On a recent trip to Maine, we took along a little “crash cam” and shot some video. We thought we’d share some of it with you to get everyone in the mood for our favorite season – autumn.
The “Savannah” Collection is part of the Spring 2012 Collection at Ricardo Beverly Hills. We recently produced a series of the entire Spring line for use on the web, as well as for trade shows and meetings.
When we sat down together to initially discuss the project, we determined that we would have a challenging timeline in which to produce the spots, that included product commercials, as well as training films. This was due to an upcoming annual product show.
So we got right to work together with this terrific client as we developed the scripts, recorded the voice-overs, and finally shot the products on one long, marathon day. Then it was into post-production, working very long days as we raced to get the series completed in time for the show in Las Vegas.
Everything went very smoothly, and it was a great to work with the highly professional staff at Ricardo Beverly Hills.
The show was a great success for the client, and the video series is currently featured on the client’s web site, as well as other locations.
As filmmakers, we are often energized by viewing great films. In fact, it’s tough to watch great cinematography, lighting or character development crafted in a movie and not think, “how can we incorporate that fantastic technique inside of our next project?” It’s not uncommon for us to wrap up the viewing of a wonderful movie by diving back to our editing workstations with renewed energy and enthusiasm as we do the production and post production on a current project
Miss Potter, starring Renée Zellweger, 2006
We appreciate great films. We enjoy sharing great films that we’ve seen with our readers. If you have not seen “Miss Potter”, we encourage you to do so. This film, based upon actual events, explores the zeal, excitement and heartaches that Beatrix Potter experiences as she begins publishing her children’s books.
As an artist, Potter filled her stories with some of the most beautiful illustrations. Incorporating a surprising and wonderful visual element, these illustrations come to life through the use of subtle and well-timed animation. This effect deployed inside of the story is amazing and helps push the film along, often acting as a window inside of the main character’s thought patterns.
For us, one of the most compelling elements of the story revolve around the manner in which Miss Potter, the creative, deals with sometimes skeptical but well-meaning family and business partners. People who share her artistic sensibilities may feel a kindred spirit as she struggles to express her passions and outlook on life with people who are not necessarily operating within a similar creative mindset. It’s the common story of left-brain/right brain individuals attempting to relate to one another. In that sense, this film definitely gives voice to the creatives, and may provide a chuckle or two as they relate to the heroine.
Whether you tend towards one cranial hemisphere or the other however, you’ll delight in this wonderful and visually tender offering. Don’t worry if you are not familiar with “the world of Beatrix Potter”, this film stands completely on it’s own as a great romantic story of hope and tender love.
Carolwood Productions recently completed a series of four Public Service Announcements for the City of Diamond Bar highlighting emergency preparedness. We created the introduction with the idea that planning events such as vacations, weddings, etc. should go hand in hand with critically important emergency planning.
Today, I was doing some advance planning for the upcoming holiday season and indulged in a bit of musing, thinking about our kids growing up and their participation in various Christmas programs at church and school. One thing that struck me was, aside from possibly a few snapshots or an old costume, those memories would have been lost had it not been for some of them being professionally captured and produced onto video.
Christmas Ornaments at Disneyland
The music, the dance. The funny and poignant moments. All would have been lost to somewhat sketchy memories, getting more dim as the years pass.
Our children (and we, as parents!) work so hard rehearsing and memorizing lines and dance steps, and I’m thankful that we have video records; not only for us, but to share with them, and their kids!
A side benefit to producing each year’s Christmas programs at various locations is that we get to extend the holiday season into January as the events go into post-production. One of the most fun tasks I get to engage in is when I personally deliver the boxes of DVD packages destined for the homes of so many families; knowing that they will soon be enjoying watching their kids perform in the big holiday play or musical; just like we, as parents, also get to do.
A fun wedding venue in the heart of North O.C. is in line for what may turn out to be a substantial rehab. The Disneyland Hotel refurbishment is making a sneak preview on the south-west side of the Dreams (the old Sierra) Tower.
Disneylan Hotel Rehab, Suite Color Detail
As you walk around the west side of the tower, you’ll see a new color scheme and retro-feel window treatment. The blue color and tint to the glass has a very fresh, clean look as compared to the existing exterior. Gone, unfortunately are the micro-sized balconies and sliding glass doors featured in the existing rooms.
Disneyland Hotel Rehab, Original Tower
The original idea to completely destroy and rebuild the Disneyland Hotel’s towers have been reputedly shelved, and the rehab may be the approach that will be taken. This ‘facelift’, however, should be a much more in-depth reconstruct that includes a complete strip-down-to-the-frame job which will allow a more complete modernization of the aging structures.
Either way, it is exciting to see the property potentially in line for a needed infusion of capital and care which, if handled correctly, will yield a beautiful new hotel and a welcome upgrade to the Disneyland Resort.
