Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, October 16, 2018,
I'm thrilled with how this turned out! I'm currently working on a series of promotional videos for the Unisa Music Foundation and the first promo went live on YouTube yesterday.
As usual Unisa really pulled out all the stops to assist me in producing this, supplying as much archived concert footage, artwork and original concert photography as I could possibly need. The technical staff responsible for the facilities at ZK Matthews hall at their main Pretoria campus were also on hand when we f...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, June 5, 2018,
How do I get all my gear to the Middle East and back in one piece?! That was the first thing that crossed my mind in November 2017 when my Saudi corporate project got confirmed. Indeed, how do I fly two full camera kits with audio and lighting to the Kingdom and back? It turned out to be a two-part challenge: one part being customs documentation and the other being airline weight and size restrictions. Although flying everything cargo like the broadcasters probably do would have been n...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, May 1, 2018,
I have a friend who works in the film industry. I’ve always envied him because he is an incredibly talented
cameraman who has worked on several high-end television and movie productions. I once asked him about the glamorous entertainment industry he worked in; about
all the expensive toys and the famous people that surrounded him on a daily
basis. He then knocked my feet out from under me when he paused briefly and
remarked with a tired expression on his face: “You know the bigger the pro...
German filmmaker Florian Nick spent six weeks in Canada filming this epic time lapse. It took nine months to edit. Why? Because it is actually composed of 54 000 INDIVIDUAL still images! Interestingly he used a Sony A7SII and Rokinon optics, similar to the kit I just purchased for this year's 4K projects.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, November 14, 2017,
I'm slowly turning into a VariZoom fanboy...
If you've been following my blog (and who doesn't!) you'll recall I Frankenstein'ed together a camera rod system myself a few months ago to use with my VariZoom shoulder rig. It worked well but it weighed a ton and I realized that I needed something more compact and also something that I didn't have to remove from the shoulder rig first to use on a tripod or slider. I have a very nice Genustech follow focus unit that fits my new set of Rokinon lense...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Saturday, November 4, 2017,
I first worked with Red Giant's Magic Bullet Looks a few years ago. It was the demo version and I loved what it did to spice up some rather mediocre 1080i camcorder video. But I pretty much just dumped presets over my footage without really knowing what I was doing. Fast forward to the present where I now have a better understanding of what goes on in Media Composer's waveform and vector scopes and grading as a whole, and the Magic Bullet Looks suite takes on a whole new meaning.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Sunday, October 8, 2017,
Since I started using a Sony NEX-FS100 a few years ago as my primary camera I started looking at lenses. To be honest I had (and still have) a lot to learn because as a video guy I grew up with camcorders that already had glass on the front of the camera. You never removed it. You just turned the focus ring, pressed the zoom rocker and off you went.
Then came the DSLR video revolution and suddenly everyone got into cine-style filming. That included me.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, July 4, 2017,
There's nothing glorious about the war in Syria. Or any other war for that matter. Headline news stories of displaced civilians and ISIS atrocities are downright upsetting, not to mention the growing potential for a showdown between former cold war rivals in the area. But whether you're hawk or a pacifist, there's no denying that the drone footage in this video is pretty unique and impressive. Drones have become both lethal weapons of war and indispensable tools in cinematography, and this vi...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Monday, November 28, 2016,
What a better way to play out the year than with some gorgeous GoPro aerial footage. Boba Fett impersonators Yves Rossy, Vincent Reffet and Fred Fugen flew their jetpacks in formation with eight Alpha jets of the French Air Force aerobatic display team, the Patrouille de France (Yes I just added that to have fancy French words in this post).
Seriously though, this must require some serious skill and physical effort.
The 4K clarity is gorgeous and I find this both exhilarating and depressing ...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Thursday, June 9, 2016,
Today sees the last video in a ten-part series on NWU community engagement go live on YouTube. This concludes a very ambitious project that started small in February with a single promo and has now evolved into a full campaign that will combine print and online media. Actually I wish we could have done a few more of these community projects as I believe this is the type of stuff that need to be in the headlines instead of all the political garbage and negativity that has been going around (Co...
The past few weeks were at times hectic and brutal, but we're finally launching the first in a series of ten videos on community engagement projects on the NWU's official YouTube channel NWUtv and wrapping up filming on the last episode towards the end of April.
