Making Movies: Pushing Creative Limits with Technology

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One of the most compelling aspects of technology is its ability to democratize. Using the right technology in the right way, what was once confined to specific locations and very specific technical expertise can be easily and affordably accomplished by many.

Dv 3 Productions is a great example.  First, the company represents a new generation of film makers who ironically enough don’t use film and never have.  And second, even though Hollywood is the film capitol of the world Dv 3 Productions is headquartered on the other end of the country in Wilmington, N.C.

Dv 3 Productions uses the latest high-end, high-resolution digital cameras to capture motion footage for a portfolio of projects ranging from corporate videos to commercials to television pilots. Then using either office-based or mobile HP Workstations they edit and finish the work. The editing and finishing processes used to require extensive technical expertise, very expensive equipment and lots of time. By using HP products that’s no longer the case.

The most interesting part of the story is that the people at Dv 3 Productions are not computer experts. One said that all he knows is that his machine has eight cores, it renders quickly and it makes him happy. What was previously a cumbersome, time-consuming and costly process of editing high-resolution work can now be accomplished, with more aesthetically pleasing results, on a powerful yet affordable laptop.

Much to the delight of Dv 3 Productions’ clients and audiences, pushing the technical limits allows them to push the creative limits, which is the core mission of their work.  Reading the Dv 3 Productions story inspired me to start wondering about my own use of technology, and how I might use the tools I already have at my disposal to do something I currently consider undoable. I’m still thinking, but I’d love to hear any ideas you may have.