Sparkling Video is very pleased to help promote License Stream, a global license registry for video and still images. Last August, we were thrilled to win their uploading contest. Now, our video clips, together with those of our fellow WEVA (Wedding and Event Videographers Association) members, are available for license. The reaction to date has been very positive.

This month, License Stream featured us in their E.NEWS because we had been at the forefront of using their new technology. To see our video clips, as well as those from our colleagues, copy and paste the following URL into your browser:

http://www.licensestream.com/LicenseStream/onestream/portal.aspx?weva=all

In case you are new to Sparkling Video, we want to make sure you know about our web broadcasting capabilities. We can broadcast your event - LIVE - via the Internet to anywhere in the world. Your event is private, and password-protected, so that only viewers of YOUR CHOICE will see your video. In these economically troubled times, it may be hard for guests to travel for an event, or your may not be able to afford to host more than a certain number of people. By webcasting, guests of your choice can view your event, and you will be able to send your good wishes to them LIVE, so they feel that they’re with you. We offer webcasting either by itself or as part of a broader video package. Give us a call about it. 718-252-2332.

As the weather turns brisk in our part of the world, we at Sparkling Video are gearing up for a hectic shooting schedule! As we do, we take a minute to reflect back on the end of summer, when we were able to enjoy some true peace, if only for a few hours!! If you have the opportunity to take a balloon ride yourself, go for it!

BALLOON RIDE

Too bad we didn’t have a Blog up and running last May when we shot a truly amazing wedding!!  I’ll try to recapture the excitement we felt being part of such a special simcha.  It was Nasanel’s and my first Chabad wedding – and this initiation was in Crown Heights on Lag Ba’Omer, no less!  Besides the usual logistics, we had to work around the Lag Ba’Omer parade, with its closed off streets and limited parking.

Noach and Sprintza’s day began at the Bais Rivka hall, and then to the chuppah at 770, with a stops in-between for mincha at Machon Chana, and a visit to the Rebbe’s house.Not only were we a videography team that day, but we also provided car service (with our comfortable minivan) to the choson and kallah, the kallah’s parents, the wedding planner, and the still photographers.  Seating was tight, but B”H, everyone was happy.

We enjoyed the new (to us!) customs, from the choson’s ma’imer (words of Torah) to the couple stepping over a silver spoon into the Yichud room.  At the reception, the music was truly unique.  A group called “White Shabbos” (think “Black Sabbath”), with its interesting array of instruments and talented musicians, sent the crowd “higher and higher.” Our lucky job was to capture this joy in a way that would give proper respect to all the varying facets of the wedding, while creating a story that would be interesting and intriguing to watch.

We didn’t ask for feedback, but the family called to say ‘thank you’ and that we really “got it.”   We just say ‘thank you’ to Noach and Sprintza for allowing us to be part of their celebration. 

Nasanel-Norm and I are so happy to launch our Sparking Video Blog.  It’s a chance for us to interact on a yet-closer basis with our clients.  The hallmark of our business has always been personal service, attention to detail, and a desire to make the best video possible for every one of our clients.

To date, the feedback has been tremendous.  People notice that we align a voice-over  exactly to match the accompanying video, or that a video seems to flow perfectly with the music.  Virtually everyone comments on how their video “moves” – meaning that our editing transforms what could be a straight documenting of the day into a well-paced, vibrant memory of special moments.

How important is a good video to you?  It seems to me that a video should magically transport you back to the event it is recording, or why bother?  We want clients to be able to play their Sparkling Videos years into the future, and be able to FEEL the emotions of that long-ago day.

Please post your comments.  We look forward to getting to know you!

Even though we never have (and never would) ride it personally, the Cyclone has always been a fixture of Coney Island. The world always changes, but that doesn’t stop us from wanting to hold on to happy memories. Even other people’s memories! We can’t imagine Coney Island without the Cyclone and Astroland… maybe they’ll get a reprieve after all!

A DAY AT CONEY ISLAND

We are thrilled to announce that we are now shooting in High Definition (HD). That means that our videos will fit perfectly on your wide screen TV. Not only that, but our videos will now have outstanding clarity and sharpness to enhance your viewing pleasure! Here is a small sample — too bad that you can’t see the gorgeous detail via the Web. You’ll have to visit our studio for that, and we look forward to greeting you!

We shot the following 1 minute film in our proverbial back yard, right here in Brooklyn. Enjoy!

A HAZY DAY SPENT WITH THE BRIDGE

We had such an amazing summer! We participated in the most incredible Expo all about the latest in videography and film making. The experts from WEVA (Wedding and Event Videographers Association) presented seminars on everything from shooting in high definition to specialty lighting to making the best use of voice overs. We brought back so many wonderful techniques to incorporate into our work. We can’t thank Roy Chapman, WEVA Founder and President, enough for all he did on our behalf. In addition, we at Sparkling Video brought back a prize from Image Span for uploading pro video for licensing. Here are a few of the clips:

AMERICAN BALD EAGLE (Video only — no sound)

NIGHTFALL ON THE MARRIOTT GRANDE LAKES, ORLANDO (Video only — no sound)

ORLANDO FIREWORKS (Video only — no sound)

We were thrilled and honored to be chosen to create a video tribute celebrating a marriage of fifty years. Together with the client, we worked out groupings that were meaningful to the family. This segment is a testimonial to the family’s emphasis on education – each one had a number of graduations to be proud of! This short clip is part of a larger piece that runs 19 ½ minutes.

GRADUATION MONTAGE

Michael Skolnik, (center) a member of NYPV (New York Professional Videographers Association — Kathy and Al Ritondo, co-presidents) and works at The People’s Court, gave our group an interesting behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the taping of a TV show. We sat in the audience for a while (look for us sometime in November, 2008), we got a tour of the control room, and explanation of the lighting and camera setups. As usual, anything coordinated by Kathy and Al is a great learning experience, and fun, too! There were definitely tidbits to bring back to enhance local event shooting! Thank you again to Michael Skolnik and to all the staff at the People’s Court for such a wonderful opportunity!