What are proxies and why do we need them?

There's an embarrassment of riches in the world of video. The powerful tools that are used to tell cinematic stories are readily available to anyone with a desire for filmmaking. Even cameras that deliver 4K footage are commonly found at consumer prices, and 8K cameras are within the reach of a modest budget.

So, with rich colors and spectacular depth, HDR video is gaining ground as more capable display devices enter the market. However, these amazing formats come at a cost outside of their price tag. The true quality they deliver in production is dependent on file formats that require a lot of space and bandwidth. Thus, this burdens the systems used to edit them. So, how can you keep up and efficiently deliver a quality edit on-time? Simple, with proxies.

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Today's top stories

A new rumor suggests Apple may push the standard iPhone 18 into early 2027, breaking its long-standing fall launch pattern, while the iPhone 18 Pro sticks to a more familiar timeline with only modest design changes. According to tipster Fixed Focus Digital via MacRumors, mass production of the base model is lagging behind the Pro line, pointing to a staggered release that could see the Pro and Pro Max debut in September 2026 and the iPhone 18 follow months later. The same report claims the Pro models won't get dramatic exterior updates, shelving ideas like an under-display selfie camera after the bigger visual refresh on the iPhone 17 Pro. If accurate, it signals Apple is testing a split launch strategy to stretch attention and boost sales.
A camera was stolen in broad daylight from Futures Explored, a California media and film training center that works with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. According to CBS News, surveillance video shows a man walking into the studio on R Street in Sacramento, locating a boxed Blackmagic 4K camera and leaving with it hidden under his jacket while students were inside the building. The loss hits hard for Futures Explored, which relies on state funding and donations to teach hands-on production skills. Sacramento Police Department is investigating the theft. It may be connected to a nearby camera store burglary, as the studio asks for the equipment to be returned so students can continue training.
Sleep Token is facing a copyright infringement claim from photographer Laura Ioana, who says a photo she shot of frontman Vessel at the Copenhell Festival in 2023 was used on band merchandise without permission. Ioana alleges the image appeared on a collectible coin sold in 2024, despite no contract or licensing agreement, and says repeated attempts to contact the band's management went unanswered. In a public Instagram post, she called the situation disheartening for small creators and pointed to the irony of the accusation, given Sleep Token's history of aggressively enforcing its own copyright, including past actions involving fan artists and designers linked to the band's label, RCA Records.
The U.S. has moved to block imports of all new foreign-made drone models, adding DJI, Autel and others to the Federal Communications Commission's security risk list. The decision prevents new models and critical components from getting FCC approval to be sold in the U.S., though it does not affect drones already authorized or in use. The move follows a congressionally mandated security review and marks a sharp escalation in Washington's crackdown on Chinese-made drones, citing risks tied to surveillance, data access and supply chains. DJI warned the action could disrupt law enforcement and emergency response programs that rely heavily on its gear, while China condemned the decision as discriminatory.
DJI has pushed a major firmware update to the DJI Osmo Action 6, unlocking 8K video recording and adding a stack of workflow upgrades. With the update installed, the camera can shoot up to 8K at 30 fps in 10-bit D-Log M, giving creators more room for reframing and cropping than its earlier 4K limit. DJI also added direct wireless uploads to cloud services and NAS systems, plus new creative tools like film-style photo presets, expanded button customization and better macro shooting support. The update lands as DJI faces tighter U.S. scrutiny on its drone business, but it shows the company is still actively improving its non-drone cameras with meaningful, creator-focused features.

Lessons from the field

A guide to tonal range

As videographers, we live to capture the images we see and create, but we may sometimes struggle to record the full richness of a shot. We may lose details in the bright or dark areas we see with our eyes because our cameras can't capture the same tonal range. Read more.

Creator Handbook: The Oscars to move from ABC to YouTube starting in 2029

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that the Academy Awards telecast will transition from broadcast television to YouTube beginning with the 101st Oscars ceremony in 2029. The change ends a long-running partnership with ABC, which has televised the awards show for decades. Read more.

Chromakey: How to use a green screen

Green screens and blue screens were the keys to chromakey in the 1970s. The use of blue or green screens as backgrounds chromakey became widespread amongst local TV news programs. That resulted in conjuring up the images of cheesy weathermen in garish plaid polyester jackets standing in front of superimposed maps. Read more.