Hollywood 101
Posted by HDTV in eBooks Jun 30th, 2009 | No Comments
More than simply a technical how-to book, Hollywood 101 is full of inside stories and advice from industry leaders.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Perfect Introductory Book to Hollywood
I purchased a number of “get into film/hollywood” books and this one was by far the most helpful. While it doesn’t have much of the typical career advice (how to write your resume, cover letters etc.), which are better covered in more general job hunting books, it is the perfect book to read to get a sense for the jobs that do exist in Hollywood. If you’re interested in the industry, but find it something of a “black box” or are unsure exactly what type of position to try and look for, this book is the ideal starting point. Levy walks through the entire industry, from agencies to studios, to actors, directors, costume designers etc. Given the wide canvas, none of the positions are covered in too much detail, but I think the book ideally serves as an excellent starting point from which to know where to pursue more information.
Finally, the tone of the book is excellent - one of excitement and encouragement. While it’s a small point, dry and depressing hollywood career books abound - it’s refreshing to find one that’s has an enthusiasm and optimism to match your own.
5 Stars But it today!
It was informative and not at all boring. A must-read for those who are new to the Industy. Explains the steps of advancement for nearly every job in the entertainment industry. Excellent resource for goal-setting/ career management.
1 Star useless
if you are already in filmmaking you might know all that this book covers. if you are not, i don’t see how this book could help you to get in. maybe if you have no idea of what you want to do in the business… but even than…
5 Stars Wanted: Hollywood film jobs
The book is great. If you want to get in the to industry (that’s what people call the film industry in Southern California), buy the book. It gives a complete break down of all the people that are required to make any movie. So next time when you watch the ending credits, you’ll know what a key grip, best boy, art director, first assistance director does and be able to tell your friends as they walk out of the theater asking, “What’s a best boy?”
5 Stars A Great Book to get started
I am an entertainment buff and I thought this book was great for people who want a survey of jobs they can pursue. It gave an in depth look at a lot of the positions in the film business. If you want a general look at the possible jobs, get this book. If you are more interested in television, this book is a great start, but it doesn’t say anything about that since its primarly about film so look for another book for further reading. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to break into the business, it was really helpful for me.
Panasonic TC 26LX20 26 Inch Widescreen HDTV Ready Flat Panel LCD TV
Posted by HDTV in Electronics Jun 30th, 2009 | No CommentsPanasonic TC 26LX20 26 Inch Widescreen HDTV Ready Flat Panel LCD TV
With the launch of its VIERA series, Panasonic - a leader in digital television - continues to advance flat-panel display technology to new levels of performance.The VIERA LCD models feature a three-line digital comb filter. HD model TC-26LX20 delivers a resolution of 1280x 768, and includes an HDMI input, and PCMCIA and SD Memory Card slots to aid in network connectivity. This model also has a brightness of 450cd/m2, a 170-degree viewing angle and a 500:1 contrast ratio.
DigiTV Digital Plasma and LCD TV Articulating Arm Tilting Wall Mount Universal Design for 34 to 56 Displays Black
Posted by HDTV in Electronics Jun 30th, 2009 | No Comments
Single Tilt and Swivel and Articulating Arm FLAT PANEL MOUNT FOR 32″ - 56″ PLASMA /LCD TVs A very slim profile holding your display less than 5″ from the wall with the flexibility of up and down 15 degree tilt if needed. Th mount is a solid and sturdy construction and one of the best mounts available in the market. It is easy to install and comes with minimum required tools and hardware required for installation . Professional Mount with Ultra Smooth Movement Designed for 32″ - 56″ Displays Maximum Weight Capacity: 110 lbs. (50 kg). Cantilever arm extends screen up to 25″ away from the wall. Mounting holes: 30″ wide (762mm) X 18″ tall (480mm) 19″ Wall plate supports 16″ & 18″ wall studs Durable Glossy black finish 4 Large cable pass-through holes on wall plate Arms can connect to wall plate offset left/right or center Printed instructions and all necessary mounting hardware included. Two security screws included
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Out of Stock
I ordered from costlane a couple of days ago because they would give me free expedited shipping but then I got an email saying they were out of stock, I would have to wait 3 weeks, but then i get expedited shipping so it will only take a month to get it. Even though they are still selling them today they don’t have them in stock. But they raised the price so maybe if you pay 125 bucks they will be in stock for you.
Edit: This review was not the one for the silver mount for 199 bucks some how my review got moved from the original item to this one. LOL If only there was a place i could get this mount for a monoprice I would order it today.
3 Stars Looks great but not the stongest mount out there
As others have mentioned, the unit is very nice for the price but the arm on my mount deflected substantially after I first mounted my TV - a 42″ plasma. Once I flipped the entire mount over, I was able to correct the problem without needing a replacement.
