While David prepares the real IBC blog for all the world to see, I thought it'd be good to complile some of the photos we took at the convention. IBC is a terrific show, similar to the US version called NAB. It's all film, broadcast, TV, and media. If you're a manufacturer in the business, you come to either one of these places to get the word out about your gear. Typically, Americans go to NAB and Europeans go to IBC, but David and I decided to break things up and skip the NAB in Vegas and head to Amsterdam. It was a good move- it was much less crowded, and much more compact, therefore allowing us time to see tons of stuff on our list. We were able to chat with the manufacturers for a good long while- something almost impossible to do in Vegas.
We immediately loved the feeling of being in the real Europe for a conference. As opposed to Vegas there was no fake Eifel Tower or recreated Venice Italy. This was the real thing, and I needed to pinch myself to make sure it wasn't fabricated.
One of our first stop was at Digital Visions booth. You may recognize the gumball machine in the background, as I try to explain to a woman named "Froggy" that we have two just like it in our office. She seemed confused, and said that these were special Digital Vision ones. I tried to explain that we were sent two of them a few years ago, and they're all the rage at the Criterion office...
Scanning techncology, the system used to convert film images to HD or data, was a major subject at the show. If you've never seen a scanner, here are the top two contenders used by most labs in the world: The Northlight and The ARRI. The Northlight sort of looks like an analog record player found in a 70's living room, while the ARRI, being German, is a much more scientific approach. I photographed the ARRI because they've just introduced the first "liquid gate" scanner, where the film gets scanned like a film printer- through liquid that conceals scratched and debris. It's not quite ready, but will be a real welcome into the film scanner world as it will eliminate so many film problems that plague restoration artists worldwide.
David and I always like a quick detour to the camera area. Sure, we have no need for one of these, but it's really fun to pretend we're cameramen on a TV show. We usually end up trying to smoothly zoom in on a plant, but then we end up turning the cameras at each other like idiots.
Lunch at a convention center is a depressing occasion. There's no choice, you're starving, and it's overprices beyong belief. The Amsterdam RAI center has at least eliminated the choice dilemma by providing food from around the world. David has chosen "Oriental" because, let's face it, who on earth would pick Dutch food??
After day one at the show came to a close, we met up with our good friend Larry Birstock from Post Logic. In my head, Larry always wins the cool dad award. He takes his kids to see all the indie rock bands that come through LA. Just last month he took them to see The Shins. I don't think I ever got taken to anything so cool when I was a kid.
David starts the following day by a cup of coffee and some post card writing. Check out the card he sent to Criterion in the front office.
We looked at lots of new monitors, including these beauties after Stephane raved about them after seeing one in LA last month. I'm on the phone with Susan back at the office during the photo catching up about Friday lunch.
This company was showing it's 48 frame per second camera by popping waterballoons on screen. The woman in the back was brought in especially from Japan for her extraordinary balloon blowing skills, and let me tell you, she truly earned her money.
Clocks.
After the end of day two, we met up with Granada's Fiona Maxwell and Richard Fish for a quick dutch beer.
Oddly enough, Rupert Everett must be some star in The Netherlands. His biography is generating a personal appearance at this Dutch bookstore in the center of town. David and I couldn't help but wonder why he would even have written a biography. I guess maybe I should write one also...
I left Amsterdam to go to Rome for the film "Mafioso." I leave you with this picture of Cinecitta Studios. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for David's real Criterion blog.
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