My boyfriend: “What was your favorite part in that movie?
Me: “Definitely when the bad guy got high-kicked in the face by a ninja.”
My boyfriend: “Um, actually I’m pretty sure he got punched.”
Me: “Are you sure?”
My boyfriend: “Yes. And it wasn’t a ninja – it was a librarian.”

Aside from establishing how shamefully poor my movie watching skills are, this little scenario also demonstrates the severe fallibility of human memory.    read more...

Completely obsessed.  With this.  Amazing.  I’ve watched this on television and keep going back to YouTube to see it again.  Choreographer and Director Michael Gracey and The Oprah Show producers managed to surprise the show’s host with this unforgettable Flash Mob performance.  21,000 people performed a choreographed dance on Michigan Avenue in Chicago as the Black Eyed Peas sang a special rendition of “I Got a Feeling” for the start of The Oprah Show’s 24th season.   read more...

Phone crushes.  Everyone has them.  At least that’s what I tell myself when I want to justify my own.  You know what I’m talking about.  Those work-related calls you make when emails and texting aren’t enough for the task at hand.  The ones where you and the faceless person at the end of the line connect in a way that is different from ordinary phone exchanges.  It’s hard to define, but usually involves a combination of effortless conversation, lively banter, and your phone friend giving great voice.  Sometimes you think it’s reciprocal, but deep inside you know it isn’t.  Strangely, however, it doesn’t matter.  At the end of a phone crush call, for a brief, shining moment you feel wittier, smarter and slightly more charming than you felt before.   read more...

There is only one thing forbidden in production.  I almost don’t want to type it.  It’s only a tiny word but the implications of it are so taboo that I might cause a riot just by mentioning it in this blog.  Here goes…  NO. 

There, I said it!

I’ll never say it again, and I’m not alone.  Close your eyes.  If you listen carefully you can hear production assistants, editors, producers, and entire production companies saying YES to impossible requests all across the country…

Can you get find me an expert on hunting cave eels by the end of the day? 
    Yes I can!

Can you get a tiger on the set by 3 pm? 
    Yes of course!

Can you learn everything about sky diving and shoot a documentary about it in a week?
    Absolutely!

Can you edit a feature length film this week in your spare time?
    No problem!

Oh, that tiger, can you make sure that it shows up wearing a custom made turquoise polo shirt?
    Don’t worry, I already did!

I feel a special bond with anyone who has ever said “yes” with a confident smile while keeping the inner panic carefully masked.  We do not voice our concerns or ask how, or when, or why… we just say “no problem at all!” and then figure out the answers as we (hurriedly) walk away.

You know, there is actually something amazing about “yes I can”… because saying it out loud makes it true.  Once you’ve made the verbal commitment to achieve the impossible you’ll do anything to make it work. 

It’s a powerful feeling, making miracles happen.  Sure, fine, that “miracle” might be hitting the phones for four hours until you hire the last grip in town during a convention, but it’s a production miracle and it feels good!  I’ve felt it and I see my co-workers do it every day.  I’ll never say never, because everytime I say yes (especially when, at first, I have no idea how to make it work) the limits that hold me back fade a little.

Heather Hansen

Warren Buffett rocks it like Axl Rose in this new Geico commercial....so funny!  Sleeves and a bandana...who knew Buffett could sing.  Careful, it's a catchy jingle!

http://www.nydailynews.com/money

It will only take me 30 days to write my first screenplay. It has to, because I am participating in ScriptFrenzy this month. ScriptFrenzy.org challenges all writers, young and old, expert and brand-new (me), to write the first draft of a 100-page screenplay in 30 days. Writers can log in on the website for free, update their progress, browse writing resources, and chat with other writers. As of today, April 8th, I have written 16 pages, and I intend to shoot for 9 more this evening.

My original script idea involved a girl who communicates with ghosts, blah blah blah. And then something better popped into my head: Demon Strippers. Now, it’s not intended for your grandmother, I admit. Might not be one to take the kids to. But it is SOOOOO FUN to write! And that’s why I’m sticking with it – because I enjoy the heck out of it. Maybe when I get the hang of it I will graduate to writing elaborate, riveting dramas.

Or maybe not.

