27 April 2008

I have just finished a video project that has been under works for eight months, and is now screening twenty-eight times in two days, as part of an orientation program for 1500 participants in an international convention.

The program is in English, and simultaneous translation is available in French, Spanish and Russian. To achieve this, I mixed a 5.1 surround-sound DVD where each channel (Front Left, Front Right, Center, Side Left, Side Right) corresponded to a language, and while the English was routed to the main speakers, the other languages went to an infra-red transmitter, which sent each of the three other languages to separate channels on the translation headsets worn by the participants

The effect of playing the DVD in a regular stereo TV or computer is particularly funny, because all four languages are heard speaking over each other. On a 5.1 setup, the voices surround you, each coming out of a different speaker in the room.

Although the program cannot be shown outside of its intended context, and therefore I cannot post it on this website, the response from the orientees has been very positive. It was an important learning experience in conveying information as clearly as possible, addressing items for which there were no images or photographs available and thus needed some form of creative representation, and perfecting voice recording techniques, as well as foreign-language-voice-editing skills... Bienvenue!

29 December 2007

A recap of 2007 --

Counter to the appearances give in this here page, I have been quite busy. Among the dozens of short video projects I have been able to assist with, in one form or another, I edited some for the Baha'i World News Service, which operates from the Office of Public Information here at the Baha'i World Center, in Haifa, Israel. The short clips have been embedded into articles which are listed in the other work page.

Some things I'm not able to display on the site are several events or shows where I have acted as Technical Manager, or Audio-Visual Technician. These included a dozen Holy Day Observances where I provided live sound for up to 1200 pilgrims and staff. There were also performances of plays written by Ruhiyyih Khanum, a large production of cultural musical acts called Sounds of the World, and a special reception for Israeli contacts of the Baha'i World Center, which was conducted entirely in Hebrew, and included an address by the Mayor and a concert by a violin quartet made up of Arab and Jewish youth.

At a Film Festival organized by the Youth Activities Committee here, I was asked to screen two of my documentaries and introduce the evening with a short talk about the use of Baha'i-inspired thought and principles in the art of filmmaking.

As far as website updates: you can finally see my thesis film, Paradigm Shift: Involution on the Pellicle Pictures page. The written thesis is also in the writing page, under creative statements.

Many people have come through the Holy Land as pilgrims, visitors and consultants, and among them I was able to meet the person in charge of Website Features for Apple, and the former Design Director for Microsoft.com. I was also reunited with so many "cast members" that I have lost count... At least six youth from the Lotus Temple video, the Martins from GANVII, the Ighanis from Road Warriors, Stephany from Gravity, Michelle Grohe and her family, kids from the Chidren's Theater Company, etc.

I also met Rainn Wilson, the actor who plays Dwight Schrute in The Office. He was here on a short 3-day visit. During one of the evening talks I looked down at the audience from my sound booth and there he was, sitting under the balcony. I talked to him afterwards, and he was incredibly down-to-Earth. He also had an iPhone.

More to come in 2008.

8 August 2007

A new, more concise version of the Trailer for 'A Dress for Mona' has been posted.

AJ and I heard the result a while ago of the EVVY Award nomination of Paradigm Shift, and we did receive the award for best cinematography, though I was across the ocean and was not able to make it to the ceremony.

I hope to be making some updates in the coming three weeks, now that I am on a short vacation from my period of service. It's been a long time, but my energies have been placed in other important areas of my development, both personal and professional, and for that I am quite grateful.

4 May 2007

After a long, long time of no updates, I have one important bit of news:

AJ Whittaker and I have been nominated for an EVVY Award for the cinematography on Paradigm Shift. It was very kind of AJ to include my name in the submission, but he really deserves the credit for the beautiful work. Good luck to us on May 12th.

Now that I have been away for six months, it is about time to get back to work. I am currently collaborating with some people on a short film. This website will soon have new content as well. For now, you may see some of the video work I have been involved with for the Baha'i World News Service in this article.