My friend Chris Ward had this great idea for a new DVinfoNet Community forum, so here it is:

"Whether its a doc on CNN or an independent film, I always like to know which camcorder they used, how it was cut, transferred..."

So, if you're doing DV for local, regional or nationwide broadcast, or if you're using DV gear to make movies, or anything with the intent to distribute to a broad audience, this is your place to tell the rest of us about it.

Be sure to let us know what kind of camera and editing system you're using, about your talent and crew, your subject matter, of course... website... and all that good stuff.

Those of us stuck on the sidelines doing boring old event videography will cheer you on and sing your praises. Fire away!

Okay, I'll get the ball rolling. In November, I'm shooting what I hope will be a feature length documentary film. The story is about an lapd policewoman who came out of the closet while performing a couragious act during the King riots.

We're using a Sony dsr-250 & pd-100. All footage will be shot on DVCAM. The post will be done on final cut pro and avid. We hope to output to Digibeta and then transfer to 35mm film at the Sony transfer house in LA.

OK, not quite up to Chris Wards standards but still out there doing what we all love.

Currently in Japan shooting, or trying to, an action, extreme is burnt out, sports video featuring surfing, skating, snowboarding and wakeboarding.

Gear we are using is XL1 as primary camera and a TRV900 in a waterhousing as secondary camera. It will be edited on a Windows PIII system using a Pinnacle DV500. Software is Premiere 6.0 and After Effects 4.0. The challenging part is that my XL1 is PAL and the TRV900 is NTSC so if anyone knows of some software that does the conversion I;d lke to hear from you.

I said trying to because the XL1 died on me in that I got some heinous noise on the record head, and the weather is not playing the game.

Anyway you can see what's going on at http://afterburner.8m.com. It's a bit thin on at the moment as we have just started, but drop by and if you have any ideas I'd love to hear them. Also if any one is going to be in the Tokyo/Yokohama area in the next 6 months please drop me a line and bring your camera.