FLAT PANEL ROUNDUP

Over the last couple of years, many industry experts have predicted that LCD would eventually dominate the flat panel sector, ultimately replacing plasma in all form factors and sizes. However, that has yet to happen, even as LCDs continue to encroach into plasma's territory of larger sizes. Indeed, both technologies have not only remained strong, but they have also become part of mainstream culture. And it's that popular culture that continues to drive technologies forward in consumer TVs and the pro AV monitors we focus on here. LEARN MORE... By Jeff Sauer for videosystems.com

For the Birds...

The New World Was Full of Birds If you've seen director Terrence Malick's artful and elegiac telling of the John Smith-Pocohantas story, The New World, you know that much of the film is dominated by natural sounds: winds, water, birds, insects, etc. What you might not know, though, is that Malick is a very serious "birder," and he went to great lengths to make sure that all the bird sounds in the film were accurate to the time and setting of the film (Virginia and England in the early 1600s).
And so, with Malick's blessing, the sound team for the film got in touch with the Macaulay Library at Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology, which contains over 160,000 recordings, including 67 percent of the world's birds—it's the largest collection of animal sounds anywhere. READ MORE... http://millimeter.com

IPTV: Boom or Bust?

Looking into the real potential of IPTV — is it a boom waiting to explode or is a fad that’s soon to bust?
One of the hottest topics at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show was IPTV. The reason it may work this time around is the increasing availability of Internet broadband in more than 100 million households worldwide. IPTV (Internet Protocol TV or television-over-the-Internet); the National Assoc. of Television Program Executives (NATPE) show similarly had a whole day dedicated to it.
A survey by IBM showed that 40% of TV broadcasters felt “seriously threatened” by ITPV. And hardly a day goes by without a major studio or TV broadcaster announcing a new vice president of digital media, IPTV, new media, or something similar — MTV even has a new “cdo” (chief digital officer) in its Mahogany Row. Why all the excitement? Hasn’t this all been tried before, with dismal consequences, in the late 1990s, with dot-com startups such as DEN (Digital Entertainment Network) that later imploded? LEARN MORE... By Christopher Harz for awn.vom

ACTION on WIRELESS

Mobile Animation Originals - Brands still dominate, but a growing number of opportunities exist for animators to sell their content for cell phone distribution.
High-profile brands dominate the emerging market for mobile entertainment — particularly when it comes to streaming content — and that’s likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Yet there are many options for animators to license their content for viewing on mobile phones. The new Emmy category for mobile-only content is one indication the industry is taking cell phone entertainment seriously.
Paula Montondo of BlipTV views wireless phones as a great place for animators to gain exposure. Her service offers live action and animated entertainment on Sprint. © BlipTV — Liquid Dano Produdctions Llc.
LEARN MORE... By Karen Raugust for awn.com

LOW BUDGET

Jaye and Jason of Double-J Filmworks Entertainment Group are two good-natured but hopelessly incompetent American filmmakers. About to close down their business and go back to their jobs at McDonald's, they get a phone call from a Canadian Television exec who mistakenly thinks they are a big-time American production company. They play along and Jason negotiates a sweet deal for them to shoot a travel show about Canada. "Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat" they decide to jump on the opportunity and make a feature film they’ve always dreamt about at the same time. They brilliantly decide that Canada's diverse landscapes can also be used to fake worldwide locations. Along the way, they meet a stunning Canadian actress and convince her to star in their film. She agrees, and their cross-Canada filmmaking misadventure begins. SEE THE TRAILER... www.capitaljfilms.com

Apartment 206

VISIT APARTMENT 206... Come in, warm yourself by the television inside and learn more about the short film made within. For questions, contact the landlord...
Apartment 206 just got two amazing four-star reviews. One is from Horror Bob at HorrorReview.
Bob called Apartment 206 a gem and one of the best written independent shorts he's ever seen! This other is from HorrorView which says, "Apartment 206 succeeds on every level of filmmaking, from crafty dialogue to a setting that bleeds depravity and abandonment. The story contains so many effective undertones and themes that after 24 hours, I'm still unraveling the true meaning of the film. Hell, even the score contains emotional substance that Hollywood producers would die for. This short is the real deal..."

