Van Gogh didn’t need ChatGPT to create art, and nor I am pretty sure did Michelangelo.
What Do Peter Brock, Gordon Ramsey and Leonardo DaVinci Share?
They all do (or did) one thing in common
Service Levels Dropping? Myth or Fact?
30 seconds before, it was minding its own business in the front garden of a house, when suddenly, it decided it didn’t like the look of the car I was driving, leapt the front fence, vaulted the media strip and charged the Toyota Corolla, striking it head on, literally, into...
A brand new computer game is in town. And its brilliant. But a little expensive.
Basically, you watch a little graph that shows you power usage, and your job is to minimise it so that the battery in the game keeps charging while you use as little power as possible coming from an external source.
New Section in Creative Content/Australian Videocamera
Starting next week, I'll be starting a new section containing information relating to upcoming training courses available, primarily online. I have been in discussion with the major plug in manufacturers specifically, BorisFX and Maxon /Red Giant, and they agree with me that sending out emails only to prospective attendees is...
Movie escapism? Or real life. Your thoughts?
My Dad who died aged 53, which is obviously very young in this day and age, only ever saw 3 films in a theatre in his life during my time so far on this earth. They were The Sound of Music, The Planet of the Apes and Grand Prix, all...
General consumer tech product reviews – see BTTR
Every so often I get asked if I ever intend to branch out beyond cameras, camcorders, video, editing, audio, drones and so on.
My Opinion 5th May 2025
I have some strong opinions on certain things and this is one of them.
Video Comment: Trump, Tariffs and the Aussie Fillum Industry. Plus a Squirrel.
President Trump has threatened a 100% tariff on movies “made in foreign lands”? But what does this even mean?
Trump’s Tariffs A Threat To Aussie Film Industry.
Fox Studios in Sydney, Village Roadshow on the Gold Coast and the new studios being built by the WA Govt are all potentially in the firing line.
Are all telcos equal? Nope… not by a long shot.
So, 2 weeks ago I could call Jacqui if I wanted to, while she was on a Cathay Pacific jet over Germany at 30,000 feet, but on a part of Australia that is actually civilised and not just inhabited by emus, wombats, kangaroos, rabbits and crocodiles, I can’t use a...
Seek and ye shall find. Or not. (But there are other benefits)
So, I devised a methodology of starting at one end of the house to the other in a sort of search pattern
Two Things You Should Always Do
As fast as I’d have a complete system running, it would require a tweak here, a different look there, a new report required and so on. It just never ended.
Do you purchase based on “influencer” advice?
A mutual acquaintance had purchased an item that had been recommended by someone on TikTok. Apparently, it all looked good, seemed to fit the need and was reasonably priced.
Tariffs on software imports? It might happen…
The one thing I am waiting for is the moment when someone in Trump’s cabinet gets the smart idea that there are REALLY big bucks to be made with tariffs on software services and apps.
Cyclones: Been there and done that. Do NOT risk yourself for anything.
My car was sandblasted down one side. Our rotary clothes line (that has a concrete block as a base) screwed itself into the ground so that the handle mechanism was at ground level.
The largest, most detailed free photography book on the internet.
Photopills has updated their website guides for 2025 and claim it is now the largest and most detailed free photography book available on the internet.
5 Quick Tips for Better Video Interviews (Video)
With so many people creating interviews these - or even selfie interviews - there are 5 basic errors that are easy to make. Here they are and how to avoid them.
Magpie Murders. A MUST SEE especially for aspiring script writers
A must see for any aspiring writer on how to put together a script that keeps you guessing until the last minute of the 6 part series.
Cyber bullying. The other side of internet safety.
I was reminded of a very powerful piece of video I saw some years back now.
Editorial Comment: Is There a Time When Crews Can Be Unpaid?
What I do have an issue with, is people asking others, professional and with gear or not, to do it for free.
Why Independents are Needed. And Subscriptions.
To be fair, just as the latest closures in Australia closed – Kotaku, Lifehacker and so on, it appears Game Informer was shut down by its parent due to it non-performing in a business sense.
ISO Explained – A Creative Content 3 Minute Video Tutorial
A quick 3 minute video explaining what ISO is, how you should use it, the effects of ISO on an image and more.
Gaming or Motoring (or even Video). It’s a Harsh World Out There.
I have stated many times that I am not really a gamer these days. I have a PS4 with Project Cars and F1 2019 on it, with the obligatory Logitech steering wheel, pedals and seat, but this is more an homage to my past motor sport days than gaming per...
