We recently discovered the good folks at iplayerHD.com.  They offer high quality video server hosting at a very affordable rate.  We are in the process of moving all our online video clips from a previous CDN server solution to iplayerHD.com.  For $30/month or $300/year you can upload as many video clips as you like, with a storage space of 50GB and a monthly bandwidth of 100GB!  And the quality is excellent.  Using their compression service you can upload a 1280x720HD video and they will create several different files so that your viewers browser will use the movie best suited for the browser and the viewers internet access speed.  It even includes a mobile device optimized compressed movie.  Your account includes backend access to name your movies, choose thumbnail pictures, add search engine tag info, embed codes for adding movies to your website, video playlists, etc. 

We are very excited about working with Wes and the other folks at iplayerHD.com and hope that you’ll check them out today.  They offer a 30-day free trial and you don’t need a credit card for that period.  Check them out and use this link so they’ll know we sent you.  http://www.iplayerhd.com/go/durham

Randy Durham
http://www.credencepictures.com

Here is a test movie that we recently uploaded.

This week are putting the finishing touches on a new promotional video the Baptist Children’s Home of North Carolina.  BCH has been serving the needs of children in North Carolina for almost 125 years and it is a joy to work with them in telling their story.  The new video is about 9 minutes long and features the story of Roberta Brunck, a former resident of the Broyhill Home in Clyde, NC.  Roberta’s story of forgiveness and Baptist Children’s Homes pivotal role in life, are moving and powerful.

For the technically inclined, we shot the program with our two JVC GY-HD250 cameras at 1280x720 30p.  The video was mastered to DVD and will be distributed to Baptist churches across North Carolina in advance of the annual Thanksgiving Offering for Baptist Children’s Homes.  To learn more about Baptist Children’s Homes visit their website at www.bchfamily.org.

Here is a short clip from the program

We decided we just couldn’t wait any longer so we’re premiering our new website today. We are editing a short promo video that we will use on the homepage and we have several more video clip samples to add to our Creations page but we hope you will browse the website and let us know what you think.

The web movies we’ve created are designed to be viewed on a high speed internet connection, so if you are on a slower connection it may take awhile for the clips to download enough to start playing.  Hopefully you are on a high-speed connection and this won’t be an issue.  We figure it is a shame to go to all the trouble to create great looking videos then degrade them with a small web movie player and a bad video codec.  We want you to get an idea of the quality that we strive for, even in our web movies. 

We will be adding more to the website on a regular basis so we hope you will visit us again.  If you would like to be informed of news from Credence Pictures please feel free to join our email list.

Blessings,
Randy Durham
president
Credence Pictures Inc.

Over the past 30 years one of the aspects of film and video production that I have enjoyed the most is tracking and learning about new technologies and how to use them in a production and post production environment to maximize workflow.  I have been accused of being on the “bleeding-edge” of technology and there is certainly some truth to that.  But I love the challenge of creating systems that work so I’m always looking for new gear and gadgets.  Over the years I’ve worked on many linear and non-linear editing systems and we’ve shot film, 3/4”, Betcam SP, DV, HDV, HD, tape, hard drives, DVD, etc. 

Well in case you are wondering what formats Credence Pictures is currently working with let me give you an idea.

Production:

We are currently using (2) JVC GY-HD250 cameras that work really well for taping interviews, allowing a Medium - Medium Wide Shot along with a Close Up shot of the interviewee, which gives a producer a lot of choices in post.  The cameras are capable of true 24p, 30p and 60p recording and lock together with time-code sync.  We have a full compliment of lighting and sound gear including (2) Lectrosonics wireless systems.  We also have a portable tele-prompter system and a small camera jib system.  Having traveled to 23 countries over the years we have learned how to maximize the amount of gear we can travel with and we love to travel.

We are working on a HD-SDI recording option for the cameras in order to take advantage of the 1280x720 image in an uncompressed recording format.  More on that as it develops.  We partner with other producers so if a production requires XDCAM or other formats (including 35mm film) we can put the package together that our clients require.