Slamdance DIY Days – The Thrill of a Festival in Our Backyard

Saturday, May 11th , still in the early morning, 200 eager filmmakers, notebooks in hand, filled the Sigma Burbank showroom for what promised to be a truly unique opportunity. An all-day intensive, “DIY Days” aimed to arm attendees with the tools needed to take their film making game to the next level. Each person, weather pro or novice, had the same goal:  to share knowledge, answer questions, network and collaborate.

Sigma partnered with Slamdance to produce this unique event exclusively for independent and up-and-coming filmmakers. Many hours were spent to ensure that each session was jam packed with added value. It was important that the event had something for everyone, even if it was just a flavor.

Slamdance Festival Director, Peter Baxter, had this to say about the event: The coming together of Sigma and Slamdance represents the best kind of partnership. Together, we set about to create a new education event for the Los Angeles DIY film making community that was practically based and inclusive. It worked. Hundreds came to Burbank on the day and embraced our environment, leaving with positive reviews and lasting impressions.

As the venue host, Sigma was front and center with the impressive global vision line of products serving as the venue décor. In the individual sessions, Sigma played a key role fitting seamlessly into camera and lighting demonstrations. Staff on hand were ready to answer product questions, give feedback to attendees and allow guests to sample what Sigma has to offer.

A cozy patio was set up to provide guests with refreshments throughout the day, and comfortable areas to meet and mingle. Michah Van Hove (No Film Schools) wrote: “This one-off event was very well put together by Sigma and Slamdance, offered a wide range of panels and workshops, and promoted an inclusive, positive and educational environment. Independent film making is hard enough and these kind of free resources are a welcome addition to the Los Angeles community.”

If you missed the event, make sure to follow Sigma on our social channels (Facebook) and (Instagram) to hear about these events as they come up. Also, feel free to visit our Burbank Showroom any time! We are located at 148 S. Victory Blvd. Burbank CA 91502 and would be happy to schedule a demo or tour any time between 10am and 4pm PST. For more information feel free to call: 213-699-0561 or email burbankinfo@sigmaphoto.com

 

Shot with Sigma: The Last Year’s Living Room Sessions

(Ed. note: We are revisiting many great articles from our archive that celebrate the at-home and DIY spirit of creativity during the Covid-19 outbreak. This article was originally published in 2015.)

The Last Year, an alternative rock band out of Baltimore, MD, recently launched the Living Room Sessions on their YouTube channel in advance of their new self-released album, coming soon!

Niki Barr, lead singer, chose the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | A lens to pair with her DSLRs for its incredibly sharp wide-open performance—great for the challenging low-light situations typical of indoor music venues.

The Last Year records their Living Room Sessions videos with the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art lens. R-L: From left to right: Scott Griffith, Niki Barr, BJ Kerwin, Scott Ensign.

“We’re a DIY band, and this lens just works perfectly for us, and paired with my full-frame 6D, it’s great for tight spaces. We’re going to be doing a lot of video work with this camera and lens combination this year as we create videos for our singles and live shows.”

Check out their website to see all the videos in the Living Room Sessions and much more! And Check out their Patreon Page, too!

Check out another band using Sigma Art lenses for videos!

Video frame by John Isberg from Mote’s Freeway video.

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