Video Production

Video production is the process of producing a video that usually has both audio and visual representations. While some videos are home videos produced for fun, most are videos that are produced for commercial purposes, like Movies, advertisement videos, and music videos. Video production is also done for corporate purposes.

There are many things to consider in the production of a video. During the pre-production stage, the budget for the production of the video has to be determined, since the time spent on production can prove costly. Greater time spent on planning and organizing the project would help in keeping the costs low in the long run. One estimate of average production costs put a range of $1,500 to $5,000 per finished minute. The production cost depends on the location, time taken for compl etion, the equipment used, and the involvement of the production team in the making of the video. Plus, there are always the unanticipated expenses.

The production process starts with setting up the equipment needed for the shoot. Some of the necessary equipment includes a camera, tripod, teleprompter, monitors, power supplies, jib, dolly, and other essential accessories. The next stage consists of setting up the lighting. This is an important stage since lighting should reflect the mood intended for the scene. At this stage, the director gets involved to ensure that everything is in place to conduct a smooth filming. The audio stage is when the various pieces of audio equipment needed to capture and record audio are put in place. The final stage is when the actual filming and taping of the video takes place. This is the stage when all the visual and audio components are put together.

Even though video production is the actual stage of producing a video, the two other stages of pre-production and post-production are equally important. The pre-production stage involves conceptualizing, scripting, and scheduling. The post-production stage involves the off-line activities of editing and duplication.

Video Production provides detailed information on Video Production, Music Video Production Companies, Video Production Companies, Film and Video Production and more. Video Production is affiliated with Funny Video Clips.

Author:: Alison Cole
Keywords:: Video Production, Music Video Production Companies, Video Production Companies, Film and Video Produ
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Dawson's Creek (Season 4) DVD Review

Nominated for 12 Teen Choice Awards in its five-year (six season) run, including Best Drama Series, Dawson's Creek quickly built an extensive cult following. A surprise smash hit for the enterprising WB network, the show initiated a successful string of numerous original series for WB such as Angel (1999), Gilmore Girls (2000), and Smallville (2001). Set in the fictional township of Capeside, Massachusetts, the series was nonetheless filmed almost entirely on location in Wilmington, North Carolina (although the opening theme song, I Don't Want To Wait, is written and performed by Massachusetts native Paula Cole). Creator Kevin Williamson (writer for the blockbuster Movie Scream) is said to have modeled the characters on Dawson's Creek after various aspects of his own self from his adolescent years

Daw son's Creek follows the lives of several teenagers, some of whom grew up together, as they struggle through the tempestuous and volatile years of pre-adulthood. The title character is Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), an introspective and intelligent dreamer who lives nearby lifelong best friend Josephine Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), a tomboy unaware of how truly beautiful she is. Mutual friend Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) is part of their clique, as are newcomers Jennifer Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams), Andrea Andie McPhee (Meredith Monroe), and Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith). Together, the friends form the basis of a teen soap opera, complete with high drama, curiosity, and bits of comic relief. Know for its intelligent subject matter, clever dialogue, and no-holds-barred tackling of issues, Dawson's Creek made most of its cast overnight celebrities

The Dawson's Creek (Season 4) DVD features a number of dramatic episodes including the season premiere Coming Home in which Pacey and Joey return from their summer vacation together. Now, they must deal with Dawson's hurt feelings over their being a couple now. Meanwhile, Pacey becomes homeless when his sister moves in with Doug, prompting Pacey to ask if he can stay at Joey's Other notable episodes from Season 4 include Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in which Pacey accompanies Joey to an orientation for prospective Worthington College students only to be singled out by the dean - much to Joey's dismay, and Admissions in which Dawson, Joey, Jen, and Jack all struggle over the college admissions process while deciding what school to attend

Below is a list of episodes included on the Dawson's Creek (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 59 (Coming Home) Air Date: 10-04-2000
Episode 60 (Failing Down) Air Date: 10-11-2000
Episode 61 (Two Gentlemen of Capeside) Air Date: 10-18-2000
Episode 62 (Future Tense) Air Date: 10-25-2000
Episode 63 (A Family Way) Air Date: 11-01-2000
Episode 64 (Great Xp ectations) Air Date: 11-08-2000
Episode 65 (You Had Me at Goodbye) Air Date: 11-15-2000
Episode 66 (The Unusual Suspects) Air Date: 11-22-2000
Episode 67 (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) Air Date: 11-29-2000
Episode 68 (Self Reliance) Air Date: 12-20-2000
Episode 69 (The Tao of Dawson) Air Date: 01-10-2001
Episode 70 (The Te of Pacey) Air Date: 01-17-2001
Episode 71 (Hopeless) Air Date: 01-31-2001
Episode 72 (A Winter's Tale) Air Date: 02-07-2001
Episode 73 (Four Stories) Air Date: 02-14-2001
Episode 74 (Mind Games) Air Date: 03-28-2001
Episode 75 (Admissions) Air Date: 04-11-2001
Episode 76 (Eastern Standard Time) Air Date: 04-18-2001
Episode 77 (Late) Air Date: 04-25-2001
Episode 78 (Promicide) Air Date: 05-02-2001
Episode 79 (Separation Anxiety) Air Date: 05-09-2001
Episode 80 (The Graduate) Air Date: 05-16-2001
Episode 81 (Coda) Air Date: 05-23-2001

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The D VD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Dawson's Creek (Season 4) DVD.

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: dawsons creek season 4 dvd review
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Classical Movie Why It Remains Relevant For Viewers Today

So what really is considered a classical Movie? Can we simply associate as a black and white film noir thing? Containing some of those cheesy classical music? How about big powdered wigs? Do you think of the formal nature of both the characters as well as the period get-up and attire? Is a classic Movie one which garnered 10 Oscars? Or do you think a classic Movie simply one which down to the perception of the viewers and individuals?

The classical Movie IS truly one of the great inventions since we discovered hamburgers. The classical Movie is also the one show that we had the benefit of watching when we were kids, cause at the time only three television channels were available. It was during those good old Saturday afternoons and Sundays, when my dear father wasnt consumed by the sports programmes on show, when those classic Movies from the past, Movies featuring the glamour girls and the guys that inspired us boys to want to be cowboys, were made available for us to enjoy in all their splendour.

Though there is obviously a distinct difference between classical Movies and classical Movies with only classical period elements (music, costumes, storylines, etc.), I would like to address the delight of the classical Movie of yesterday and today that does involve only a particular period of history and does, then feature only classical period elements.

I tend to associate the black and white flicks with the beauties and the beaus, the comedies with the curmudgeons, the histories with the insights into who people were back then, like us but with an added je ne sais quoi that we must find out, learn about, and finally to appreciate in as great a depth and as wide a breadth as we can, in order to do them the justice they deserve.

Say for example, my favorite classical Movie of all time, Impromptu. This film basically enacts a couple of years in the lives of the characters George Sand, Franz Liszt, Freiderich Chopin, and the regal and wealthy folks who took artists in, allowing them to paint, create, compose, write, in exchange for wonderful company and fine entertainment. The film concentrates on Sand, who is bent on partnering with Chopin, her aggression equal in magnitude, as was his weakness. The costumes, the soundtrack, the dialogue, and the setting are all as breathtaking as the direction, technique, and the delivery of words and emotion. There is even a theme or two that humans from the beginning of time until today can identify with or appreciatethe love and hate, good and evil, as well as longing and belonging motifs that are as timeless as the Movie itself.

Other classical Movie choices I have an affinity toward are those less mainstream & popular ones. I would consider Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (though clearly POST-classical periods), Wilde, and Jefferson, for instance, as worthy of classical Movie acclaim as say Amadeus, Emma, The Piano, and any number of Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson productions.

http://Entertainment-Resource-Directory.com provides the latest news, reviews, articles and write-ups on all entertainment related subjects including music, Movies, performance art and more.

Author:: Ernest R Peterson
Keywords:: classical Movie, classical Movies, classic Movies, black and white Movies
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The Poseidon Adventure

Coming May 12, 2006, to a theatre near you, a new updated retelling of The Poseidon Adventure called just, Poseidon. The original classic 1972 movie starred Ernest Borgnine and Gene Hackman. The premise focuses on a cruise ship named Poseidon that is flipped upside down by a giant wave. A group of survivors head toward the bottom of the ship, which is really the top, in an effort to survive certain doom.

The movie was actually based on a book by by Paul Gallico. He had based the story on a childhood experience aboard the Queen Mary where a wave had almost capsized the ship. He would later do research with insurance companies concerning overturned ships to get information for his novel.

The original movie was followed by Beyond the Poseidon Adventure starring Michael Caine and Telly Savalas Where as the first one centered around escaping an overturned ship, this one focuses on men seeking treasure from the overturned ship. The original movie is currently on DVD format, but Beyond the Poseidon Adventure at the time of this Writing has not yet been released.

