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Hand-held video shots

By the video producer Jonathan David Whitcomb

For those who would like to improve their abilities in creating videos, amateur or professional, I just uploaded my new instructional video to Youtube:

Hand-Held Video Shots

In contrast to many instructional Youtube videos, this one does not have any talking-head shots. I narrate this one, yet it’s limited in vocal morsels, with part of the verbal instruction in words appearing over the shots. In addition, this video teaches through example.

Music background sets the tone here, with licensed music from the following companies:

  1. Fresh (“Dvorak American Quartet”)
  2. PBTM (“Spring Lullaby”)
  3. Music Bakery (“Gentle Persuasion”)

I believe my little video, just over four minutes, deserves to be called a “mini-documentary.”

The Facebook page for this Youtube channel is here:

Make Super Videos

I’ll be uploading other instructional videos onto this channel, I hope once a week. Each one will be created to help people produce better quality in their own video productions.

Caribbean shore - banner for a Youtube channel

Banner for this Youtube channel: Make Super Videos

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Video of a living pterosaur in Papua New Guinea

Last week, I found a Youtube documentary on an expedition on New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea, in which two Americans, Milt Marcy and Peter Beach, were searching for a living pterosaur.

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Make money with Youtube videos

(The channel is Video Influencers)

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“Hunger Games” Might Leave People Hungry

Many movies fill the screen with more violence than “Hunger Games.” But many movies allow us to be filled with hope as we exit the theater. “Hunger Games” left me unfilfilled, imagining how much better the story could have been.

Not that it had no value; the main characters remained untainted by cruelty, true to their ideals to the end. But I enjoy standard-format fantasy films in which the hero returns home better than in the beginning, with some form of rising above the evil that often fills much of fantasies. “Hunger Games” failed to fulfill that basic requirement, for the final victory was basically only survival.

Without giving away too much, I’ll compare the story to “The Truman Show.” But “Hunger Games” is a little more unbelievable in where cameras are hidden. The main difference is this: “The Truman Show” ends with the hero surviving and escaping a huge prison; “Hunger Games” ends with at least one hero surviving (I’ll say no more) but with all the world still imprisoned by a world-wide dictatorship. Both movies end with a world that is hardly better off than before. But Truman gained personal freedom, guaranteed for the rest of his life. Do not expect anything like that in “Hunger Games.”

Having said that, I have been informed that this is taken from the first of a series of books, and a more positive end is in store for a world oppressed by tyranny. That does give us hope.

Now to technical details.

The acting and effects were almost without blemish, notwithstanding the weird costumes. An exception was in the beginning: Hand-held camera jitters make this part of the movie difficult to watch, and it failed to make the story more realistic to me. It really was an artistic disaster with those hand-held shots: overdone and too long.

Two of the dramatic events appeared to me too much like cliches, and one of them seemed to have no logical purpose. The romantic aspects were limited and welcomed, for they were fresh, not cliches.

Be aware, especially with children and teenagers, that more than half the teenagers in this gladiator combat environment show us the worst form of violence, and these are children being killed, sometimes for apparent sport. For those who enjoy simple hero-survival, this can be a satisfying movie; just don’t expect very much.

Movie Review: “Super 8”

For most adults with taste and for most children, stay away and save your time and money [re: Super-8]

Texas Marfa Lights

The new hypothesis, outlined in the news release “Unmasking a Flying Predator in Texas,” has received little support from most scientists who have recently become aware of the idea. It involves a group of intelligent flying creatures that glow brightly with intrinsic bioluminescence . . .

Super 8 is not Super Great

Aside from some of the language used by the kids in Super 8, during part of the movie (and there is one unnecessary word used by one immature adult), this science fiction film might be OK for some older children, although it’s more for teens who like frightening scenes of action. Discriminating adults can find much to be desired, except for those adults deeply into sci-fi films having destructive alien monsters. For most adults with taste and for most children, stay away and save your time and money.

From the blog LDS Author:

Creating a movie both engaging and satisfying to a discriminating viewer—that requires more than a healthy seed of an original idea, more than professional acting, more than astonishing special effects. Super 8 failed to satisfy me and my wife and engaged us only superficially, and then only up until near the ending. For those with a special desire to see Kyle Chandler in a new role, or a new monster in an old role, this movie certainly can satisfy, in some way, but the production could have been much better, probably at every stage from writing to directing.

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Long Beach Child Care

“We have been thoroughly pleased with the level of care, love and affection that you have provided to both of our children over the past 10 years” (Clark and Kristie, parents in Long Beach)

Two rooms are devoted entirely to child care. Other rooms are specially arranged for the comfort and safety of children during educational activities, meals, and nap (when needed according to individual needs of children).

In this childcare home, pre-school education is taken seriously, although we still make it fun for the children.