I saw this on a blog I'm following and thought the author raised an interesting point. It seems like every videos these days, not just films but simple youtube videos, seems to be accompanied by a behind-the-scenes videos or bloopers or outtakes. There seems to be more and more dialogue and interaction between the creators and the receivers which I am not quite sure yet is a good or bad thing. Sometimes I wish the mysteries of the film making process could be kept more carefully so that the magic remains. Like how cool it is to not know that they used a spinning room to film that zero-gravity fight sequence in Inception? I would probably spend the rest of my life wondering, and gladly so.

Flashmob Proposal with LG World Record

Remember two weeks ago I talked about the new LG World Record Forum? Well, it seems like they’re moving up in the virtual popularity hierarchy with this flashmob proposal:



A guy was apparently going around the forum asking questions about home appliance products and the World Record guys saw it and decided to help him do something memorable to commemorate his other half. It turned out pretty well with around 100 dancers and 300 spectators or so at the scene which was quite impressive. The girl didn't seem to be that impressed though. And guess what, there's also a behind-the-scenes video, just like a proper film production, I’m expecting the Blu-ray to come out next month.

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Game of Thrones Won Six Creative Arts Emmy Awards

HBO probably had a blast last weekend.  They brought home the most number of awards from the Creative Arts Emmys, which recognizes technical and production expertise.  Almost half of it is from their medieval fantasy series, Game of Thrones. The epic series received trophies for art direction, special effects, costumes, makeup, sound mixing and sound editing.


Game of Thrones is based on the novels written by George R.R. Martin and because the most of their filming is done in Northern Ireland majority of the casts are British and Irish. It used to be shown during Sunday nights and season 2 had its finale last June. Next season is scheduled March next year.

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iPhone 5: Is it Really Worth the Wait?

Last September 12, people who attended the Apple event had mixed emotions about the newest iPhone. Some people were dismayed because they find it boring. Some say they weren't really surprised because almost all of the information leakage about it were true. But of course, Apple loyal fans don't feel that way.

Personally, I think there's nothing really revolutionary with the new iPhone but I don't think it will really hurt their sales badly, even with Samsung's "it doesn't take a genius" campaign. The new iPhone doesn't really have anything new to offer aside from the improvements but they have a very strong brand.

One of my friends shared this Jimmy Kimmel Live's First Look:iPhone 5. It's so hilarious I thought it's great to share it.

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My Thoughts on This Year's September 11 Memorial

This year's September's memorial could have been a great way for the presidential candidates to be visible but I'm glad that both President Barack and Mitt didn't go to New York. Otherwise, the true purpose of the day would have been overshadowed by politics.

President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama observed the moment of silence at the White House. While Mitt Romney went to Reno, Nevada to address the National Guard Association.

The true legacy of 9/11 will not be one of fear or hate or division. It will be a safer world, a stronger nation, and a people more united than ever before.

-President Barack Obama

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El Monte Lifeguards Fired Due to Gangnam Style Parody Video

I, together with the other 6,000 +++ people who signed the petition of the 14 life guards for them to get their jobs back, believe that the decision to fire these kids over a harmless and funny video is a clear example of the upper management's failure of judgment. I agree that the action taken was exaggerated. A write up or a lesser disciplinary action would have been more acceptable. On the other hand, I disagree that what these kids have done is an embarrassment. I think that the video is a manifestation that the kids love what they are doing and the video was supposed to show how fun their workplace is but it was all messed up thanks to the "supposedly grown- ups."

Here's the video and see if there's something embarrassing about it or if they deserved being fired:

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Jennifer Lawrence and the Silver Linings Playbook

The 37th Toronto International Festival opened last weekend and the most talked about celebrities who attended the event are Kristen Stewart, Miley Cirus, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. That is based on the articles I saw after searching about the said festival. The focus on Kristen is understandable since that was the first time she showed herself to public after the news about her affair went public.

There was one article though that caught my attention. It was about Jennifer Lawrence's extreme change in her style and it says that it is a marketing strategy for her upcoming film "Silver Linings Playbook." Honestly, I haven't heard about the film before because when you say Jennifer Lawrence the first thing that come to mind is "The Hunger Games." Looking on the picture below, I agree that it's difficult to tell that the picture is the same person. What more if you're not familiar with how Jennifer Lawrence looks like?