The TV movie version, now on DVD, starring Steve Guttenberg and C. Thomas Howell, of The Outsiders fame, was actually pretty good, but I doubt it will compare to the latest movie version in terms of special effects and production value.

The new movie, starring Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, and Josh Lucas, doesn't appear to be using the same characters as the classic Poseidon Adventure. I suppose this is a move to not just repeat the same exact story with higher production values. It promises to be a very exciting movie. If Titanic was any indication this one could really make big bucks at the box office. One thing is for sure, this movie release can't be good for the cruise industry.

http://movie-poster.ws/ movie posters,news, and wallpaper

Author:: Tim Frady
Keywords:: article submission, Articles, Writers, Writing, Publishing, Ezine, Email marketing, Email newsletter, Email
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The Benchwarmers (DVD) Review

One of the stupidest, silliest films youll ever see, The Benchwarmers is also outright hilarious, filled from beginning to end with an abundance of heart-warming humor. The work of veteran TV and film director Dennis Dugan, the brains behind other off-the-wall comedy films such as Big Daddy (1999) and Happy Gilmore (1999), The Benchwarmers could easily be confused for a joint reunion of former Saturday Night Live cast members and ESPN anchormen. Some of the notable faces youll see include David Spade, Rob Schneider, Jon Lovitz, Reggie Jackson, Dan Patrick, Tim Meadows, Craig Kilborn, Bill Romanowski, Sean Salisbury, and John Heder of Napoleon Dynamite fame. Overall, The Benchwarmers is a great comedy. Its certainly not the best Ive ever seen, but it has its moments. The feel-good nature and the moral behind the plotline provide added depth to the one-liners with no group or class of people left unscathed.

The Benchwarmers centers around the lives of three particular men who spent their youth bearing the wrath of schoolyard bullies. They werent tall, cool, and athletic, so they often got picked on by those who were. But when Gus (Rob Schneider) convinces his two friends Richie (David Spade) and Clark (Jon Heder) to take some batting practice on a nearby Little League baseball field for old times sake (despite the fact neither man has ever played before), the three end up challenging a team of eleven-year-olds for the right to play on the field. Gus, often picked on because he was short, is nonetheless a stellar ballplayer, and he single-handedly defeats the other team. When word gets out, neighborhood billionaire Mel (Jon Lovitz) decides to bankroll a cross-state tour for The Benchwarmers where theyll challenge the meanest little league teams around, with the eventual winner taking possession of a brand-new, state-of-the-art Little League field. Mel, once a benchwarmer himself, hopes The Benchwarmers can give his own son and nerds everyw here hope for redemption as the victories pile up and the fame of the players spreads through chatrooms and podcasts everywhere

One of the funniest scenes in the film involves the arrival of Reggie Jackson who was apparently a former-benchwarmer and childhood friend of Mel. In order to help prepare his team, Mel hires the hall-of-fame icon to teach his team the baseball fundamentals and practice habits that made him Mr. October. The result is an endless relay of ringing doorbells and smashing mailboxes that will leave you rolling through the theater aisles in utter laughter. Another hilarious sequence involves a benchwarmer game in which the opposing team uses a ringer, a 30-year-old beer-guzzling, chain-smoking Dominican player posing as a twelve-year old. If they handed out Oscars for such ridiculous roles, Amaury Nolasco would win for his portrayal of Carlos. Its worth seeing the entire film just to see Nolasco. Hes that funny

Youll be hard-pressed to watch th is film without laughing out loud at some point. Amazingly, the audience actually manages to develop a rapport with the characters which is rare for a film of this genre. The universal ability to relate to the benchwarmer caste is probably the number one reason why. Its touching. Its ridiculous. Its outright funny. In short, The Benchwarmers is one of those Movies youll either love or hate depending on the mood youre in when you see it. If youre hungry for a probing drama, then stay away. But if youre looking for some silly fun, this is the film for you

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of The Benchwarmers (DVD).

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: benchwarmers dvd review
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Violence at the Movies

Many folks complain about Violence in Films and on television. Quite honestly, I dont see much Violence either place because Im extremely selective in what I view. I was having a discussion with a friend the other day about this topic. It reminded me that I had written an article a while ago, and tracked it down.

Its a true story, which happened in December, 1994. With hindsight, this story feels more like a planned experiment than a spontaneous happening.

I attended three Films within a period of seven days. Where I lived at the time in Santa Monica, I had the luxury of being within easy walking distance of five movie theaters which can show a total of 22 Films simultaneously. Most are hot out of the studio. (I still live in Santa Monica, but a little further away from these theaters.)

The first film was Legends of the Fall, which everyone can admit is violent. How I got to that one is a mystery, why I stayed is more of a mystery. Perhaps it was so I could have this experience and tell it.

The second film was Jungle Book, which parents actually take little children to see! I found it appallingly violent and distorted.

The third one was I.Q., a film I found delightful. Wa Who! Walter Matthau is one of my all-time favorite actors. No Violence. Many would probably say no depth, to which I shrug my shoulders without comment. I went to the film to be entertained, and was. I have conside rable depth in my work every day.

So now you know the Films, heres the experience. As blood and gore flashed across the screen in Legends of the Fall, I sometimes watched and mostly closed my eyes. About three-quarters of the way to the end, advertisements that are usually shown at the beginning began to play. The audience exploded!

Yelling and feet stomping were the norm. One man in particular seemed to go crazy. He screamed obscenities and could not say more than three words before repeating his favorite word, fing.

Ive not ever been in a riot, but it felt to me as if one was about to happen. I sent lots of love and light to the projectionist and to the audience. Soon the right reel was playing. Oops, no sound. More jeers from the audience. Then the Films sound came on. More jeers to rewind and begin the new reel again. Finally the film ended, although I have no memory how.

Several days later, I was off to the second film at another the ater. Jungle Book, a classic, considered to be a childrens film. The audience that day included little boys and girls accompanied by adults. The children were quite frightened. This was a tense fright, though, not an exhilarating one.

Three-quarters of the way through, the film broke. The audience exploded with yells and screams. The theater was not as crowded as the previous film, or the responses would undoubtedly have been multiplied. Soon the film returned to the screen for its finale.

Several days later, I attended I.Q. at a third theater. This is a romantic comedy requiring the wits of Albert Einstein with tee-hees and wide smiles for the audience throughout.

Are you ready for this? Three-quarters of the way through, the film broke. Not a sound came from the audience. Everyone sat quietly, waiting for the repair or whatever was needed. This soon happened, and the film played to the end without interruption.

Something in me wants to e nd this article with a profound and pithy statement that summarizes the whole experience. But something stronger in me just wants it to stand on its own you make of it what you will. Its a true story.

Copyright 1994, 2005 Marshall House. All rights reserved. You may save this article, send it to a friend, or reprint it in your online publications, provided the article remains complete and this information is attached. Please visit Marshall House at http://www.mhmail.com and Voice of Jeanie Marshall at http://www.jmvoice.com

Author:: Jeanie Marshall
Keywords:: Movies,Films,Violence,Feeling Good,Movie Theater
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8 Mile (Movie Review)

Undoubtedly, the surprise film of 2002 was 8 Mile, the story about a young white rapper in Detroit who struggles with his broken family, gold-digging friends, and simply to find his identity in the nefarious world in which he lives. Starring the best-selling rap artist Eminem, 8 Mile is supposedly autobiographical in nature, portraying the true life rise of Marshall Mathers from the hardened streets of Detroit to the gold paved highways of superstardom. But the film begins and ends in the ghetto, cataloguing the time prior to the rapper's success. As a Movie, it performs its duties well - virtually transporting the viewer to the crime and poverty riddled neighborhoods of one of America's most dangerous cities

Local youth Jimmy B-Rabbit Smith, Jr. harbors dreams of hitting the big-time as a rapper (alo ng with most of his peers in Detroit), but few are supportive of his efforts, especially his mother Stephanie (Kim Basinger), a self-centered woman who neglects her five-year-old daughter, remains unemployed, and generally wastes her life away. Her verbal battles with Jimmy are the only substantive part of their relationship.

When Jimmy gets a job working on an assembly line at a sheet metal factory, he works long hours in the dead end job making just enough money to get by. Living in a trailer with his mother so that he can save up enough money for a demo tape leads to everyday confrontations with the woman. Things begin to look up, though, when Jimmy meets Alex (Brittany Murphy), an aspiring model who shares his dreams of leaving the ghetto and pursuing a better life. But everything goes awry when Jimmy chokes at a local late-night rap showdown.

The bad news continues when Jimmy catches Alex cheating on him, his mother kicks him out, and a gang of thugs gives h im a beating - placing a gun to his head and threatening to pull the trigger.

