Quick off the blogs

Hi Blog readers and all those who continue to enter our prize draw,

Prize draw winner for April has been announced and notified.

Congratulations to Jose Alberto Cerillo 

(or Beto for short)

Sorry to those who missed out but you can still enter for our May Draw here.

The previous winner, Sarah Bick, has booked some time to come in and use our studio 1 for a video and plans to use the project to build on her portfolio.

Aprils winner, Beto is going to visit the studio to discuss what project has has in mind. Sarah Bick the previous winner in March is very nearly ready to come in an use the space.

The Free Studio Day we offer has led to some very interesting ideas from parties. Some have never ever made a film, some are old hats and have never had full creative control over their shoots and would love the opportunity to make something new and different. Most have worked mainly in corporate video and have not had the time to dream and realise their visions so we hope the prize draw winners can make a piece that they can really be proud of, and not just happy it's been signed off!


Best to explain the title now. Michael Johnson, Olympic Medallist, world record holder (until Usain Bolt beat it!) shot a video in Studio 2 for and Olympic project. There is not much to say about it, very polite, very efficient. I was going to start with a pun or one-liner but ll leave to Tim Vine to that! (see below). 


'I continually asked the track coach about joining the team but he just kept giving me the run-around.'

The Studio welcomed, a much slower off the sprinting blocks, Ian Poitier and his friend and client, Per, who runs and teaches for a company called Hollywood Camera-work. 
 Ian and Per had a students with a range of film and non-film based expertise visit our Studio 1 to understand and learn about motion tracking, placing tracking markers and every step in between. Using our chromakey green paint with 1 part black to 30 parts green will give you a good key-able colour to paint tape for adding tracking markers to the wall. The seminar by Hollywood Camera-work guys was invaluable training for anyone delving into green screen for the first time and experienced pro's who want a try at some new technology.

We also welcomed Jenya to Studio 2. Jenya was making a surprise video for her fathers birthday to be shown in  her home town in Ukraine. Jenya was holding up boards with Russian text (similar to the link below from' Love Actually')  to show on a big screen at her old man's bash.

This was combined with her brothers rap video and their Grandmothers music video! We wish her Dad a very happy birthday indeed!


What a busy week I think you'll agree and as I sit here awaiting Studio 2 to finish for the day (we are flexible with wrap times unless its the  next European Cup and England are playing in which case they have to finish on time!) I am sitting here thinking of one-liners to come up with the next section this trusted blog. We also welcomed Tim Vine to the studio to shoot some sketches for a video. Tim came, he saw, he took his trousers off, put them back on again, ate us out of bacon sandwiches, walked in a puddle and generally made us laugh all day with his requests. What a thoroughly amiable, nice and funny gentlemen and we wish him luck.

See his website link here for some very funny one liners .


http://www.timvine.com/


What would make this piece better? A great piece of camera kit that's what! We have been using a great hire company the supply us, and our clients with the all the top kit. Please see Genesis Hire for all of your kit needs. And now a word from our friends...

All your broadcast needs can be catered for, from camera and VTR hire, to crewing and portable virtual studios. We specialise in High Definition (HD) and tapeless solutions. With paramount importance placed on quality and support, all equipment is thoroughly cleaned, tested and checked by our experienced engineers and all hires are supported 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our commitment to our clients is unparalleled because, we believe, you have a choice!


Genesis hire


Who's been watching Britain's Got Talent? Not me. I have a life (I was visiting my Mother, alphabetising my CD collection, washing my hair and sleeping, all are more exciting than BGT) Nevertheless the show last year, for me, was brightened up by the inclusion of a group of young lads by the name of New Bounce who got to the semi-final of ITV's flagship show last year.

 They came in to shoot a video in Studio 1 and If I do say myself there was one of the band who stood out for his resemblance to a young Michael Jackson and he certainly had the moves and voice too. We wish them, their Mums (they'll hate me for saying that!) and the agent all the best luck.

Please continue to enter the prize draw and send us your ideas as to what you would make with the Prize draw worth upto £1000!

ENTER FOR FREE HERE: 

Please continue to join our mailing list, ‘like’ us on Facebook and tweet with us on Twitter.

http://www.camberwellstudios.co.uk/ 
www.facebook.com/camberwellstudios
http://twitter.com/#!/FilmStudiosUK

Until next time....

Sam P. - Studio Manager - Sam.parkinson@camberwellstudios.co.uk 

Peace and Blog

Hi Prize winners and readers of  all of our Blogs,


Last weeks blog detailed Sarah's plans for her January prize win (see here for her blog/bio/prize details) 
Sarah has completed her shoot and is now editing. Sarah came in for a pre-production meeting, discussed the storyboard, style, tech elements and logistics ready for her shoot the following week. 
This process gave us a great insight into the challenges of planning the shoot and It also gave us some good ideas for the February winners project too. 


