groovy like a movie blog

The Students of Monarch Present: The Hereafter

September 3rd, 2008

This summer Groovy Like a Movie worked with a group of students from San Diego’s Monarch School. This is one of the two short films produced, shot and edited by the students. Starring Joy Hillrigel and Josh McRae.

Formats available: MPEG4 Video (.mp4)

Written by Brent Altomare

Posted in groovy, short.film, video, giving back | Comments Off

The Students of Monarch Present: The Exchange

September 3rd, 2008

Click to Play

This summer Groovy Like a Movie worked with a group of students from San Diego’s Monarch School. This is one of the two short films produced, shot and edited by the students. Starring Joy Hillrigel and Josh McRae.

Formats available: MPEG4 Video (.mp4)

Written by Brent Altomare

Posted in groovy, short.film, video, giving back | No Comments »

RIP Don LaFontaine

September 2nd, 2008

Do you hear that? The world just got a little quieter.

Don LaFontaine, the king of the movie trailer voiceover has died at age 68.

For a little bit of history on The Voice, take a look at this piece:

Don had a fantastic sense of humor, which is on display on this piece for the Key Art Awards. The Key Art Awards honors movie marketing including Posters, television adversing and trailers.

All together now: “In a world…“

Written by Brent Altomare

Posted in inspiration, video, news.and.notes | No Comments »

the change is coming… and this time I mean it!

August 28th, 2008

We’ve been hearing for several years now that television advertising is becoming an endangered species. TiVO was going to kill the 30-second spot and we as viewers will be awash in product placement and “This Show Sponsored By” promos.

Um… don’t look now, but in a few years, the problem may be that no one is watching TV at all. According to a study mentioned in the New York Times Technology section, 83% of children ages 10-14 spend an hour or more on the Internet per day, compared to 68% in the same age range spend an hour or more in front of the TV.

That’s a bona fide trend, and it is only going to get worse for television advertisers. Even at that relatively young age, a majority of children did research online before making purchase decisions.

What is an advertiser to do? Well… you have to look for innovative ways to get your message out there. Any campaign must have an online component, and online video is becoming more and more popular. You must also develop a social networking strategy. The same study cited by the New York Times says 72% of children aged 10-14 belong to a social networking site (like MySpace). In a few years when this group enters the workforce and develops their own purchasing power, they’re going to be less influenced by television, and more influenced by what they come across online.

Written by Brent Altomare

Posted in news.and.notes | 1 Comment »

Lights, Camera, Music!

August 26th, 2008

I am not much of a concert-goer, however, when an artist I love comes along to perform– I’m there. And I was definitely “there” this past Sunday night at the Hollywood Bowl to see Radiohead (one of the greatest bands of our time, if not the greatest). Not only was I blown away by their incredible performance, but I was greatly impressed by their visuals. Just a few years ago, concerts mainly stuck to flashing lights and a camera or two on the band (for those with lousy seats in the back). But now, thanks to technology and creative minds, not only do we get a treat for the ears at these concerts, but a treat for the eyes as well! Radiohead’s set had thoughtfully chosen colors, patterns, and movement that went along with the mood and tempo of the song. The screens showed more than one camera on the stage. They showed each band member as they performed with various filters and colors along with it. This reminded me of a show I had gone to last year for a band called Of Montreal. Not only did they have lights and screens, but instead of showing the band play on the screens, they had animation as well. Not even live video but video made especially for the concert.

Of Montreal
Of Montreal 2007

Radiohead
Radiohead 2008

And all this spectacle does not take away from the performance at all. I would say it enhances it. I think more bands should have videos during their concerts. Musicians are artists (most of them) and with that, artists generally have an appreciation for all other forms of art. In bringing video into their performances, they are sharing their love of other forms of art with their fans as well. Radiohead even has a special relationship with artist Stanley Donwood who is in charge of all their album art. Of Montreal has used artwork by David Barnes, frontman Kevin Barnes’ brother. He has done music videos and album artwork as well.

Music and video have been used together for years, but now it’s in a new, refreshing form.