When the opportunity arises to perform once more in the local rap showdown, all of Jimmy's dreams hinge on his ability to pull out all the stops. Can he verbally destroy his opponent and gain the notoriety necessary to put him on the map?

A surprisingly well-written screenplay wrought with symbolism, 8 Mile vividly portrays the life of an angry urban youth who aches to express his hatred for the world around him. As the dividing line between the city Detroit and the outside world, 8 Mile represents was is and what can be. The film's ability to draw the audience into a world of which they may not be a part makes this a definite must-see film. For those conservative or older viewers who may be reluctant to the see the film because of its leading star Eminem, I highly recommend giving 8 Mile a chance. If you enjoy drama and peering into unique worlds, then you might be pleasantly surprised with this one

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the 8 Mile (DVD).

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: 8 mile Movie review
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Futurama (DVD) Review

A brainchild of Simpsons creator Matt Groening, Futurama launched itself into homes across the galaxy in Spring 1999. Employing the same quick wit and visual humor that has made The Simpsons one of the most successful shows in television history, Futurama (despite its early cancellation in August 2003) maintains its own loyal cult following

The Futurama DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere in which Fry awakens following his 1,000 year cryogenic freeze. When a Cyclops named Leela tries to insert a career chip in him which will make him a delivery boy for life, Fry escapes, meets a robot named Bender, and the two eventually join Leela when she removes her own career chip. Together, they hunt down Fry's closest relative (Professor Farnsworth) and become the crew of his space delivery service Other notable episodes include The Series Has Landed in which Fry and the crew deliver their first package, and My Three Suns in which Fry becom es leader of a race of liquid aliens Season 1 also features its own distinct alien language found on signs littered throughout the various episodes

Below is a list of episodes included on the Futurama (Season 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (Space Pilot 3000) Air Date: 03-28-1999
Episode 2 (The Series has Landed) Air Date: 04-04-1999
Episode 3 (I, Roommate) Air Date: 04-06-1999
Episode 4 (Love's Labors Lost in Space) Air Date: 04-13-1999
Episode 5 (Fear of a Bot Planet) Air Date: 04-20-1999
Episode 6 (A Fishful of Dollars) Air Date: 04-27-1999
Episode 7 (My Three Suns) Air Date: 05-04-1999
Episode 8 (A Big Piece of Garbage) Air Date: 05-11-1999
Episode 9 (Hell is Other Robots) Air Date: 05-18-1999
Episode 10 (A Flight to Remember) Air Date: 09-26-1999
Episode 11 (Mars University) Air Date: 10-03-1999
Episode 12 (When Aliens Attack) Air Date: 11-07-1999
Episode 13 (Fry & The Slurm Factory) Air Date: 11-14-1999

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Futurama (DVD).

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: futurama dvd review
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Gilmore Girls (Season 4) DVD Review

Nominated for 1 Emmy and 1 Golden Globe in its first five seasons, Gilmore Girls has experienced much greater success among TV viewers than among industry critics. In fact, the show is the first script supported by the Family Friendly Forum's script development fund to go on and become a regular television series. Part of an initiative between The WB Network - maker of such hits as Dawson's Creek (1998), Felicity (1998), Angel (1999), and Smallville (2001) - and fellow industry executives, this push for more family-oriented programming resulted in a series showcasing a unique mother-daughter bond and the various people they encounter on their life voyage of discovery. Set in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, Gilmore Girls utilizes many of the same sets as the hit series The Dukes Of Hazzard (1979) - another successful Warner Brothers production from years past

Gilmore Girls is set in a small idyllic community in Connecticut filled with a wide range of diverse characters and eccentric personalities. Against this backdrop, Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) attempts to raise her daughter and best friend, Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), to carve out a better life for herself. Having made a number of youthful mistakes, Lorelai made the decision to raise her daughter by herself at a young age (the same age as Rory when the series begins), and she's bound and determined to make sure that Rory makes better decisions for herself. As Rory prepares to go off to college, she displays many of the same likes and dislikes as her mother - especially when it comes to the opposite sex, and that's what worries Lorelai the most A borderline soap opera, Gilmore Girls is more of a serial drama that focuses on the love, friendship, and shared growth of a mother and daughter as they live out their dreams in modern day America

The Gilmore Girls (Season 4) DVD features a number of touching episodes including the season premiere Ballrooms and Bis cotti in which Lorelai and Rory return from their European vacation to experience a whirlwind of activity. Taylor gets upset when Rory declines the offer to be the Stars Hollow Ice Cream Queen, while Rory herself is in a panic after realizing she wrote the wrong date for freshman orientation on her calendar. Now, she must fit a week's worth of preparation into two days, and Emily isn't very happy about it Other notable episodes from Season 4 include The Nanny and the Professor in which Rory becomes concerned when Paris's new boyfriend turns out to be one of her college professors, and Luke Can See Her Face in which a self-help tape and a long talk with Jess help Luke to envision a path to the relationship he's been seeking all along

Below is a list of episodes included on the Gilmore Girls (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 66 (Ballrooms and Biscotti) Air Date: 09-23-2003
Episode 67 (The Lorelai's First Day at Yale) Air Date: 09-30-2003
Episode 68 (The Hobbit, the S ofa, and Digger Stiles) Air Date: 10-07-2003
Episode 69 (Chicken or Beef?) Air Date: 10-14-2003
Episode 70 (The Fundamental Things Apply) Air Date: 10-21-2003
Episode 71 (An Affair to Remember) Air Date: 10-28-2003
Episode 72 (The Festival of Living Art) Air Date: 11-04-2003
Episode 73 (Die, Jerk) Air Date: 11-11-2003
Episode 74 (Ted Koppel's Big Night Out) Air Date: 11-18-2003
Episode 75 (The Nanny and the Professor) Air Date: 01-20-2004
Episode 76 (In the Clamor and the Clangor) Air Date: 01-27-2004
Episode 77 (A Family Matter) Air Date: 02-03-2004
Episode 78 (Nag Hammadi is Where They Found the Gnostic Gospels) Air Date: 02-10-2004
Episode 79 (The Incredible Shrinking Lorelais) Air Date: 02-17-2004
Episode 80 (Scene in a Mall) Air Date: 02-24-2004
Episode 81 (The Reigning Lorelai) Air Date: 03-02-2004
Episode 82 (Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist) Air Date: 04-13-2004
Episode 83 (Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!) Air Date: 04-20-2004
Episode 84 (Afterboom) Air Date: 04-27-2004
Episode 85 (Luke Can See Her Face) Air Date: 05-04-2004
Episode 86 (Last Week Fights, This Week Tights) Air Date: 05-11-2004
Episode 87 (Raincoats and Recipes) Air Date: 05-18-2004

About the Author Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Gilmore Girls (Season 4) DVD.

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: gilmore girls season 4 dvd review
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The Jeffersons (DVD) Review

Nominated for 13 Emmys and 8 Golden Globes, The Jeffersons was a groundbreaking situation comedy that was not only utterly hilarious, but also explored the controversial social issues of its day. Premiering in mid-season 1975, the show was a spin-off of the #1 hit series All In The Family, where main characters George and Louise were the next-door neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker. During its nine-season run, The Jeffersons spent all but its last season as a Top 25 Nielsen rated show. One of the first sitcoms to center exclusively around the lives of African-Americans, The Jeffersons most likely featured television's first interracial married couple in Tom and Helen Willis. It was this fearless attempt to push the boundaries of the status quo that made the show one of the funniest of its time as well as a valuable resource for American race relations

The Jeffersons follows the lives of George (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford), a middle-aged A frican-American couple who own a string of successful dry cleaning stores. The windfall generated by their business paves the way for George and Louise to move on up into an exclusive Park Avenue apartment. The series is made by Hemsley's portrayal of the stubborn and greedy, yet quite lovable, character of George whose sarcasm and antics are only equaled by the Jeffersons' quick witted live-in maid Florence (Marla Gibbs). A supporting cast composed of omni-present neighbors Tom (Franklin Cover) and Helen Willis (Roxie Roker), the ever-polite Bentley (Paul Benedict), and a tip-grubbing doorman named Ralph (Ned Wertimer) provide for endless sources of irritation and annoyance for George. Throw in George's mother (Zara Cully) and her constant insults of Louise, and The Jeffersons becomes one of the best-written humorous shows of its time

The Jeffersons DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the series premiere A Friend in Need in which the audience meets G eorge and Louise Jefferson as they settle into their brand new Park Avenue apartment. George demands that Louise hire a maid to take care of place, but she refuses because she doesn't want to be bored. Meanwhile, a new friend of Louise has a hard time believing that George could reach such a level of success without compromising his ethics Other notable episodes from Season 1 include Lionel the Playboy in which the Jeffersons' son Lionel starts enjoying the fruits of George's labor and debates dropping out of college, and Rich Man's Disease in which George is diagnosed with an ulcer, prompting Louise to try to keep him from getting upset - a near impossible task

Below is a list of episodes included on The Jeffersons (Season 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (A Friend in Need) Air Date: 01-18-1975
Episode 2 (George's Family Tree) Air Date: 01-25-1975
Episode 3 (Louise Feels Useless) Air Date: 02-01-1975
Episode 4 (Lionel the Playboy) Air Date: 02-08-1975
Episode 5 (Mr. Piano Man) Air Date: 02-15-1975
Episode 6 (George's Skeleton) Air Date: 02-22-1975
Episode 7 (Lionel Cries Uncle) Air Date: 03-01-1975
Episode 8 (Mother Jefferson's Boyfriend) Air Date: 03-08-1975
Episode 9 (Meet the Press) Air Date: 03-15-1975
Episode 10 (Rich Man's Disease) Air Date: 03-22-1975
Episode 11 (Former Neighbors) Air Date: 03-29-1975
Episode 12 (Like Father, Like Son?) Air Date: 04-05-1975
Episode 13 (Jenny's Low) Air Date: 04-12-1975

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of The Jeffersons (DVD).