I really enjoyed filming in Mafikeng and the staff at NWU Mafikeng went to a lot of trouble t...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Sunday, March 20, 2016,
I'm in the fortunate position nowadays to be able to say that there are things about my job that I REALLY enjoy and look forward to for the phone to ring to do again. And recording interviews with Optentia subject experts has become one of them. Optentia's international collaborators and academic partners are all recognized experts in their fields and we've developed a short interview format to get their views on various topics in a compact and easy to watch format.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Thursday, March 17, 2016,
If you've been following my random thoughts on Twitter you would have noticed that a) March has been an insanely busy month and b) I've been throwing the hashtag #NWUtv around. I'm in the process of producing content on the NWU's various community engagement projects and the production phase of this project has taken up most of this month. I'm really excited about this project and the team and I have been working really hard to not only produce video, but REALLY GOOD video. That means multi-c...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Monday, February 29, 2016,
I'm currently working a new video series that looks at a few of the programmes that form part of the NWU's Community Engagement and research implementation. The first few clips should go live on YouTube soon and I'm very pleased with the results. I decided to put away the zoom lenses and shoot the majority of my footage with primes, and I'm glad I did because the depth of field is awesome and it is exactly the look I was going for!
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Monday, February 29, 2016,
Ok so it's no secret that I like GoPros and all things military - I have clients in the defense industry, so that's my excuse...
So what better then than a combination of the two. Yes folks, GoPro jets are back!
As always, kill the sound and watch the visuals, because apparently jet jocks have terrible taste in production music. This time it is footage of an aircraft that is currently at the center of a bit of controversy due to it's looming retirement. The A-10 Thunderbolt II has the insanely...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Wednesday, February 3, 2016,
Welcome to the first post for February. Yes, we're already in the second month of this year. Lots of things are happening this month: the new Deadpool movie is coming out (I'm a huge fan of all things Marvel, and especially all things 'Pool) and there are enough looming project deadlines to keep me mildly worried and awake at this time of the evening.
If you've been following my blog you'll know by now that Match Frame Media is now supporting a Gauteng-based Non-Profit called Counselling@, and...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, January 12, 2016,
This year I'm celebrating six years of self-employment. It's been fantastic, terrifying and enormously fulfilling. Quite a contrast to the very controlled ten years I spent working for a boss in a large organisation.
What has changed? Everything and nothing.
Everything because once you've tasted freedom you can never go back to working for someone else. You change. You can't stand being back in the sheep enclosure...it suffocates you! Never before have I had so much enjoyment and satisfaction ...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Saturday, January 9, 2016,
Here is the first video in the series. The second clip will be on their YouTube channel soon. Counselling@ does some really valuable work in disadvantaged communities and schools, so how about supporting them. Given the amount of bad news in the media, we can all do with a few more good deeds everywhere.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Monday, January 4, 2016,
Ok, enough with the holiday laziness already. I have a good feeling about this year. See, I have this theory: in business one year is up, the other down. Last year was s**t horrible, so I predict a VERY up year this year. As in waaaay up. On the top shelf...
Currently in production is a large project for the Faculty of Education. We managed to finish the first portion of this project in record time towards the end of 2015, and the results are on YouTube.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Thursday, December 3, 2015,
And that's it for 2015, folks.
With the last projects done and delivered Match Frame Media is closing for the December holiday season. This year was...actually hard to describe. If you speak to anyone who runs a business (and by that I mean a real business where there are real risks and where a salary at the end of the month is not guaranteed) they'll tell you that it was a hard year. Economic, social and environmental conditions in South Africa are not rosy.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Wednesday, December 2, 2015,
I've been tweaking my encoding presets for 1080p files and the results are looking good. Basically the trick is to maintain the best possible picture quality while keeping file sizes from ballooning. Of course doing the basics right also helps, like proper lighting.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, December 1, 2015,
Urban and social problems affect everyone, no matter where you live in South Africa.
I've just completed filming footage for a series of videos for a non-profit called Counselling@ in and around Mamelodi township and the greater Tshwane area. Counselling@ has been involved in community work and community development programmes since 2010 and is involved in the placement and training of counselors and the provision of counselling services to vulnerable and at-risk communities.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Sunday, January 25, 2015,
Above: in production, already. Things are off to an early start this year with a number of new projects already in production.
Welcome back! Another new year and plenty of new things to come in 2015. This year got off to a quick start and I'm halfway into a number of new projects already. If you've been following this blog you might have noticed that things went...ahem...quiet around October last year. Well that was due to me being lazy. Last year was a record year for Match Frame Media in ter...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Friday, September 12, 2014,
I should probably just call this The GoPro Blog and get it over with...