GHOST RECON: Future Combat

Ever since the first James Bond game, more and more games aim for realism and play like exciting movies. Why watch a film like FIRST BLOOD, DIE HARD or SAVING PRIVATE RYAN when you can actually be in it? Due in 2006 first quarter is Tom Clancy's latest edition of Ghost Recon, Ghost Recon Advanced War Fighter. This game is set in the not too far future, where the US army is deploying its most advanced soldiers, the Ghost. This is what may be in store for us after the US military Future Combat System (FCS) has been completed.
LEARN MORE...

THE FIGHTER

Where’s the case? One fateful night Sonny must rise above his meandering aims when he is handed a briefcase containing a mysterious drug that just may be the most important scientific discovery of all time. Once injected with the drug Sonny discovers he has a unique ability uncommon to other users. With his lover murdered and pursued across the city by a group of half-man half-insect thugs [a side effect of prolonged use], Sonny must learn to harness the drug’s power or risk losing this all important discovery forever. An independent film With original music by Canada’s own KITTENS. LEARN MORE... www.rebornfilms.com
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A NEW WAVE

A New Wave is an independent film. It is the story of Desmond, a struggling artist who slaves away as a bank teller to earn a living and his roommate Gideon, who is unemployed. Gideon however, has concocted a plan to make both their dreams come true…it merely involves robbing the bank in which Desmond works. Along with their partner in crime, Rupert, they plan a dramatic daytime robbery that involves guns, ski masks, bowling bags, and expensive suits.
Desmond, for one, is having second thoughts. His girlfriend Julie is loving and supportive, but her father thinks Desmond should "get serious" with his life. This puts Desmond in the position of either accepting the corporate office job her father is offering or agreeing to a lunatic caper, which Gideon has been planned by watching all the bank robber films he can get a hold of. Whatever Desmond decides, one thing is clear. Nobody ever said your dreams would come true...but sometimes they're all you've got. LEARN MORE... www.fitterhappierfilms.com

Magnum, PI, the movie

With the success of Starsky & Hutch, the drooling masses who turned up to ogle Jessica Simpson's Daisy Dukes-clad ass in The Dukes of Hazzard, and the imminent arrival of Miami Vice, it was pretty much inevitable that somebody would eventually decide that Magnum, P.I. would also be a cash cow. That somebody turned out to be both a wise suit at Universal, who have long held the rights, and Brian Grazer, who will be producing the film (through Imagine Entertainment). The screenplay will be written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, who penned both Dodgeball and the brilliant Terry Tate, Office Linebacker short that was turned into possibly the best Super Bowl ad of all time. LEARN MORE... cinematical.com

The End Of Movie Theaters?

It used to be that the only way to see a movie was to go to watch it at a theater. But Jerry Bowen reports on a new movie that will be released in theaters on cable TV and on DVD all within days. LEARN MORE...
us.video.aol.com

'Da Vinci Code' to Open at Cannes

Case cracked: "The Da Vinci Code" will be the opening-night movie at the Cannes Film Festival in May, organizers said. Based on Dan Brown's esoteric thriller about code-breaking and conspiracy, the film will debut at the Riviera festival and in French theaters on May 17, the festival said Saturday. The rest of the world will have to wait two days, until May 19. READ MORE & SEE THE TRAILER... Tom Hanks stars in a film by Ron Howard for warner Bros.

EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL

Five teenagers away for the weekend, an old abandoned cabin in the woods, what could possibly go wrong?
It's the old familiar story that we know and love: Boy meets girl, boy unleashes ancient evil spirit, girl turns into zombie, boy must fight to survive until dawn as his friends turn into the undead around him. Before spiderman or a simple plan, Sam Raimi directed the low budget horror film Evil Dead. Realizing that the film was more comic than scary, a large cult following quickly sprung up around the film as well as it's two sequels, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness.
"The trilogy delves further and further into farce and camp" says director and co-creator Christopher Bond, "Turning them into a musical was just the next logical step" StudioCanal and Anchor Bay Entertainment (Proprietors of the two films) both leapt to support a project to bring Evil Dead to the stage with new music, new songs and a new script. When the musical premiered in Toronto in August of 2003 numbers like "Cabin in the Woods", and "Do the Necronomicon" made this hilarious romp through the campy horror classics a huge success. READ MORE... www.evildeadthemusical.com

SmartVideo Brings Free Digital Music Videos to All Internet Enabled Mobile Devices