Sarah decided to use her Free Studio Day Prize as an opportunity to make a music video far a song called 'Reaction' for an artist. Roberta's  Facebook page can be seen here:  

Roberta with her single ' Reaction'

Sarah used studio 1 and shot in monochrome and had a big emphasis on shadows and light in high contrasts.
Using 2x 2kw Fresnel's we managed to created angular lines and depth to the space in Studio 1.  When we added our smoke machine it gave the room more dimensions and levels for the dancer to move in. 
The whole crew got creative with flashing images, back lights, moving lights which is all part of the prize. See kit available to the winners, and all potential clients, here.

Dancer: Alize Biannic. Alize has skills in contemporary dance, ballet and other art forms. 

She is a fantastic talent and her Facebook profile can be seen here. Click on her name above link for her acting and modelling roles at Starnow.

This was our 1st prize winners shoot and Sarah and her team were really lovely and we hope that this prize, along with the other winners shoots, give them a piece of work to be proud of and raise their profile as film-makers. Sarah was a great director who had a clear vision, flexible work ethic and an extremely creative eye and we all wish her the best of luck. We are sure Sarah was thankful as she made us a beautiful Camberwell Studios logo out of broken mirrors and tiles. It will take pride of place in our lobby area for all to view! See below:

A word from our winner:

''The idea for the film was based around the space we were given to work with
I have a keen interest in performance arts and immediately decided to produce a film featuring a lengthy dance sequence and this combined with music led to us producing a music video working with two talented artists, both Alize and Roberta DeFrancia''
''The final video will show strong links between the dance sequences and the vocal performance as the narrative reveals the dual personality of the character''.
''The full music video will be kept under wraps until the summer release of the single on iTunes but for now we have put together this featurette which in itself has its own standalone narrative and works as an individual film.

''We had a fantastic time working at Camberwell Studios and received hands on support from the studio Manager, Sam Parkinson who is very creative and has a great eye for detail. The mosaic piece is just a small way of saying thank you to the studio for this great opportunity.''

So that's the January winner. Hopefully on her way to building her portfolio more. Onto our Febuary winner 

Neil Genower, who visited the studio to claim his prize.

Neil claiming his prize. He was happy to win!, just caught in him in the wrong moment in time. Think its when I told him that the January winner made us a present!!!!!!  ; )

 Neil has been a photographer for years and has since turned his hands and his DSLR lens to shooting videos. He mentioned he has been in the business for years and winning this prize will be the 1st time he has created his own piece and relished the opportunity to use the space as he saw fit. We talked about what elements the prize included. We offer the winner a Studio 1 or 2, pre-lit to requirements, camera/operator, sound capture, dolly/track, mini-jib and a studio assistant to help them get the most out their day. Neil has a few ideas, one is a music video, the other may well be a silent movie involving a round table poker game. The film will show the detailed expressions of the players, subtle body languages and tells. All sounds very exciting and the next blog will reveal all.  

March's winner has also been announced!!!!

Congratulations to Sarah Bick!
www.sarahbick.co.uk

sarahbick.blogspot.com

Sarah Bick is popping into the studio on Monday 16th to discuss her prize, take some pictures and book her Free Studio Day into the calendar. From there we will do a pre-production session to create a package that suits her. Info on Sarah below:

Sarah is a Production Designer & Filmmaker, working across the creative industries. With a background in film, events and art direction, she currently works in the art department of feature films. Recent commissions include corporate film direction for Chemistry Group, high street re-gen design with the Architecture Foundation, and music video direction featured on NME. Her moving image work often uses miniatures and compositing, and she writes and makes visuals exploring the cinematic. Sarah studied Theatre Design and Film at University of Arts, London. 

She is super excited to be spending a day at Camberwell Studios

We will blog again when Sarah Peaces video is finished. For now please see the teaser dance sequence trailer here

Please continue to enter the prize draw and send us your ideas as to what you would make with the Prize draw worth upto £1000!

ENTER FOR FREE HERE: 

Please continue to join our mailing list, ‘like’ us on Facebook and tweet with us on Twitter.

http://www.camberwellstudios.co.uk/ 
www.facebook.com/camberwellstudios
http://twitter.com/#!/FilmStudiosUK

Until next week....

Sam P. - Studio Manager - Sam.parkinson@camberwellstudios.co.uk 

Bloggers delight

Hi Everyone,

Prize draw winner for Feb has been announced and notified.