When I flipped the mount, I was able to keep the angle of the mount relative to the wall small, so it wasn’t over extended which I think was the cause of the problem (in my case at least). Think of a right triangle, your tv as the hypotenuse (the longest side), and the wall as one of the other sides. Keep the mount pointed towards the smaller angle.
I would also recommend when mounting your tv, that you try to keep the tv centered on the mounting plate. It seems that if you slide the tv to the left or right too far that the eccentric (off-centered) weight on the arm can also cause it to deflect.
I’ve had the mount for over a year and haven’t had any further difficulties and it looks great…I’m just afraid to move it very much.
Overall, somewhat of a risky investment. It mounts easy and looks great, so if you don’t mind taking the gamble it can be a great mount for the price.
2 Stars Not very sturdy for 52″ plasma
We purchased this wall mount for our 52″ flat screen. The product specifications state it can hold up to a 60″ tv. We double-checked the manual to make sure it was installed properly, but the wall mount isn’t very sturdy. It holds the tv up, but even during installation we were very nervous to leave the wall mount to hold the tv on its own. We definitely will NOT use the articulating arm!
3 Stars TV Wall Mount
This wall mount is OK. Be careful to make sure this mount will hold the weight of your TV. This mount has a 165 pound limit.
4 Stars Would buy again
I bought this mount back when it was silver for a closeout price, and I feel like I got the best possible choice for the money. Even now, at $70 more for the same thing, I would buy again if I found another 46″ LCD on the sidewalk.
It does sag a little bit, but it’s wrong to blame that on the fact that it’s less expensive than other models. That’s just plain stoopid. It sags with respect to how far away from the wall it extends, as a DIRECT result of the law of torque, not the quality or the design. It simply extends further out from the wall than other comparable models do, becuase it’s supposed to support corner mounting, which it does. Other models sag the same amount at the same distance from the wall.
You don’t need a studfinder or a magic wand to find the center of the studs. You just need a little 1/16 or 1/8 drill bit. Tap on the wall, guess where the stud is, and start poking little holes until you find the edges of the stud. That back plate is going to cover all your “experimental” pilot holes unless you’ve been drinking tequila all day and drill the wrong wall. Predrill your actual studs before tapping the lags or you’ll be sorry, the lag screws can split them if you don’t. If you think there’s a chance you have steel studs on your mounting wall, don’t buy this or any other wall mount. Buy a floorstanding model or find a realtor.
Samsung LN40A550 40 Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Posted by HDTV in Electronics Jun 30th, 2009 | No CommentsSamsung LN40A550 40 Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
The SAMSUNG LN40A550 delivers the sharpest, most realistic picture quality you’ve ever seen. Full HD (1080p) contains 1.5 times more scanning lines than conventional HD TVs. That means more pixels, more details and a better picture. A resolution that is approximately twice as much as conventional HD TVs creates the most perfect picture imaginable. Contrast and brightness levels achieve new heights in this LCD TV. Watch movies and shows come to life with enhanced details in very dark or bright scenes. Enjoy a more realistic, sharper picture quality that’s sure to catch your eye with 30,000:1 contrast ratio. One of the most important features for an LCD panel is the pixel response time. Response time refers to the amount of time it takes a pixel to “refresh” itself-to go from being active to being inactive, (ready to be re-activated). The lower the milliseconds, the faster the response time. A very fast 5ms response time virtually eliminates any blurring and gives you smooth-motion action scenes. Want to get more entertainment out of your TV than movies and shows? With our Wiselink USB connection, you can easily and quickly hook up your MP3 player or digital camera and entertain family and friends with a photo slideshow set to music. SAMSUNG LCD TVs make your high-definition dreams a reality. With the SAMSUNG LN40A550 HDTV you really get the total package. 30,000 - 1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio 5ms Response Time 16 - 9 Aspect Ratio SRS TruSurround XT 10 W + 10 W Audio System Input Ports - 3 x HDMI (1 side, 2 rear), 2 x Component, 2 x A/V (1 side, 1 rear), 1x 15-pin VGA PC, 1 x S-Video (side), Wiselink (USB 2.0), RF antenna inputs, Headphone jack (side) Approximate Unit Dimensions - 39.2 (W) x 27 (H) x 11.8 (D) with stand Approximate Unit Weight - 61.5 pounds
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Awesome!
We love it! It is an instant setup with intuitive menu. The picture is extreamly crisp on digital stations but unbelievable on high definition. We receive signals from our rooftop antenna which does not yet have a rotor so only stations broadcasting digital from one direction about 40 miles away come in well. Digital stations are all or nothing but the signal strength can be displayed. We expect that with a rotor to turn the antenna other stations will be just as good.
Before purchase, we did our homework and found this Samsung T.V. was highly rated and we find that rating well deserved.
Amazon’s bottom line price was the best we could find.
