Tokyo's Aoi Launches Production Apps

Tokyo's Aoi Advertising Promotion, Inc. Launches Production Apps
 

"Director's Finder," as seen on an iPhone.

The Tokyo-based production company Aoi Advertising Promotion Inc. and its Aoi Digital Creation subsidiary have released two new smartphone apps for the production industry.  They're called "Director's Finder" and "Frame Watch," and they represent the company's efforts to tap their experience on set to create digital tools that will be of use during the production process.
 
The two new apps are the first of what will be a series of tools produced under the Aoi Shooting Utilities banner.  Says Yasuhito Nakae, Executive Managing Director of the production company, "It had always been my desire to share our know-how and use the resources we have to contribute to the content industry. These apps that support filmmakers perfectly fit into what the company is looking to achieve."
 
"Director's Finder" allows location scouts to simulate a variety of camera and lens combinations while shooting location stills with an iPhone camera.  Over 50 types of cameras are programmed into the app, including Arri, Sony, Panasonic, Weisscam, Phantom, RED, etc., plus seven generic capture formats ranging from Super 35 to Super 16, Digital Still Camera, 35mm, etc.  The app offers the user a view from the iPhone lens that comes close to that of an actual camera lens.  The user can save the picture, email it with the camera/lens information, along with lots of other useful data such as GPS settings and info on altitude, camera tilt angle and framing. They can also save this to Evernote.

"Frame Watch" is a handy stopwatch tool.

The company explains that this app is a convenient tool for location scouts. For example, they point out, the user can shoot stills using the prospective camera and lens combination that the director is thinking of using on a job and then bring them back for discussion or for inclusion with preproduction materials.
 
The second app to be release, "Frame Watch," was described by Nakae as "an app any director could ever dream of."  It's a simple stopwatch by frames, with a convenient time-calculator. The stopwatch is useful when drawing storyboards, editing and during shoots. It includes a selection of frame rates to choose from, including normal 30fps and 24fps, as well as high speeds such as 60fps. It also keeps a log each time the user presses start/stop, which is useful when trying to get voice-overs to fit precisely on the product shot.
 
Both apps are available online at the iTunes App Store.  You can check out more info on them here.

Published 29 August, 2011