Frontline on ABC again. And what about comedy these days?
Over the weekend I heard that the ABC has re-mastered / released the series on iView, and I urge anyone who has an interest in this area to watch it, not just because of its humour and writing which will still stand up today, but to also see what can...
Another comedy victim to the rubbish bin, sadly.
It must be very hard these days to be a comedy writer as every i must be dotted and t crossed to make sure someone, somewhere is not offended.
Dr Who. Has It Lost It?
When Russell T Davies brought back Dr Who in 2005, after a brief period of anticipatory worry, I think we all breathed a sigh of relief as it appeared he had successfully managed to encapsulate the original magic.
Mobmusic. Not a term I have heard before. But I like it!
On a Saturday evening or at the Sunday afternoon pub sessions, at least one hostelry in towns like Derby, Broome or Port Hedland had a band playing that was predominately aboriginal players.
The Manual. Yes, it IS important! More than you may realise!
No part of any software or device is more important than its manual. In this 5 minute video, I explain why
Quick Survey Please?
As you may know, this website was born out of the demise of the original Videocamera magazine back in 2007, and has gone through a couple of metamorphoses since that time to be what it is today. But times change, and whereas in the past, it was skewed very heavily...
Has LinkedIn “Jumped the Shark?”
When it started, LinkedIn was a useful place for job searching, finding courses for betterment, connecting to like-minded professional people and so on. But now … If it is not someone spruiking their latest book, video, podcast or website that can tell you that following their advice will guarantee instant...
Latest Creative Content CCTV News Now Live
Stories this week from Blackmagic Design, ABE, Maxon, ATOMOS, Insta360, DJI, and more. All in an easy to watch, bite sized 5 minute video format.
Online Video Quality: Does Anything Go?
There is an interesting conversation happening at the moment among members of the IT / Tech community and some publishers. Whilst everyone seems to agree that the future in publishing is video – a subject close to my heart of course – at that point the disagreements kick in. Not...
Latest Creative Content CCTV News Week Ending July 19th 2024 Now Available
Latest Creative Content CCTV News Week Ending July 19th 2024 Now Available
New Video Tutorial: Framing and the Rule of Thirds for your videos and photos
In my latest 5 Minute Video Tutorial, I explain how to frame and create interesting imaging using the Rule of Thirds. But I also show how the Masters simply throw that rule away and do their own thing, to brilliant effect. https://youtu.be/K20DXfdJWAs
Creative Content CC-TV News is now a thing!
There is so much information flying about these days via press releases, websites and so on, many do not have the time to catch them all. Creative Content CC-TV News takes the important stories and condenses them into an approximately 5 minute video.
Creating Tutorials: Complete Details of the Kit I Use …
I have had a number of requests as to what equipment and software I am using to make the tutorials (there are 3 so far and at least another 7 in the pipeline) I am putting together, collectively called 5 Minute Tech. So here it is.
New Video Tutorial: All About Creating Buttery Smooth Slo-Mo
This is the 3rd video in my series on the Basics of Video and Photography.
New Video Tutorial: Coming Soon. All About Slo—–Mo!
How do you create slow motion or slo-mo? Well even the most basic cameras or smartphones *should* be able to do this, but if not, there is a software hack or two AND a plugin that will let you. Coming soon to my YouTube Channel. Check back in 36 hours!
Manual Photography. With REAL Film. A Starter’s Primer.
In another article I wrote about the absolute optimism apparently some retailers may have about what they can make out of the resurgence of analogue photography, where if you did not know, instead of shooting to a memory card you use real film. I started this way like many of...
A roll of film for $40. Processing it for $80? Are you ‘avin’ a larf?
Earlier this week there was a report on the Channel News website about analogue cameras “making a comeback” (which we actually reported in 2022 by way of being actually at the coalface. That besides, the part that caught my eye was it stated than in a quote from a “major...
Aperture Explained
So here is a 5 minute tutorial I have put together to help all those who need to understand about a camera's aperture settings. It's not that hard. No. Really! Watch and see for yourself.
3 Minute Tech. Short, sharp and relevant video tutorials
In that time I discovered one thing; no matter how advanced, how smart or how complex the tech becomes, the actual basics never change and this is expecially true in video and photography. The trouble is, some of this stuff beginners find a little tricky at times.
The most important carry-on luggage item for a cruise?
