Dogbyte Films
Independent filmmaker Chris Penney of Dogbyte Films has a long history using Sony Creative Software applications in his productions, both in his corporate job and as an independent filmmaker. We caught up with him as he shopped "small change," his latest feature film, and began production on "Making the Cut," a serial documentary on the Grand Rapids Griffins, the primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.
Sony Creative Software: Tell us about your work in the industry and your production crew.
Chris Penney: Well, I'm Chris Penney, an independent film maker. I write, direct, shoot and edit. I am also a full time media/e-learning specialist at Spectrum Health. I received my master's degree from Central Michigan University and attended Compass Film Academy. I have worked with Grammy award-winning rap artists, Emmy award-winning producers, Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Award-winning cast members and professional hockey teams, including the Detroit Red Wings and the Grand Rapids Griffins. I have completed five full length micro- budget, indie films.
Amy Penney is my wife. Amy studied musical theater at Western Michigan University and has starred in many live theatrical productions and musicals. She has also been on the set of four of the five films produced under the Dogbyte Films name. She is an actress and production assistant who wears a lot of hats doing multiple tasks. Amy also operates camera B.
Darin Vandermolen is a gifted musician who plays several different instruments and has mixed several CDs. He is currently working with the voice talent from the 2010 Super Bowl Chrysler commercial. Darin is connected to some of the biggest names in music in Michigan. He does post production sound and scored a large part of "small change" using Sony Vegas Pro 9 and 10.
Sophia Maslowski is the production manager for Dogbyte Films and does a variety of tasks from location scouting to make up and actress. She is a full time employee at the US Postal Service. She is a writer and actress with the television show "You Gotta Be Kidding Me America." She also hosts her own television show with Maurice Preston, the "So and Mo show."
Jeff Hage is a professional photographer with his company Green Frog Photo. Jeff is a gifted lighting specialist and has been on the crew operating camera B, lighting, and consulting on 35 mm lenses.
SCS: What's Dogbyte Films all about?
Chris Penney: Dogbyte Films started in 2005. We were working with a local paranormal organization helping them with a documentary. At that time we were just a crew of two: a Sony PD 170 and a boom mic. Ultimately, we started to dabble in the idea of making a horror film; and that's exactly what we did. It was so bad it was scary! At the time I started the film, I did a tremendous amount of research on what software I should acquire to edit. I saw Sonic Foundry Vegas, Final Cut, Premier, Avid and a few others. I did a few free trials and Vegas Pro seemed to be the most intuitive. I did further research and read recommendations through Videomaker magazine. So that is where I started. I got very involved in video, they asked me to start producing at my day job. I sold them on Vegas Pro and the company purchased an editing suite with Sony Vegas Pro 5 installed. Since then other staff members have come on board and use Sony Vegas Pro to edit videos for e-learning.
We have learned a lot and personally, I am learning every day, studying, practicing, growing and working on bigger and better projects. I use Sony Vegas Pro 10 and a handful of plug-ins such as NewBlue FX, Boris CC7, FBmn Software and Magic Bullet (32 bit) nearly every day of my life. I want Dogbyte Films to continue to grow and learn and take on new and bigger projects. With our new reality show/documentary project we intend on shopping it around to networks like ESPN and Fox Sports Detroit, aiming for a deal.
SCS: Tell us more about what you're working on currently.
Chris Penney: Dogbyte Films have completed five feature-length films. The most recent film, entitled "small change," sold out three consecutive nights at Celebration Cinema in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was an official selection of the Michigan Film Fest. "small change" was recently picked up for theatrical distribution in the Midwest.
One of our new projects is titled "Making the Cut." This is a documentary/reality network pilot following the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, the top and primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. In September, we are shooting for four days at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City, Michigan with the Detroit Red Wings and the Grand Rapids Griffins where both teams converge to prepare for the upcoming AHL and NHL seasons. Following training camp we will be set up to film at Van Andel Arena following the Griffins hockey team the entire 2011/2012 hockey season.
In addition to the above, we are working on another indie film titled "Confessions of a Female Assassin." It will certainly take a back seat to the hockey project but indie films will always be a passion.
SCS: You have a long history of using our products. Which do you rely on most, and for what?
Chris Penney: I use Sony Vegas Pro 10 and DVD Architect as well as Sound Forge Pro and Noise Reduction with a handful of plug-ins. I started on Sonic Foundry Vegas 4 and moved to Sony Vegas Pro 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and I will be in line to get a copy of version 11. I shoot and edit corporate videos, independent film projects, music videos, sports and commercials.
SCS: Why do you use Sony Media Software products? What do they do best?
Chris Penney: First and foremost, I am an artist, and not an engineer. Vegas Pro is the most intuitive professional editing suite I have used. I can do most things without reading a manual, watching hours of tutorials, etc. Also, because I have a limited budget, I am forced to use a variety of formats based on the cameras I have, formats like - M2t, QuickTime, Apple Pro Res, .MTS, AVCHD, etc. I also have some cameras that shoot at multiple frame rates & resolutions. I typically prefer 1920 x 1080 24 fps but a few of my cameras are limited to 1440 x 1080, 29.97(i) fps. Vegas Pro handles all of these different formats and frame rates on one time line without a problem and it can export a large variety of formats and resolutions. It is amazingly flexible.
And Vegas Pro continues to grow as I grow as a cinematographer and editor. I love the multi-camera tools and the Open FX capabilities along with the color correction and audio editing tools. I could go on and on about what Vegas Pro is to me and how much I appreciate the software.
SCS: Which of your projects did you use Vegas Pro on? Where can other users check out your work?
Chris Penney: I have used Sony Vegas to edit sound and video for the following indie films: "Sleep Disorder" (Pendulum Pictures), "Return of the Curse" (Pendulum Pictures), "Bigfoot," "The Making of a Documentary," "The Basement" (indieflix.com), and recently "small change" (IMDB - small change movie or www.dogbytefilms.net). I also use Vegas Pro 10 for corporate video editing in the medical field and for everything I do in terms of video and or audio production. I will use Vegas Pro 10/11 to edit my upcoming indie film "Confessions of a Female Assassin" and the biggest project of my career starting in September - Making the Cut - the Grand Rapids Griffins Documentary/reality show following the Detroit Red Wings primary affiliate during the 2011/2012 hockey season.
SCS: Any final comments?
Chris Penney: Without hesitation, Sony Vegas Pro is the most intuitive, user friendly, ever evolving, Professional NLE which deserves respect as a top contender in video production!
For me, what I do and who I am — there is no other solution!
