Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Cleveland has Beer...

...but I wouldn't know what it tastes like, even though I just had lunch at Great Lakes Brewing Company.

Let me tell you, g0ood burgers (amish-fed - or is that amish-raised? I can't remember what the menu said).

Snowing here. Getting ready to get on plane to Denver. in the 40s there.

ciao for now.

Off to Denver

I'm leaving tomorrow on a jet plane. Well, two, actually. If I can pull myself into a cafe with wifi I shall send reports from the road.

Take care, all.

ciao for now

Monday, February 08, 2010

"Treasures For My Friends" released

My living homage to my uncle, Rev. Lloyd George Barrett, is partially complete. "Treasures For My Friends", a visual poetry book is now available on blurb.com and this week I'll be working on a short film version of the book. It should be up on Itunes by the weekend - - if I stay on the straight and narrow....

Speaking of which, go to see THE BOOK OF ELI if you haven't yet. I was fortunate enough to see it last week (seventh row center, of course) by myself. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a post apocalyptic treatsie of America, blah blah blah.

However, it's more than that. I'm gonna see it again, thank God for the cheap ticket prices around here and then maybe see it a third time and thank God again for the fact that I don't have to watch films and then write papers about them, like back in the day....although, it wouldn't be hard to come up with a decent thesis argument. It's visually arresting, has great subtle music, the writing is excellent, the direction is not bombastic and the cast has some heretofore hidden jewels in it. Of course, having Tom Waits and Gary Oldman in any cast doesn't hurt.

That's it.

ciao for now

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Software Company Solves Problem

Well, thanks to the software program Free Studio from dvdvideosft.com, I now have a simple way to create copies of the films in any format that fits your situation. Thank you dvdvideosoft! You guys just got an end title credit for all my podcasts. How's that for free advertising?

If you've watched Nite Lites Volume 1 online via blip.tv and would like a copy you can play away from your computer, email me via my photography site and I'll get you my mailing address.

You can send me whatever storage media you'd like (flash drive or dvd disc - blank, of course) and specs (HD or regular, widescreen or regular, NTSC or PAL, even Ipod, Iphone, PSP, etc.) and I'll be able to burn you a copy.

All I ask is that you check out my photography online and that you cover my shipping costs back to you (the Donate button has been added to this site, just to your right). Of course, you can donate whatever amount you'd like. All is appreciated.

For the next podcast I'm working on "A Treasure For My Friends," a poetry video book that features poems written by my uncle, Rev. Lloyd Barrett, who will be receiving an honorary doctorate degree later this month. He wrote these poems in the early 70's and assembled them into a small booklet which he self-published and gave to - - guess who - - his family and friends.

I'm self-publishing a new edition of the book as a surprise for him, which will be available sometime in March. Needless to say, it will include accompanying photos by yours truly. The poetry video book will be a companion project. At any rate, I will keep you posted.

If you're a musician and you'd like to provide the soundtrack for the next Nite Lites volume, please contact me. I'd love to marry my eye to your ear.

ciao for now

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

iTunes accepts new video podcast

Well kiddies, I just received word that iTunes has approved my video podcast "mediamode presents." It will be up and operational by the end of the week, which means that you'll be able to download the trailer (although you can watch it here on the blog) and then the film Nite Lites Volume 1, which is being uploaded as I type.

Also, a post will be added here once the film in available on the web via blip.tv.

I'm dying to give the film away via online downloads, but I haven't found a free site that will allow me to upload the entire film as one file; most have a 50MB per file limit, and I'm not about to re-edit the thing so that it fits into 50mb chunks. It's an editor thing.

Other sites want $$ (who doesn't?),so that won't be free for me.

My next thought was to burn dvds and make them available via snailmail. However, (1) that wouldn't be free for me either, what with money being spent on discs and postage, and (2) I don't know that I'm technically savvy enough to get up to speed on burning an NTSC disc that will play in dvd players here in North America and PAL discs for players in the rest of the world.

I suppose I could charge a nominal fee to cover my costs, but that's gonna require bookkeeping and such. Which sounds like work, to me. And you'd be paying for the film. And that wouldn't be a free film for you, now would it?

The best thing I can come up with right now is to offer to copy the film file onto a flash drive that you send to me (via snailmail) which I would return to you.

Once you receive it, reimburse me via Paypal the postage amount that's on the package. Or give me more if you want. The Donate button will be here on the site in a day or so.

Obviously, you'll be able to download the film to your iPod from iTunes, but how is that picture gonna look on your tv?

The point is, I would like everyone to see my photography married to the music in the environment in which they're comfortable and chilled, with the least amount of hassle to all. If you like what you see, I know that you'll go to my photography site and buy a framed or laminated print for yourself or a greeting card or two with an image from the film for a friend.

Or at the very least, tell a friend about the film or the podcast or the web site.

If you like it, that is. Keep your finger crossed. Come back in a few days. More news then.

ciao for now