i think it's ppretty cool that Serkis is also a 2nd unit director. Dunno why but it's cool to me.

While I guess digital cameras don't have a gate to check in a traditional sense, they probably still use the term for it's intention which is to check the lens area of the camera for hair, schmutz and other issues that may ruin the previous take and affect upcoming shots.

I love these videos. I don't quite know what it is...I would never dream of wasting even 10 minutes of my life to watch a video blog of the making of any other movie, but for some reason I'm just fascinated by how these movies get made. Maybe it's because all the movies just seem so big and complicated. I just can't imagine how these movies ever get completed.

All the dwarves lined up (spoilered for size):

the one second to the right looks like Boston Bruins Brad Marchand

technical question: what camera's are being used by Jackson and his DP?

There's not anything I'm seeing at this point that I don't like so far, but I am worried about telling one dwarf from another. Even with that picture posted above I can tell that there will be at least a couple I will have trouble identifying in a crowd.

RED digital 3D cameras: http://www.slashfilm.com/the-hobbit-...-accoding-red/

^ thanks for the info and link

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6e-3i1ploR4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Red EPIC. In the new production diary just posted today, PJ said they're using 48(!) of them. $40,000 for the body, $58,000 for the kit, if you want one of your own.

To be more specific, The Hobbit is being shot in 3D, which requires camera rigs of two cameras each. So it's closer to $116,000 for each rig.
http://camerarentalz.com/3d-red-epic-rental/
http://www.red.com/press/3d-camera-r...nt-make-before

I haven't watched the video yet. Does he state they're using 48 cameras total (24 rigs of 2 cameras each), or 48 camera rigs (which would be 96 cameras total)?

24 rigs, IIRC. The handheld rig is a monster.

I was pleased to hear that the filming resolution is 5K. Good to know they're giving themselves enough resolution to play with in post. (For comparison, the digital filming of SW eps 2 and 3 was only at 1080).

This may be the second 3d movie I see in the theater.

OK, watched the video. At about 3:55, they say they have 48 cameras in 17 3D rigs. That leaves 12 cameras unaccounted for, perhaps they're backups.

As for the rigs themselves, Aside from the extra wide "lens" used for the mirroring system, they don't look too bad.

To be fair, SW eps 2 and 3 were shot before there were any digital 4K cameras on the market. The precursor to the Epic, the Red One, didn't come out until 2007. Even Avatar was shot using 2K cameras in a 3D rig (some of them the same camera as used in Episode 3).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dig...ompany#Red_One
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_Camera_System
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CineAlta

Here's a comparison of camera rigs. First the 3D digital Epic steadycam from The Hobbit:



Then the film steadycam used for Lord of the Rings:



They look near the same in size.

I liked how they named each camera, especially John, Paul, George and Ringo

Hopefully they don't introduce the Yoko camera...

Seeing Gandalf the Grey in action on the set just gave me goosebumps... and the mirkwood scenes... this is the kind of thing that reminds me why I love films.

Yeah... but the Hobbit camera is, in effect, TWO cameras.

Count me impressed. Particularly with the camera guys (and gals) who wear those rigs. The whole set up must weigh nearly a hundred pounds.

yeah..but the rig helps w/ that. Which is the part that always amazes me the most.

I really hope Warner's releases this in 4K 'Sony' LCoS and 4K DLP since it's the closest we will get to see high resolution that the camera caught.

Secondly since the initial trilogy were released in Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES 6.1 sound, I hope Jackson can persuade Warner's to release the film in 7.1 surround sound - a sound format the studio has yet to release a film in as such.

Heads up. Heard the trailer will be coming out later tonight or tomorrow.

Is there a preview of the trailer? I'd love to watch that.