DVD Piracy

Los Angeles Magazine: Video cops - the film industry's response to video piracy

And This

By-and-large, the Hong Kong film industry has been destroyed by piracy. Most here scoff at the 'don't pirate movies' ads placed in theaters, but HK is a prime example of when it gets out of control. Why? Because a high-quality bootleg of a film is available on the street often within a week of its theatrical release. Ticket sales plummet and no market exists for a commercialy-released and authorized DVD. Therefore movies made and released in HK LOSE money from the outset with little hope of recovery. In that market, there is no incentive to invest in a property that will not make its money back. It's why a large group of HK filmmakers have emigrated, looking for work.

Fell, Destroyed....

All About Carnaval!

I am a wreck and loving it. My wife is destroyed and napping, sated from a day spent all in the sun, dancing for over 300,000, showing up on Television, and the subject of countless "Hey, can I take a photo with you?!" lines (and the photos as well).

Pictures and video exist. I shall post soon.

after my feet heal and by body-water ratio comes closer to the usual 72 percent.

extra points to the person who guesses the band of which song I have stolen my title

Notes from Frisco...

Hello All. I'm in San Fran right now covering the Brazilian Carneval being held here tomorrow (instead of the real date: fat Tuesday, which in SF is so cold as to be silly).

Photos of drums and fancy costumes are soon to follow as there's an estimated 77 samba schools parading and competing in the Mission district tomorrow. Plenty of clean air is assured.

ciao.

oh, BTW, apple almost invented the internet: http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/resource/jun04/0604webs.html

I speak freely.

L.A. Texas Exes Hollywood Seminar
This week was my third year speaking at the hollywood seminar and it was a blast. I had the honor to speak on both New Media and DVD Production with my old friend Ian Haufrect, and today on Editing and Post Production with peers Rob Brakey and Paul Leonard. They've both been doing very well, with Rob editing The Final Cut with Robin Williams and National Lampoon's Golddiggers and Paul producing Sci-Fi's Battlestar Galatica series. This being our third time sharing the stage, we managed to kick out a pretty interesting panel and the kids seemed to dig it. We had a lot talking to us afterwards, so I guess that means 'good'.

I've been pretty antisocial otherwise. This documentary gig is taking time and though I love trekking to Hollywood for the seminars, each trip is a huge chunk of time. Hence, I've skipped the annual student showcase/mixer and probably tonight's "Thirsty Thursday" as well (yes, it's wednesday for this date only). There still is the wrap party on Friday, and that's the usual meet n greet for the diehards. The seminar also serves as an annual "Where is everybody?" for the various Texas Mafia out here. By now it's becoming an anthropological experiement for me, as after 6 years of attending (including my first in 1998, which convinced me to move here), I now can see how everyone's lives have changed and evolved. Needless to say, not many of us are doing now what we set out to do then.

Ahh. blogging for procrastination. I'm scared of this Doc, though I know I'm scared of every doc I do. Maybe by 40 I'll realize I actually can do it.

And The Limbaugh Response

Stop the Tape: Gore to Dubya: Condemn Limbaugh

Al Gore Vs. The Bush Administration

MoveOn PAC

Flame-Suit on.

TIVO ALERT

JIM DEDMAN: Infandum . . . iubes renovare dolorem.

In the tradition of Counselor, I offer my own Tivo Alert. This is what I've found fascinating about Tivo. With one box, millions of people have become Editors. That's what happens when you pause, fast forward, and single-frame advance through your favorite shows. That's a quiet revolution that may have longer-lasting repercussions.

Though one feature I wish Tivo had was audio-scrubbing when fast forwarding. If the video goes twice as fast, can't the audio too? That way I can watch my tv shows in half the time!

Good Morning

Timothy's World Coffee

Back to work. 7:30am and thanks to espresso, awake. now to Tivo all my Tom & Jerry off to tape!

Awaiting....

Thursday and I'm awaiting the hard drive overnighted with footage for the documentary. I have the butterflies I now associate with the beginnings of every project. Well, the beginnigs of every project that has a hard out 4 weeks later! As my wife says, butterflies are good. If I didn't have butterflies, I should worry. So it's good.

Saw Circus Minor last night. Featuring old friend and musical genius Julie Dicterow. Good stuff. 1st half started out fairly regular= tortured vocals, dreamy sounds, etc. But the 2nd half became great, with swirling melodies and impassioned playing. They definitely have something. But between you and I, I still love julie's stuff better. She's an amazing keyboardist, but her voice needs to be heard more. I'm biased: I sorta produced/slash/recorded three songs by her in 2002 (2002!) so I'm a fan of the music. But don't get me wrong, Circus Minor is very very good.