What shows have you been to that have blown you away aurally and visually (with the use of video)?

Written by Elyse Molina

Posted in technology, inspiration, video | No Comments »

Haiku to 40

August 21st, 2008

Four decades have passed
Time moves more slowly inside
Kid in adult’s clothes

Written by Robert Watkins

Posted in inspiration | Comments Off

Haiku to my 2004 VW Jetta

August 21st, 2008

I saw you last night
Someone saw you last night too
Now gone forever

Written by Robert Watkins

Posted in inspiration | No Comments »

Haiku to the Gravity Bar shoot, Aug 19th

August 21st, 2008

The head is broken
The eye cannot see muscles
sigh of frustration

Written by Robert Watkins

Posted in cameras, production.equipment, inspiration | No Comments »

6 easy steps to be a movie and tv mogul

August 15th, 2008

Here at Groovy, we have the privilege of playing a small part in the syndication of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. When we landed the gig, I began to do some research on Tyler Perry, and after reading quite a bit about him, I realized that he has provided us with a blueprint on how to become a TV and movie (and theatre and book should you choose) mogul.

1) Take risks - Early in Tyler Perry’s career, he had a string of failures that left him homeless and sleeping in his Geo Metro. But he stuck to his creative guns and eventually struck a chord with his audience.

2) Understand your audience - Had Tyler Perry not had such a keen understanding of his audience, he never would have been able to overcome his initial failure. With a troubled childhood, and the experience of being a young African American male he had a wealth of experience to draw from that allowed him to speak to his audience in a way they’ve not often heard.
3) Have something to say - A large part of Tyler Perry’s success with his audience is that he has a message that resonates. His moral compass comes through strongly in his work, and people respond.

4) Own as much of your content as you can - Of all his accomplishments, the fact Tyler Perry has managed to own almost everything he has produced is probably the most amazing. That’s just not the way things have traditionally worked in the “biz.” Even Steven Spielberg doesn’t own his work outright! Was Perry able to pull a fast one on the studios, or is this the future of entertainment? Only time will tell.

5) Work your tail off - I’m convinced that the man doesn’t sleep. He is completing construction on a 28 acre studio outside Atlanta, just completed production on 100 episodes of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (and TBS has ordered an additional 28 episodes), is about to release 2 films: “The Family That Preys” (September 2008) and “Madea Goes to Jail” (February 2009), his play “The Marriage Counselor” is currently touring, and he has signed a deal with Lionsgate Films for three additional films.

6) Be damn good at it - Bottom line? Tyler Perry is extremely talented. He is produces consistently high quality work that people want to see, and that is awfully hard to do.

Can everyone do what Tyler Perry has done? Absolutely not. What seems so simple on paper is not as easy to do when faced with the prospect of sleeping in your own metaphorical Geo Metro. Life often causes people to lose the laser-like focus required to pull off what Tyler Perry has accomplished. Add to that the fact that very few people come close to the level of talent that Tyler Perry has, and now you know why he is where he is.

So can you be the next Tyler Perry? Just follow his 6 easy steps and remember to thank me when you get to the top!

Written by Brent Altomare

Posted in inspiration, news.and.notes | 1 Comment »

We are certifiably green!

August 13th, 2008

It is official! Yesterday we got our green certification! Everyone here worked really hard at it and it took us only about six months to complete and I think the results are amazing.

Something for us all to be proud of. I hope other companies in San Diego would consider going through the program as well. It is totally painless, it’s good for the environment, and man.. it makes you feel good too..

Check out their website www.sdgreenbiz.org for more info on how you can go green!

Written by Michael Callahan

Posted in groovy, green | 1 Comment »

groovy like a movie blog

The Students of Monarch Present: The Hereafter

The Students of Monarch Present: The Exchange

RIP Don LaFontaine

the change is coming… and this time I mean it!

Lights, Camera, Music!

Haiku to 40

Haiku to my 2004 VW Jetta

Haiku to the Gravity Bar shoot, Aug 19th

6 easy steps to be a movie and tv mogul

We are certifiably green!

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