SMPTE: From The Backroom - July 2002

By Mike Seymour, Kotij

The Australia Section of SMPTE in an effort to further help members begins this month our first monthly SMPTE column. Each issue we aim to give you a run-down on up coming events and some highlights of meetings we have just enjoyed.

As most of you know the SMPTE conference held every two years is the premier film and television engineering conference and trade show in this country. But what a wider audience is increasingly learning is that the Australia Section of SMPTE provides a range of services, meetings and support all year round.

top

EVENT REPORTS: Hollywood, Post-NAB & Melbourne

In these times of rapid technological change and innovation, SMPTE provides professional support to allow you to keep up to date, adopt the correct new standards and learn from both local and overseas experts. Here are just a few examples of our activities in the last 3 months alone.

Prior to NAB, we arranged via SMPTE USA for a special free Australian Digital Film Seminar in Hollywood. Scheduled to allow members to attend on the way to the Annual NAB convention in LA, a day of events were arranged covering the implications of digital advances from Cinematography to Projection. Some 14 members attended a lunch held by the American Society of Cinematographers, sponsored by Kodak at the prestigious ASC clubhouse. Members lunched and discussed digital film techniques with 15 leading Hollywood Directors of Photography, whose films ranged from "Stuart Little2", "The Rookie", and "Pearl Harbour" to "As Good As it Gets". After lunch, the group visited Efilm to see the latest advances in digital feature film colour grading, before being dining at a special SMPTE dinner, next to the Kodak theater - home of the Oscars, and then the group were the honoured guests of Disney for a special Digital Screening of the film The Rookie.

Following NAB, SMPTE hosted the annual Post-NAB discussion night, held this year at the AFTRS at North Ryde. Not only did members and guests enjoy the full coverage of the NAB event, from production, audio, post-production, engineering and system admin. experts who attended the trade show in April, but the group was shown this year's winner of SMPTE's Technical Innovation Short Film Award and cash prize, the excellent film "Placement".

To Melbourne and The Australia Section of SMPTE was proud to host an evening at the ABC's new studios for over 30 guests. ABC Engineers Noel Currie, Des Madden and Paul Wolfram guided the group through the Digital TV Presentation Suite, Radio and TV Master Control and Switch Rooms. The group also saw several of the Radio Studios, the recording studios and concert hall, and many of these facilities were in heavy use despite the late hour. The combined-media newsroom and the TV News/Current Affairs studio were highlights, showing the effectiveness of using server-based storage for acquisition and editing, and how a small space can be turned into a comfortable and creative facility. The night was a huge success, and the start of many such interstate functions.

These events do not even include the joint events the Australia Section of SMPTE has helped organise with similar organisations such as the ACS, The SIGGRAPH Aust. and others in the last few months. SMPTE Australia is committed to building bridges with other organisations and maximising all the opportunities for joint functions. Contact us if you are aware or think of any such opportunities.

top

UPCOMING EVENTS

More events are being planned now including an on site Studio Tour and a Digital Audio Evening. For more information contact Kathy-Anne, eventease@optushome.com.au.

In response to requests, SMPTE Australia Section is now keeping in touch with members more via the net, if you moved or you want to check we have your correct email address, please email cpatten@harmonicinc.com and he'll add your name to the email list.

In coming months, we will be expanding our services, the local standards group will be formulating ways of working with the new digital systems easier to understand, and the new SMPTE Australia web site will be launched. The Australia Section SMPTE board wants your input and involvement, its long tradition of serving the local industry continues only with your help and support. SMPTE is made up and run by industry professionals just like you, we invite you to come along and benefit from this amazing resource.

top

Back to Latest Society News