Emily Kingston

Mistakes are such a drag.  In the very public world of corporations and prominent figures, “I’m sorry” is followed by sex rehab (a luxury of the very rich), practically giving away cars (no interest payments for 3 years), and media coverage to drown in.  I’m anthropologically drawn to our cultural fixation on falls from grace and the ensuing campaigns for resurrection.  I draw my parallel between two giants in our collective world psyche: Toyota and Tiger Woods.

Here’s Toyota last year in the throes of a beautiful love affair:



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Since we live in a technology driven world it is so much easier to have a dream and share it with the world.  These dream sharers are getting younger and younger and entertaining people by the thousands. I am glad that YouTube wasn’t around when I was a child because there would have been too many New Kids on the Block/Nsync reenactments that the world wouldn’t know what to do with….or would they?



Nicole Klingensmith

..used to be the mantra for video production companies and ad agencies around the world.  Personally, I’ve tried to build my career on the Good/Fast combo.  But things have changed.  It’s a new era. 

Major Shift #1 is, of course, the escalation of online video viewing.  In February alone, 174 million U.S. Internet users watched online videos.  According to www.comscore.com, U.S. Internet users watched 28.1 billion videos.  (And the month of April will be so skewed by online viewing of the Tiger Woods Nike commercial that we may never know the numbers!)  All this means accessibility for the viewers and for the creators of online video.  We now have immediate distribution for our videos and commercials, and much less need for buying expensive TV air time.   read more....

Bill to: Citizen Pictures
Job #: 382
For Services Provided: Sound Mixer
Days Worked:  4
Total Amount Due: $ XXX
Make Payment To:  Prince of Glendale Inc., Ryan Flynn          Date: 04/13/10

It’s been said that a full moon causes all sorts of mayhem on Earth – increased murders, suicides, mental breakdowns, accidents and even dog bites. Some nurses claim that there are more emergency room admittances during a full moon. You may have even noticed this effect yourself – people acting “different” or “strange” when the full moon is out.
   
This phenomenon is known as the “Lunar Effect.” For centuries, people have perceived an increased number of abnormal occurrences and behaviors during a full moon. The terms “lunacy” and “lunatic” are actually derived from the name of the Roman moon goddess, Luna.
   
But is there any truth to this perception? There is an excellent breakdown of full moon crime / suicide / psychosis / accidents / animal bites / hospital admission statistics here:  http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/moon.html  And I hate to be the one to burst your magical lunar bubble, but studies appear to show that there is no relationship between abnormal behavior and a full moon.
   
Why, then, do some people still believe in the Lunar Effect? Possibly because of selective memory, a form of “confirmation bias,” in which we notice strange events that DO occur during a full moon, but we forget about all the normal, mundane ones. That is, we tend to notice and look for things that confirm our preconceived beliefs, and to ignore things that contradict them.
   
However, you’ll be very relieved to know that this does NOT mean I’ll stop glancing at the sky and whispering mysteriously, “Must be a full moon,” when something weird happens.

By Emily Kingston

References used:

http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/090925-full-moon-myths.html

http://www.skepdic.com/confirmbias.html

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200502/full-moon-crazy

Cartoons are a part of our culture.
   
Some of us take pleasure in remembering old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episodes. Others fawn over the Japanese anime phenomenon. I've got friends that can quote entire episodes of the Simpsons at the drop of a hat.
   
I find myself breathless at the beauty of Finnish animation.
   
These fearless animators poke fun at the futility of our existences, and are bold enough to buck the trend of socially acceptable cartoons. They ignore "good taste", disregard "political correctness", and aren't afraid to "put quotes around things".
   
And I love them for it.
   
With the assuredness of an acrobat tumbling across the flying trapeze while juggling six flaming chainsaws and reciting Pi, these Finnish animators grab animation by the dangly parts and don't let go.
   
While this product is HARDLY for children, it shows just what happens when our parents disappear for weeks at a time, leaving us in front of the television with little more than a roll of toilet paper and a case of Ramen noodles, and allow Homer Simpson to teach us life's lessons.
   
Cartoons can inspire us to achieve, to dream, and to memorize hilarious quotes and spit them at our friends periodically. Enjoy this dose of Moist Pork, and the universal language of cartoons.

Will Kingston

Just back from the NAB convention in Vegas (National Association of Broadcasters).  I went to my first one in 1980 so this was 30 years in a row that I’ve gone to this show that showcases all of the latest technology in TV.