The world's most popular action camera brand has spawned a huge industry of aftermarket accessories an a few interesting ones have caught my eye the past few weeks. Some make sense and some are just plain weird. Blessthisstuff.com has posted a couple of good ones recently.
Above: Brunton All-day Battery. This is cool and I want one. One of the main complaints from GoPro owners is usually that the battery life sucks, even ...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Monday, August 11, 2014,
One of the first things I did after I got my first GoPro was to fit it to my motorcycle helmet and ride to the next town and back. When I dropped the footage into my editing application and tried to cut a 2 minute time lapse version, I discovered what the video world already knew - shaky footage shot with an action camera on a body mount does not make good time lapse footage.
It seems that the folks at Microsoft Research has now sorted this out for us with Hyperlapse. If you follow the process...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Monday, July 21, 2014,
Philip Bloom clearly stood at the very front of the queue the day cinematography talents were handed out. He shot this film while on holiday in Thailand and used a Phantom drone and GoPro Hero 3+. The results are astonishing and most probably the best GoPro drone movie of the year. Respect, sir, you are an artist.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, July 15, 2014,
Above: this image won first prize recently in a National Geographic-sponsored competition exclusively for drones. Read the full story at bbc.co.uk
Above: trekking in the Himalayas. Drone pilot Jon Miller put his drone to good use on a trek to the foot of Everest. Camera drones ("drone" meaning Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, or UAV) have very much revolutionised the way video and pictures are recorded to the same extent that action cameras like GoPro and other brands have made the filming of act...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, April 8, 2014,
I've had the pleasure recently of recording the new NWU vice-chancellor's first online video message to staff. I've recorded Prof Dan Kgwadi on a few previous occasions but this was the first recording since he took office as the NWU's most senior official.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Thursday, November 7, 2013,
It seems our little video about a recent cleanup operation in our home town is threatening to go viral. It's been posted on a national radio station's website and has been viewed 5694 times. Who-hoo!
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Sunday, November 3, 2013,
If you've been following me on this blog you'll know that I've been involved with the NWU's School of Music for a while now. Their own blog has been in the works for while and it was announced on their Facebook page on Friday that their brand new blog page is now live at http://nwumusic.co.za/ .
The School of Music has produced some of South Africa's greatest musical talent so why not support then by subscribing.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Wednesday, October 30, 2013,
I shot some green screen this week for Optentia at NWU Vaal. Honestly nothing beats the ability to be able to shoot footage and edit it immediately on site. Instant results. And I'm still raving over the results I'm getting with the FS100... wow!
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Sunday, October 27, 2013,
Match Frame Media recently had the opportunity to lend a hand in our home town Parys by supporting a very worthwhile local initiative. Producing this was a priviledge and so is living in a small town in this very scenic part of the world.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Wednesday, June 26, 2013,
Hey, we all have our much-deserved dumbass moments. After more than twelve years of doing this for a living I still have mine. I actually had one right here (above). See how nicely I framed the shot, with the windsock growing out of the top of his head? Yes. I know. How did I not notice that..?
Anyway after I stopped kicking myself I fired up After Effects and opened up the paint tools. The repair is, fortunately, absolutely spotless.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, June 18, 2013,
Above: Shooting interviews with the designers of the Jonker Sailplanes' JS1 Revelation
I have the best job on earth. Seriously. I've only had my new (okay loan unit, not new; my new unit is still en route from the factory in Japan) Sony NEX-FS100 for two weeks when this job came up. Project brief: shoot the manufacturing process for a high performance glider aircraft and oh, be at the airfield Saturday morning really early because you're shooting some serious air-to-air footage as well. Br...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Friday, March 29, 2013,
Above: Filming master pianist Lukas Vondracek in Bloemfontein for an upcoming documentary
This month is speeding to an end and if I could I would have added a couple more days to the end of it just to get everything done! March 2013 has by far been one of the most productive months in MFM's history with a number large projects for different clients currently in production.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Friday, February 8, 2013,
Above: Purchased a lot of branded USB flashdrives lately? Well don't just give them away, make them actually work for you.
Branded USB flashdrives. Most large organisations use them as corporate gifts. Instead of just handing them out, have us preload them with your corporate video or interactive presentation. We can now preload your existing USB media with any files of your choice. The same interactive media that runs from DVD-ROM and miniDVD can now also run from your branded USB storage ...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Wednesday, October 17, 2012,
It simply wouldn't be a video blog if I didn't post this...