The writer praised the film and mentioned that it might be a ticket for Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro to be nominated and win for an Oscar.

"Silver Linings Playbook," is a comedy drama film and here's the trailer:

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Could it be the future of 3D TV? - MIT Media Lab's glasses-free 3D

  

MIT has developed a new approach of glasses-free 3D which is way cheaper than Toshiba's glasses-free 3D TV released this year. After looking at the photos and the hand-on video by Engadget, I can't be more disappointed by its picture quality. They are all blurry and the picture details are terrible. The editor said it will surely be the replacement of active 3D technology but I don't think people would want to sacrifice 3D picture quality for a lower price and not having to wear 3D glasses. I believe glasses-free 3D will be the future of 3D display eventually but it still have a long way to go. For now, passive 3D TVs have overcome the shortcomings of active 3D sets such as bulky glasses which need to be charged every a couple of hours or flickering on the lenses and they are going mainstream.

Take a look at the full article below: 

Glasses-free 3D may be the next logical step in TV's evolution, but we have yet to see a convincing device make it to market that doesn't come along with a five-figure price tag. The sets that do come within range of tickling our home theater budgets won't blow you away, and it's not unreasonable to expect that trend to continue through the next few product cycles. A dramatic adjustment in our approach to glasses-free 3D may be just what the industry needs, so you'll want to pay close attention to the MIT Media Lab's latest brew. Tensor Displays combine layered low-cost panels with some clever software that assigns and alternates the image at a rapid pace, creating depth that actually looks fairly realistic. Gordon Wetzstein, one of the project creators, explained that the solution essentially "(takes) the complexity away from the optics and (puts) it in the computation," and since software solutions are far more easily scaled than their hardware equivalent, the Tensor Display concept could result in less expensive, yet superior 3D products.

We caught up with the project at SIGGRAPH, where the first demonstration included four fixed images, which employed a similar concept as the LCD version, but with backlit inkjet prints instead of motion-capable panels. Each displaying a slightly different static image, the transparencies were stacked to give the appearance of depth without the typical cost. The version that shows the most potential, however, consists of three stacked LCD panels, each displaying a sightly different pattern that flashes back and forth four times per frame of video, creating a three-dimensional effect that appears smooth and natural. The result was certainly more tolerable than the glasses-free 3D we're used to seeing, though it's surely a long way from being a viable replacement for active-glasses sets -- Wetzstein said that the solution could make its way to consumers within the next five years. Currently, the technology works best in a dark room, where it's able to present a consistent image. Unfortunately, this meant the light levels around the booth were a bit dimmer than what our camera required, resulting in the underexposed, yet very informative hands-on video you'll see after the break.

Source: Engadget

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James Cameron sees the future of 3D in China

A still from 'Avatar'

The pioneer of 3D movies must be seeing the future of 3D in China where the profit of 3D movies goes up steadily while the ticket sales of 3D movies fell in US and Canada even though the number of 3D movies released increased in 2011. I am very happy to see that he is striving for more quality 3D content as one of the 3D fans but I have to disagree with him on one thing. Glasses-free 3D is no doubt the future but I think it will take some time to be ready for the mass. Toshiba released the first glasses-free 3D TV this year and many experts say 3D effect is not as deep as 3D TVs with glasses and it limits the number of viewers and viewing angle significantly. I have a LG's passive 3D TV set and it is by far the best 3D technology in my opinion. Unlike what James said, the glasses are not bulky at all. They are very light and comfortable. Anyhow, I am anxious to see what he will bring to us from the 3D venture in China.

James Cameron, the creator of 'Avatar' launches 3D venture in China.

James Cameron, creator of the blockbuster film Avatar, is betting that China is the place to jump-start 3D television after a shaky roll-out for the latest incarnation of the viewing format.

Cameron Pace Group, the 3D technology company co-founded by Mr Cameron, on Wednesday announced a joint venture with two Chinese state-backed companies to produce the advanced camera equipment needed for 3D filming. The value of the deal was not disclosed.