5 Stars Simply Amazing
Went from a 19in TV to a 40in Samsung and very satisfied. I had checked different TVs for quality, view-ability, price, reputation, etc, for 3 months and finally decided on this set for $799, the best price in April 2009. Even the tuner card [I use a roof antenna] was more powerful than the converter box I bought with the gov’t coupon. Very happy all around. PLUS, when I registered at the Samsung website, I was given a 3 month extension on the warranty for FREE.
5 Stars Samsung LCD is great!
Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
We had researched LCD’s for almost a year and went to some of the box stores to actually view the models we thought we might be interested in. The Samsung LN40A550 ended up at the top of our list. We were able to get the best price through Amazon (the prices do fluctuate, so it’s worth the effort to be patient and check on the price over a period of time) Amazon’s delivery service is great! We received our TV within a few days. The delivery service calls to arrange a convienent time to deliver and set up your TV. It is unpackaged, inspected and plugged in to check the blue screen. We have been completely satisfied with the sound, color and quality of the set. There is a multitude of adjustments you can make to get exactly the picture and sound you want. We were especially impressed by the sound quality of the set. While we may add a surround sound system in the future, it really isn’t necessary with the 550. One note…we did not have HD when we purchased the set. We added the feature to our cable a few weeks later and I have to say the picture quality is better on the HD channels…no noticable pixeling, even at close range. I would say our overall experience has been a very good one with both Amazon and this TV!
5 Stars Incredible color … superior price … PERFECT!
I purchased a SAMSUNG LCD HDTV on the recommendation of several prople in the television business. I was not disappointed. What amazing color! I was, however, concerned about buying from AMAZON, thinking that I could get any necessary service and, if necessary, set-up from a local vendor. AMAZON, however, offered the best price (by a mile!) and delivered and set-up the set for me WITHOUT ANY EXTRA CHARGE! The set-up, by the way, was easy …. simply involving positioning the set, attaching the cable, putting the provided batteries in the remote and power up! The picture is fantastic … the black is crystal black … the colors astounding. If I have any reservation, it is the sound. Not particularly good … probably needs an ancillary set of speakers. But for the price it is EXTRAORDINARY.
3 Stars Middle of the road review
Let me start this review by saying that with present technology the world is far from being prepared to administer High definition TV. With this in mind it makes it very difficult to give an accurate Review of this Samsung HD LCD TV. I have cable service with the digital option that provides the HD channels. I also have a DVD player that is an older model and does not support the progressive scan technology.
When viewing a HD program that is broadcast in 1080p the picture is acceptable and superior to my old analog Sony TV. I say that with some reservations because the Sony was a really exceptional TV that provided 16 years of service. Hopefully this new set will last as long.
One of the things that I like about the flat screen TV is the weight. A 40 inch LCD is around 50 lbs. This opens up many options for placement of the TV almost anywhere in a room. Hang it on a wall or set it on a table or cabinet.
The picture quality when viewing an HD program is very good, but that is one of the problems. Not all broadcasts on the HD channels are high def and the ones that are…well they come in many different formats. Some are 16X9, some are 720p, some are 1080p and the rest are some form of 4X3. I bought a 40 in TV to watch 40 inches of TV. This is not always the case. Although this is not the fault of Samsung it is frustrating. To compound this frustration Samsung has included picture size options to compensate for the different formats. This is fine if you don’t mind things being out of proportion. One note about the options for these new flat screen TV’s. They do provide a lot of options and one can adjust his set to his or her own specifications. I have been an Electronics Technician for over 40 years and have been involved with maintaining CCTV systems for the most of those 40 years. The point I’m trying to make is that most of this technology is not new to me, but I still have trouble setting up this new TV with all the options available. I wonder how many individuals actually have their TV setup properly or even know the difference whether or not it is set up right. To make my point my wife just asked me how to adjust the picture so you can see the writing on the bottom of the screen. This isn’t the first time I’ve showed her how to make this adjustment.
Audio. Well I’m not particularly impressed with the sound. If you go to some of the major retailers you will notice that they have all the volumes turned down and usually have an expensive sound system playing. If you think about it, the flat screen TV’s are only a few inches in depth with a small space at the bottom or on the sides. This doesn’t leave much room for quality speakers. So think about investing in a quality AV sound system, 5.1 or better.
Sports and fast action is another area where LCD TV lacking. They don’t respond fast enough to give a picture that isn’t pixilated or blurred. Even with a 5ms refresh rate the performance is poor at best when viewing fast action. I knew about this problem before my purchase but I thought that with 5ms refresh rate it would be minimal I was wrong.
So where does this leave me in reviewing this Samsung TV. I’m going to give it 3 stars. I’m basing this on poor sound quality, difficulty in setting up the options on the TV and the poor fast action response. All flat screen TV’s have these same inequities. Samsung is still the best as compared to the others.