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: jeffersons dvd review
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Allen's Matchpoint

Matchpoint? That must be about a game, you think, how could it be otherwise? And with a dcor as London you would guess (without having seen the movie) the games is tennis. In fact it is all spelled out that the game is tennis, with the ball that touches the net in the openings scene. Chris the main character is invited to join a tennis club on behalf his excellent curriculum. We see him train various people, amongst them Allen, a son of an important family, and his sister Chloe who grows immediately very fond of Chris. It is still a game. All of them singles, there is no double.

The introduction indeed focuses unmistakably about games, competition and winning.

Chris, with his unfortunate background, Allen and his sister Chloe both very well to do. It is clear that Chris wants to get higher up in society, and we see him reading literature, including a manual how to read Dostoyevsky's Crime and punishment (an important little detail). And he expresses his prefe rence for operas, for which he will be invited for one by Allen; la Traviata. And the growing intimacy with Chloe gets him in the right environment; the match deploys very well into the right direction. When he is invited to their country house he meets the American Nola, a beautiful girl for which he doesn't hide (for us spectators) his crush.

And it becomes clear that he will have to choose between this American temptation and the British convenience. It still fits the game dcor in which there are two options, a competition but with only one option to stay alive. And an amount of luck that you sometimes need. To win.

So far the script and the interpretation are as they should be. A game, the role of culture, whether you would believe more in faith and destiny or in your own influence. Differences maybe, between England and the US. It could end there not the film but the interpretation. Without revealing it all.

Yet, the film is also about theatre. Not ab out a game, but about a play. In fact there are in the whole move only two characters that seem really alive, Chris and Nola. All others are flat and observers in the very same movie. One interpretation would be that the main characters are not British where the others are, to convey a phlegmatic ambience. But I think it is about stressing the significance of the play inside the film.

And in a play a theatre all is orchestrated. There is no need for chance, faith or luck. All is managed until the last movement.

2006 Hans Bool

Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White a traditional management consulting company that offers online management tools. Have a look at some of our free management tools

Author:: Hans Bool
Keywords:: woody allen, Machtpoint
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Gilmore Girls (DVD) Review

Nominated for 1 Emmy and 1 Golden Globe in its first five seasons, Gilmore Girls has experienced much greater success among TV viewers than among industry critics. In fact, the show is the first script supported by the Family Friendly Forum's script development fund to go on and become a regular television series. Part of an initiative between The WB Network - maker of such hits as Dawson's Creek (1998), Felicity (1998), Angel (1999), and Smallville (2001) - and fellow industry executives, this push for more family-oriented programming resulted in a series showcasing a unique mother-daughter bond and the various people they encounter on their life voyage of discovery. Set in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, Gilmore Girls utilizes many of the same sets as the hit series The Dukes Of Hazzard (1979) - another successful Warner Brothers production from years past

Gilmore Girls is set in a small idyllic community in Connecticut filled with a wide range of diverse characters and eccentric personalities. Against this backdrop, Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) attempts to raise her daughter and best friend, Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), to carve out a better life for herself. Having made a number of youthful mistakes, Lorelai made the decision to raise her daughter by herself at a young age (the same age as Rory when the series begins), and she's bound and determined to make sure that Rory makes better decisions for herself. As Rory prepares to go off to college, she displays many of the same likes and dislikes as her mother - especially when it comes to the opposite sex, and that's what worries Lorelai the most A borderline soap opera, Gilmore Girls is more of a serial drama that focuses on the love, friendship, and shared growth of a mother and daughter as they live out their dreams in modern day America

The Gilmore Girls DVD features a number of touching episodes including the series premiere in which Rory is accepted to a very prestigious prep school named Chilton. But Lorelai struggles to come up with the tuition money necessary to send her, so she contacts her estranged parents for a loan. They agree to provide Rory with the tuition if Lorelai will agree to have a family dinner with them every Friday. Meanwhile, Rory has developed a crush on a recent transfer student, making her apprehensive about attending Chilton. When Lorelai finds out that a boy is the source of Rory's uncertainty, the two get in a fight with Lorelai fearing that Rory will follow in her own path of bad decisions. However, after the family dinner with Lorelai's parents, Rory realizes the sacrifice her mother has made in asking for the loan, and the two make up Other notable episodes from Season 1 include Forgiveness and Stuff in which a feuding Rory and Lorelai settle their differences just in time for Christmas, and The Third Lorelai in which Emily opposes her mother-in-law's offer to set up a trust fund for Rory bec ause she's afraid it will mean an end to her contact with her granddaughter

Below is a list of episodes included on the Gilmore Girls (Season 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (Pilot) Air Date: 10-05-2000
Episode 2 (The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton) Air Date: 10-12-2000
Episode 3 (Kill Me Now) Air Date: 10-19-2000
Episode 4 (The Deer Hunters) Air Date: 10-26-2000
Episode 5 (Cinnamon's Wake) Air Date: 11-02-2000
Episode 6 (Rory's Birthday Parties) Air Date: 11-09-2000
Episode 7 (Kiss and Tell) Air Date: 11-16-2000
Episode 8 (Love and War and Snow) Air Date: 12-14-2000
Episode 9 (Rory's Dance) Air Date: 12-20-2000
Episode 10 (Forgiveness and Stuff) Air Date: 12-21-2000
Episode 11 (Paris is Burning) Air Date: 01-11-2001
Episode 12 (Double Date) Air Date: 01-18-2001
Episode 13 (Concert Interruptus) Air Date: 02-15-2001
Episode 14 (That Damn Donna Reed) Air Date: 02-22-2001
Episode 15 (Christopher Returns) Air Date: 03-01-2001
Episode 16 (Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers) Air Date: 03-08-2001
Episode 17 (The Breakup, Part 2) Air Date: 03-15-2001
Episode 18 (The Third Lorelai) Air Date: 03-22-2001
Episode 19 (Emily in Wonderland) Air Date: 04-26-2001
Episode 20 (P.S. I Lo) Air Date: 05-03-2001
Episode 21 (Love, Daisies, and Troubadours) Air Date: 05-10-2001

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Gilmore Girls (DVD).

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: gilmore girls dvd review
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Plot Points The Long Hot Summer (1958)

Starring: Paul Newman (Ben Quick), Joanne Woodward (Clara Varner), Orson Welles (Will Varner), Anthony Franciosa (Jody Varner), Lee Remick (Eula Varner), Angela Landsbury (Minnie Littlejohn), Richard Anderson (Alan Stewart) Directed by: Martin Ritt Writers: William Faulkner (story), Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr. (screenplay)

PROTAGONIST BEN'S DILEMMA: He is kicked from one county of Louisiana to another as a barn burner although the accusation could not be proven true. He wants to live a good straight life but the dark cloud of bad reputation follows him wherever he goes.

PROTAGONIST'S DESIRE: To settle and live the life of a prosperous Southern gentleman.

HIS CHIEF OBSTACLE: No one will give him the break he deserves in the class-conscious Southern society.

ESTABLISHING SHOT: A barn burning.

INCITING INCIDENT: Ben Quick is asked to leave the county by sundown and look for his fortune somewhere else..

PLOT POINT 1: Ben meets Clara while hitchhiking. Clara is the unmarried daughter of Will Varner who owns everything in the Frenchman's Cove.

MID POINT EVENT: Ben moves into the Big House and takes charge of Will's grocery store, to the immense grief of Jody.

PLOT POINT 2: Jody tries to kill his father Will and implicate Ben by locking Will up in the barn and setting it on fire.