Oh, and by the way, if you are thinking of charging your drone batteries, forget it. Any sort of remote-control device is banned (sadly) and as all baggage and hand luggage is scanned every time you board, they will find it and confiscate it.
Which Camera Is Best? On a Cruise I Find Out. Hello Broome!
Since I started Australian Videocamera all the way back in 2007, I have always strived to make camera, camcorder and accessories etc reviews that reflect real life as against what I call “test bench” reviews. As such, I have attached camcorders to race cars, been snorkelling and diving with both...
In the race to “Marketing”, customer service has been left behind it seems
Reading through LinkedIn posts, it appears that everyone these days is a “marketer” or derivative thereof. (That’s bypassing all the “storytellers” by the way). But if my experiences of the last few days show anything, in all this clamour to be a “marketer”, many companies and individuals inside those companies,...
User Interfaces? Should we go back to text instead of piccies?
Isn’t it time that all the manufacturers got together and standardised on these things. If road traffic systems around the world can all have the same signs, surely it can’t be that hard? Maybe going back to words might help? At least you won’t have to guess what a blue...
Tech Flashback: VisiCalc? It Was Excel Before It Grew Up…
That’s up there with a record producer telling the Beatles they would never make it, or the CEO of IBM once saying he couldn’t see a worldwide market for more than a handful of computers.
Tech Flashback. Up First, The Radio Shack / Tandy Model 100
When it comes to technology, I am a child of the 70s; that is, I had my first taste of tech in my teens when I bought what was possibly the first digital watch on the market. It had a black face and when you pressed the button on the...
“Aversion” – a new WA film being made
Anthony Chila from the Perth Filmmaking Community Facebook News Group is putting together the crew, cast and fund of course funding for a new film being shot in WA called 'Aversion'. You can get all the info at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/aversion-feature-film--2/x/22456598#/ Here is the trailer: https://youtu.be/UizoMZ_MuYE
Case Study: Reality TV Show ‘Take Off ‘
“Take Off,” a reality TV game show based and shot in Luxembourg, was produced using an acquisition, control and delivery solution based on the ATEM Constellation 8K live production switcher and DaVinci Resolve Studio for editing and color correction. With a mission to ignite a passion for science among Luxembourg's youth,...
Although some don’t think this should be the case, you pay for what you get.
The bit I don’t get is that people are more than happy to pay a plumber, sparky, gardener, handyman or whatever up to $150 / hour without blinking an eye, but when it comes to advice on tech, that the givers of such advice have learnt over sometimes decades of...
Confused by ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture? This will bring you up to speed.
On most cameras today, you can cheat and just set the camera to automatic, and the brain of the camera will sort all that nonsense out for you. But why did you spend good dollars then on a flash new camera when you could spend a fraction of the money...
Don’t be a dickhead and fly responsibly. A drone tale of stupidity.
You can’t drive on the road or skipper a boat without a licence, so why should you be able to fly without one is a perfectly reasonable question many may ask.
The Perils of Location Filming. Or… People! Bah!
I wrote this article nearly 6 years ago, and it still stands up. Maybe even moreso with the proliferation of drones added to the mix.
ACCC Report on reviewers and “influencers”
An ACCC Report released in the last day or so is damning on the balance offered by certain reviewers and “influencers” on some retail products including household appliances and electronics. Of course these types of products come under my remit here at Creative Content. Further, the report says that certain...
RTM. It’ll save you heaps of time and be a journey of discovery too.
If you are not familiar with a Pluto Trigger, it is a small – and very clever – Bluetooth device that connects via a dedicated cable to your camera’s comms port and uses the aforementioned Bluetooth with an app on your smartphone. Once it is all setup, you can use...
Why does my YouTube footage look like s**t? Probably because …
A question often asked in Facebook forums and other online chat spots for video, GoPros, drones and similar devices is “Why does my footage on YouTube look so crappy? I shot it in 4K and it looks horrible there, but great on my computer”.
Communication and Project Management. Absolute essentials, yes or no?
Let me ask you a question. Do you think you communicate as well as you could? When collaborating with others, whether it be in business or artistic pursuits, it is essential that everyone understands what is going on, what their roles are, what resources are needed and available, what time...
Don’t Be Fooled. Add-On Ergonomic Gizmos for Smartphones NOT What They Claim.
Over the last 24 hours in particular, I have seen a flood of ads on Facebook especially, pushing a series of “ergonomic grip” systems that the vendors claim will turn your smartphone into a “professional camera”. Whatever that is. The prices are exy to, with some I have seen around...
