HVS Top 5 (plus 1) Movies whose Special Effects Changed Cinema

HVS Top 5 (plus 1) Movies whose Special Effects Changed Cinema

Since we're talking about editing, special effects and post production (stuff that's done to film on computers after shooting) here is a list of movies that changed our world as we sat in the theater:

Star Wars - The granddaddy of modern special effects. Special cameras and computers made miniature replicas, actors and backgrounds blend together into composites so believable we thought we were there . Star Wars gave birth to every space blockbuster we've seen since.

Superman - Seeing superheroes fly these days is run-of-the-mill. But before Superman you would only see them dive out of a window and then land somewhere. The special camera lenses and placement involved in making Superman took us with him high above the skyscrapers of Metropolis.

Jurassic Park - Never before had we been so close to living, breathing, textured beasts such as this. We could almost smell their breath (and it wasn't that pleasant). The dinosaurs were truly the star and movie creatures were never the same.

Toy Story - Toy Story proved that a feature-length computer generated film could be popular. In fact it won a place in the top 100 highest grossing films of all time and served as a template for all animated movies to follow.

The Matrix - "Bullet time" is so popular and effective it has almost become a cliché for martial arts movies. This effect combines slow motion with 360 degree camera shots that makes everyone feel like a ninja.

Avatar - Avatar has pretty much sealed the sum of special effects to this point. It made people capable of just about anything.

At HVS Video Editing is Available to Everyone

Julia had been playing piano from ages seven to seventeen - or in piano years from Chopsticks to Chopin - and was now graduating and continuing on to music school. Her mother, who had fastidiously recorded Julia's annual recitals all those years had a great idea: Why not combine them all? She gathered all her tapes and had them put in chronological order. Then she added the name of each composition as it began. Finally, since the sound level varied from piece to piece, she evened it out a bit. In the end what a story this special video told! Not only did it document the growth of Julia's piano skills but her growth from a cute and shy beginner to a beautiful and expressive artist. Jim inherited the auto dealership from his dad. The first thing he did was expand. Soon he outgrew that and expanded some more. Now he owned the whole block. When his dad's ninetieth birthday celebration came around Jim knew what to do. There were photos from the initial groundbreaking, film from the first television commercial, and other memorabilia on various media. Jim put it all together as a video on a DVD and gave his dad the best birthday present a son could give his father. Plus, the video now plays in the waiting room and part of it is used on the company website. One of the most valuable services we provide for our customers is both personal and professional editing. Do you have various family videos that you want to turn into a project? Are you a business owner with video of your factory or showroom that, with a little polish, would make a good promotional piece? If you have the clips we have the expertise to work with them. Now editing can be easy, affordable, and available to everyone. So, what really is editing? In it's simplest definition video editing is arranging and enhancing your video clips to portray a story or message. Let's say you decide that it would be a really cool gift to combine your three kids' wedding into a ten minute video. So you start thinking about it and your creativity starts bubbling: "What if I have all three limos pull up one after the other?" you excitedly think. Or, "Wouldn't it be a hoot to have all the kids say 'I do' at the same time?" But these clips are on six different tapes shot five years apart. Not a problem! Selecting and combining these clips sequentially is called......editing. And instead of six tapes scattered to the four winds, you have one beautiful video. "Why should I edit?" you ask, "I already have the videos." We say: If you enjoy your videos then editing will make them even better: Editing allows you to tell a story. People are drawn to stories. When you edit you are creating something more interesting than just random video clips. Editing sustains interest. It will make your videos concise and have a point. For example, "Our Family at the Lake" - showing quick shots of your family on the beach complete with beach music is much more enjoyable than hours of raw video footage. Editing is fun and creative. It's a way for you to put your spin and creativity on something you love. You've probably watched enough television and movies in your life to know what editing techniques are effective even if you don't know what they're called. Here are just a few simple editing techniques that can make your videos even better: Transitions - This may sound highfalutin' but it's not. Have you ever seen a photo montage with images that fade out or fade in? Or a video that slowly goes to black at the end? Those are simple transitions you can put on your video. Color correction - Was your wedding shot in a dark church? Is your wedding dress more blue than white? Color correction is an easy way to address many issues like this. Titles - Does your daughter have a sports video that needs vital information like her position, number, weight, GPA, etc. on it? Does your son want composers' names on his musical recital video? Putting titles in your videos is no sweat. Music - Nothing is more effective than appropriate music on your videos. Voiceover - Have you ever seen a 50th wedding anniversary photo keepsake with the husband reading a poem he wrote while they were courting? We have. Not a dry eye in the house. Effects - Yes, even special effects like slow motion, fast motion, or blur are relatively simple these days. When it comes to editing we say: Whatever you can imagine we can most likely achieve. When you bring your editing project to us here's a very basic map: Removing footage you don't want It may sound simple but the first step is just getting rid of video that's not essential to your story. Finding and choosing what you do want This is the beginning of the fun - finding the filet mignon of your project. Telling a story This is the most crucial part of your editing and the reason you're doing it. And we're here to help you every step of the way. Adding the "cool" stuff This is the icing on the cake. Music, effects, titles, etc. are fun and put the finishing touch on. Whether you are a business owner or have personal videos call us today. Let's team up and create something special from your video clips. Call us today to schedule an editing consultation and session! Call to make an appointment today! 559-732-3050 _________________________________________________________________ FamilyTIME Videos ™ Make your child the star of his or her own video! Home Video Studio will create a FamilyTIME™ Video that features the video highlights that you select of "your star"! Perhaps it's a "Baby's First Year" video, a "Sweet 16" video, or even a "How We Spent Our Summer Vacation" video. Home Video Studio will add music, titles, special effects, and produce a three- to five-minute professional video for you. FamilyTIME™ Videos make wonderful gifts for long distance friends and family, siblings, and as keepsakes to store for your children when they grow up. You could even make a FamilyTIME" Video for yourself and you can be the star!