3rd ACT RESOLUTION: Clara stands by Ben at the barn-burning incident and returns his love. Will and Jody make up. Presumably Ben and Clara marry and live happily ever after.

Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation.

He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 companies for the last 7 years.

In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technic al Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).

He is dispensing million-dollar plot ideas on a daily basis at his screenwriting blog SCRIPT BOILER (http://scriptboiler.blogspot.com).

You are most welcomed to visit his official web site http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.

While at it, you might also want to check the latest book he has edited, PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS 2006:

http://www.lulu.com/content/263630

Author:: Ugur Akinci
Keywords:: The Long Hot Summer,paul newman,orson welles,Movies,Films,Hollywood,joanne woodward,ugur akinci
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United Flight 93: The Movie Tells it All

Flight 93 the Movie is a depiction of the September 11, 2001 flight, which was taken over by the Victims of the hijackers and crashed before the Victims could regain control. It is an emotionally packed movie and even more so as it is so reality based and a docu-drama. Some of the Flight Victims families are very glad to see their loved ones portrayed as heroes and very happy to remind the world of that fateful day when we were attacked by International National Terrorists, as they killed innocent folks minding their own business.

This movie honors the Victims and rallies our resolve to remember the fallen and not give up on the fight against international terrorism. To remind you; on that United Flight 93 all 40 passengers died, while many used their cell phones to call their families for the last time and many knew they were doomed and said; I love you and good bye.

The writer and director of the movie is Paul Greengrass and it is sure to be a big hit. Although there are many who do not approve of this movie or the violence it depicts, in fact 27% to not approve or feel the movie is appropriate, while over 42% surveyed not only approve of the movie and say it is appropriate, but believe the story must be told on the Big Screen. What do you think?

Lance Winslow

Author:: Lance Winslow
Keywords:: United Flight 93, The Movie, Victims, Greengrass
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Silk Stalkings (DVD) Review

Nominated for only one Emmy, the entertainment quality of Silk Stalkings is nevertheless evidenced by its nine season run which is one of the most enduring ever for an original cable TV series. Partly responsible for this lack of critical acclaim is that Silk Stalkings was a trailblazer in the cable genre, and handing out Emmys to original cable series didn't become fashionable until the late-1990s when Sex And The City and The Sopranos broke the cable barrier for good. Another contributing factor to the lack of peer recognition is that Silk Stalkings lasted about four seasons longer than it should have, given that nearly the entire cast and crew were replaced after the first five seasons. Regardless, this hour-long drama series set in Palm Beach, Florida contains all the necessary ingredients for a hit show - beautiful people in a beautiful setting with lots of murder, violence, and intrigue. Silk Stalkings offers everything one could ask for in a TV drama, and the show's success helped pave the way for additional original cable series such as Monk and The Shield

Silk Stalkings follows the exploits of two Palm Beach, Florida detectives who investigate murders and other high profile crimes in an elite community which is no stranger to fame and fortune. Sgt. Chris Lorenzo (Rob Estes) and Sgt. Rita Lee Lance (Mitzi Kapture) are partners on the local Palm Beach Police Department, and each episode they must investigate one or more high-profile crimes. The dynamic relationship between Chris and Rita is a focal point of the show, and the two will overturn every stone and use every tactic at their disposal to bring justice to those who, either due to fame and/or wealth, believe they are above the laws that governor average people Veteran entertainer Ben Vereen plays their boss, Capt. Hutchinson, in seasons one through three before being replaced by Charlie Brill (Capt. Harry Lipschitz) for the remainder of the series Overall, Silk Stalkings is a finely scripted investigative drama cut from the same mold as Law & Order SVU

The Silk Stalkings DVD features a number of dramatic episodes including the series premiere in which Chris and Rita investigate the case of model murdered in her townhouse. The main focus of the investigation centers around the model's husband, and the couple's impending divorce proceedings only serve to place him under greater suspicion. Digging further, Chris and Rita link a cold case file to the murder, but a wrench is thrown in their investigation when the ex-cop who investigated the case is himself murdered Other notable episodes from Season 1 include Dirty Laundry in which Chris and Rita investigate the mysterious death of a congressmen found on the beach near his home, and Internal Affair in which Chris becomes embroiled in police brutality controversy when he shoots and kills a suspect during a burglary in progress

Below is a list of episodes included on the Silk Stalkings (S eason 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (Pilot) Air Date: 11-07-1991 Episode 2 (Going to Babylon) Air Date: 11-14-1991 Episode 3 (S.O.B.) Air Date: 11-21-1991 Episode 4 (In the Name of Love) Air Date: 11-28-1991 Episode 5 (Men Seeking Women) Air Date: 12-05-1991 Episode 6 (Dirty Laundry) Air Date: 12-12-1991 Episode 7 (Hard Copy) Air Date: 12-19-1991 Episode 8 (Curtain Call) Air Date: 01-02-1992 Episode 9 (The Brotherhood) Air Date: 01-09-1992 Episode 10 (Blo-Dri) Air Date: 01-16-1992 Episode 11 (Intensive Care) Air Date: 01-23-1992 Episode 12 (Squeeze Play) Air Date: 01-30-1992 Episode 13 (Shock Jock) Air Date: 02-06-1992 Episode 14 (The Sock Drawer) Air Date: 02-13-1992 Episode 15 (Internal Affair) Air Date: 02-20-1992 Episode 16 (Witness) Air Date: 02-27-1992 Episode 17 (Domestic Agenda) Air Date: 03-05-1992 Episode 18 (Lady Luck) Air Date: 03-12-1992 Episode 19 (Working Girl) Air Date: 03-19-1992 Episode 20 (Powder Burn) Air Date: 03-26-1992

About the Author

Britt Gill ette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Silk Stalkings (DVD).

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: silk stalkings dvd review
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What I Learned From the Movie March of the Penguins

I would like to recommend a movie I saw recently called, March of the Penguins, produced by Warner Independent Pictures and National Geographic Feature Films.

This movie was a surprise to me, not at all what I was expecting. I was hoping it would be more like Polar Express and I would leave the theatre feeling uplifted and that feeling would stay with me for days. This was a different kind of film. It was beautiful and stunning and I was deeply touched but I couldnt help but feel the anguish and pain that these grace filled beings suffer every year when they endure the 70 mile - 20 day march to their breeding grounds and the experiences that follow, to give life to the enchanting baby penguins. There were scenes in this film that are burned in my memory forever.

I saw this movie with a friend who was feeling a little down and thinking his life was difficult. After watching this documentary, both of our lives seemed like a piece of cake. I highly recommend thi s movie. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. I have been haunted by it ever since. This amazing story has caused me to think deeply about so many things. It has uncovered places deep inside me that cry out for healing and it has reminded me of what is really important in life.

The story, beautifully narrated by Morgan Freeman, opens with the words...In the harshest place on earth, LOVE finds a way. This is the incredible true story of a familys journey to bring life into the world.

And incredible is an understatement. As I watched these tuxedo clad beings leap out of their ocean home to begin their journey, walking upright in single file, I understood the power of clear focus, keeping your mind on the goal and moving forward with fierce determination in a way I had not comprehended it before. I understood too about never giving up. And as they progressed along their perilous journey in the dark and cold and the scenery changed from previous years, and they needed to find their way, I knew the importance of following my own instincts and connecting to my own inner guidance. I appreciated how important it is sometimes to just keep going, even if it means you may have to crawl on your belly for awhile.

After the long, cold and arduous trek to their mating ground, I sat raptured as each penguin attempted to choose a partner, someone especially for them, from a sea of what only appeared to be identical partners, wondering just how and why they made their choice. And then I witnessed what had to be the most tender, delicate, intricate, courtship dance on the planet, intimate, affectionate and stunningly beautiful. Totally enthralled with this ritual, there were moments here where I didnt know where these beautiful beings ended and I began.

Each female, lucky enough to have found a mate, laid a single egg and that egg was very carefully transferred to her male partner, to guard and hatch, while the now very weak female begins her journey back the same 70 miles to obtain nourishment again on the ocean floor.

As I later viewed the fathers gently hovering over their new born offspring, the baby chick cradled on top of their feet, I felt their deep love and parental bonding and I experienced the sacredness and importance of sustaining life at all costs. And as I witnessed thousands of penguins huddled together braced against the elements, I realized the importance of sticking together for a common goal and the comfort that a sense of community can bring. Each one took turns on the outside and inside of the circle in order to share the warmer and cooler spots and I saw first hand what integrity and a sense of fair play can mean to the interconnectedness of all living things.

Now desperately needing nourishment of their own, and elated at the safe return of the females, I witnessed each father, with great sadness, getting ready to leave his baby chick and listening for the chi cks song, so that he would recognize him or her, upon his return and I remembered that we are all born with our own unique song in our heart and when we sing that song with love, our true nature is instantly recognizable and our extraordinary life purpose fulfilled.