SmartVideo Technologies, Inc., announced that mobile viewers can now watch the latest music videos on all Internet-enabled devices, such as cellphones, PDAs, and laptops connected via cellular, Wi-Fi, and DSL networks. SmartVideo in partnership with the Digital Music Video Network (DMVN), today launched its groundbreaking, advertising-supported channels featuring videos by the music industry's top artists. A unique feature of this service is SmartVideo's use of an advanced Digital Rights Management (DRM) system that protects the copyright and security of the music.
READ MORE... streamingmedia.com

Unscripted from Sundance

Park City, UT is buzzing with throngs of celebs, their entourages, packed parties and swag-packed gift bags. And we're right there on Main Street, shooting Unscripted features for your viewing pleasure. Check out what stars like Ashley Judd, Josh Hartnett, Lucy Liu, Paul Giamatti and more have to say about the legendary indie fest! UNSCRIPTED INTERVIEWS... movies.aol.com

The ANT BULLY AUDITIONS

Insects line up to audition for a starring role in this animated comedy about a young boy who is punished for terrorizing ants.
SEE THE AUDITION... filmfanzine.com (c) warnerbros

Cheap HORROR Flicks Rule!

TOP TEN BOX OFFICE ITS THIS WEEKEND! Demonstrating yet again that there's nothing so reliable as a cheap horror flick to turn a quick profit at the box office, Sony Screen Gems' Underworld: Evolution debuted in first place over the weekend with a higher-than-expected $27.6 million. (The film, which was not screened for critics, got royally trounced by them after it opened. Jeannette Catsoulis in the New York Times commented, "Maybe one day, Hollywood will figure out that pouring acting-challenged starlets into black neoprene and sticking them in front of a blue screen do not a movie make.") READ MORE... http://www.imdb.com - Over 30 million movie lovers view imbd.com each month! Do you?

The TOP TEN PRINCIPLES of home grown CGI Production

Computer Graphic Images and computer generated images have gone from the professional workplace to the home where many desktop animators and filmmakers now begin to produce films that rival Hollywood in quality. Here you can learn the rules and begin to act accordingly.
LEARN THE TOP TEN PRINCIPLES of home grown CGI Production... www.simplisticpictures.com

"99 Souls"

Are you a film maker, movie producer or agent signatory? Are you looking for the scariest new movie scripts out there? Contact Tom about his latest horror movie screenplay "99 Souls".
and enjoy NOT his HORROR movie; but a cool horror-related site:
"Momma, I think something's wrong with that boy!"
Warning! Not For Small Children. Parental Guidance Suggested!
Tom Malafarina is one of those unique individual artists with the natural - (unnatural?) - ability to take virtually anything and turn it into something really disturbing ... His site contains many disturbing creations. Try to enjoy your visit and if you survive with your sanity intact you might someday return for more.
SEE MORE... www.tommalafarina.com/Horror

NO INDY 4 ??????????????????

Harrison Ford has told George Lucas and Steven Spielberg that if they don’t get “Indiana Jones 4” off-the-ground next year – they can find themselves a new man to wear ‘the hat’. Although it's not a crucial blow, the 63 year-old Harrison Ford has set a firm deadline (according to Contact Music) and was quoted as saying, "if it doesn't happen in the next two years we should all forget about it." However, he does offer some more promising info alluding to the fact that the project is "looking very good" and Ford hasn't felt "this positive about it happening in a long time."
LEARN MORE... www.cinematical.com

THE FUNK PARLOR

I wonder what’s worse: Having your idea stolen, and then turned into something awful, or having it stolen and made into something as good as Six Feet Under.
Gwen O’Donnell’s The Funk Parlor (which was registered as a screenplay in ‘98), is about a dysfunctional family that owns and lives in a funeral parlor. The story begins with the unexpected death of the family patriarch who bequeaths the funeral home to his two sons. The younger brother lived with his father and, at the story’s start, is a closeted gay, although he has attempted to deny his homosexuality by proposing marriage to a woman. The older brother is involved in a complicated relationship with a mysterious woman who is psychologically damaged and sexually obsessed. A year later, it would appear that the entire plot was stolen…Be sure to SEE THE TRAILER for this 35mm feature which was independently shot in Bristol, Connecticut:
http://www.thefunkparlor.com