 

“It’s to get Hollywood to wake up and smell the coffee,” he told the Financial Times. “They [China] see 3D as the future, as we do.” Frustrated at the slow take-up of 3D TV in the west, Mr Cameron said the Chinese government’s commitment to the cause could make the difference in promoting wider adoption. 

Japanese and South Korean TV manufacturers would also like to see Hollywood commit more resources to 3D. Sony, Samsung and other groups first introduced 3D-capable sets to great fanfare in 2010, but sales have fallen short of initial projections. A scarcity of specialized 3D content has also been blamed for the slow uptake. After the success of Avatar, Hollywood released a string of “converted” 3D films – films shot in regular 2D then enhanced by computers to give the 3D effect – that sapped public enthusiasm for the genre. People have also been turned off by the bulky glasses often needed to view 3D images. 

By putting his technology in the hands of Chinese TV producers, Mr Cameron’s hope is that a big increase in 3D content in China will encourage consumer electronics companies to improve their display systems. “We want to get away from glasses because then the market will really surge,” he said. Mr Cameron follows a growing number of US film directors and companies that have come to China, attracted by its booming movie market. With box-office receipts up 30 per cent last year to $2tn, China surpassed Japan as the world’s second-biggest film market and could overtake the US within a decade, though the Chinese government still imposes a strict quota on imported films.

Source: Financial Times

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McKayla Maroney's Vault Performance

The Fabulous/ Fierce Five made USA very proud by taking home the gold medal for gymnastics team category. The last time that we won in this event was 1996.

But that same day, something else happened that we Americans are really proud of. One of the five girls, McKayla Maroney, showed the world the greatest vault performance in Olympic history.

The team decided to start with the vault, which they believe is where they are strongest and they were right.

To do the vault may be quick but it's very dangerous. Emily Bayci described how it's done:

"All the Americans can hit Amanars, which are considered the most difficult and dangerous vaults in the world. It consists of a round-off onto the board, then a back handspring onto the table and 2.5 twisting somersaults before the landing. Its start value is a 6.5, which is more than .5 points better than the other gymnasts."

This clip shows a slow motion of Maroney's vault performance. If in any case your tv has the 2D to 3D conversion feature. You may want to try using it for this clip. I tried it with my LG Smart 3D TV and I'm satisfied with the conversion. It worked well. Jumps and flips are some scenarios that look good in conversion.

I agree with the commentators that it was nothing short of perfect. The height of the jump was really incredible yet she was able to manage to land perfectly. There are pictures circulating, showing one of the judges with her mouth open, obviously because of amazement, yet they didn't give her a perfect score.

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid third's movie is focused on Greg Heffley's summer. However, it's not going like he planned.

I can't help but notice that these kids are growing too fast. Reminds me that somebody is getting old too.

This is another movie that the whole family can enjoy this coming weekend.

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Jordyn Wieber Did Not Make it to the All Around Final

After a long day, as soon as I turned my LG Smart 3D TV on, the first thing I saw was a shot of Jordyn Wieber with hands on her face, crying.

The news said that the world champion Wieber was brokenhearted. She cried when she found out that she didn't qualify for the gymnastics all around final which she dominated for years. An error in her routine was a factor but it was not the main reason why she got ousted. There is a rule that only two gymnasts per country are allowed to compete in that event. Unfortunately, Raisman and Douglas scored better. I liked that she was so honest with her feelings yet she maintained to be graceful. She admitted that it was painful for her to see Raisman's routine but she was still able to wish them good luck.

Update: I wasn't able to see the floor exercises of Wieber so I searched for it from youtube on my LG Smart 3D TV. In this clip, you would see her routine and the error she made was impossible to notice. I can't embed the actual video but here's a link:

Watch it here.

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Samsung Smart TVs and Angry Birds

Last week, Samsung made Angry Birds available in some of their current TVs. Come to think of it two big names partnered to give consumers a great experience. However, I learned that this game is entirely gesture control, remote and touch interface would not work. I wonder if this will be as successful as the Angry Birds we used to know. I watched CNET's review of Samsung's gesture control and like they said, I agree that it's still in beta. This version has a great tendency to make kids cranky than entertain them. What do you think?