And later when I listened to one mother penguin cry out in pain over the loss of her chick to the bitter cold, I ached too for my own lost family and understood her grief. As the weather warmed and I saw another mother push her little one out to mix and mingle with the other young penguins, I was transported back to my first day at school when my own mother did the exact same thing to me.

Near the end of the movie I watched in shock as the parents finally walked away and left their young ones behind. In that moment, I felt a strong sense of betrayal, abandonment and fear as my own need to cling to things long after they are over surfaced once again. I was reminded of the importance of letting go and moving on, taking that next step or leap of faith into a brave new world, as these little ones eventually did with their first courageous leap into the sea, their new home for the next four years, until they too would make this remarkable journey.

Until this film, I was not aware of what is involved in the life of a Emperor Penguin as I am unaware of so many other amazing things that happen on our planet. What if, in the media, instead of focusing on the comings and goings of Hollywoods hottest celebrities, we strive to learn more about the nature of the universe and the wonders of our planet instead. How our lives would be so changed for the better I suspect, if we each did that. I applaud everyone who was involved in bringing this beautiful story to life and I thank you for a job well done.

Veronica Hay is an Inspirational writer. Her work inspires others to be more of who they really are. Telephone: 403-245-6815 Email: veronicahay@telus.net Subscribe to Veronicas Daily Insights & Inspirations at the following link. http://www.intouchmag.com/subscribe

Author:: Veronica Hay
Keywords:: Movies, March of the Penguins, Movie Review, Films, Inspiration
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Quantum Leap (Season 3) DVD Review

Despite its short run (March 1989 - May 1993), Quantum Leap is nevertheless one of the more memorable dramatic series in television history. Although the show borrows from a concept employed in other realms, such as Highway To Heaven (with its theme of a mysterious force interceding to transform a single life), it adds a unique twist by utilizing elements of science fiction. Created by Donald P. Bellisario (creator of Magnum, P.I., JAG, and countless other hit shows), Quantum Leap developed a loyal cult following, making its short network run all the more difficult to understand

Quantum Leap stars Scott Bakula as Dr. Samuel Sam Beckett, a cutting-edge experimental researcher in the field of physics. Developing a theory that an individual can travel throughout the span of his life, Beckett builds the Quantum Leap Accelerator and uses himself as the test subject. But rather than traveling within his own lifetime, Beckett finds himself mysteriously transported into the lives of various individuals, each of whom faces a problem Beckett must rectify (thus changing history for the better). When he does, he can make his next quantum leap (which he hopes will restore him to his pre-experiment self). Aiding Beckett on his various missions is Rear Admiral Albert Al Calavicci (Dean Stockwell), one of the quantum leap experiment observers who periodically appears as a hologram in order to communicate with Beckett. With each new episode, Beckett finds himself in a new body, facing new circumstances, with a new mission he must decipher and complete if he ever hopes to return home

The Quantum Leap (Season 3) DVD features a number of action-packed episodes including the season premiere The Leap Home in which Sam first leaps into his own life, giving him the chance to win his high school basketball championship. Sam then leaps into the lives of other people associated with close family members, as well as those associated with Al, who was a P.O.W. during Vietnam Other notable episodes from Season 3 include Miss Deep South in which Sam must come to the aid of a wrongfully disgraced beauty pageant contestant, and A Little Miracle in which Sam becomes an employee of a wealthy contractor displaying many of the characteristics of a modern day Scrooge

Below is a list of episodes included on the Quantum Leap (Season 3) DVD:

Episode 32 (The Leap Home: Part 1 - November 25, 1969) Air Date: 09-28-1990
Episode 33 (The Leap Home: Part 2 - April 7, 1970) Air Date: 10-05-1990
Episode 34 (Leap of Faith - August 19, 1963) Air Date: 10-12-1990
Episode 35 (One Strobe Over the Line - June 15, 1965) Air Date: 10-19-1990
Episode 36 (The Boogieman - October 31, 1964) Air Date: 10-26-1990
Episode 37 (Miss Deep South - June 7, 1958) Air Date: 11-02-1990
Episode 38 (Black on White on Fire - August 11, 1965) Air Date: 11-09-1990
Episode 39 (The Great Spontini - May 9, 1974) Air Date: 11-16-1990
Epis ode 40 (Rebel Without a Clue - September 1, 1958) Air Date: 11-30-1990
Episode 41 (A Little Miracle - December 24, 1962) Air Date: 12-21-1990
Episode 42 (Runaway - July 4, 1964) Air Date: 01-04-1991
Episode 43 (8 Months - November 15, 1955) Air Date: 03-06-1991
Episode 44 (Future Boy - October 6, 1957) Air Date: 03-13-1991
Episode 45 (Private Dancer - October 6, 1979) Air Date: 03-20-1991
Episode 46 (Piano Man - November 10, 1985) Air Date: 03-27-1991
Episode 47 (Southern Comforts - August 4, 1961) Air Date: 04-03-1991
Episode 48 (Glitter Rock - April 12, 1974) Air Date: 04-10-1991
Episode 49 (A Hunting We Will Go - June 18, 1976) Air Date: 04-18-1991
Episode 50 (Last Dance Before an Execution - May 12, 1971) Air Date: 05-01-1991
Episode 51 (Heart of a Champion - July 23, 1955) Air Date: 05-08-1991
Episode 52 (Nuclear Family - October 26, 1962) Air Date: 05-15-1991
Episode 53 (Shock Theater - October 3, 1954) Air Date: 05- 22-1991

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Quantum Leap (Season 3) DVD.

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: quantum leap season 3 dvd review
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

"Survivor: Cook Islands" Will Feature Controversial Start

On September 14, millions will tune in to CBS for the premiere of the fall 2006 edition the addicting reality television show Survivor.

But, although there have been some interesting premises on the show in the past, none have gotten the attention that Survivor: Cook Islands has seen. According to a commercial statement by host Jeff Probst, this falls show is based around something of a social experiment but many arent looking at it in such a positive light.

As always, the contestants will be divided into competing tribes, this season will feature four. Where the Controversy comes in is how those tribes are divided, by race. The tribes are comprised exclusively of Whites, African Americans, Hispanics and Asians. Wow! CBS should have known theyd be asking for trouble on this one.

< p>The division of the tribes has brought criticism and debate over the appropriateness of what some feel to be sanctioned and permissible segregation, if not discrimination. After all, race has long been a touchy subject in the United States.

But then again, it could just be a clever ploy to get people talking about Survivor again, which has seemed to drop off somewhat since its hay day. And in the past, when teams where split by social groups like men v. women and younger v. older, the spilt only lasted a couple of episodes into the season before a merger that brought things back into the games typical balance.

All in all, it may not have been CBSs smartest idea, but it really isnt that big of a deal either.

Author:: Jason Greiner
Keywords:: Survivor, cook islands, CBS, Televison, African American, White, Hispanic, Asian, Controversy
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Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman (DVD) Review

Nominated for 19 Emmys and 5 Golden Globes, including Best TV Series - Drama, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman experienced the rare double victory of audience loyalty and widespread critical acclaim. Premiering in mid-season (January 1993), the hour-long CBS original series illustrated American frontier life like few other shows before it. Like the smash hit Little House On The Prairie, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman vividly portrays the hardship, struggle, and community kinship endemic to the era. One of the first Western-themed shows to cast a female doctor (as the star of the show nonetheless), Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman enjoyed a successful five-year run, marked by two highly-touted made-for-TV Movies

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman follows the exploits of Dr. Michaela Mike Quinn, a female doctor living in 19th Cent ury America when that sort of thing was unheard of. Working for years as an assistant in her father's New England medical practice, the death of her father prompts Dr. Mike to answer a want ad for a doctor in the thriving American frontier town of Colorado Springs. When she arrives, the town is taken aback, having expected she was a man. But Dr. Mike quickly endears herself with the townsfolk and expands her family by adopting three orphan children - Matthew (Chad Allen), Colleen (Erika Flores/Jessica Bowman), and Brian (Shawn Toovey). As the show progresses, she eventually marries local Byron Sully (Joe Lando), and the final seasons focus on the lives of their nuclear family. Sporting an assorted cast of loveable, and sometimes eccentric, characters, the town is never short of excitement or drama

The Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman DVD features a number of dramatic episodes including the series premiere in which the audience learns the saga of Dr. Michaela Quinn, a female d octor who loses her medical practice along with death of her father (in whose footsteps she followed). The lack of job opportunities prompts her to leave her Boston home to answer a job posting in the Colorado territory. Once there, she befriends Charlotte Cooper, who soon dies from a rattle snake bite, leaving her three children in Dr. Mike's care Other notable episodes from Season 1 include Running Ghost in which Sully is left partially paralyzed following a run-in with buffalo hunters hired to clear a path for a new railroad line, and Portraits in which the entire town must pull together in an effort to take a picture of the town so that it can be seen by David Watkins, a diabetic Civil War photographer, before he goes blind

