TOPIC:

Tom wrote:

"offer both the compression and presentation role"

What do you mean by presentation role?

Well we are entering into a new world of distribution so I'm hoping that Apple might provide us with tools that will do things like DVD Studio Pro offered but for the Web.

Imagine if when you shared your video you could also add interactive features like embedded urls, different audio tracks, subtitles and stills. Maybe even have a way of sharing straight to iTunes.

Ironic all these sales are happening. I'm inclined to buy nothing FCPX or ProApps related until after the release. Tangentially, it's interesting that there's no Resolve 10 updates to Resolve 9 training.

I agree. There's a couple of good plug-in that have come out, but it's better to see what happens with the FCPX and Motion platforms before investing in anything.

Yeah, I'm surprised not to see any Resolve 10 training yet. Not sure what that could mean...

Seanus wrote:

...
Well we are entering into a new world of distribution so I'm hoping that Apple might provide us with tools that will do things like DVD Studio Pro offered but for the Web.

Imagine if when you shared your video you could also add interactive features like embedded urls, different audio tracks, subtitles and stills. Maybe even have a way of sharing straight to iTunes.

I had hoped that something like this would happen as well. Consider that iWeb is gone and that Apple is a proponent of HTML5 over Flash, one would hope they'd "shine" by creating a tool that would allow HTML5 interactivity.

For a company that beats up on Flash and touts file delivery over optical disk, Apple really hasn't done much to offer content creators an alternative within the Apple ecosystem.

Tangentially I'd add that with the decline of Quicktime Broadcaster and Quicktime Streaming Server, Apple would also push a home grown HLS (HTTP Live Streaming solutions) which would, in effect, also be a replacement for FCP legacy iChat Theater.

Perhaps with this new iMovie Theater would be a precursor to a ProApps version. One can dream can't one.

Seanus,

Sounds like you're talking about an iTunes Extras authoring tool.

This is the kind of application the Adobe of the late 90s would have done very well.

Now we have to wait for Apple. I hoped that iBooks Author would be expanded to do this, but we're still waiting.

Blu-Ray authoring never really went anywhere compared with the flowering of DVD extras creativity with much more limited interactivity possibilities.

I feel another blog post coming on!


@Alex4D

Disproportionate wrote:

Yeah, I'm surprised not to see any Resolve 10 training yet. Not sure what that could mean...

fxphd recently updated their Resolve training for v10
www.fxphd.com/store/fast-forward-resolve-v10-fundamentals/

Scrubelicious wrote:

Mark Spencer and Steve Martin on MacBreak Studio are realising Motion tutorials one after the other.
Almost looks like they have hurry up releasing these videos since a new Motion might be around the corner and things will be changed.

An alternative interpretation: The full court press on Motion could also mean that there aren't major changes in the works. If there were, then these recent tutorials might be obsolete in a matter of weeks or days.

Hope I'm wrong.

Russ

cseeman wrote:

Seanus wrote:

...
Well we are entering into a new world of distribution so I'm hoping that Apple might provide us with tools that will do things like DVD Studio Pro offered but for the Web.

Imagine if when you shared your video you could also add interactive features like embedded urls, different audio tracks, subtitles and stills. Maybe even have a way of sharing straight to iTunes.

I had hoped that something like this would happen as well. Consider that iWeb is gone and that Apple is a proponent of HTML5 over Flash, one would hope they'd "shine" by creating a tool that would allow HTML5 interactivity.

For a company that beats up on Flash and touts file delivery over optical disk, Apple really hasn't done much to offer content creators an alternative within the Apple ecosystem.

Tangentially I'd add that with the decline of Quicktime Broadcaster and Quicktime Streaming Server, Apple would also push a home grown HLS (HTTP Live Streaming solutions) which would, in effect, also be a replacement for FCP legacy iChat Theater.

Perhaps with this new iMovie Theater would be a precursor to a ProApps version. One can dream can't one.

Well there is Hype from Tumult which Apple has promoted. But yes it would be nice to see a distribution tool.
As long its not going to be a iTunes Ping 2.

I hadn't noticed iTunes extras before, but they showed up on my machine when I bought a movie from AppleTV recently. Does anyone know the current format for submitting an iTunes extra? Now that I think about it, how much more difficult is it getting video on iTunes versus Audio? Almost every local artist I know has somehting on iTunes but not much video. The idea of that supllanting DVDSP seems logical. Though I still keep my G5 running DVDSP because the weddings I occasionally do are always given on DVD.