The Carpenter and His Clumsy Wife

Peter Foott is an award-winning independent film director from Ireland who graduated from the National Film School, IADT with honors.
In this 14 minute comedy an Irish carpenter uses all his skills to repair what he believes to be his clumsy wife’s inadequacies. Part animated, this comedy contains mature content. Viewer Discretion is advised.
Learn why Peter received much acclaim for The Carpenter and His Clumsy Wife and is now working on his first feature film project.
DON’T MISS THIS FILM… movies.aol.com/short_film_festival

"Peter Pan" Sequel debuts This Year

Geraldine McCaughrean's sequel to the "Peter Pan" classic will be published this fall, but the only information available about it now is its title — "Peter Pan in Scarlet."The book by the award-winning children's author promises readers "high adventure, dramatic tensions and all the swashbuckling, danger and derring-do they can handle."
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children owns the copyright to the original J.M. Barrie story about the boy who never grew up.
After a worldwide search for an author, the hospital trustees chose McCaughrean to write the sequel. The trust stipulated that the book must feature the original characters: Peter, Wendy, Tinkerbell, the rest of the Darling family and the fearsome Captain Hook.
READ MORE... Associated Press for yahoo news

HOODWINKED

The Little Engine That Could: Blue Yonder Films has independently produced a feature that got a nationwide release and Oscar screenings to boot. The film had been scheduled for general release on Christmas Day, but the distributors decided to move the date back to January to give the film a better spotlight rather than have it tossed amid the jumble of features trying to garner a share of holiday moviegoers.
READ MORE... By J. Paul Peszko for awn.com; images ©2005, The Weinstein Co. All rights reserved.

Living & Dying

At the core of Highland Myst Entertainment, Inc. are its two founders, who built the company from both entrepreneurial experience as well as a working and in-depth knowledge of the motion picture industry. This core team is complemented by a secondary team of production personnel and consultants knowledgeable in the motion picture industry. Highland Myst Entertainment, Inc.'s principals have experience in business as well as the entertainment industry. In addition, Highland Myst Entertainment, Inc. has relationships with a strong team of personnel, consultants and advisors who will be able to fill important and valuable roles on an as-needed basis.
Following the robbery of a payroll office, two killers turn the tables on the trio of robbers during a hostage situation.
Surrounded by the police, the robbers must become the heroes before the killers execute all the hostages.
COMING in 2006... highlandmyst.com

Film distributor signs first Sundance deals

The Sundance Film Festival began today and a Manhattan film distributor already announced its first deals.
IFC Films said it bought two movies that debuted at previous festivals but weren’t able to find buyers.
“I am a Sex Addict,” screened at the Tribeca Film Festival last year and won a Gotham Award for best movie without a distributor. The movie is about the life of an insecure young man who becomes addicted to prostitutes. LEARN MORE... by Miriam Kreinin Souccar for newyorkbusiness.com

Surburban Nightmare

"...this is one of the more original indie flicks I've seen in a while and it proves that you really don't need a huge budget to make an effective, intelligent and highly watchable film." - The Video Graveyard
Over the course of one night, the troubled marriage of Charles and Deborah Rosenblad will explode in a full-blown battle of sadism and violence. But their struggles will be different than many, for Charles and Deborah are serial killers. In horrific combinations of violence and terror, their final fight will be one for the annals of psychotic tales.
SEE THE TRAILER... highlandmyst.com

Cell phones go special interest

Wireless carriers cater to sports nuts, immigrants and other niches
When Jon Grauer sits down for dinner or settles in to watch Desperate Housewives, or just about any other show on TV, he's sure to have his trusty new cell phone at his side. It's not that he's expecting any phone calls. He just wants to keep checking the latest sports scores on his Mobile ESPN cell phone.
"It may sound strange, but I do use the phone when I'm watching TV," said Grauer, a self-described "sports nut" who maintains his own sports-themed Web site with scores and news (as well as a link devoted to the singer Neil Diamond). "You don't want to take your attention too much away from the TV. You just want to get updated." LEARN MORE… www.msnbc.msn.com

REESEVILLE

Reeseville is a character driven murder mystery, set in the rural midwest. David Meyers (Brad Hunt) returns to the small town in an attempt to silence the demons of his past. Shortly after his arrival, David’s father, John Meyers (Cotter Smith) is found dead of an apparent suicide. Or is it?
Buried secrets of the town begin to unfold as the coroner, Zeek Oakman (Mark Hamill) begins to suspect that the suicide was staged.
SEE THE TRAILER… welcometoreeseville.com