Below is a list of episodes included on the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (Season 1) DVD:

Episode xx (Pilot) Air Date: 01-01-1993
Episode 1 (Epidemic) Air Date: 01-02-1993
Episode 2 (Visitor) Air Date: 01-09-1993
Episode 3 (Law of the Land) Air Date: 01-16-1993
Episode 4 (The Healing) Air Date: 01-23-1993
Episode 5 (Father's Day) Air Date: 01-30-1993
Episode 6 (Bad Water) Air Date: 02-06-1993
Episode 7 (Great American Medicine Show) Air Date: 02-13-1993
Episode 8 (The Cowboy's Lullaby) Air Date: 02-20-1993
Episode 9 (Running Ghost) Air Date: 02-27-1993
Episode 10 (The Prisoner) Air Date: 03-13-1993
Episode 11 (Happy Birthday) Air Date: 03-27-1993
Episode 12 (Rite of Passage) Air Date: 04-10-1993
Episode 13 (Heroes) Air Date: 05-01-1993
Episode 14 (The Operation) Air Date: 05-08-1993
Episode 15 (The Secret) Air Date: 05-15-1993
Episode 16 (Portraits) Air Date: 05-22-1993

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (DVD).

Author:: Britt Gillette
Keywords:: dr quinn medicine woman dvd review
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Film & TV Special Effects Explained

'Special Effects' covers a wide range of disciplines and techniques, and for the beginner who wants to get into the industry it can be daunting to see the many areas of work that special effects encompasses. We've broken down the main areas to explain them in plain terms and illustrate the main points.

Special Effects
Special Effects (also known as FX, F/X, Special FX and SFX) have been used in Films ever since film making began. Today, people generally apply the term to anything seen on screen that is not as it would be in real life like Animatronics, Props, Prosthetics and models, and other artificially generated elements such as wind, rain and snow (when machines are used to produce it). It is also often applied to computer generated imagery (or CGI), although each of these areas have there own terminology which is recognized within the industry to differentiate between them. Here's a brief rundown of the elements:

Physical Effects
Nimba Creations wa s hired to construct a 'fall apart car' for a TV commercial - a car which would drop to pieces, leak oil and let off steam on cue. This comes under the heading of 'Physical Effects' - an item that is constructed that will carry out specific physical functions. This can be a grey area as physical effects can often be classed as Animatronics or Props but if you imagine rigs that will, for example, throw around large objects in a controlled way on cue (such as the car falling through the tree in Jurassic Park) these will generally be classed as Physical Effects.

Visual Effects / CGI / Digital effects
Any animation or effect that is created within a computer will fall under these headings. These days, computers are used to great effect to draw together many elements of 'effects shots' in Films (like many of the amazing scenes in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and so they often deal with Props and models to complete the final effects seen on screen, but the digitisation and animation of all these real elements (and many that are fabricated within the computer themselves) are commonly referred to as CGI or Computer Generated Imagery.

Atmospherics
This is the name applied to artificial snow, wind and rain. Companies who deal in atmospherics supply specialised machinery to create these natural elements when they are dictated by scripts. Getting a scene in a film or TV show requires many takes and applying these elements artificially insures that the amount and direction of wind, rain and snow is consistent between takes and different camera angles.

Pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics is perhaps the area of effects which leaves the least room for error, as it involves fire and explosions. Pyrotechnicians are highly skilled, licensed professionals who utilise explosives (and a range of other items such as primer cord) to create controlled fires on cue for Films and TV shows. While it's OK to create your own Props or Prosthetics, never attempt to become a pyrotechnician by experimenting in your own home - the consequences could be fatal. The National Film & Television School do training courses to learn this and other disciplines.

Special Effects 'proper' and the areas that Nimba Creations Specialises in.

Animatronics
In Special Effects, an animatronic is any model, prop or prosthetic which moves using cables, servos and piston-driven mechanisms. The way Animatronics are created and animated is endless, and it's seen as very high tech area of the special effects industry as a good knowledge of pneumatics, hydraulics, electronics, computers, motors and mechanisms are all important elements of the industry. However, they can be startlingly low-tech too, depending on budget. Cables attached to manually operated levers can be very versatile and useful for all kinds of creations, such as Nimba Creations original T-rex head and neck animatronic made for a live show in 1997.

Prosthetics
Prosthetics and prosthetic makeup's are a very popular area of the Special Effects industry, and requires skilled sculptors, mould makers and artists to create appliances to transform people into Creatures and characters, as well as produce bruises, scars and mutilations on actors. A vital process of Prosthetics is life casting, where moulds are taken of the body to produce custom made appliances to fit a specific actor or even to produce fake limbs such as severed heads - these limbs can also be classed under Props. Nimba sells pre-made lifecast's for sculpting directly onto which eliminates the life casting process.

Props & models
Regular Props such as chairs and books aren't classed as special effects unless they do something out of the ordinary or there is actually no such item in existence, such as a futuristic weaponry. A chair which breaks safely and easily on impact is a classic prop used in movie fight scenes which falls under the heading of special effec ts, but of course it also covers more exciting items. Props can often cross with Animatronics if the item needs to also perform a certain function, like for example the puzzle box from Hellraiser.

Miniatures
Miniature building entails creating scaled down versions of objects and buildings to replace full size items in a shot. This can either be because there is some sort of explosion or damage which has to occur which is not viable in real life (or on full scale), or simply because a location doesn't exist and building a miniature version is far more cost effective (and easier to film) on a smaller scale. A recent example of wonderful use of miniatures is in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings. Beautiful miniatures like that of Rivendell are a perfect example of the great skill needed to create convincing miniature sets.

Special Costumes
'Special' costumes are anything that is worn by an actor which is more than a straight forward outfit. Tom Lauten (Nimba' s Projects Director) built many special costumes for Games Workshop. Complex costumes had to portray Space Marine characters from the Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 series, and had to be made from foam, fibre glass and plastics. Elements of prop building and Animatronics are often part of producing special costumes.

Set Pieces
Regular sets aren't regarded as special effects, but many set pieces that are created can fall into the category. Polystyrene sculpting is often used to create oversize set pieces such as the many large stone statues seen in Tomb Raider.

That covers the basics of special effects and the different skills and disciplines it encompasses. At our website (www.nimbacreations.com) you can go Behind the Scenes to see us creating some of our favourite pieces including a full size Tyrannosaurus Rex, & you can also learn how to begin a Special Effects career by downloading our exclusive guide, 'How to get into Special Effects'.

Siobhan Hall is a Director of UK Special Effects company Nimba Creations Ltd., which creates Props, Animatronics, Prosthetics and Creatures for Films and TV. She recently spent 5 months in New Zealand working on two Academy Award winning Films, King Kong and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe at Weta Workshop (Lord of the Rings) and this year her company goes into production on their own shows.

Author:: Siobhan Hall
Keywords:: special effects, Films, Tv, Animatronics, Prosthetics, Props, Creatures, Fx, special Fx, creature Fx
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

The AfterLife of a TV Show

When a television writer or producer is thinking up a new show, they are rightly concentrating on the potential to grab a decent size of audience the first time it is shown. If you are undecided whether a new television show idea will bring in the returns who need - or even pay for itself - the deciding factor may be its after-life.

Some television shows have no after-life at all. These fall into three categories: (i) poor quality, (ii) black and white and (iii) topical.

I'll take these categories one by one:

Poor Quality

If a television show is not up to standard then it is unlikely to get its first showing let alone any future airings. The poor quality may be due to a poor script or poor production or may be a more technical problem such as inferior sound quality. There are many old Tv shows from way back in the 50's, 60's and even some in the 70's that were recorded for television but where the sound quality was deemed to be of insufficient broadcast quality. However, we may now see some of these shows aired after all, as modern techniques of improving sound quality are applied. Perhaps it is time to dust off some of those old tapes and films. I supposed that if the acting, scripting or general production values were extremely poor then this in itself may turn out to have some perverted merit as, sometimes, very badly made television from long ago can be quite funny to watch. Sad for those that made it, unless they are the living rights owners, in which case they could cry all the way to the bank!

Black and White

There are some in their younger years who don't even know what the term black and white means. Nowadays, film and video shot in black and white is sometimes used to bring some styling to a sequence. In times gone by, all Tv was in black and white. The trouble is that modern audiences are not used to it and it can seriously detract from the pleasure of watching a Tv show. Black and white shows can be digitally colored but this is an expensive business if it is done right. Watch this space, though, as digital colorization of old Tv shows becomes easier to do, some old relics will come out of the woodwork and be aired over the coming years.

