Hollywood DI, Sony, Blackmagic demo workflow

Digital image technology took another step forward with a demonstration earlier this month on The Lot in West Hollywood. At the event, post-production house Hollywood DI, Sony Electronics and Blackmagic Design showed for the first time the processing of the Sony F65 camera's RAW and SRFile footage using Blackmagic Design's DaVinci Resolve software.The demo footage was shot on Sony's CineAlta F65 8K camera and encoded to the SRFile format using a soon-to-be released version of Resolve. "For a modern post house like Hollywood DI that specializes in file-based workflow for filmmakers and TV shows, it's imperative that we find the most robust and cost-effective tools to deliver our editing, color correction and finishing services." said Neil Smith, managing director of Hollywood DI. "Taking the F65 RAW data out of the camera and converting it to SRFile format for editing and conforming projects using DaVinci Resolve is a remarkable achievement. The camera and software incorporate many SMPTE standards that facilitate the easy exchange of digital content between production and post systems. Our FLOworks methodology for digital content creation and delivery complements the IIF ACES specification perfectly.""The American Society of Cinematographers Technology Committee has been working closely with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Sci-Tech Council to develop the Image Interchange Framework and Academy Color Encoding Specification, or IIF ACES," said Curtis Clark, chairman of the ASC committee. "The IIF ACES specification delivers on the need for a comprehensive color management system that not only accommodates wide gamut color reproduction, but also incorporates known and unambiguous transforms between log and scene linear encoding, as well as known transforms between different color spaces.""4K digital acquisition and file-based workflows present both challenges and opportunities to our membership," said Steven Poster, prexy of Local 600, International Cinematographers Guild. "Local 600 camera crews and DITs are at the front line of the constant change in camera formats, imaging codecs and digital workflows It's vital for our members that cameras like Sony's new F65 are introduced on set with a tried and tested workflow. One thing is for sure - in the brave new world of digital production and post, the only constant is change. Local 600 members will be there to make sure it happens smoothly and efficiently."The F65 is a successor to Sony's F35, with wider color gamut than film and 14 stops of dynamic range. Many consider it a competitor to the Arri Alexa and the higher end of the Red camera line. It is aggressively priced at $65,000. Contact Peter Caranicas at peter.caranicas@variety.com

Ratings: Football, Wonderful Existence Most Broadly Used over Christmas Weekend

It's A Wonderful Existence On Christmas Eve and christmas, people who squashed in a few television among all the opening of presents, eating on and on to people elected for any classic holiday standby and - what else? - football. NBC's airing of It's a Wonderful Existence wasn't any. 1 on Saturday evening, with Frank Capra's 1946 film starring James Stewart getting 4.55 million audiences. First runner-up: ABC's rerunning of 1965's The Appear of Music. See the best and worst of 2011 NBC's Sunday Evening Football trounced the reruns and holiday fare it absolutely was rivaling. The football game in which the Eco-friendly Bay Packers clinched home area advantage with the NFC 2010 national football league 2010 nfl playoffs by decisively beating the Chicago Bears averaged 21.24 million audiences, posting a 6.8 rating among industry-valued 18-to-49-year-olds. It produced the finest overnight rating for a game title title carried out on Christmas evening since 1995.

Seth Rogen Joins The B Team

Developing spy comedy at DisneyThere was a time when The B Team was a cop comedy starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, before a certain A-Team caused a name-switch to The Other Guys. But with The Other Guys now come and gone, and The A-Team a distant, tank-flying memory, The B Team is back, this time in the form of a spy spoof being developed by Seth Rogen. It just goes to show you can't keep a good name down. Or something.This project actually pre-dates those others, and its title was presumably in flux there for a while. Development being as slow as it is though, it's fair game again. The story in this case is about a "top secret-agent" who gets kidnapped and has to be rescued by his back-up gang of researchers and techies, who presumably aren't quite as "top" as he is.The original pitch to the studio was by Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman, whose last produced screenplay was Chasing Liberty back in 2004. Rogen has come aboard as a producer at this stage, but may have his eye on a starring role as well. There's no mention of his usual cohort Evan Goldberg being involved at the moment, but we're sure it's only a matter of time.The B Team is still at the coming-together stage at the moment, with no start-date on the cards. Which is fine, because Rogen very much needs to give his complete attention to Jay And Seth Vs. The Apocalypse. Last we heard, that one's due before the cameras in February.