Ten Movies Every Photographer Should See

The movies that populate this list are not those that contain extraordinary special effects or extended dolly or crane shots. Nor are they films that necessarily contain great acting though the blend of great visuals and admirable acting often do seem to go hand in hand. There have been many great movies over the years, of course, but only a small number I think are able to visually inspire a still photographer.
In my opinion, the qualities of such movies include quality of light, first and foremost, but also fetching composition and, sometimes, camera effects. The most inspirational movies for still photographers often possess powerful and memorable scenes that make you wish you were there with a camera to capture some of the magic moments. Indeed, if I watch a movie and am left with an urge to go take pictures, it's one of the factors that make it a contender for my list of movies worth recommending. TEN MOVIES By: Greg Stott

PIXELS: Digital vs. FILM

How many pixels are there in a frame of 35mm film?
This is a somewhat controversial question, and there are many possible answers. Film is an analogue medium, so it doesn't have "pixels" per se, though film scanners have pixels and a specific resolution.
Today the one thing most people agree on is that it's a lot more than any current consumer digital camera. The debate is about how much resolution the digitals will have to reach to start matching the film.
The very short answer is that there are around 14 million "quality" pixels in a high-quality 35mm shot. That's a shot with a tripod, with a decent lens and a quality, fine-grained film, in decent light. There may be as few as 4 million "quality" pixels in a handheld shot with a point-and-shoot camera or camera with a poor lens. And of course if focus is poor, or light is poor, or the camera was not held steady, the number will drop down below the 1-2 million pixels of the modern consumer camera. Of course, one can have a bad shot with a digital camera too, not using all its resolving ability. A Draft Article by Brad Templeton

YOU ARE ALONE

What are the difficulties in working on a low-budget film?
Based out of New Haven, Connecticut, Gorman Bechard has been making a name for himself in both the film and literary worlds for over a decade. With five novels published and another one on the way, Bechard’s latest project is indie film . The sexually powerful, dark film chronicling the interaction between a middle-aged man and depressed eighteen-year-old woman, has won many awards and critical acclaim. READ MORE... www.gothamist.com

A Look Inside Killer Tracks

Over the past 16 years, Hollywood, Calif.-based Killer Tracks has evolved into one of the most successful production music libraries companies in the United States. Acquired in 1992 by entertainment mega-company BMG, Killer Tracks has expanded and diversified tremendously through the years; at the same time, it has partnered with many other library concerns from around the world. The company's client list is long and very impressive, a testament to its continuing growth and relevance. READ MORE... millimeter.com

HOW TO GET AN AGENT

Basic Tips for Actors
It is not easy getting an agent but it is almost necessary if you want to work in this business. There are no easy methods to secure one; rather it takes hard work and lot of tenacity. The irony of it all is that agents want established actors yet to really get established you may need the help of a talent agent. Although trade publications such as Backstage are a good source of job opportunities the real work comes through an agent. They usually keep a circle of clients to whom they channel out the work to first. If you are apart of that circle then it makes life a little easier for you.
READ MORE... By Ronald K. Armstrong for rkacinemasociety.com

John Carpenter`s The Thing

"In 1980 John Carpenter directed the film The Thing, based on the novel Who Goes There. The film never had the success it deserved, as it was released alongside E. T. But looking back on it, it´s no doubt one of the greatest horror-film classics.", writes Erich Larson. In this article he writes his thoughts on the classic horror-film, and in his opinion it´s more terrifying than Alien. He also examins the films open ending.
READ MORE... Posted by Erich Larson; filmfanzine.com

Comics are better than novels!!!

I was attending a book signing for author Jane Smiley, during which she claimed that novels are better than comics. I responded by telling her that comics actually are superior to novels for many reasons -- 1. Comics have visual artwork. 2. Comics are quicker to read. 3. The only reason why people ever wrote novels was because they were unable to create comics/movies in the past.
What most people don't realize is that just because something isn't long, complex and written 400 years ago doesn't mean it isn't intellectual. Many comic books, including The Matrix, Sandman and even Spider-Man contain as much intellectual value, if not more, than Hamlet. Hamlet analyzes death and family values. So does Sin City and Terminator. Maya Angelou's work, as far as I'm concerned, is nothing more than a rant on racial issues. Why is this more important than H.G. Wells' The Time Machine? Isn't time a more important subject of study? READ MORE… Posted by Kenneth Eng, Youngest SF novelist in America; www.filmfanzine.com