Topical

Whereas (technical) quality problems and black and white will not be a problem for Tv shows that are made nowadays, topicality still virtually prohibits a Tv show from ever being seen again, save for a once only repeat perhaps a few hours or days after the original airing. Whether it is a comedy show based around topical events, a documentary or a chat show, unless the subjects being covered are still relevant many years later, these types of show will have no meaning to most viewers apart from those interested in the history of events. There will be exceptions such as shows that are simply too good not to be seen again, but even the best made documentaries - some of which may be landmarks in current affairs - will not be seen again, no matter how good they are. Program makers should take into account the full potential of a Tv show, including worth in years to come, and unfortunately topical shows will have one or two day after-life.

Some shows do not fall into the category of having zero after-life, but instead of having limited after-life. These are those shows that are set in contemporary times, especially where the culture of the day is represented. Pop music shows fit this category as do fashion shows. Dramas, such as soap operas have limited repeat appeal when the characters are of the moment. These shows often look out of context if they are repeated in their entirety, say 15 years later. Some of these shows can make us cringe as they expose the fashions that were so cool at the time. Another group of shows that come into the limited shelf life category are futuristic shows. These may be dramas or documentaries that attempt to forecast what life will be like in the future. The problem is that they are usually made with contemporary values and attitudes and can only use contemporary culture as their backdrop. No matter what future date one of these shows is set in, you can usually pin down their production date to within a few years. As real time catches up with them, their predictions are exposed with either hopelessly ambitious and unrealistic technology or gadgets that look hideous compared to the real thing that had been invented a few years after the show had been produced. There are notable exceptions such as Star Trek which has achieved a phenomenal after-life and is increasingly respected as many of its ideas about technology are seen as feasible and achievable.

And finally there are shows that have the longest and most valuable after-life. In this group can be included his torical dramas and documentaries, and wild life documentaries. History never changes (in theory) nor does wildlife. In fact, wildlife documentaries may win out above all others when it comes to after-life value. This is because wildlife is increasingly under threat and there is less of it as time goes on. This fact will make the wildlife documentaries of today very valuable in 100 years, if current trends continue.

My arguments above are based on today's tastes in television shows. I have made the point that old Tv shows have varying degrees of success in today's schedules. This however is only one way of looking at it. If we free old Tv shows from the shackles of having to fit alongside their modern counterparts and instead treat them as curios or antiques, then why shouldn't we re-run a futuristic drama, made in 1962 and based in 2006? No matter how bad the predictions were, wouldn't it be fun to see what they had in mind back in those days? And wouldn't it be a unique and refreshing experience to see a pop music show from, say, 1958, complete with commercials of the day? And why not have a few old black and white comedy shows from the 60's, some of which were classics.

There will be increasing demand for old Tv shows over the next few years, not as cheap fillers for modern schedules, but as part of a new genre: the antique television show. Perhaps there is life after the after-life after all.

Vernon Stent is the content writer for bygoneTv.com, which is all about old Tv shows of the 40's, 50's and 60's.

Author:: Vernon Stent
Keywords:: old Tv shows
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Easy Button ToyFrom Halloween Town To Christmas Town

Parents, do you have an Easy Button Toy for a Christmas gift this year? These are toys that are very family-friendly. Our family has an easy button toy. Its in the form of a story about a pumpkin king who longs for more than the scares of Halloween Town and accidentally stumbles into Christmas Town.

He thinks that it would be nice to have the joys of Christmas everyday of the year. So he decides to kidnap Santa Claus and make himself the new king of Christmas Town.

Why? Why would he do such a thing? Because he desires to have the happiness of Christmas everyday of the year.

The basic plot is a great fairytale with a dark edge to it. Oddly enough, its the edge that makes it so much more enjoyable to watch. The songs are very clever, inventive and fun.

Overall it is a short but very enjoyable story that will please children and adults at the same time. Both will appreciate the creative animation and the comedy sprinkled throughout. The story is good f amily fun that deserves to be watched and remembered.

Tim Burtons The Nightmare Before Christmas is too scary for the younger children. However, it is as good as any family show gets. It is a must have for the family during any holiday season. But more so for Halloween and Christmas.

So what is an Easy Button Toy? It is the type of gift to your family that has the ability to knit your family together. Make an appointment for your family to get together and watch this show.

If you organized the family fun night, then you be the one to push that button to begin the show. Make a favorite family dish, and have some fun eating it at the same time. Set some time aside afterwards to discuss the show. Fun memories will be built.

An Easy Button Toy is any gift that contributes to building family unity and special family memories. Does your family have one? Well get this special show and youll have one. Grab the link here Easy Button Toy

Author:: Wyclif fe Williams
Keywords:: Easy Button Toy,
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Antique TV

Just about everything has a value and that value is ever changing. When something is in plentiful supply then it is not valued very highly. As it becomes less plentiful, so its value increases. As well as everyday commodities, this can also be applied to antiques. A bedside cabinet, a vase, or just about any object will lose value from the day it is first made. It loses value as it becomes older as it is deemed to be of a lower quality than a newly made version. Then, a curious thing happens. When this object reaches a certain age, assuming it is still intact, its value increases through the passage of time and eventually becomes an artefact or an antique. The art of dealing in antiques is to spot this crossover point, the point at which the object changes from being old and jaded to being valued as a rare relic of the past.

This doesn't only apply to tangible objects. It also applies to more abstract things such as music and plays. We may have been battered by a pop tune that was constantly played on the radio a few years ago. After a few weeks we may have had enough of it. The tune would have become stale. Then, after several years we might happen to hear it again and along with it memories of whatever we happened to be doing when it was in vogue. The same goes for old Tv shows. Some may have seemed mundane at the time. Truth is, that some probably were mundane to many of us. All the same, we will often look back in affection at even the most ordinary of Tv shows from years ago. As media is changing almost beyond recognition, those old pioneering Tv shows are becoming an ever rarer commodity. Perhaps we have now reached that crossover point when old Tv shows from the 50's and 60's are going from old and unwanted to rare and sought after.

Many recordings of old Tv shows are indeed rare. I'm afraid there isn't one central library of pristine recordings of these shows. Film, VHS and DVD copies of these rarities can turn up from any corner, in an attic here, or a forgotten company stockroom there. Many have never survived, especially from the early 1960's and earlier. Many more were never recorded in the first place. Most early Tv shows were made live to air, even plays. Others were recorded on tape only to be recorded over by a newer show. Oddly enough, many Tv shows went out live and were filmed or recorded so that the sponsors and directors could review it. Once they were done with it the recording it was discarded or wiped. Some film of old Tv shows were lost in a fire, or disposed of because of fire risk, or may have degraded and rotted away. From the late 1960's onwards, Tv shows were more likely to be kept more safely as video became less costly and more shows were recorded anyway. What remains is a demand for Tv show recordings that is steadily growing through the passage of time. What is certain is there are still old recordings of Tv shows out there that are yet undiscovered. If you know of any, please email mail@bygone Tv.com

It is not just the older generation that are interested in these shows. Younger people are increasingly curious about how life was in those days. Television has been a big part of U.S. culture for many years. We all know about our family history. We know the highlights: births, death, marriages etc. What youngsters find it hard to understand is the everyday existence of past generations and not just the big occasions. We are now at the point where Tv itself was a significant part of that existence. Old Tv show recordings are not only curiosities in their own right, they are also documentary evidence of what life was like from day to d ay. Some shows reflect everyday life, albeit, in most cases, a Hollywood glitzy version. A real insight into the way we were is the Tv commercials and sponsorship messages. If you are planning to obtain any old recordings of Tv shows, try to get those that are recorded as transmitted. The quality will not always be the highest, but the commercials and message of the time will give the recording an added dimension.

A example of a Tv show that is now very rare is Bachelor Father. It is a sit uation comedy that first aired in 1957, starring John Forsythe. In Bachelor Father he played the part of Bentley Gregg, a wealthy bachelor who suddenly finds himself having to raise his niece after her parents are killed in an auto accident. Sammee Tong played his reliable but beleaguered manservant, Peter. This was quite a gentle comedy and certainly did not have a high laugh-per-minute rate. One very interesting aside regarding these old television shows is what happened to the stars. In the case of Bachelor Father, John Forsythe later went on to become the character of Blake Carrington in the 1980's iconic soap opera, Dynasty. He is now retired. Noreen Corcoran, who played his niece, switched into theater management and Sammee Tong committed suicide in 1964.

Old Tv shows are part of our history and heritag e. I wonder how long it will be before you will see a DVD section in an antique shop?

Vernon Stent is the content writer for bygoneTv.com. where you can read a lot more about old Tv shows. Here is the page about Bachelor Father

Author:: Vernon Stent
Keywords:: old Tv shows
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips