Filmmakers Garage

Hey all, it has been a while again since my last post.  Things have been very busy.  Since January, I’ve been working hard in my off-Sheridan time to develop a new iPad app.  I am very excited about this one.  I think it has huge potential to change the way filmmakers work.  Granted, I’m not the only app developer who is creating tools for filmmakers.  But I feel as though my new app called OnSet has hit a sweet spot, that other apps haven’t yet addressed.

The potential power of this app comes from an understanding that there are a lot of good, traditional sources of information on a film set, and bringing them together, in an organized way, on a mobile device will enable better creative decisions.

So, while you are viewing dailies, you can immediately access all of the related information that has been generated by the other members of your crew.  Camera reports, sound reports, the script – it all is just one finger touch away.

The development process has been really awesome.  One of the struggles in developing a piece of software is always finding ways to test it that approximate real-life use.  In this case, my development efforts were running parallel to the 2nd term production activities of the ATVF students.  So, at each stage, I would update their iPad with the current version of the software and see how it worked in the field.  The students got the benefit of a tool they wouldn’t have had access to otherwise, and I got the benefit of relevant feedback.

The win-win continues even after the release of the software.  I needed sample content for the app, and so I came to an agreement with Michael Ciuffini, the producer of our first film shot this Winter called ‘The Rink‘.  Michael provided samples of all his production documents and a couple of clips from the film.  Now I have representative sample content, and Michael’s film is getting exposure it would have never had otherwise.  Win-win.

I also had assistance from ATVF student, Andrew Winter.  Andrew helped out with a lot of the graphical design elements.  He was also directing the last 2nd-term project to be shot.  So he got to use a version of OnSet that was very nearly complete.  Andrew and his crew provided some great input just as OnSet was getting prepared for submission to the iTunes store.

You can find more information about the app on the product web page here:  http://www.onsetforipad.com/Ripple_Digital/onset.html .  There are a couple of short videos there that give a sense of how things work.  Didier Kennel (our amazing editing instructor at Sheridan College) has been encouraging me to post videos with a proper audio narration.  But so far my own voice is not making the cut – maybe I’ll recruit someone else to record something for me this week.

You can find the app in the iTunes store here:  http://itunes.apple.com/app/onset/id424434789?mt=8&ls=1.  If you know anyone who might benefit from an app like this (directors, producers, continuity, etc) please forward the link on to them if you can.  I’m trying to get the word out as much as I can on my own, but it is a real challenge to balance time for development of the next version of the software, with producing a website, user manual, instructional videos, etc..

I leave for NAB in two weeks.  This will be a different kind of NAB experience for me.  In the past I’ve generally been representing Sheridan College, and I was there to hear people pitch new technology.  This year I have something of my own I’m going to be pitching.  I’ve even got business shirts on order that have OnSet for iPad embroidery!  Should be a fun time.  If you are interested in a face-to-face demo and you are going to be at NAB, send me a message.  I should have a preview of OnSet version 1.2 available to show by then too.  Lots of cool stuff that might make it into that release.  For certain, the onboard camera in the iPad2 will be supported.  I finally got my hands on an iPad2 last night and I only had to un-comment two lines of code and camera support was good-to-go!!

If you’ve bought OnSet, and you’ve found your way here, please post a comment to let me know what you think.  Please be kind though – I’m working hard on this thing – but undoubtedly there may be a few bugs lurking in places I haven’t anticipated!

If you are an ATVF grad, and you want to try out OnSet, send me a note, and I’ll see what I can do to get you set up with a free copy to test.