The ‘broadcasting’ part of the convention has shrunk over time and now it’s so much more about production and post-production.  Oh, it’s still a pocket protector nerd-fest but it is always so great to see fresh creative and the new cameras, editing, and graphics technology that will be available “soon”.  I say “soon” because manufacturers such as SONY and Panasonic are famous for having prototypes at the show that aren’t available for use or purchase until years later.

I still have a brochure from a show in the 80’s with the headline “HD is Here!) when in reality it was 10-15 years later that High Def was in use and beyond the tipping point of acceptance.  Now of course it is everywhere with newer, cheaper cameras and edit systems that still look great.     read more....

What we do to get respect and attention in this business is directly related to beliefs we may have formed early in our work careers. These are superstitious behaviors we have come to believe in that need to be shelved for us to move forward and up in this competitive industry.

Taking full responsibility:
When being assigned a job, it doesn’t mean that you are the only person who can or should do it. It means that you are the one responsible for making it happen. SURE, it looks awesome to your bosses if you “do it alone.” You’ll get bragging rights and everyone will say you’re a rock star. Like many of us in Production, you have learned that if you need it done, and you need it done NOW, you have to do it yourself! –But, there will ALWAYS be something that needs to get done, and why do it all alone when you can delegate? Being able to delegate parts of a project to others shows that you can “manage a project.” It also helps you to form relationships with others who are able to provide you wish assistance. Building trust with your co-workers and trusting other people do their jobs is extremely important in Production. If you do it all alone you are not forming relationships. And in this business, relationships are everything!          read more...

I was eating carmel corn today…not a stretch for me, because to know me is to know I love my popcorn. But this was something, dare I say special? Caramel corn with black pepper and bacon, yes bacon…and it was fabulous.
 
I’m on a new show… called foodCrafters…or Foodcrafters…or who really knows, we’re still working on it. We’re in production on a new show on a new channel. It’s the Cooking Channel….and the show is technically about artisianal food producers. Much, much different than working on my other show about eating extreme foods around the world….couldn’t be more different. Sweet people on foodCrafters, salt of the earth, who want nothing better than to give you gourmet deliciousness that they made with their own hands. You feel guilty taking it, but really for the last 8 hours you’ve been dropping hints about how wonderful it looks, and how amazing the kitchen smells, and no I couldn’t, well I guess I’ll take a bottle and scarf it down tonight in the hotel room, thus ruining dinner. Ruined is a strong word, I just ate a dozen shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate for dinner is a statement of pride.
 
That’s the show… and it’s fabulous.

Tim McOsker

Confession… I’m not a very good cook.   If you know me and you disagree, then you have probably only eaten one of the three things I can make: pesto pasta with vegetables, chocolate pumpkin bread, and in college I made a good stir fry, but that was a while ago… so no promises that I could recreate it now.  Oh and I make good molasses cookies…. But those are pretty hard to mess up.

There are quite a few foodies and exceptional chefs here at Citizen Pictures and Base2 Studios.  Lunch is often more of a display of masterpieces than a mid-day food break.  I try to make my leftover pesto pasta visible to everyone at the table when I bring it in for lunch, hoping it will cover the memories of my caramel rice cake and peanut butter (which I think is delicious!) and whatever I microwaved the day before.  I’ve learned a lot about food and the art of cooking since I started at Citizen- between working on Food Network shows, shooting food focused webisodes, and sitting next to some rockin producers who are researching and producing a new show about food artisans and their creations, I have a new outlook on the world of good food and fine cooking.  Cooking has always been something I’ve enjoyed and I love an exceptionally prepared meal, but I don’t believe I have truly appreciated all that goes into making an exquisitely delicious dish until now.    read more....

I’ve made a few props, models, miniatures and physical versions of show logos over the years. These days, most of my time is focused on broadcast design and animation on the computer. I am often amazed and blown away by the level of realism that can be achieved in 3D. But there is still a certain charm and some advantages to shooting real elements also. For example, when shooting a real model you have the freedom of trying different camera angels and lighting techniques in real time rather than waiting hours for something to render before you see the final result. And maybe the best thing is that you have a cool piece of artwork that can displayed in your office, that will be around for years after anyone even remembers what the spot was about.   read more...