Video editing on a smartphone doesn’t cut it. Here’s why (and the solution).
About 12 months ago I wrote a review of the Quik app for GoPros. It’s here if you want to read what I thought about it back then. I haven’t changed my mind particularly, but I have noticed a fair number of folk in the GoPro forums complaining. I suspect...
More AI Nonsense
I swear this whole AI thing is getting out of hand. As I have mentioned previously, just as everyone whacked an “I” in front of everything when the internet became the tech darling in the late 90s, so now every man and his dog is branding everything as “AI” capable,...
Setup and Costs. Audio / Video Recording Studio At Home or Office.
For quite some time now I have waxed lyrical about the Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro. I have stated many times that this amazing piece of kit, that not that long ago needed gear costing in the thousands of dollars to replicate what it does, forms the hub of my...
“Bring out your dead”
Special AUD$5500 trade in deal on offer. Avid NEXIS is the proven storage solution that works best with your favourite software. Whether you edit on Premiere, Resolve, Pro Tools, or Media Composer, NEXIS has been designed from the ground up to get the job done with no fuss. Avid NEXIS...
The film industry and game designing. Does it all add up? I’ll spell it out.
I had an interesting, albeit short, conversation with someone today. They were a younger person, probably late teens, and serving in the local shop. Unfortunately, their whizz bang till had gone down, so all transactions were manual. My purchase came to $15.90 and I gave this person a $20 note...
Roger Waters Releases New Versions from Dark Side of the Moon
Dark Side of the Moon is one of - if not THE - seminal albums of all time. And Roger Waters, the major writer and ex-bass player from Pink Floyd has just released a new version of one of the tracks from the album. I am guessing as I don't...
Its NOT the camera …
There is no easy way to say this. Buying a newer and "better" drone, GoPro, camera or videocamera will NOT make you a better photographer / videographer. This is a marketing ploy particularly adopted by phone manufacturers. So many folk buy the next generation iPhone or Samsung smartphone on the...
“It Just Isn’t Worth the Effort to Put a Drone in the Air Anymore” (No I Didn’t Say It)
I read a post in an online blog the other day that has to be one of the silliest I have seen in a long time when it comes to drone commentary. It was entitled and lamented that a combination of law-based restrictions and advances in drone technology had taken...
I asked ChatGPT and Google Bard to discuss 2001: A Space Odyssey. Interesting!
Like many, I have followed the rapid evolution of the so-called AI language models, ChatGPT and Google Bard. I for one still refuse to call them “Artificial Intelligence” as to me, this entails also having access to emotions to guide thoughts and reasoning, and emotion also includes those feelings brought...
Is “Janet” the end of stock photography?
On LinkedIn I just saw a post someone had placed with a photograph of a model called “Janet”. Now I cannot disprove this, but the poster claims this photo was a complete AI image construct he himself put together from scratch. And while the image is very lifelike, and at...
AI Cannot Be Brought Up Without Bringing 2001: A Space Odyssey Into The Argument
We hear in the news that the US Government via the House of Reps is about to do an “investigation” into the claims a whistle blower who has been in a position of Probably Knowing, has blown the lid on the existence of not just UFOs, but that the Gummerment...
Everyone is talking about ‘AI’. So I will too (and debunk a major myth at the same time)
There is a trend appearing of late that mirrors one of about 25 years ago. That was back when the internet as we know it now was just starting (the first commercialisation of the internet in Australia was circa 1995). When companies worked out there was a quid to be...
Is ChatGTP a step forward or simply a cop-out?
Last night I came across a post in a Facebook group I am involved with that is a meeting place for amateur and professional film makers alike. In this post, the author stated they were investigating the use of ChatGTP to create scripts for their next film, and did anyone...
Latest Podcast Now Live
My regular podcast covering all things video, photography, imaging, audio and even drones and 3D printing. In this edition: All you need to know about camera lens filters? Astrophotography. Getting started Monetizing your film One the website this week... and.. Win a Zhiyun Molus G20 Lighting Kit worth over $500...
How Do I Monetise My Horror Film?
In one of the Facebook film groups the other day, someone was lamenting that they could get no one to take on the horror film they had produced. To paraphrase, the question that was asked “how do I then monetise what I have done if no-one will take it on?”...