The Day of the Virus Bombs

When Chris Gorak saw "Jaws" for the first time as a youngster in Massachusetts, he stopped swimming in the ocean, for good.
When two young producers who were impressed with his design work on "The Clearing," a kidnapping drama, offered to help with financing if Mr. Gorak wanted to write and direct something himself, it was perhaps no surprise that he turned in the screenplay of a nightmare - one that is all the more frightening because it is so very plausible.
Four years later, Mr. Gorak's finished product, "Right at Your Door," is to have its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this month. READ MORE... By DAVID M. HALBFINGER, The New York Times

Starbucks to promote Lionsgate movie

A Starbucks executive also said the company plans to add DVDs and books to the music CDs already sold at its coffee shops but will limit the number of music and movie titles to 20 at a time to avoid cluttering its stores.
It began shopping for a film to promote about a year ago, and plucked "Akeelah" out of a group of 12 finalists.
"Not only was ('Akeelah') compelling and inspirational, it was very fitting with Starbucks from a brand perspective," Lombard said. "Lionsgate was the right partner. They are very innovative. We were very impressed with the quality of films they select."
Lionsgate, which spends $15 million to $20 million to market its films and even less to produce or acquire them, had recent box office hits with "Crash," the "Saw" horror films and the just-released "Hostel." "Akeelah" cost less than $10 million to make, a Lionsgate spokesman said. LEARN MORE... movies.yahoo.com

Blair Witch director makes Raw Feed

Daniel Myrick, who directed The Blair Witch (picture) with Eduardo Sanchez, is doing a new documentary-style horror film: Raw Feed. Warner Home Video has picked up the release rights.
Myrick says to horror-magazine Fangoria that he'll never repeat the success of Blair Witch, but he has an understanding why it happened. He's also philosophical about the long delay they've had in getting follow-up projects off the ground. He says, "People these days graduate film schools and studios throw $40 million at them," Myrick notes. "Then they wonder why the movies blow up. I'd rather be patient and earn my stripes." READ MORE... www.filmfanzine.com

The Looming 4:4:4 World

At “One World on HD,” representatives of BandPro, Sony, and Zeiss repeatedly emphasized that uncompressed 4:4:4 (RGB) is superior to 4:2:2 or compressed HDCAM, particularly where digital cinema or complex effects are concerned. They suggested that with improved availability of Sony’s portable HDCAM SR VTR the SRW-1 and SRPC-1 HD digital processor, capture in the field of 4:4:4 from Sony’s F950 CineAlta camera is now within reach of anyone.
This is the HD camera-recorder combo critical to George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith, Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City, and Michael Mann’s upcoming Miami Vice. So the consensus during the forum was that 4:4:4 recording will rapidly eclipse the others, at least at the high end. LEARN MORE... millimeter.com

THE CURE

Love and hate can sometimes be looked at in the same light since both can make you do unreasonable things. Such is the case for Kristine Watts who longs for something from her past which is unattainable. Now left with only memories of what once was, this shell of a young woman has only one thing left on her mind... SEE THE TRAILER… www.jafripictures.com

A preview of things to come?

The annual Consumer Electronics Show was just held in Las Vegas, January 5-8. While we don’t expect professional video equipment to be shown at CES, in past years some consumer technology introduced there has directly or indirectly found its way into pro equipment. This transmission occurs two ways. First, many low-end pro camcorders are directly derived from “prosumer” equipment. For example, the PD170 was an enhanced VX2100, and the Z1 an enhanced FX1. Second, technology (particularly semiconductor components) and features (flip-out LCD displays) are introduced in the consumer space to allow volume production to be ramped up, thereby reducing their cost. READ MORE... by Steve Mullen for videosystems.com

3-CCD PROHD CAMCORDER - GY-HD100U

What's the difference between HD and HDV? HDV is real high definition. It has two distinguishing characteristics from earlier HD recording formats. First, it utilizes widely available and economical DV tape cassettes as a storage medium. Secondly, it employs highly efficient MPEG-2 compression.
ProHD includes HD MPEG encoders and decoders, a DTV multi-format converter, two HD camcorders, an HD hard disc recorder, an HD field recorder / spooler, an HD studio deck, DTV monitors, HD flat panel displays, HD front projection systems and – the newest member of the family – low-cost HD optical media playback. Other remarkable HD innovations will soon join the ProHD family. LEARN MORE... pro.jvc.com

Plan, Start and Operate Your Own Movie Theater

Starting a successful movie theater does not happen by accident. Learn how to carefully plan to start your movie theater and how to manage your business on a day to day basis with information about market analysis and planning, advertising, employee records and training, accounting and bookkeeping, determining your target market, how to analysis the competition, and much more. Start your movie theater today, the right way!

Rumors of Pixar sale to Disney

Rumors are circulating that Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney are on the brink of signing a megadeal, either the possible sale of Pixar to Disney or a new distribution pact between the two companies. Continuing talks have reportedly been migrating toward Disney acquiring all or part of Pixar, which would make Steve Jobs--CEO of Pixar and Apple Computer--a major Disney shareholder, and possibly the media giant's chairman.
Some analysts have speculated that by selling Pixar, Jobs could focus on running Apple, while others doubt the executive is willing to sell even a part of Pixar, which he bought in 1986 from George Lucas for $10 million. Pixar's market value is now almost $7 billion, according to a report from bizjournals.com.
READ MORE... www.macnn.com

UTOPIAN SOCIETY

Independent comedy is back on the rise. Six friends, six dreams, six secrets. The freshest and most funny teen comedy genre. College - Frat Life in the tradition of good O'l fashioned Natl. Lampoon i.e. - Animal House, and American Pie.
SEE THE TRAILER… www.theutopiansocietymovie.com

LOGLINES - The Short Pitch !

The one-liner that tells what your show is-
A "Logline" is a one or two sentence description that tells the basic premise and purpose of your show idea.
Loglines for the sake of pitching a project are similar to a TV Guide description of a show, but more specific in describing the concept of the program. This is the catalyst for increasing the odds of selling a script or idea for a film or television show.
How do you sell a TV show idea or script? Create a great logline! Developing a good logline can help you in developing a better show, and gives the executive the ammunition and confidence to market your project. It forces you to boil down all of the elements of your TV show and communicate what the viewers will be watching and the specific purpose of the show. LEARN MORE... www.tvwritersvault.com

LOST OUR SENSES

A friend of mine wanted me to shoot the concept part of a music video for him. The result is a short that looks like a 1930's French surrealist film.
SEE THE MUSIC VIDEO… chimeralighting/sc

Sound for Film and Video

With the completion or lock of your film, the task of adding sound design and music has officially arrived. Most of the time we look at it like an empty glass that needs filling. This approach can lead to an audio heavy design ultimately confusing your audience.
Another way I like to approach or look at audio is more like a painting. When there is the proper balance of color you end up with a strong cohesive image. READ MORE… www.studentfilmmakers.com

MAKE-A-60-SECOND-VIDEO competition

Pick a film, a game, a TV show and some music. Pick more than one. Pick a hero, pick an icon. Set the scene, choose a style, cast your stars. SMASH EVERYTHING TOGETHER! Tell us what happens when your media collides. Impress us and you could win a day out at a machnima or video editing studio. LEARN MORE... viiv.intel.com

Intel Launches Viiv Entertainment PC

LAS VEGAS - Chip-maker Intel Corp. launched its Viiv entertainment PC platform Thursday and announced a slew of deals with entertainment and other tech companies to provide content for the new systems.
Viiv PC owners will be able to watch video that's stored in Google Inc.'s video service, high-definition highlights from NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics and classic TV shows from America Online. In all, Intel has signed dozens of content deals.
Viiv computers will be capable of replacing the array of standalone boxes that surround the television — such as a digital video recorder, DVD player or cable box. Intel also says it's working to ensure a Viiv PC works seamlessly with other equipment.
By focusing on more than chips, Intel hopes its technical and marketing muscle will help make entertainment PCs easier to use — and more appealing. LEARN MORE... news.yahoo.com; AP photo

ONE THIRD

ONE THIRD is a psychological thriller and a spiritual love story and a modern city haunting tale of two neighbors who live in a New York Coty apartment. Chris is a Buddhist monk in his twenties living a simple life of meditation, moderation and abstinence. Despite his lifestyle, he soon becomes entranced with his 18 year old female neighbor who is seemingly innocent. A peephole in the wall breaks down the barrier between them as they each peer into the life of the other. SEE THE TRAILER... onethirdfilm.com

Film captures the impact of volunteerism on individuals

The film recounts the experience of a group of individual volunteers who came together to help the rescue workers following the collapse of the World Trade Centre on September 11th, 2001. At the heart of this documentary is the spirit of volunteerism and service that motivated these volunteers to get out there and do something. It shows the power of ordinary citizens and the remarkable impact volunteerism can have on the volunteers themselves and on the world we live in. LEARN MORE... The above still from the documentary "The Heart of Steel" by New York film maker Angelo Guglielmo shows a volunteer at the site of the World Trade Centre after the 9/11 2001 attack.

Requiem for a Comedic Heavyweight

Throughout the 1970s and '80s, Richard Pryor dropped the f-bomb, fired the n-word, and strafed audiences with the dirty truth of America's race relations. Along the way, he composed and performed some of the funniest material of his time. Pryor battled alcoholism, drug addiction, and, since 1986, multiple sclerosis. Until MS stopped him, he performed onstage, in more than 30 movies, and on TV. He won five Grammys, one Emmy, and, by all accounts, changed comedy forever. CLICK HERE... www.richardpryor.com/

We are looking for content-We want to PAY you!

Features, shorts, music videos, TV programs and almost anything else you’ve got! Why Give it away? Get PAID!!! The only site with superior full Screen at TOP DVD quality pays you EVERY time somebody watches your film. We currently showcase more than 2500 Studio and Independent projects! How much does it cost you to get set up on Hollyflicks? NOTHING. Submit for FREE and submit as many films as you like. Want more info on how you get paid? CLICK HERE...Check us out at www.hollyflicks.com *Sorry no fanfilms.

ROYALCOM Brings Paula White Mobile Phones

ROYALCOM Selected to Bring Paula White Ministries to Mobile Phones Worldwide ROYALCOM, a major worldwide provider of brand and content mobile enabling services, is now set to deliver the inspirational messages of motivational speaker Paula White to mobile phones across the globe. These services are set to be available Jan. 1 2006 to subscribers.
ROYALCOM's advanced mobile television platform will make accessible most episodes of the Paula White Today Show. Consumers who subscribe to the service will be able to enjoy an array of motivational messages and products offered by Paula White Ministries anywhere at anytime, 24 hours a day.
Subscribers will also be able to view exclusive video programming only available on the ROYALCOM Paula White service. LEARN MORE… More information can be found at www.royalcom.com

ViewSonic VX924 19-inch LCD Display

ViewSonic VX924 19-inch LCD Display 1280x1024 flat panel is sharp and vibrant with low latency! ViewSonic, targeting the gaming market, enters the speed derby with its VX924 19-inch monitor ($380 street). Claiming a lightning-fast 4-millisecond gray-to-gray response time, the company touts this 1280x1024 display as the world’s fastest. Taking that extraordinary claim into account, we looked for extraordinary evidence, closely examining this monitor and comparing it to another entry in the speed-demon competition, the 19-inch Samsung SyncMaster 940BF. As we did with the Samsung contender, we hitched up this ViewSonic monitor onto an enormously powerful gaming workstation, and fired up the most technologically-advanced games in existence. READ MORE... By Charlie White for games.consumerelectronicsnet.com

INFECTED flesh-hungry zombies

It's Christmas time in New York , and you are a cop, working for the New York Biohazard Team. And guess what? A raging virus has spread through the city, turning everyone into blood-crazed, flesh-hungry zombies. And guess what else? YOU are the last line of defense.
This Christmas is going to suck.
While normal New Yorkers either hide in fear, or get their faces ripped off by Infected zombies, you are out there working overtime. Armed with some brutal weaponry, and a special viral gun, you've got to blast, chum, and burn your way through the boroughs, killing everything that moves.
This holiday season, paint the town red… with blood.
LEARN MORE... www.infected.com

Interview with David Clynic; Perfect Dark Zero composer

The Perfect Dark Zero soundtrack features original music compositions and arrangements by David Clynick who is best known for co-composing the cinematic music in the first Perfect Dark. Clynick has combined epic sci-fi soundscapes with a hypnotic, electronic dance feel that sets the pace and tone for one of the most highly anticipated Xbox 360 launch titles.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE… DON”T MISS: VISIT THE Official Perfect Dark Zero Soundtrack Site…
http://www.pdzsoundtrack.com/