The Power Filmmaking Kit Make Your Professional Movie on a Next to Nothing Budget
Posted by HDTV in eBooks Jun 30th, 2009 | No CommentsThe Power Filmmaking Kit Make Your Professional Movie on a Next to Nothing Budget
* “Jason proves that top-notch production values are within the reach of anyone who has ever dreamt of making his own movie. Jason knows what he’s talking about because he’s actually done it!”
- Steve Skrovan, Executive Producer, “Everybody Loves Raymond”
* “Absolutely the most in-depth, informative and entertaining filmmaking book out there. It takes you through everything you need to know, demystifies the process, and shows you exactly how to make a movie, even if you don’t have a huge budget.”
- Kevin Cooper, Executive Producer, “Secondhand Lions”
* “The forms are what will probably get the most use from anyone who buys the Power Filmmaking Kit….the example letters are the treasure trove of the whole kit. Reading through these letters, you can see how Jason Tomaric was able to secure locations and equipment for free.” - Making the Movie blog
* “Mr. Tomaric has managed to write an exceptionally lucid and informative filmmaking volume in The Power Filmmaking Kit. As such, I highly recommend this to any microfilmmakers who are just starting out and want a good foundation. For filmmakers with more experience, this is still a very detailed book on the art of filmmaking that would prove helpful on your production bookshelf.”
-Jeremy Hanke, MicroFilmaker Magazine
“Few beginners’ guides are as thorough as Jason J. Tomaric’s The Power Filmmaking Kit, a book-and-DVD combo that benefits from the author’s experience as an award-winning independent filmmaker. There are no wasted words in Tomaric’s 400-page tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director’s craft while keeping the limitations of a first-time project in mind.” -Jim Hemphill, American Cinematographer Magazine
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Another Shot in the DV Revolution
I was so frustrated with the lack of practical filmmaking instruction that I took two years out of my life to write and illustrate “The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide”, so I speak from the heart when I say that Jason Tomaric’s “Power Filmmaking Kit” is a rare wonder of practicality, conciseness, and valuable filmmaking wisdom.
There are two ways you learn the things in a solid practical film book like this:
1) the hard way- by doing it and learning from your mistakes (fine if you’ve got the time and the money) or
2) by being smart enough to study and learn from a book like this how to stretch your time and money and get better results.
After fifteen years in this business, I still found plenty of valuable tidbits, forms, and practical wisdom in Jason’s book and the jam-packed DVD lessons to make it more than worth the cover price. I only wish I had access to a book like this back in my film school days.
Yet another big shot in the DV Revolution. Well done, Jason.
5 Stars A terrific primer
Books like this promise a lot but I have to say that Jason has done an excellent job of condensing the complex task of movie making into concise and accurate descriptions of each discipline. I’ve experienced quite a bit in the film business over 30 years and time and again as I read this book I kept saying “Oh yes, that’s true.” It is also a great reference for those noodly details one needs from time to time like proper script format. There is no need to hunt through your library for the answer, script format is right here on page 27. The other good thing about Jason’s breakdown is the responsibility associated with film making regarding money,permissions, safety and insurance. I cringe when I think back on how we made 16mm indie films back in the 70s. In some cases we were lucky to be alive afterward much less sued! The Power Filmmaking Kit is terrific primer for those who wish to make a movie in the classic tradition for very little money.
Mark Sawicki
Motion Picture Effects Cameraman/Actor and Author.
3 Stars Lots of information, not much to say
Author Jason Tomaric has written, directed and distributed several minor independent features which is a laudable feat. Yet, Tomaric has surprisingly little to say about the filmmaking process. Sure, there’s a lot of information here, but nothing you couldn’t get anywhere else. Even the skimpy material on his own productions generally amounts to one thought–”Need something for free? Just ask!” What makes similar books like the Complete Guide to Low-Budget filmmaking (Josh Becker) or Make Your Own Damn Movie! (Lloyd Kaufman) interesting is the authors’ willingness to share their personal views and stories of their triumphs and failures. Other books like The DV Rebel’s Guide (Stu Maschwitz) and Digital Filmmaking (Mike Figgis) are authored by highly-regarded professionals who describe how low-budget technology potentially transforms mainstream filmmaking processes. Tomaric, on the other hand, opts for an encyclopedic “wide as an ocean but shallow as a water basin” approach. The result is a paint-by-numbers text that reads less like a book and more like a reasonably executed career move.
5 Stars Very good step by step information on filmmaking
Newer thought that I would be considering working on a feature film, but reading and viewing Jason great material just gave me the feeling that I also could do it.
5 Stars FANTASTIC BOOK! A Great Resource guide.
Another fantastic book from Focal Press. This book by Jason J. Tomaric is a fantastic resource guide, covering all aspects of filmmaking from start to finish. Well written, and a DVD loaded with extras! Don’t make an independent movie without it! Highly recommended!
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