According to his website Felix Baumgartner carried two HD cameras mounted on the legs of his suit, as well as a camera below his helmet. GoPro claims he was carrying one of theirs as well. (EDIT: He was definitely carrying a GoPro, look below the helmet in the centre of chest console and you'll see the top of the housing latch and the record button.) Whatever he was using to film this epic freefall, the footage just blows your mi...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Sunday, September 9, 2012,
Above: shooting footage for an upcoming documentary on a community music project
Yes, it's documentary time again.
We've nearly wrapped up filming and I'll be starting with post-production this week. I'm really loving this project. It's a remarkable story of a group of kids who through music reach a higher potential. The remarkable part? Well the kids, many of them from underprivileged backgrounds, go from complete novices to playing in a full wind ensemble in only a week! Some truly inspir...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Monday, June 11, 2012,
I thought I'd screencap this one before taking it down tomorrow.
The NWU's Faculty of Engineering recently needed an online invitation for the official opening of their new Faculty complex. Fast. And because the guests included VIPs from government, university and industry sectors it needed to shine.
The site itself included RSVP forms and directions to the venue. I don't usually do websites but this one turned out pretty good and did it's job very well. Sorry I can't show it to you...not eve...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, April 24, 2012,
Above: The completed interactive UI featuring a 3D rotating globe that takes the user on a trip around the world.
When you get us to do a project, you’re guaranteed of two things - the final product will be handmade from the ground up and absolutely unique.
This is especially true for an interactive project just completed for the International Office of NWU’s Vaal Triangle Campus. Every year NWU Vaal receives a large number of students from all across the world. A need developed...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Saturday, April 14, 2012,
Above: The project's prototype interactive UI. Users will be able to choose between Afrikaans, English and Setswana with ample provision for hard of hearing and deaf users in the form of Sign Language interpreting and subtitling of all video content. Shown here is Language Directorate director Prof Marlene Verhoef giving the interactive presentation's introduction.
Every now and then I'm lucky enough to receive a project on my desk that really allows me to push the technical envelope a little....
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Sunday, March 11, 2012,
Geez I had to wait a looooooooong time for this one to arrive...
My Flolight kit has been on backorder in the US since the middle of last year, so when Jason at Pro-Sales (dealers in very cool and wonderful production toys) phoned me up to tell me mine has arrived, I made tracks to Jhb asap.
The Microbeam 128 is the one of the most compact lights in Flolight’s LED camera light range and comes complete your choice of Sony, Panasonic, JVC and a few other brands’ battery cradles. First cool ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Monday, January 9, 2012,
There's plenty of new things in store for 2012.
If you're a client of ours you can look forward to viewing your next corporate or marketing video in pristine High Definition (HD) clarity. Need to make a lasting impression at the next open day or trade show? Well make sure the marketing folks at your booth are equipped with an HD monitor and a Blu-ray player because that is exactly how your corporate video will be shown if it was produced by Match Frame Media.
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Friday, December 2, 2011,
Editing on location at Dullstroom this week. Finishing the last projects of 2011. I should really find out how flyfishing works...between renders maybe.. Continue reading ...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Saturday, November 19, 2011,
I've now fully converted my post-production setup to laptop-based systems. The future is moving towards greater mobility and flexibility and the two mobile Avid workstations I'm using currently has more power and functionality than any desktop system I ever used in the past. However, with summer temperatures shooting into the high twenties/mid thirties, uber powerful mobile workstations begin to show one weakness - internal heat buildup. The past two weeks were scorching hot and I realised th...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Tuesday, November 15, 2011,
I shot some green screen video with the folks from NWU Corporate Communcations today. We've been getting some great results with this and the university management also appreciate not having to go too far from their offices and hectic schedules to do the recordings. The new camera also keeps on surprising me - with the 174 Panasonic really improved a lot on previous models in the small format P2 range.
The clip is currently in post-production, so if you're NWU staff we'll be coming to a comput...
Posted by Corne Scheepers on Saturday, September 3, 2011,
Above: my first interactive project that deploys on Mac OS X. This project will also be rolled out in the standard Windows compatible version on flash drive and MiniDVD.
I've just completed my first interactive project for a client that will deploy on the Mac OS. I've done this for years for Windows operating systems and with the addition of Mac compatibility clients will now be able to have their consumer media available for both Windows and Mac end users. This includes any integrated video a... Continue reading ...
