Why Doesn't My Hard Drive Work On UCF Computers, Blah Blah Blah?

We are running into situations where students try to use a hard drive formatted on their home PCs with the Mac systems we have at school. Twice, recently, students have appeared and wondered why their PC drive wouldn't work on the Mac because they understood the Mac would work with everything. They insist that something is wrong with our systems

Not true.

Macs will NOT work with hard drives formatted in the NT File System, which is standard with Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows NT. With such a drive, a Mac can read the media and even copy media from the hard drive to the Mac. However, the Mac can not write media to this drive. As such, the student can not digitize their DV tapes our equipment through with a Mac and then drag and drop the files to their NT formatted hard drive.

There is no fix for this.

If there's a question, my answer is simple - UCF FILM is a Mac/Final Cut Pro facility. That's what we support. If a student opts to use Premier or Avid at home with their Windows PC, or they format their hard drive in a PC format, they do so at their own risk. UCF Film does not support such configurations and will not spend time troubleshooting them.

BTW - our new laptop station in Comm 172 works just fine with a PC laptop, so it's not like we're throwing them to the wolves. We just have to manage our resources properly. Another thought is to format drives using FAT32, as discussed below.

Below is some Wiki information for anyone who needs a more technical explanation.

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HFS+
This is the principal file system of Mac OS X. It is a journalled, relatively modern file system that supports POSIX permissions, and features at least limited automatic defragmenting of files. Mac OS X is capable of mounting these volumes for reading and writing. Windows has no native support for this format, but third party tools such as MacDrive allow for limited read/write support on Windows systems.

NTFS
This is the current preferred file system of Windows (beginning predominance circa Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000, and including Windows XP). Mac OS X has read only support for this format. It has no capabilities to write to an NTFS drive. Windows has complete read/write capabilities for this format.

FAT32
FAT32 is a legacy file system in the Windows world. However, it is still widely used as almost all Flash-based drives use this format. Mac OS X supports this format for both reading and writing, as does Windows. It has notable limitations, including difficulties with files of size larger than 4 GB. Also, as with NTFS, this file system does not support POSIX and permission / ownership errors could arise when files are moved back and forth between this file system and a POSIX-compliant file system.

NOTES
One important question that gets asked frequently is: how should I format my external device? Here are some suggestions, based on the above limitations of each filesystem.

If the device will only be used on a Mac OS X computer, use HFS+. This will offer the most complete support for Mac OS X features.

If the device will only be used in Windows, use NTFS, for the same rationale.

If the device will be mounted on both Windows and Mac computers, and you will not be using very large files (all files <4 GB) use FAT32.

If you are using an Intel Mac, one configuration that is very popular is to create a three partition system. This system consists of boot partitions in HFS+ and NTFS for Mac OS X and Windows, respectively, plus a third partition in FAT32. All documents are then placed on the FAT32 partition, where they are accessible to both operating systems. While this does have limitations, based on the limitations of FAT32, it may be a good compromise solution for many users.

File systems cannot easily be converted from one standard to another, so make your decision carefully. In the event that you must later change systems, you will need to back up all files, reformat the drive (destroying all data on it), and then return the files to the drive. Drives can be formatted with Disk Utility in Mac OS X, and similar system tools in Windows, though Windows cannot format a FAT32 partition above 32GB, as Microsoft want you to use NTFS; this is an artificial restriction.

YOUTUBERS

Alumi Report - Tiina Treasure Checks In

I just wanted to drop you a line with some information I learned from the St. John's Festival (which was so fucking awesome it blows my mind. They flew in approx 50 filmmakers, from all over, so make sure our girlies apply next year - Lord knows I'm coming back). Oops, long parenthesis.

Anyhoo, I spoke to a lot of people about the international film market - and an INSANE amount of women at the festival had succeeded in
selling their films internationally, and I'm talking shorts. One woman
just submitted to a film festival in France, distributors were there
and they picked it up, she said that she's sold most of her shorts for
a grand a minute.

I had no idea this market was even OUT THERE. But
evidently the Europeans are starving for content to fill up their
hours, so shorts get bought by the networks to finish out the hour. In
America that seems like the exception to the rule, but there it
evidently IS the rule. I don't know but it sure as hell piqued my
interest.

