Guerrilla Sound—It's a Jungle Out There: How to Get the Best Sound in Any Conditions - MovieMaker Magazine

Guerrilla Sound—It's a Jungle Out There: How to Get the Best Sound in Any Conditions - MovieMaker Magazine: This article is for sound novices who want to prepare for run-and-gun moviemaking and guerrilla sound: to get the best sound, no matter what the conditions.

The Big Picture- A Review of Batman vs. Superman

I am in a little disbelief concerning how many people are panning this film. What are they expecting...really? As much as I was so vehemently opposed to the casting choice of Affleck portraying the caped crusader, he proved me wrong. Christian Bale had 3 movies to nail Batman and to me came up short. I felt a little bad for Affleck who had to play a morally bankrupt at-the-end-of-his-rope Batman. Emotionally teetering on full on sociopathic vigilantism and pure isolationist.  Affleck needed more time to develop his character. Which to me didn't seem to be a prudent decision to hire him in the first place and would have made more sense to bring back, despite my feeling about him,  Bale.
But this movie was all about story. A perfect start where we literally are brought in the middle of Zod and Superman's battle, we are watching "From Humanity's Viewpoint" As Bruce Wayne rushes to his office building to help his, employees or " corporate family".  If you can get past Afflecks performance, there is a rich story going on in Batman v Superman. It tackles issues surrounding power and morality, responsibility and accountability and corruption in the world.  Cavill, despite all the haters out there, does such an amazing job with his Superman that I at times was left speechless. He bring an emotional depth to him that must make people who are fans, flee at the signs of any real emotion. Superman may be from Krypton, but raised by a human caring mother who taught him compassion, which he surely conveys. He and Affleck had to convey  very similar emotional conflicts and how they did it was very interesting to watch on screen.
This is an adult film, and has very adult themes running through it, so needless to say if people were expecting overly orchestrated fight scenes and  a well balanced assortment of special effects or to give their kids a treat may come away feeling cheated. Not to say there aren't any great fight scenes, ie Batman raiding Lexcorp. Most of  special effects lacked any amount of subtlety, though brilliant were Wonder Woman's lasso and Bracers.  Children will not understand the context for these fight except maybe the end.
One weakness that stands out for me in the script surrounded the drawn out flashback sequences with repeating images of Wayne s past which became overly tedious.
The soundtrack was amazing and use of key signature audio from Man of Steel made the film seem more iconic in a way. A note to the sound design team. Please stop using the extended high frequency ring after a huge explosion. It is a tired convention and doesn't really work to add to the dramatic fallout of catastrophe anymore. Try implementing the orchestra a little more.
All that being said, the real payoff for me was the introduction of Gal Gadot, as Diana Prince. Mysterious, enigmatic and just the right amount of fierce, she lassoed my heart as Wonder Women.  The film definitely worked at making me want to see more of her. So kudos to you guys for that.
I can easily write 10 pages of the pros and cons of this film, but I will stop here. All I can say is keep making these films and granting these seemingly one dimensional comic book characters the depth they deserve. These movies, have  become outstanding marks of achievement.

The Story of Pixie Windchime

The story of Pixie Windchime

One day a long time ago a little girl was born named Pixie Windchime.

Her parents knew there was something special about her, but couldn’t figure out what it was. Her parents were very poor and ther were afraid that they would not be able to care for their little daughter that they loved so much. So, one very sad day, they went to the orphanage and asked the kind monks if they would take care of her and raise her in the monestary. They said, yes, for there were many children like Pixie living there already.

The monks looked at Pixie in wonderment. “What a special little girl we have here.” “yes, Yes, quite extraordinary” said another monk. “What is going on here!” said the master, “ who is this little girl” “why, it’s pixie windchime” said the monk. “Hmm…” and the master picked Pixie up and said “ back to your meditation practice young disciples..there is much work ahead of you if you are ever going to understand impermanence.” And the younger monks quickly scurried off to their mediation cushions.

The master looked down at little Pixie, and said “ok little one, lets join the others for some breakfast.”

Days passed. Pixie meditated 2 twice a day, learned the moral codes, science, biology, and language. She grew up and flourished in the monastary. Growing up she demonstrated some amazing abilities. For example, she could balance on a fence post, which delighted everyone. She could do a handstand. She could even outrun all the young monks in a footrace. And sometimes she would find the highest tree and climb to the top and hide from the rest of the children. They would worry “ Pixie, where are you?!” and quietly she would remain at the top of the tree.

Podcasting couch

I've jumped on the podcasting bandwagon.
stop by and say hi: Ambientchaser.com

born again

friends don't let friends drive....

A friend of mine recently published in her blog a story about an incident that happened during my childhood. Her retelling of the story has inspired me to tell it again

The year is 1973 in Brevard County Florida. My mother in her late 20's after having left her unfaithfull husband moved into a trailor park to start a new life. There were the four of us, 3 boys and a girl. Me being the oldest at 7, two brothers 6 and 4, and sister 3. After day of travelling we arrive home one evening to home with no food. Realizing the endeavor it would take to load up a car again with four children, completely exhausted, to the store for some milk and stuff was too much for my mom. so she put me in charge knowing she would be back in 20 minutes. i was pretty good at telling time at that point in my life and started counting the minutes right away as soon as she left. coupled with the event of my new found responsibility was the freedom from my mother's watchful eye. and that's when everything changed.

i went to the radio and turned it on. some southern rock was playing and almost immediatly starting dancing around with my sister. it had been a scorching day so we all took off our clothes and danced around the house completly naked like little elves . dancing like a maniac and with the minutes counting down the more crazy we got. this time we were singing and dancing and out of the corner of my eye noticed my brother playing with matches. my mother smoked so matches were to be found. he started lighting one after the next bewitched by the tiny flame each one produced...until one burned his fingers. he instantly tossed it and it found the nearest curtain that went up so fast that it may as well had been dowsed in gasoline because suddenly there was a blaze. it had grown so big and so fast that there was no time to try to extinguish it. I made sure everyone left the trailer and we were taken in by a neighbor who put some clothes on us and called the fire department.. there was still no sign of our mother until she arrived just around the time the fire department did.

We lost everything that evening, even our clothes, but not our lives.

post script:
the day after i published this entry i lost my wallet with all my credit cards, cash, and personal identification.

a rare sober moment with Flav