America The Beautiful Movie

America The Beautiful Movie

I've learned to wait until news is really news, and as I now have a signed deal memo laying on Alistair's Synthesizer, I can announce it to the world.

I'm to come on board the film as editor and finish it up. It's been getting great reveiws based on the rough cut, and the story is very engaging and timely (My wife wanted to show the rough cut to her psychologist sister -a first.)

I get the footage on thursday and have 4 weeks to put it together before I start my next show, which is the same show as before, just one more episode. funfunfun again.

Funfunfun. Good to be working.

Boomboom BOOOOM bubububu BOOOOM

Surdos :: BrazilianPercussion.com

I've finally found a way in. As some of you may know about my family, my wife is heavily addicted to dancing. Her favorites are Samba and various forms (forro, axe, etc), as well as Salsa. I'm not as fortunate in the leg department (all grace that I have seems to be stuck in my hands, and unless I'm doing a Capoeria hand stand, it ain't happenin'). But two weeks ago I accompanied Angela to her Monday evening Samba class and instead of hanging out, looking like a sad puppy and imbibing anything so I had something to do, I took a drum class.

and I loved it.

I've been a musician since before memory (playing drums first as a 3 year old - destroying them in the process and then starting classical piano at 5), but since I've been editing full time, my guitars have been gathering dust. It's difficult right now to find musicians who are 1. very good and 2. not professionals. I want more like me: Guys/Girls who've played at the professional level but don't want to be full time musicians. So I've been recording ideas into my protools setup, and trying to learn all the parts so I can play all the parts.

Back to the drumming. It's fun, I get to bang a loud drum for 2 hours straight and it's constructive because the beat is what the dance class in front of us are dancing too. This is actually a norm in the LA area. Most samba/salsa dance classes employ 2-6 drummers to provide the rhythms. Especially since certain dances go along with certain rhythms.

And now that I can contribute, I am very happy. Yesterday, the wife and I went to a birthday party for one of her dance instructors. In the garage were numerous drums and I was able to join the bateria and play along. Nothing quite like 30 people in a backyard in Inglewood half dancing to the 1/4 drumming and the rest eating and drinking.

I'm starting on the bottom (Teacher asked me if I had any musical exp. I told him a little bit, but I was here to learn). and so far I play the surdo, which does the bass bottom beat. Jumping from Bass guitar to bass drum is pretty good. And it's difficult to keep the time two hours in a row nonstop. but the cool thing is that everyone hears the bass, it defines the bar and besides, all the kids wanna show off on the snare drums anyway. Every place I've been there's been 4-5 snare kids and hardly any surdo players (at the party, I was the only one). So I get to play. It's a funny echo of rock music, how there's always too many lead guitarists to go around but few bassists. If you want job security in music, play bass!

Clarke Nova: Music

digiwonk.com :: View topic - Clarke Nova: Music & Pics

Ernest Froggyplat aka DigiWonk aka Dr. Muffinbiscit aka Senor Funky Butt has blogged some of the memories from the Clarke Nova years.

Check it out.





Memories....

How Wired are we?

An Atlas of Cyberspaces - Cables and Satellites

Great page that gets more interesting the further you scroll down. Wonderful maps showing the extent of submarine fiber-optic cable lays, and the spread of certain satellite systems. All in all, it's a very wired world.

Experience Infinity in your browser

Just go

USATODAY.com - Quick cab ride stretches into 2,200 mile cross-country trip

USATODAY.com - Quick cab ride stretches into 2,200 mile cross-country trip

Nice trip

Testing the new blogger

Blogger revamped today and here's the test of the new comments feature.

Planner Pads

It is my umpteenth attempt to organize my life. Let's hope these are the answer. So far, they seem to be much better organized than a comparable Daytimer or filofax. Simple, yet easy, and heck even though its big, I like having it all together in one place.

This is my return to paper. Doing my calendar on computer just got too crazy. Sync between mutliple machines, having to always have a computer on , iPods and palms, etc. Too much technology, not enough results. Also, it seems I remember things better when I've written them by hand (even in my horrible handwriting).

Connection to Counselor

Re-reading my comments, I realized that Steans did not know who I am. All of us are somehow connected to Jdedman.com, and here's mine.

I've known Counselor since 8th grade in Houston, Texas. We anticipated he would somehow take over the free world someday and still hold a candle out for his future electoral campaign. He was the original guitarist in Indecision, a 'more a myth than a band' group in high school that consisted of mua, Maurice, Angus and a great guy named Mize. Counselor adamantly denies to this day his musical connection to the band, although he went on to be the chronicler of it, publishing our first articles and newsletters (including the one announcing my departure to whiter pastures in NYC and the inclusion of the stunning replacement, Mr. Yu)

(Interstingly, Indecision (and Dead Yeti, in which Angus played) have been the initial focal point for such current endeavors as Exit, The Entertainment System, Angus again and my eternal closet tapes.)