Also - I'm talking to producers from BravoFACT (Canada's Bravo channel,
which actually COMMISSIONS shorts under 6m by Canadian filmmakers
[they have to meet a Canadian content quota] and I was told about 1 in
10 are chosen and funded, HOLY HELL!) and IFC Canada about my film. Oh
and the National Film Board. I had no idea that most of these
networks/entities actually give money from the pre-production stage, I
thought most of it was just purchasing the finished product. Crazy.

So? It pays to be Canadian. Why do I live in America? Looks like I'm
moving. Again.

Oh well.

Anyhow- sorry for the length of this email- I just learned a lot.

Tiina

PS. OH and I have a website. http://www.tiinatreasure.com. You know I think that was my original reason for this email. I get distracted.

DINO NEEDS YOUR VOTE!

Dino Gallina, a film grad student here at UCF, has a film called PROMISES in the final round of the Third Screen Film Festival in Hollywood. They are doing final round voteing online and he needs your vote.

Dino's film is one minute long and you can check it out here.

Vote early, vote often.

UCF FILM Alum Needs Editor & Assistant For Nov. Gig in West Hollywood

UCF FILM Alumni Debby Wolfe is looking for an Editor and Assistant for a November gig in West Hollywood, CA. Details below.

EDITOR
Job Description: New Internet TV Station from the founders of MYSPACE seeks editor for a one month trial period to edit twelve three-five minute shows.

Great potential to be hired on as a full time editor with a possible increase in pay.

Job Requirements: Must be skilled in fast pace mtv style editing, green
screen, motion graphics, titles, and exporting and uploading content
for the Internet.

Salary: 2500/mo.

Contact us: Please paste resume in body of email and please send links
to your reel.

ASSISTANT
Writer/Producer/Director of Internet TV Shows for new website from the founders of MYSPACE seeks part time assistant for the month of November. You must be ON CALL for when we need you.

Great opportunity for someone just starting out to jump in and learn a ton about casting and production.

Possibility of longer term employment with a great young company.

Job Requirements: Assistant will be required to wear a number of different hats from casting director to production coordinator to marketing director.

We will ask you to coordinate castings, make hundreds of phone calls, schedule and coordinate talent and crew, secure locations, post ads, promote and market shows on the Internet, etc, etc.

Salary: $50-$75 day

CONTACT
Reply to Debby Wolfe via Email: girlsnightoutshow@yahoo.com

Please write ASSISTANT or EDITOR in the subject line of email. Please send resume as text in body of email and links to reels, myspace pages, etc.

Alumni Update - Debby Wolfe

Just wanted to update you on my goings ons. I read the article "Whatever happened to Aaron King?" and then I begged to wonder, "What ever happened to ol' Debby Wolfenstein?"

I am currently writing and directing three minute shows for a new Internet TV Station being launched by one of the founders of MYSPACE. I have several shows in development which will be debuting late next month. Scott Uhlfelder has actually shot a few for me.

In addition, I just wrapped production on a short film in HD with an UCF alumni DP, Patrice Cochet, who shot the Sundance feature "Better Luck Tomorrow." I met him at the UCF Alumni Reunion and weeks later he was attached to my project.

I was hired to write and direct the short by a talented young actress named Dana Galinsky who had a story she was passionate about and the funds to make it happen. The title is TBD, and it's the story of a restless young woman living with an older man who engages in the excitement of an Internet affair. Since we haven't edited it yet, I am unsure of how to ultimately pitch it, however, I would describe it as a coming of age story for the post undergraduate woman.

I hope everything is great and I am very excited about these upcoming UCF feature films next year! I can't wait!

-Debby

ENTRY DEADLINE FOR BROUHAHA - OCT 27

From the same good folks at Enzian who bring us the FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL each year, comes Brouhaha. As they say, BROUHAHA has quietly grown to become one of the premier outlets for locally produced films and videos, the best work from film schools statewide, and a fun-filled gathering for lovers of independent film.

Audiences are made up of filmmakers, film educators, local production representatives, industry organization members, and the general public, all fascinated by the scope and creativity of films screened each year representing the entire spectrum of Florida's immense talent pool.

The 2006 Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase will take place on December 2 & 3, 2006. Entry deadline is October 27th.

Time To Vote For KATIE & KASEY

We got email from Kyla Tomlin!