Currently Send to iTunes is the default behavior when creating an Apple TV movie. I haven't looked but I would guess Send to iTunes is an available job action in Compressor.

Tom wrote:

Currently Send to iTunes is the default behavior when creating an Apple TV movie. I haven't looked but I would guess Send to iTunes is an available job action in Compressor.

Actually what I was meaning was send to the iTunes Store. I want to see a brave new world that removes the need to go through distributors and broadcasters. The biggest thieves in the industry and the last road block to democratised content.

You should probably include the iTunes Store among those rapacious distributors.

Having dealt with film distributors I would consider iTunes store to more like Mother Teresa!
I will gladly give up 30% of any profits rather than 80%-90% to those crooks.

Direct distribution to iTunes, YouTube, or Vimeo is really the dream of independent distribution. Cutting away as many leeching layers between the content creator and the distribution platform.

As Seanus says, (presuming it would be the same deal as the appStore) a 70/30 split on sales/rentals is WAY better than any deal you're going to get with a distributor today.

The issue for Apple is of course one of liability. As labyrinth as it is, the film production industry is built on protecting it's own butt. That means all the way thru things like contracts, insurance, ownership and copyright have been double and triple checked by teams of lawyers.

In a direct-to-iTunes distribution model- where's the assurances on Apple's part that the movie you've uploaded is yours, and contains no copyrighted images, music, or anything else that has to be cleared? Even if Apple had a team of people watching every film, how could they guarantee they'd catch everything?

And assuming a film is found to be breaking some copyright- who takes the blame? Could Apple guarantee that no one would come after them?

Then there's the issue of rating. Would all indecent films have to be screen by people at Apple who give it a rating? Or would all independent films have to be released unrated.

It's a really sticky scenario once money starts changing hands for the final product.

But the idea that someone could shoot a great comedy or drama for $50K and have access to the entire base of iTunes users; where they could potentially profit tens of millions of dollars or more. It's the goal we should be striving for- but there are lots of complexities along the way.

Louis CK has proven successful as an online distribution model. He is on iTunes as well, but his web site is his primary distribution channel.

Yeah, as it sits now you have to have your film encoded by an apple authorized facility which is very expensive. And unless you go through a content aggregator, the approval process is tough. Vimeo has a great service where you can charge what you want for purchase or rental and they take only 10%. Trying to convince a director who's film I finished to release it this way.

Tom wrote:

Louis CK has proven successful as an online distribution model. He is on iTunes as well, but his web site is his primary distribution channel.

I think this works well for someone who already as an established fan-base who they can drive to a point of sale they control.

For independent filmmakers, it seems to me that a large established platform would drive people to highly rated independent content.

In the end it would be about driving people to your film and generating a viewership and ratings. Much like with the appStore, it would be easy for your film to get lost.

That's a question if marketing and getting the product out there. On a Indepedent site, once your viewer arrives, there is no competition. The iTunes Store is exactly the opposite.

Darren wrote:

Yeah, as it sits now you have to have your film encoded by an apple authorized facility which is very expensive. And unless you go through a content aggregator, the approval process is tough. Vimeo has a great service where you can charge what you want for purchase or rental and they take only 10%. Trying to convince a director who's film I finished to release it this way.

This is why I would like to see Apple produce a combined Compressor Presenter app. It would make iTunes Store Legal content as well as help the creator take care of all marketing material.

Imagine if the replacement for DVDs and BluRays were standalone Apps that could be viewed on AppleTV, iDevices or seen on the web. They could contain not only your movie but any other rich media you might want to put in there. Like director's commentary, behind the scenes, supporting documents ANYTHING all wrapped up nice and neat.

As for distribution: Not sure what the laws are like elsewhere but in Oz the copyright responsibilities lie with the content's production company not the broadcaster. So if it were the same elsewhere iTunes would probably only bear the responsibility of providing an accurate rating for your content and making sure it was technically legal for consumption across a range of devices.

Tom, I think that's two separate markets. One is seeking you out. The other drives people to your product. Again, much like the appStore, Apple will choose to highlight developers on a weekly basis. Or if everyone who watches for film rates it highly, then you'll end up in the top charts, which is where the real money is.

iTunes is "mass market" for lack of a better term. It may be more difficult for your audience to find you in the noise, but the reward could be much greater if that audience does find you.

But you're right, any product with a loyal base can cut out even the distributor, as long as they can handle the bandwidth to deliver their content.