workshop by the distributors of “Supersize Me”.

The Expo Schedule is:
Thursday, September 27th - Educational Workshops and Equipment Exhibits
Friday, September 28th - Educational Workshops and Equipment Exhibits
Saturday, September 29th - Screenings
Workshop descriptions follow…

HD24P Workflow (Free Admission)
JVC will provide a free session to highlight the special and unique features of the ProHD line of HD camcorders specifically designed for digital cinematography. Included in the discussion is imaging control, lensing with primes and recording options. In addition, there will be discussion on multiple options for post production and distribution of your acquired HD material. Highlighted NLE applications include Apple Final Cut Pro and Grass Valley EDIUS. Come see and learn how ProHD truly empowers independent filmmaking.

Back to the Future with Filters
Sit back, relax and take an exciting journey which will explore the basics of filtration and how filters can provide easy solutions to challenges you face on each shoot . Also be prepared for an introduction to the most innovative, cutting-edge tools available in the industry today — filters that provide solutions for all formats SD, DV and HD. Experience hands-on what to expect from filters in different grades or strengths, on different cameras and shooting different formats. Interested in creating more of a “Film Look” on video? How about some NEW Star effects? Would you like to shoot Day for Night? Sound interesting? How can you smooth out and soften unwanted detail to make people look great when shooting HD without compromising the integrity of HD? This is where the fun begins! Learn how to save time and money in post. Also discover the Tiffen NEW DFX Digital Filter Suite software.

Steadicam
The Steadicam Workshop will cover the features of the Merlin Arm/Vest, Pilot and Flyer basically covering all models holding a payload from the smallest camera to 15 lbs. In addition Steadicam topics that will be covered that are not rig-specific are:
* Composition of moving frame
* Use of each system for different kinds of productions. Overlap.
* Why and WHEN it is a good idea to move the camera.
* Set politics.
* Building endurance, fatigue, etc.
* Creativity aspects — how we design and choreograph shots.

Reality TV
Director Rich Kim and Producer Julie Laughlin will take us backstage to the world of Reality TV. Join us as they take us through the process of bringing Reality TV to the screen.

Thousand Dollar Budget, Million Dollar Look: The Cinema Revolution for Digital Video
The use of 35mm film is on the decline, but the look of 35mm is still highly sought after. Recent advances in digital video cameras with 24p and cinema gamma recording, NLEs, and astounding visual effects have considerably narrowed the gap. Up until now, production and shooting film style — particularly with 35mm lenses — has remained the elusive but critical element of achieving the overall look. Redrock Micro has pioneered low–cost, high quality cinema accessories, particularly the M2 cinema lens adapter, to meet such a need. This session will focus on differences in shooting as well as differences between digital video and film-style with Redrock accessories. There will also be a demonstration comparing shooting with standard DV/HD and shooting film-style with Redrock accessories including the M2 cinema lens adapter. Audience: Indie filmmakers, film students, educators, independent owner/operators, and anyone interesting in shooting in “film style” with digital video.

Professional Lighting Workshop
This is a comprehensive workshop on professional lighting that will cover interview, talk, reality and dramatic styles. Drawing upon his 35 years of experience in television and film, seasoned three-time Emmy winner Frank Partipilo will discuss his philosophies of lighting as well as its changing status for the ever-evolving mediums. Frank will show demos of his professional work ranging from “high-key lighting” showcased in the internationally syndicated “Jerry Springer Show” to examples of using more “graduated tonality of light” as shown in several NBC promos and commercials. Workshop participants will also be shown a variety of student-lit short pieces from his Columbia College Dramatic Lighting Workshops that were shot in 24p. There will also be hands-on involvement with basic and effective lighting setups, as well as discussions regarding different lighting equipment, proper use of available light, cameras, shooting modes, exposure, shutter speeds and depth of field. There will also be an opportunity for discussion on various topics including continuing education, summer film workshops and getting into the business. Union or non-union?………staying in the Chicago television market?………..reality TV?……….or the growing interest of working on independent feature films?

Chicago Production: Past, Present, and Future - 90 minutes
Know Your Film History and Change Your Future - What do Charlie Chaplin, anti-trust laws, Al Capone, Mayor Richard Daly, the dot.com bubble, and the EL have to do with your career in Chicago media production? Chicago was once a major film production and distribution hub, but changes in economy, technology, and perceptions have changed. The production environment is evolving rapidly. Our Chicago production community is facing significant challenges. And many of the answers and insights necessary to guide into a more successful future can be found in our history. Lawrence Miller and Lars Ullberg will discuss the history of Chicago’s production community, how the past has created today’s market, and what Chicago needs to do to now to become a more competitive marketplace in the future. This discussion will take us from the origins of Chicago film to the emerging markets and convergent production technologies of tomorrow. Join us in building a new generation Chicago production community.

Producing/Directing: Experiences from around the Globe
Presented by: Yong Woo Chang, Producer/Director

Distribution
Join us for an in-depth look at the complicated world of film sales and distribution. Guest Speaker: Mr. Josh Braun, Submarine Entertainment (Supersize Me, Spellbound, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane and many others). Joining Mr. Braun will be Mr. Robert Labate, Entertainment Attorney (Holland & Knight).