Hey. Tell everyone that Katie & Kasey is on www.logoonline.com Have everyone go there to vote for my film. It is located under The Click List: Best in Short Film Season 2. By the way, I just filmed a project to promote Logo. A representative from Logo came to view a show at a local club. She wanted them to plug logo in their act. A friend of mine needed me to film their show and the lady from logo wanted to use my footage of them promoting the channel. She is showing this to MTV networks tomorrow. She was also impressed that I was on The Click List: Best in Short film from Logo.

-Kyla

Orlando Film Fest Needs Volunteers This Weekend

The first Orlando Film festival is seeking volunteers help run the event this coming weekend. They say they need 13 postions filled on and off between Thursday and Friday from 5pm-11pm...Box Office, Merch, Ushers, etc.

If you're interested, contact Brian Quain 407*929*3171.

Fest Update - UCF Shorts Scheduled For Cine-World Film Fest in Sarasota, Nov. 4

The 2006 Cine-World Film Festival will be screening a shorts program comprised entirely of shorts from UCF FILM. The festival, based at Sarasota's famous Burns Court Cinemas, happens November 3 through 12. UCF's screening happens Noon, on Saturday November 4. Admission is free to all students and the festival is offering member admission rates of $6 per ticket for any additional festival films UCF students would like to check out.

I'm pretty sure to be attending, so if anyone else wants to go, let's plan a little party in Sarasota. Randy can point us in the right direction.

The UCF films playing Cine-World are the following:

• LOSING TOBY - directed by Drew Lindo ('06)
• MR. MALIKAI BATTLES THE AEROPLANE - directed By Drew Blatman ('05)
• PICNIC SERENADE - directed by Phillip Chernyak ('07)
• THE DOOR ON THE LEFT OPENS IN CALIFORNIA - directed by Eric Ernst ('05)
• WORMHOLE - directed by Paul Wassberg ('05)
• LOVE IS DEAF - directed by Andrew K. Gay ('06)
• CALLBACK - directed by Christina Allica ('07)
• ON BEING YOUR AVERAGE JOE - directed by Ryan Pomeranz ('06)
• ALL THAT REMAINS - directed by Aaron Brownlee ('06)
• CHARLIE & HITCH - directed by Kurt Jenkins ('07)
• TEARS IN THE RAIN - directed by David Estrada ('05)

Fest Update - Three UCF Shorts To Screen This Saturday As Part of First Orlando Film Festival

The First Orlando Film Festival is happening this week (Oct 19 - Oct 21) and we're pleased to announce that three shorts from UCF FILM will be screened on Saturday night as part of a student filmmaking event. The three UCF films are Mr. Malikai Battles The Aeroplane, directed by Drew Blatman ('05), All That Remains, directed by Aaron Brownlee ('05) and Picnic Serenade, directed by Phillip Chernyak ('07).

The program also includes two shorts from FULL SAIL and one from the Los Angeles Film School. Admission if FREE, so come on down and check it out.

Here's the info on that night:

OUC Presents the Rising Filmmakers Short Film Showcase
Saturday, Oct 21
City Arts Factory
29 South Orange Avenue
Downtown Orlando
Doors 7:30pm
Shorts Begin @ 8:00pm
11:00 p.m. - Presentation of “LOL”
There will be a party following the films and then the screening of LOL

What Happened To Aaron King?

Some of you might recall Aaron King, a fine directing student from the class of 2004 who went from UCF FILM to grad school at AFI in Los Angeles. I just got an email from Aaron, telling me he's completed AFI as well as his thesis film, Redemption Maddie. If you're interested, he's got a very cool web site up for the film here.

I like the look of the site and the film quite a lot. Can't wait to see the whole thing.

Professor Grula's FIEA Fun on mtvU

mtvU is holding a GameORZ Showcase to spotlight student game developers. They've just published a wesbite featuring the best entries and of the nine games, three of them are from FIEA (The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy of UCF). Among those three is a game called KILT, for which Professor Rich Grula, composed the music.

It's a Flash game, so it'll play on most computers. And be sure to check out the other FIEA entries too - Bugaholic and Serpents.

Fest Update - BASEBALL & GLORY

Baseball and Glory, the Directing 3 project of Brett Ryan Bonowicz, has been selected to screen at the 2006 Griffon International Film Festival. Brett also reports an aceptance for the film at the 6th Annual Anchorage International Film Festival in December. If you haven't seen snow, you might want to attend.