Congratulations to Neil Genower!

Sorry to those who missed out but you can still enter for our March Draw here.

The previous winner (see Jan winners blog here) Sarah has booked some time to come in and use our studio 1 for a photo shoot and plans to use the project to build on her portfolio.

Feb's winner - Neil Gowner is going to visit the studio to discuss what project has has in mind. Sarah from the previous January winner is very nearly ready to come in an use the space.

A word from our sponsor (well our lunch sponsor anyway!) We are pleased to introduce... Brunchies Deli Bar. 

We send all of our clients there as we know we can guarantee the best service and food and good prices. Run by Ozzie and his team they can rustle up some riggers grub or prepare a hearty corporate clients meal at very short notice.

The video embedded on Ozzies site (seen here) was a small and simple creation from our sister company, Webvideos, who create short, yet innovative films for small businesses who want to give a face to their expanding products and services.

Also this week we have been looking into buying the new Canon C300 and have received some very mixed reviews. Maybe it is in the teething stage of its development. Hopefully after a few more shoots with feedback we can comment further. There was a problem with the lack of a 10bit output but this seems to be a rare request.

(Looks great!)

Positive comments include:

- Increased light sensitivity
- EF lenses on a proper camcorder, without the need of expensive adapters
- 4:2:2 50MBit codec
- Proper batteries (they last FOREVER, we got almost 5 hours out of one of the big ones
- No aliasing or moiré

See all of the below links and hopefully this will give you a better idea as to its uses and functions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Qn86Z0FZy-8 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rHh2TPARDHw 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gOjM-B1J2tQ 

http://vimeo.com/32067654 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zayPJG9y19U 

The Canon C300 with an EF mount was used for the last weekends music video shoot involving a beautiful old Volvo. 

Using back projection, snow, wind, water and bright sunlight they chartered the journey of a newly married couple in their 1^st drive into their new life. Wrought with danger perhaps? Well, maybe not so as after the logistics of cleaning up the snow and water they had run out of time for the danger element in the story. Maybe all is well for the new couple? Stay tuned for final edit.

We also welcomed Disney who were shooting a sting for a new project called Karate Party involving some pretty impressive Kung Fu fighting. Sadly the Karate experts hapless victims were a bunch of Easter eggs (an Easter promo) There was not even any for the crew! The Karate expert gleefully smashed through chocolate eggs in slow motion which looked amazing. If you have kids and are up at with them to watch TV then tune in!

Please continue to enter the prize draw and send us your ideas as to what you would make with the Prize draw worth upto £1000!

ENTER FOR FREE HERE: http://www.camberwellstudios.co.uk/prize-draw

Please continue to join our mailing list, ‘like’ us on Facebook and tweet with us on Twitter.

http://www.camberwellstudios.co.uk/ 
www.facebook.com/camberwellstudios
http://twitter.com/#!/FilmStudiosUK

Until next week....

Sam P. - Studio Manager - Sam.parkinson@camberwellstudios.co.uk 

Studio Day Prize Draw. February winner announced!

Hi Blog Readers and Prize entrants,


Congratulations to Neil Genower - Congratulations Neil

Sorry to those who missed out but you can still enter for our March Draw here.

The previous winner (see Jan winners blog here) Sarah has booked some time to come in and use our studio 1 for a photo shoot and plans to use the project to build on her portfolio.

Neil is slightly different in terms of his projects content and approach but he will use hiis prize opportunity to build his portfolio and really get creative in the space. His current work can been seen on his link below and we wait with in-trepidation to find out how he will use the studio prize. 

http://neilgenower.com

This Prize Draw is Open to All.

This prize, worth up to £1,000, is a great opportunity for any budding freelancer film-maker, artist, presenter,

business or newcomer looking to create their first studio based production.

The Studio is pre-lit with dimmable lights, soundproofing, green-room, make-up room, refreshments all day and help and support from our friendly production staff. The Studio can be used for photography, music videos, show-reels, pieces to camera and much more – wherever your imagination can take you.

The winner will be drawn on the first working day of each month and will be notified by email. In the event that the winner cannot be contacted within 10 days the prize draw will be carried out again.

A Blogment Jaxx

Hi to all Production Show and BVE attendants (and of course those who couldn't make it too!)

It was great to see you all down there and I hope you built an ever growing wish list of kit that caught your eye? Maybe you caught some incisive seminars or just met some great contacts? We had the chance to leave our stand and explore the show and see some great displays, see some future opportunities for the Studios and looked for ways to update our products and services on offer.

Our main objective was to meet people, let them know about our Studio day giveaway prize (see previous blog here for info the January winner and her plans for her prize) and develop plans over this year.