At Last Singer Etta James Terminally Ill

First Published: December 16, 2011 2:19 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Etta James performs at the House Of Blues in Chicago, Illinois on April 30, 2009RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- At Last and Tell Mama blues singer Etta James, whose health has been fading in recent years, is now terminally ill, and her live-in doctor is asking for prayers. Dr. Elaine James, who isnt related to the 73-year-old entertainer, tells the Riverside Press-Enterprise newspaper that the singers chronic leukemia was declared incurable two weeks ago. The doctor has cared for Etta James at the singers Riverside, California, area home since March 2010. Elaine James says shes spreading word of the singers ailments so people will pray for her. She says fans know Etta James has been sick but not how sick. Court records in the singers probate case show she also suffers from dementia and kidney failure. Elaine James made her comments outside a Riverside conservatorship hearing over the singers $1 million estate. The singers son, Donto James, wantsa conservator rather than the singers husband, Artis Mills. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Access Hollywood Live: Katie Lees Christmaskah Potato-Leek Latkes

First Published: December 16, 2011 10:36 AM EST Credit: WireImage LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Katie Lee attends the Launch of her new book Groundswell at W Los Angeles - Westwood on June 28, 2011 in Los AngelesThe holidays are the perfect excuse to get in the kitchen and start cooking! Katie Lees stopped by Access Hollywood Live to share her recipe for Christmaskah Potato-Leek Latkes, a tasty dish that is sure to please all your loved ones this season! Latke Ingredients: • 3 large baking potatoes, peeled and grated • ½ cup finely diced leeks, white part only • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten • ½ cup dry bread crumbs • 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter • ¼ cup canola oil Chutney Ingredients: • ¼ cup orange juice • ¼ cup water • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon • ½ teaspoon kosher salt • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 2 teaspoons olive oil • 2 shallots, minced • 1 garlic clove, minced • ½ jalapeno, minced • 2 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and diced For the Latkes: Press the excess water from the grated potatoes. In a medium bowl, mix the potatoes with the leeks, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, salt, and pepper In a large heavy skillet over medium heat, melt the butter with the oil. Use a tablespoon to drop potato batter into the skillet, flatten the potatoes with a spatula. Fry until golden brown, a couple minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately. For the Chutney: In a small bowl, combine the orange juice, water, brown sugar, vinegar, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and jalapeo and saut about 5 minutes. Stir in the apples and orange juice mixture, let come to a low simmer. Cover and cook until apples are tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Weird and Wacky Golden Globe Noms

The Weird and Wacky Golden Globe Noms By Jenelle Riley December 15, 2011 Photo by Columbia Pictures "The Ides of March" The Golden Globe nominations were announced today, and judging by the love for Ryan Gosling, George Clooney and shows like "Revenge," the HFPA is apparently run by a bunch of 12-year-old girls. No recognition for intelligent, quieter films like "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" or "Take Shelter," and a whole lot of head-scratching choices ("My Week With Marilyn" in the Comedy/Musical field?) abound. My personal quibble: how can all the great tunes from "The Muppets" not land a single Best Song nomination?Also, while I'm happy Kristen Wiig got a Lead Actress in a Comedy nod for "Bridesmaids," I'm disappointed by the lack of a nomination for Melissa McCarthy. This was the one organization I thought she had a real shot in--moreso than with SAG, for which she did get nominated yesterday.Perhaps the biggest surprise is the strong showing for "The Ides of March," George Clooney's one-time contender that never quite gained the steam it needed to be a real player this season. I'm fine with star Gosling getting a nod, even though it should have been for "Drive" and it comes at the expense of the likes of Michael Shannon ("Take Shelter"), Woody Harrelson ("Rampart"), Demian Bichir ("A Better Life"), and Gary Oldman ("Tinker Tailor"). But Clooney landing a Best Director nomination over the likes of Steven Speilberg or Nicholas Winding Refn, David Fincher, Roman Polanski, or Jason Reitman? Not to mention a screenplay nom when there are a dozen more deserving scripts? We get it, HFPA, you really want Clooney at your show. READ MORE ON BEHIND THE SCENES The Weird and Wacky Golden Globe Noms By Jenelle Riley December 15, 2011 "The Ides of March" PHOTO CREDIT Columbia Pictures The Golden Globe nominations were announced today, and judging by the love for Ryan Gosling, George Clooney and shows like "Revenge," the HFPA is apparently run by a bunch of 12-year-old girls. No recognition for intelligent, quieter films like "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" or "Take Shelter," and a whole lot of head-scratching choices ("My Week With Marilyn" in the Comedy/Musical field?) abound. My personal quibble: how can all the great tunes from "The Muppets" not land a single Best Song nomination?Also, while I'm happy Kristen Wiig got a Lead Actress in a Comedy nod for "Bridesmaids," I'm disappointed by the lack of a nomination for Melissa McCarthy. This was the one organization I thought she had a real shot in--moreso than with SAG, for which she did get nominated yesterday.Perhaps the biggest surprise is the strong showing for "The Ides of March," George Clooney's one-time contender that never quite gained the steam it needed to be a real player this season. I'm fine with star Gosling getting a nod, even though it should have been for "Drive" and it comes at the expense of the likes of Michael Shannon ("Take Shelter"), Woody Harrelson ("Rampart"), Demian Bichir ("A Better Life"), and Gary Oldman ("Tinker Tailor"). But Clooney landing a Best Director nomination over the likes of Steven Speilberg or Nicholas Winding Refn, David Fincher, Roman Polanski, or Jason Reitman? Not to mention a screenplay nom when there are a dozen more deserving scripts? We get it, HFPA, you really want Clooney at your show.READ MORE ON BEHIND THE SCENES