New “Getting Started” Section
As the volume of stories, tutorials, case studies and reviews grows, even though there is a 'Search' option on my website, often someone just getting started in video, photography, flying drones, creating podcasts or vlogs doesn't quite know what to search for. Similarly, as posts "disappear" off relevent pages -...
Does it actually matter WHAT you use to make a film today? And a whole bunch of other questions that need to be asked …
I’d like to pose a question. But to preface it, I refer m’learned friends to a piece I wrote a while back when Apple suggested the iPhone was truly a “professional camera”. A side-by-side comparison with a little Sony RX0 MkII showed this was not the case, at least technically....
Should you pay cast / crew? Or is it OK to ask for freebies? Your say.
One of the big contentious issues facing the filmmaking fraternity is that of cast and crew procurement. In short, it revolves around the recompense they get – or not – for their involvement. If you are coming into this without a clue of what the hoo-ha is about, it is...
Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked
ABC documentary series “Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked” used DaVinci Resolve Studio editing, grading, visual effects (VFX) and audio post production software. The three part series was mixed by Mark Tanner, who used DaVinci Resolve Studio’s Fairlight page and a Fairlight Desktop Console for post production sound mixing and mastering. “Miriam...
Latest Podcast Now Online
My latest podcast CreativeSpeak, is now online. In this edition: The latest news from NAB Creating your own sound effects - and introducing you to the YingTong song and the Goon Show Video editing terminology explained News of the week Download it (14 mins approx) here All comments and ideas...
Cyclones. A first hand perspective.
I have to admit that when I first saw the images of the destruction at Pardoo Roadhouse today, wrought by Cyclone Ilsa, it brought back some memories. And a little bit of anger. And a few tears for those that went through it and now suffering the consequences. You see,...
Make your own SFX. And meet the Goons. The art of the Foley.
Do you know why the Goon Show ended? (If you have never heard of the Goon Show, shame on you! Run, don’t walk, IMMEDIATELY to http://www.thegoonshow.net/ and feast your ears on some of the funniest, cleverest and brilliant comedy of all time, and where the beginnings of the likes of...
Our very first podcast is now live!
My very first podcast! In the 10 minute epsidode, I discuss the important news of the week, different microphone types and when to use which, 3D modelling, animation and motion graphics training and drone flying, insurance needs and getting certified. I also point you to a review of the Sennheiser...
Coming Soon! Our Regular Podcast “Creative Speak”
Coming very shortly is the very first episode of Creative Speak, my podcast for this website Creative Content. Each week I'll cover the news I have come across relating to video, photography, audio and graphics creation as well as any ancillary stuff such as film making, special effects, drones, GoPros...
Film. It’s Cool Again.
A story on the ABC news site this morning talked about a resurgence of film and non-digital cameras. In the supporting Twitter feed, a number of people debunked the concept which I found interesting, as not that long ago i had first hand exposure to this very thing. Let me...
‘Artificial Intelligence’ or ‘AI’. Is it really? You be the judge of this image…
artificial /ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃl/: made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, especially as a copy of something natural. in·tel·li·gence in-ˈtel-ə-jən(t)s. : the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations. : the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as...
“There is nothing ever interesting to shoot”. What a load of bollocks…
I saw a post on Facebook yesterday that made me grimace and laugh out load almost at the same time. Someone asked the question, and I paraphrase a tad: “Do you think that here in (state name) we have nowhere interesting or decent to take photos, as against other states?”...
A Cautionary Tale… Don’t Let This Happen To You!
This story, whilst not directly creating content related, nonetheless can serve as a warning to others who start a business and don’t take ALL the steps to safeguard it's intellectual property. Or, in the words of the Bard, ‘Tis A Somewhat Cautionary Tale… Many, many, many years ago (in internet...
A welcome side benefit …
I always find it interesting when finding new products and then reviewing them when a seemingly unthought of side benefit pops up. I discovered another of these the other day and I thought I’d pass it on. As regular readers know, I am a fan of the Loupedeck CT, USB connected...
We want to chat!
Whether you are a filmmaker or a vendor to the industry, we’d like to talk to you! If a filmmaker – small or large – our readers want to know what you are doing, how you do it, your thoughts on the industry and so on. If a vendor, what...
Testimonial (sort of): Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro.
I’ve had my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro for a little while now and got it down (mostly) off pat for the general everyday run-of-the-mill shooting I do. I am still learning of course and experimenting as I go. You never stop learning as they say. But knowing there is a...