Our neighbours and friends at the show Trickbox TV , a mobile production unit, offers flexible production packages that suit most event  coverage needs, BBC approved HD cameras and everything else you’ll need in one portable flight case and can be combined very effectively with one of studio bookings.

Trickbox TV Ltd have designed and built a bespoke gallery and studio in a box. It’s a cleverly engineered SD and HD file-based portable production unit (PPU) packaged in two small and compact flight cases, designed to be ‘live in seconds’, capable of any broadcast or corporate shoot, AGM, webcast, music event or festival. You provide the space, we’ll provide everything else.

We also had the chance to speak to a few directory companies at the show. The below company is mainly focussed on working with and supporting, British directors.

Directors UK and Camberwell Studios are in talks about some possible collaborations with some of their members initially offering their members a discount scheme for Indy projects. Just in the ideas phase at the moment but please stay in touch for more info.

Directors UK, formerly DPRS, was launched inJune 2008 as the single voice of British film and television directors. It is now both a collecting society and campaigning body with over 4,000 members.

Camberwell Studios offer a flexible space for indy producers and directors to let them get creative without lots of red-tape and paperwork. We can cope with last minute changes to plans with full logistics support, earlier ‘get-ins' if needed, late kit delivery and collection, prep time, set-build planning support and crew requirements. 

Please see our FAQs here for other useful info when pencilling one of our Green-screen, blackout or whitewashed spaces.

In addition to our 2 studios we offer natural skylight lit space (below), great for photo shoots and music videos. This gritty, urban environment has power access and is typically booked with Studio 1.

From a world War 2 Bunker to a music video setting the space is definitely worth a look. Also worth seeing (as long as your OK with working at heights!) is our roof space. 'The Rise Of Cain' production shows our roof space as a whole and combined with a huge set build in Studio 1 tured out to be a very good example of our variation of work.

 This particular production wheeled in a huge crane, which parked in our car park (see below pic of the drive in access and parking we offer) and was rigged with lights and suspended to eliminate the flat roof we have. Lots of bumps, textures, flat and curved sections all with safe walled barriers for safety make the roof space a fantastic addition to the studio and its options available.

This week we welcome Goldie the Drum and Bass DJ who is making a music video due out on the 12^th March. Details are still hush hush but check out our tweets for info as it comes up. Our Director Andy's Mother spoke to him of the morning of the Goldie shoot and in passing enquired if we 'had anyone famous in the studios this week'? Andy replied 'Not anyone you will have heard of Mum' (bearing in mind she is quite old and not an avid drum and bass fan - although I could be wrong) Just to prove it to Andys Mum, here is the picture below.

Also in today are Basement Jaxx. (see below pic) Very nice people they are too. They are in a trying their talented hands at their own music video production. Our Music Production arm of Camberwell Studios, EPiK, have been briefly chatting about flexible, last minute bookings  which could bring life to album tracks that may never have had a music video. Backstage EPK’s and other promotional material can be made within very reasonable budgets with quick turnarounds. Felix from the band attempted his own stunt! He asked his vocalist to jump on our green boxes only to nearly do a summersault and land face down. DJ, Music Video producer and avid and amateur stuntman. Is there any end to their talents?

Many thanks to all at the BE, production show visitors and all who entered our Feburary prize draw.

Please continue to enter the prize draw and send us your ideas as to what you would make with the Prize draw worth upto £1000!

ENTER FOR FREE HERE: http://www.camberwellstudios.co.uk/prize-draw

Please continue to join our mailing list, ‘like’ us on Facebook and tweet with us on Twitter.

http://www.camberwellstudios.co.uk/ 
www.facebook.com/camberwellstudios
http://twitter.com/#!/FilmStudiosUK

Until next week....

Sam P. - Studio Manager - Sam.parkinson@camberwellstudios.co.uk 

Winners Blog!

Hi Camberwell Blog Readers,

We have announced the winner of our Studio Day Give-Away Prize:

Congratulation Sarah Peace!

Here is the winners Bio:

'Sarah Peace is a visual artist and filmmaker based in Southwark. Her work, which takes often favours a vivid dynamic use of colours and often evoking 

reactions from audiences through use of borderline bawdy humour. 

Her Chicks photographic series in which foodstuff is presented in a bizarre sexually objectified form garnered her an outstanding exhibition award from
the New Milton fine art society in 2011.

Having recently relocated from Dorset to South London, she is immersing herself in the local scene and produced a collage artwork exhibited at the Peckham Space art gallery in November. 

The piece was an infusion of the various cultures, ethnicities and lifestyle predominant
in Peckham, dynamically embedded onto a surreal underwater seascape.'

