Those exciting videos below were for a meeting that took place last week in SF. Using my blog as a repository for clips which clients can see quickly. I will be using vimeo in the future so as not to contaminate the purity of this "video how-to" information stream.

Amalfi entry way.

Amalfi back of room.

Amalfi room from front of room looking at entrance doors.

Un-Solicited Testimonial (No, Really)

Client Dale Biron (dalebiron.com) took a minute out from our latest poetry video taping to offer some comments about the elements he considers important when choosing a new media producer such as I.
Video's location is also the subject of a brief tutorial that I am posting shortly.

First Flip Video

Hardly earth shattering but a good practice run to see what this camera (a Christmas present to Kay from work) could do. I am aware of its audio limitations and auto exposure issues, but these things take amazingly good HD images.. so here goes:

Flip HD makes an appearance.

A new Flip camera demanded that I go out and try it... so I made a quick little video to test it and to see what issues I will face trying to work it into my regular workflow, if possible.

It's currently on my Facebook page (search Marv Parker) since Flip Share makes it easy to upload a rather large file... it's an m4v (m4p?) and I am not sure yet about how much compression takes place. Once I work out the work flow, I will post it here.
Great images, lousy sound capabilities, sacrificed for convenience I guess.

Video Lighting Example.
Another two light setup. Background is too close and shows up the wrinkles more than I really wanted. Could have put a light on it, but at that distance it would have been really obvious and too bright. I'll soon be putting up a new Dale Biron example, different set and backdrop to show the difference.
Key light is a Chimera softbox and a Pepper Light for the hair light. Camera is a Sony PD-100A DVCAM, a collectable these days and a wonderful camera. Uses 3 CCDs and no CMOS sensors.
I so regret not smiling more....

New Changes Here on the Blog and New Video Productions in the Can!!

Due to some intense demands on my services, I'm turning my attention more to demonstrating how non-professionals can get the quality, eye-catching videos they want and need in the highly competitive world of Web video. As an example:

Dale Biron, consultant, speaker and poet has begun the next series of videos for his website, dalebiron.com. We used two locations and different lighting techniques, seen below in some production stills taken by Video Editor Richard Berkvan on his Canon G7 digital still camera.

Couple tools that make a significant difference in quality are a trusted light meter and a good monitor, visible at the bottom of the frame.
I'll explain why in a later post since I want to get this story up quickly.









Locations can be varied, as in the case of these two production sets; one in a garage with backdrop and the other in a spare room in Dale's home.


Having a good Lowell lighting kit makes it easy to get broadcast quality lighting and video, but not absolutely necessary, as I will demonstrate in an upcoming segment.

New Promo Video for MediaMarv Communications
Comments from a client following a successful project:



You can see Dale do his own work at dalebiron.com.

My Favorite Quote of the Day:

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters in his West Wing office Friday that the Republican Party's approval rating is "only slightly above the national drinking age."

More fun for the holidays - enjoying the great colors in the trees near us:

This is NOT an Abandoned Blog!!

Despite several snarky comments (you know who you are) this site is alive and well.
Occasionally I have to earn a living, usually by producing new media for web distribution. Such has been the case recently. I can now say that my client, AAA of Northern CA, Nevada and Utah is happy with the final product, the video clips are running on their internal communication system and the DVD I made will be soon entertaining new employees. Now, time to sit back, have a brew or three and wait for the invoices to produce their desired results, which will allow me to do my small part for economic recovery.

In the spirit of the season, here's a sunflower to grace your comuter screens:

So I Go Shopping and Discover That...

I have bought only things in my 3 major food groups:

Paula Deen HIT In The FACE With A Ham (VIDEO)

Another episode of Swine Flew!!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Favorite Time of the Year.

Yep, I like this time of year and not just for all the food and pies!! I also use this time to listen to old KFAT radio shows that I recorded back in the fall and winter of 1981 when the station was about to go off the air, due to being sold. KFAT was located in Gilroy, the Garlic Capitol of the world. I have nearly 120 hours of "outlaw country" and eclectic music that only KFAT's djs could produce. I'm currently converting them to CDs on mu MacBook since it's getting harder to find working cassette decks and the tapes are failing. I have Christmas Eve shows and the very last show of all.
Anyone interested in copies can contact me and we can work something out. KPIG in San Francisco is the latest incarnation of that format. Even has a few old KFAT djs working there.
I even have an unused bumper sticker. Wonder what that would be worth on eBay?

The 26 Percent Solution

"Because as if you ever needed proof that 26 percent of America -- that would be one out of every four people you see walking down the street, plus someone else's right ankle -- is totally bat-guano out-of-the­ir-freakin­'-minds crazy, check out this new poll just out:"



That pretty much sums it up for me!!!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Suzanne Sena, Former Fox News Anchor, Now On Onion News Network (VIDEO)

This is funny. She is certainly qualified to do phony stories, tho now with a punchline.



Good for her.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The CFTC and Department of Energy Snore Away While the Oil Patch Makes Hay

How many times have I heard this (oil prices have nothing to do with supply and demand) and when will some action to remedy the situation be taken??
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Winter Is Moving In Here In Wine Country

Getting rain (our version of winter) instead of the light frost for the past couple mornings, here in Sonoma County. All the grapes have been harvested, tho way too many were left hanging on the vines due to overproduction. Now it's brandy and fireplace weather. Fortunately I live less than 20 miles from Korbel, so getting the brandy is no chore. Cutting firewood is, and I have finished with the maple tree we cut down last year. Going up in smoke as I type.
For anyone not familiar with the scenery during the fall and winter, here's a photo that clearly illustrates what the vineyards ( and my neighborhood) looks like these days:

My Pal Dale Has New Video on YouTube

One of the videos I produced for Dale is now up and viewable. Dale's "take" on poetry is like no one else I have ever heard.
For techies, this was shot on a Sony DVCam camera, edited on Final Cut Pro and converted to a h.264 Quicktime mov, then uploaded to Youtube. I am not in love with their compression and the video looks darker than it should, but you can still appreciated Dale's performance, which was done without a teleprompter, many a speaker's crutch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UE53EF0uOg