HVS Top Five Films for a Sentimental Journey

HVS Top Five Films for a Sentimental Journey

All Aboard! What makes for a sentimental movie? Usually emotions we all share, maybe some losses we've all experienced, always about relationships, and sometimes a few tears. Here are our top five picks. Settle under a blanket and keep a box of tissues handy (guys too).

First stop - Sleepless in Seattle. This movie is ingeniously sentimental because it pays homage to another sentimental classic An Affair to Remember. It has everything - a lonely widower, a kid, a cute girl, and plenty of love's "near misses" that make you wonder if they'll ever get together.

No sentimental journey is complete without a stop in mother/daughter-ville. The inherent love/hate relationship is at it's best here in Terms of Endearment when portrayed by Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger. Add in Jack Nicholson for some laughs and you have a funny, tenderhearted movie.

Million Dollar Baby. This is a great one with a gruff (but not really) old man, a talented and driven girl, their unlikely relationship, boxing rings and a memorable hospital scene.

Nothing pulls our sentimental heartstrings like a movie about best friends. Next stop Beaches, where, as the wind beneath each others' wings, CC and Hillary grew to be the "bestest besties" ever.

Last stop and our sentimental destination. The Notebook - a story of love that bears all, believes all, hopes all and endures all. Isn't that what love is?

Why Video? We Have Sentimental Reasons.

It's time to take a sentimental journey. The Holidays have come and gone. The tree is now mulch. The furniture is back in place. Though you've yet to do a final inspection you're pretty sure all the relatives have gone home. 2014 is already in second gear and you probably feel like resting on your laurels until the first robin appears. Not so fast! There may still be birthdays and anniversaries. And don't forget that in the not-too-distant future looms a large event - Valentine's Day! This time of year can be challenging, even for expert givers like yourself. You might be tempted to think you used all your best stuff for the holidays, holding nothing in reserve. Don't fret! Like a good relief pitcher we're warmed up and ready to bring the heat in mid-January with some great ideas. Cozy January weather and February's Valentine's Day conjures up thoughts of intimate gifts for the rest of winter - and nothing fills the bill like video. Gadgets and electronics may be good for Christmas but now it's time for something sentimental. What should you look for? Here's a little acronym to help you look for qualities that make the perfect sentimental gift: Personal Unique Reminders of your love Earnest  That spells "pure" of course - and video is a purely wonderful gift this time of year. Pure, as in your pure heart as you dream of your loved one's happiness and delight. Pure, as in the pure joy they will experience receiving your thoughtful gift. What are some gift ideas for the Sentimental Journey? Here are a few to "Put your mind at ease" and "renew old memories"! What about a Photo Video Keepsake? Photos or video, or both, complete with music. Maybe you can add a personal message in it. Do you have old love letters or a poem? Why not read it in your video? Is your wedding day on tape or film? Now is the time to transfer it to DVD complete with a beautiful label and case wrap! Are you creative? We specialize in editing. Whatever you can dream up for your unique and personal video gift we can most likely accomplish! Now really, when you think about it is there any other gift to give this time of year? Call us today for a video gift that will guarantee a Sentimental Journey! The Story of Valentine's Day Where did Valentine's Day come from? Maybe you think it was invented by card and chocolate companies! But, did you know that there really was a St. Valentine who risked his life for love and friendship? Here is how the legend goes: A long time ago Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. He wanted a huge army and expected all able-bodied men to volunteer. When he realized men loved their wives and families and weren't all that keen on leaving them to go die on the battlefield Claudius had an idea: He made marriage illegal. A priest named Valentine enjoyed marrying couples and seeing them happily in love. He decided the law was ridiculous and continued to marry young lovers in secret - officiating the ceremony while the couples whispered their vows, all the time listening for the footsteps of soldiers. One day Valentine was caught, sentenced to death, and thrown in jail. The prison guard's daughter made friends with the imprisoned priest and kept his spirits up by visiting him every day. On his last day Valentine gave his little friend a note thanking her for her loyalty and friendship. He signed it, "Love from your Valentine." On February 14, 269 A.D. Valentine died, but every year people remember his commitment to love and friendship by exchanging "valentines" with their loved ones. Call to make an appointment today! 559-732-3050