(An arrangement of spaghetti, linguini and peppercorns)

(No it’s not a glamour model. It’s chicken breast fillet)

Sarah was delighted to be the recipient of the first ever Camberwell Studios prize draw. 

“I had noted the studio as one of the great resources in the area and was pleasantly
surprised to be given the prize. It’s a great opportunity for any young artist to have this
kind of space to work in. I’m putting plans together to collaborate with keen artists and
performers on an exciting film project. I’m excited about the vast possibilities the studio
offers the production.”

Her portfolio is available at www.sarahpeace.co.uk

We will continue to promote and help our prize winners in anyway we can.

Please continue to enter the prize draw and send us your ideas as to what you would make with the Prize draw worth upto £1000!

ENTER FOR FREE HERE: http://www.camberwellstudios.co.uk/prize-draw

Please continue to join our mailing list, ‘like’ us on Facebook and tweet with us on Twitter.

http://www.camberwellstudios.co.uk/ 
www.facebook.com/camberwellstudios
http://twitter.com/#!/FilmStudiosUK

Until next week....

Sam P. - Studio Manager - Sam.parkinson@camberwellstudios.co.uk 

New Years Blog

Hi Loyal Readers,

Happy New Year! Can we still say that? Is there a limit? Feb is surely the cut off?

Nice to put pen to paper again as this writer has been gathering his thoughts, racking his brain for any amusing anecdotes to impart. Think it took a few weeks to build up on a story worth reading.

Xmas  > Ate  + Boxing Day > Drunk + New Years < Slept = Stomach bug

Above is as much a diary entry as it is a scientific equation of events that led to poorly times over the Xmas period.

Its nice to be back and we start the new years blog. I may as well use this new found Blog writing rhythm and transfer it to writing a speech for Camberwell Studios at Phink TV's Music Video Forum.

The show comprises of music video producers and other industry professionals discussing the intricate logistical, financial and creative headaches that producing a  Music video can conjure up.

(shot in Studio 2)

We are there to offer advice based on our previous experience gathered at the Studios. How many people involved? What aspects are to be included? Where, when, how will the video be used? It raises many questions to the style, the approach, the demographic, the elements included and the most important. Budget.

Please come and see us offer some creative nuggets of wisdom based on our experiences at the studio.

See a selection of the Studios best work from the links below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMsWWNgH--I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoCcZiNdRjs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBa7FfEY-gw&feature=fvst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=linZOaQx5hE

http://www.vanessawhyte.com/#2029558/Totally-Enormous-Extinct-Dinosaurs-Garden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp9yXZoVCdg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmXZuv5BaHg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv2iOUQqCks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=ik_XUcSwNwA

http://vimeo.com/25936099

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElHuFdi7b04

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ETYrCzPVA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3Zrn-eEnGg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR_8X6jSL8I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIe2-QKNh0k&list=UU9W4Sn5ycTtfc84afpuZ0Yw&index=14&feature=plcp

http://vimeo.com/33900496

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Dk61qgXsU&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhHAa9nXUUg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJg8RoJzXcs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol9LxyrXqr4

This presentation will be a good opportunity to show our previous work and to inform people of our up-coming Music Video Production company emerging from The Studios: EPIK.

Epik offer Music Video Production – Editing – performance led videos – EPK's and more!. 

Stay in touch for more details or see the Twitter and Youtube sections.

(Epik Music Videos is in its early stages of social networking

please stay in touch and we'll keep you posted for more updates)

Entries have been coming in for our Studio Day Prize Draw worth up-to £1000. All you need do is click the link, leave your email and you'll be entered into our free prize draw.

We have been asking for peoples ideas as to what they would make with the Studio day. Lots of entrants would love to do their own music video, tell their stories in showreels, make a short film, build their portfolio, and take stills.

When we draw the prize at the end of the month we will have a special edition of the Blog where we will provide lots of exposure for the winner through pictures, links and publicity so this really is a great opportunity to get yourself known or use the day to create something magical

Lastly, we have our lovely new Studio 2 cove update. Much smoother! This has been 1 of many updates that we have planned for this new year. Extra green screen all round. Better Chroma paint, updated Kit and Crew List which could save time and money. See our logistics support advice on our new FAQ section here.

Please continue to join our mailing list, ‘like’ us on Facebook and tweet with us on Twitter.

http://www.camberwellstudios.co.uk/ 
www.facebook.com/camberwellstudios
http://twitter.com/#!/FilmStudiosUK

Until next year...

Sam P. - Studio Manager Sam.parkinson@camberwellstudios.co.uk