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JHouser
08-19-2009, 05:13 PM
Cinemek*Releases*iPhone App for Storyboarding
"Hitchcock" to empower filmmakers with mobile, instant storyboarding capabilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEATTLE - August, 17 2009- Cinemek Incorporated® launches their eagerly awaited iPhone/iPod Touch App, Hitchcock™, an application which allows filmmakers to storyboard and pre-visualize their films in a way never before possible. As a Mobile Storyboard Composer, Hitchcock aims to speed up and modernize the storyboarding process.

“Storyboarding is one of the most critical steps in the pre-production process, and yet filmmakers are storyboarding less” says Cinemek Founder and CEO, Jonathan Houser. “As an instructor at a local film school, I found myself struggling to convince my students to utilize storyboarding techniques in their class projects. Guilty of disregarding the whole storyboarding process myself, it was a difficult sell. Houser continues, “I hate to draw, but I hate not being on the same page as my creative counterparts even more. Most of the directors I work with either cannot afford a storyboard artist or just don't have the time to storyboard themselves. I kept thinking that there had to be a better way”

Hitchcock does away with the conventional storyboarding drawbacks while maintaining the integrity of the process. It extends the benefits of mobility and ease of access to filmmakers. “As a mobile application, Hitchcock allows the user to rough out their ideas from anywhere,” says Houser. “None of my good ideas happen in a convenient location; however, I always have my iPhone on me.”

Hitchcock’s structure is based on standard storyboarding techniques. The user begins by either taking a photo or importing an already existing photo on their iPhone or iPod Touch, then pulling it into the Panel View, where they can add common markups such as dolly track, zoom or pan. The user can also create direction inside the frame, such as movement of a character or object. With Hitchcock, the user can even insert single or multiple stand-ins into the panels.

In addition, the application offers a Live Playback feature, which allows users to define the duration of each panel. This allows for real-time feedback on pacing. Once the completed storyboard is ready, the user can then upload a PDF version and email a link to anyone they choose.

“I am confident Hitchcock will be an important tool to assist storytellers of any medium to better visualize and share their ideas with others.” Houser concludes.

Hitchcock is currently available for download via the Apple iTunes app store for $19.99.

Cinemek Incorporated produces equipment for the TV and Motion Picture industries. Founded by Jonathan Houser in 2006, Cinemek is dedicated to the development of emerging technologies in motion picture. Their first product, the G35 is a static 35mm lens adapter, boasts the most realistic Depth of Field characteristics of any 35mm adapter on the market, as well as being the most durable.
Contact: Jonathan Houser, Cinemek Inc.
jon@cinemek.com
www.cinemek.com

Digigenic
08-19-2009, 06:07 PM
Pretty impressive.
The short demonstration is cool to spark interest, and a longer video demonstration with a narrator explaining different features and actions would be good too. For 20.00 it's a good deal, and still has room for development, possibly even for a pro version that can incorporate full video clips.
Great work.

Dan Clark
08-19-2009, 06:17 PM
Pretty impressive.
The short demonstration is cool to spark interest, and a longer video demonstration with a narrator explaining different features and actions would be good too. For 20.00 it's a good deal, and still has room for development, possibly even for a pro version that can incorporate full video clips.
Great work.
I bought it. Excellent product. Because you can take and use images quickly, "drawing" is pretty quick. After you mark up all of your panels, it's pretty cool to watch it pan, track, zoom, etc what you've created. It's nice to try ideas, modify, and retry very quickly.

I'd like to see a desktop (PC) version that would two-way sync with the iPhone. And while I'm wishing for the moon, I'd like to see the desktop version be an integrated story-boarding component of Celtx.

Regards,

Dan.

JHouser
08-19-2009, 06:34 PM
Pretty impressive.
The short demonstration is cool to spark interest, and a longer video demonstration with a narrator explaining different features and actions would be good too.
Longer 15 minute video.
http://www.vimeo.com/6030115

Jason Ramsey
08-19-2009, 06:54 PM
discussion thread here:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=180543