Video & Film to DVD: Give Thanks for the Memories

Thanksgiving is almost here - a time when hearts start turning toward home. The family is together. Friends are dropping by. Laughter. Fellowship. Retelling old stories and making new ones. This time of year is made for video - so turn home with Home Video Studio! Video is the perfect Holiday gift and there's still time for your project to be done and waiting under the tree! Speaking of Thanksgiving, as is our custom this time of year, let's go around the table and hear from a few folks who took the time to be thankful. Maybe you'll get some ideas of your own. Allison from New Jersey: Strapped for a holiday gift idea for my husband, I saw an advertisement for Home Video Studio and thought how great it would be to copy our wedding VCR tape to DVD. Dan was able to help me and the turn around time was incredible. Can't wait to watch the video and others during Christmas week. Thank you! Dennis from Indiana: Home Video Studio was very professional and efficient. In a matter of an hour we were able to edit three individual videos into one with four independent videos playing simultaneously and looping. Thanks. Robert from Ohio: Thank you for turning our 8mm home movie films into DVDs. We have really enjoyed them, our children and grandkids have too. Our kids never saw my father or my wife's mother, so that made them real special. Jennie from California: I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful job you did. The photos we had of our grandmother with a memorable song all on DVD brought tears to my eyes and all the memories come alive over again. Thank you for such a special photo keepsake that our family can cherish forever! Such praises are music to our ears. We'd like to hear yours in the weeks to come! In case you still need some ideas here are a few more ways to "give thanks": G - Greenscreen Videography - Go anywhere you want without leaving the studio. Would you like to shoot a video in Zanzibar? Done. How about Mars? No problem. I - International conversions - PAL and SECAM tapes converted to NTSC or vice versa V - Video production - Corporate or consumer. Business meetings and seminars, training sessions and sales presentations. Parties, anniversaries, graduations, promotions and award ceremonies. E - Editing - No project is too simple or too complex. We use only the best professional computer and video equipment. T - Tape transfer - VHS, VHS-C, BETA, 8mm video, Mini DV...we transfer them all to Platinum Archival DVD H - Home movie transfer - State of the art movie capture technology. You won't believe how good your home movies can look! A - Archiving photos and 35mm slides - Do you have boxes of photos and slides lying around? Digitize them and get them on DVD today. N - Net videos - Video on the web is everywhere. Do you have video on your website? K - Keepsakes - Combine photos and music to create the impression you want. Powerful? Moving? Funny? You decide. S - Sports scholarships - Athletic scholarship a possibility? Give your child an advantage with a Sports Scholarship Video program Remember, time is of the essence. Call us today! Call to make an appointment today! 559-732-3050 Click on this LINK to LIKE our Facebook page! Click on this LINK to LIKE our Facebook page! About Home Video Studio - Visalia Arthur Zepeda, Owner/Video Artist Your local Home Video Studio offers a wide range of professional video production services to consumers and businesses alike. We value our customers and want to thank you for being a part of our success! Home Video Studio strives to make your experience with us enjoyable and truly memorable. Our specialties include video production, video editing, home movie and video transfers, CD and DVD duplication, and much more! For all of your video needs, call Home Video Studio today for an appointment! 559-732-3050

November already?

Can you believe it's November?  Ready or not the Holiday season is upon us and we want to make things easy for you this year.  Are you looking for a unique and heartfelt gift idea?  What better Holiday gifts for family and friends than precious memories transferred to DVDs? 

Do you have priceless old tapes scattered about and in a variety of different formats?  Do you have old 8mm, Super8 or 16mm home movies in your basement, garage or attic?  What about slides and photographs?  Special moments weren't captured to be lying around in the dark!!  They were meant to be viewed and enjoyed!

Imagine those treasures organized into one convenient, durable and attractive package!  Imagine the appreciation your loved ones will have for this one-of-a-kind gift.  And so easy - because we'll do all the work.  You just drop them by!   

There is still time to have this done, but time is of the essence. But don't delay - Call to make an appointment today!

This Way!

There was a time - A lot less tense

When friends talked issues - At the back yard fence

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