Hollywoo

A Studiocanal discharge of a LGM Cinema, Studiocanal, TF1 Films Push., Lorette Prods., Comme Une Grande Push., in colaboration with Nexus Factory, Ufilm, using the participation of Canal Plus. (Worldwide sales: Studiocanal, Paris.) Created by Cyril Cobeau-Justin, Jean-Baptiste Dupont. Co-producers, Sylvain Goldberg, Serge p Poucques, Adrian Politowski, Gilles Waterkeyn. Directed by Frederic Berthe, Pascal Serieis. Script, Xavier Maingon, Florence Foresti, Pascal Serieis, according to a concept by Maingon.With: Florence Foresti, Jamel Debbouze, Nikki Deloach, Muriel Robin, Sophie Mounicot, Shaun Roop, Kirk B.R. Woller, John G. Connolly, John Fitzpatrick. (French, British dialogue)A Gallic voice actress travels to Tinseltown once the U.S. star she dubs suddenly ankles a well known TV series in "Hollywoo," helmers Frederic Berthe and Pascal Serieis' clever and sunny laffer. Customized towards the talents of standup comics and periodic thesps Florence Foresti and Jamel Debbouze, this French seafood-out-of-water comedy consists of enough hilarity to counterbalance the periodic misstep plus some longueurs within the closing reels. Though phenom "Untouchable" still lives as much as its title in the local B.O., this virtually untranslatable title should attract Francophone auds. Using the dubbing of non-kiddie fare a rarity Stateside as well as in a number of other areas, the pic has better commercial (and remake) potential in nations in which the practice is much more common. Jeanne (Foresti) may be the French voice of Jennifer Marshall (Nikki Deloach), the Jennifer Aniston-like lead of worldwide rankings smash "L.A. Couples." Unlike her Yank counterpart, Jeanne is neither glamorous nor particularly friendly in the first scene, it's obvious this shrill unknown has more star hubris compared to famous actress she dubs as a living. Jeanne's world falls apart, drama full-style, when Jennifer suddenly quits as she's going to start filming the show's third season, which Jeanne's hilariously blase agent (Muriel Robin) got her a substantial raise. After talking to together with her sister (Sophie Mounicot, within an underwritten part), Jeanne leaves for California on the fool's errand: Make Jennifer change her mind. In L.A., where she's a genuine nobody (instead of a nobody to everybody but French TV audiences with great ears), Jeanne has trouble getting in contact with Marshall. Things start looking up when she bumps into Farres (Debbouze), a contented-go-lucky Frenchie who attempts to help her wiggle her way to the Vital backlot and into Hollywood parties and mansions. The mismatched duo of nonentities is perfectly performed by Debbouze and Foresti, as well as for each concept that falls flat -- for example Jeanne's creepy L.A. hotel -- you will find a minimum of a few that'll make auds grin and from time to time guffaw. Most importantly, Foresti indicates some humanity within an basically unlikable role, and it is assisted by an unpredicted hint of romance between her character and Debbouze's (also known Stateside for his serious roles in Rachid Bouchareb's work). As scripted by Serieis, Foresti and Xavier Maingon, with Debbouze credited like a further contributor (without doubt for his semi-improvised and frequently very funny Franglais), "Hollywoo" keeps the laffs coming fast. Additionally, it lightly pokes fun in the impossible cliches of yankee TV and also the perceived Hollywood lifestyle while making certain the leads and also the narrative itself remain sufficiently in awe of same, such as with the seaside save in Malibu that has Jennifer and her aficionado French-Canadian ex-b.f. (Shaun Roop). However, developments within the final reels -- having a vehicle chase, flying bullets, the Hollywood sign without the "d" (hence the title) and incarceration -- stretch auds' suspension of disbelief and also the running time, although the cast's credits-montage singalong to Musical Youth's "Pass the Dutchie" is really a doozy. Vibrant lensing had some minor color and concentrate issues in the screening caught, though mostly the tech package is really as vibrant and reliable because the California sun.Camera (color, widescreen), Ludovic Colbeau-Justin editor, Elodie Codaccioni music, Philippe Rombi production designer, Franck Benezech costume designer, Aurore Pierre seem (Dolby Digital/DTS), Francois Maurel, Alain Task, Thomas Gauder line producers, David Giordano, Patrick Batteux assistant director, Francois Ryckelynck. Examined at Gaumont Opera (Cote Capucines), Paris, 12 ,. 8, 2011. Running time: 106 MIN. Contact Boyd van Hoeij at news@variety.com