Get out, meet people, see cool things, and learn stuff. December: Learn about CineAlta cameras and different recording gammas in Cupertino. January: party with the FCP faithful at MacWorld Expo in San Francisco. February: the UK’s own miniature version of IBC takes place at Earl’s Court in London. Be there, or may your pixels be ever non-square.

Cupertino, 17 December 2008: MacFilmmakers and the Digital Cinema Society present “Sony Cine Alta from EX3 to F35”, 6:30-9:30pm at Apple’s HQ. Sony representatives will show off the PMW-EX3 and the BVM-L230 Master Series LCD monitor; Videofax’s Leigh Blicher will show off the only F35 currently available for rent in northern California; Art Adams will screen his F35 spec spot, and we’ll discuss Hypergammas, Cinegammas, and S-Log recording. Admission is free, but you’ll need to sign up and get directions and details here.

San Francisco, 7 January 2009: 8th Annual Macworld FCPUG SuperMeet, concurrent with MacWorld Expo SF 2009. “The largest gathering of FCP users and Gurus on the Planet”, co-produced by the Boston, LA, and SF FCP User Groups, among others. Demos, networking, food and drink, and heavy-duty raffle prizes. $11 up front, $15 at the door (if any seats are left; it tends to sell out ahead of time), including two raffle tickets. More details here; sign-up and purchase tickets here.

London, 17-19 February 2009: Broadcast Video Expo, formerly Broadcast LIVE & VideoForum, is the UK’s only event dedicated to technology for production, post, delivery, AV and new media. It’s like a mini-IBC at Earl’s Court, with both exhibits and seminars. Highly recommended if you’re in the area, and the price is right, too. More info here and free registration here.