Two years of fallow followed my estrangement from Counselor, until we became roommates for our freshman year at UT. Amazingly, we stayed roommates for our sophmore year, even though our 1st year together included fistfights, frozen underwear, unorthodox ties and Everclear after hours on clean laundry. Junior year we had enough and went our separate ways. Mine to infamy and Counselors to the Daily Texan. Which could also equally qualify.

Interestingly, I had another group by that time and a memorable gig was booked by Counselor for the campagin to Elect Hunter. Tinnitus was had by all.

I think that was the last time I saw counselor until his recent visit out west. If not, then it's been consumed by the Smog particles in my brain.

So there, is how I know Counselor (the abbreviated version. Do we really need to hear about James Coney Island, Champs birthdays and Motley Crue in the morning? "

Definition of white-collar.

white-collar

Nord over at Counselor's blog noted that since Counselor is now comfortably white-collar, he should take up golf.

I think that's the first time a member of my little group and generation has had the moniker applied. But does the title have the same meaning today? According to the definition above, Blue-collar is a manual laborer, and white-collar is a skilled person, perhaps a craftsperson. However today, much of the manual labor in america is no more. Those that digress, and point out the various auto workers, T-Shirt seamstresses and waiters, should realize that all of those applications involve the use of a skill. I could not sew a t-shirt anymore than I could work on an assembly line. Those skills are learned. Then, are they not white-collar as well? Where does that put this admittedly old class demarcation? And with globalisation no longer a buzz-word but a reality, does it even apply anymore?

For that matter, I'm currently reading a book that takes place both in WWII and the present day and I was struck on how large and unknown the world was a scant 60 years ago. Now, with the internet and air-travel, everyplace is accessible, nothing is fairly remote; and thanks to National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, hardly anything is unknown.

Yes yes yes, its not the same as travelling there, but until I follow in Molly's footsteps I shall continue to insist that India is not the great dark subcontinent of yesterday.

RIP Smilin' Jack Ruby

Smilin' Jack Retires!!!

Truly a writer above all, the late great Smilin' Jack Ruby passed into the Hollywood ether this week, as the site that hosted much of his rantings reported his passing. He will truly be missed.

For those who know him, he's still writing, but moved onto the silver screen. Wait with baited breath!!!!

Scotsman.com News - Top Stories - Oasis frontman 'beaten up by computer geeks'

Scotsman.com News - Top Stories - Oasis frontman 'beaten up by computer geeks'

Ahhh. revenge.

Ahh no responsibility

It's been nice. I get up, do something, then decide "oh screw it" and relax for the rest of the day. Yesterday I went to the promenade to shop for sandals, then ended up watching "Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind" (yes, three months after everyone else). Great great film.

Thoughts on a month off...

The antecedent to the 'Weekend work is unavoidable' post previous. I'm ...THIS CLOSE...to being done with this show, roughly 15 weeks.

This show has treated me very well. After slogging through the trenches of DVD Added Value (which has a lot of great and talented people), I'm very glad to be receiving such things as overtime, weekends off, and assistants.

Sigh. Cheers

THG Takes to the Air for Wi-Fi 'War Flying"

Tom's Hardware Guide Columns: THG Takes to the Air for Wi-Fi 'War Flying" - Conclusion


Team Tomshardware found 1433 access points with 380 encrypted and 1053 unencrypted. Team Dailywireless found 3151 access points with 1026 encrypted and 2125 unencrypted. Dailywireless found more WAPs because of higher powered antennas and the Kismet program. Kismet is able to detect WAPs that NetStumbler misses, like WAPs with cloaked SSIDs. Some WAPs have a "Cloak SSID" feature that allows them to operate without blasting out the SSID to the world.

As our figures show, most people buy a WAP and then plug it into their cable/DSL connection. They don't worry or care about security. This is the wrong attitude to have, as they have provided a wide open door into their network. Anyone with a laptop and wireless card can drive up and access their wireless network. At best, the hacker gets free Internet. At worst, the hacker can browse private documents.

All WAPs have security that can be easily turned on. We urge WAPs purchasers to spend the few extra minutes to read the manual and then turn on Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) security. While WEP is not perfect, it is definitely better than leaving your WAP wide open.

Pac Manhattan!!!

Pac Manhattan

This ROCKS!!

Go Sweden again

GO Sweden!

Pirates of the Internet

Go Sweden

Weekend Work

Unavoidable it seems in this profession.

I'm burning the weekend oil both days, and hopefully I can get a monday off in return. Good news is that Sunday is overtime. So it makes it go down a little smoother.

I had to miss my Tai Chi class this saturday, so hopefully my Karma isn't all feng shei gai panned out.