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3D Game Apps to be Available for LG Cinema 3D Smart TVs

LG announced a couple of days ago that they will make 3D games available as apps today. This is a great news for those who already own LG smart 3D TVs. The games are as follows:

Air Penguin

Frisbee Forever

Burn The City

Downhill Bowling 2 

Diversion from Unity Technology.

These games were chosen because LG believes they are fun, family friendly and of course highly playable in 3D. The games will be available on LG Smart World in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Russia, USA, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines and Korea. They also said that more games will be provided come August.

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Prescription Glasses and 3D

I know it's inconvenient to watch 3D for those who have prescription glasses but most of us still think that there is no other way but to wear the 3D glasses on top of the prescription glasses. Actually, this is not the case. Manufacturers have tried to solve this concern.

If you have a passive 3D TV, LG offers clip on 3D glasses. The idea might be similar to putting the 3D glasses on top of your prescription glasses but this is way more convenient. Plus, you won't feel
 awkward.

Samsung is well known for producing active 3D TVs. The problem of wearing the active 3D glasses on top of the prescription glasses has greater impact for the. Almost 2 years ago, Samsung tried to solve this problem by offering an active 3D prescription glasses but I don't think it was popular. I think the reason why it didn't become successful is the price. Imagine how much an active 3D glasses cost then add it to the usual price of prescription glasses (which also depends on how poor your eyesight is). To think that you can just use it for watching 3D.

Unless active 3D TV manufacturers provide real solution to this, passive 3D would still be the best choice for those who needs prescription glasses. What do you guys think?

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Jimmy Fallon: Olympic Thoughts

I'm joining the Olympic hype so if you noticed since last week, most of my posts are about the Olympics. Earlier, I used my LG Smart 3D TV to search youtube for videos of the opening ceremonies. I didn't succeed in finding one but I saw this clip from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It's really hilarious so enjoy!

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London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremonies

It was disappointing that NBC didn't live- stream the opening ceremonies of the Olympics but then again they're a business and they made use of the anticipated event to make more money by accommodating commercials. It was just supposed to be a 4-hour telecast but it took longer for us because of the advertisements.

I must say that Oscar winning director, Danny Boyle did a great job and for me aside from the parade of nations, one of the great highlight of that night is when Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth skydived. Of course, it was a stunt man who did that but the fact that the Queen allowed herself to be portrayed that way is something that doesn't happen all the time.

Earlier, I used my LG Smart 3D TV to look for a youtube video of the event's highlights. Unfortunately, as of the moment I didn't find any good video. So, for now I have pictures.

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Smart Thief Caught on Cam

As I continue my search for a new TV, I'm learning more and more about the industry. With the "slimmest TV" war going on among the manufacturers, I decided to google the slimmest tv. The search results I got are mostly talking about LG's OLED TV presented earlier this year during CES. It's described  as thick as three credit cards. I hope I can attend an expo showcasing this TV so I can personally see how thin it is.

One of the search results I got is this viral video which I think is really funny and effective in portraying the tv as the slimmest OLED. I can't believe that I didn't see this video before.

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London 2012 Olympics in Ultra High Definition TV

I got excited when I learned that the London Olympics, which is about to start in the next couple of days, will be shown in 3D. Today, I learned there's another reason to get excited. Well, at least for those who are or will be in London. BBC with the help of NHK, a Japanese broadcaster, will conduct Super Hi Vision trials during the Olympics.




Super High Vision is a digital video format developed by NHK. It's going to have a 7680x4320 pixels resolution and 22.2-multichannel surround sound. Super High Vision is also known as 8K, 4320p, and UHDTV.

Unfortunately, London Olympics in Super High Vision could only be available to public in three UK theaters: BBC Broadcasting House in London; BBC Pacific Quay in Glasgow; and National Media Museum in Bradford.

As for me, I'll be contented watching the Olympics from my LG Smart 3D TV.

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Stewart-Pattinson Scandal

Yesterday, the entertainment industry was surprised by People Magazine's and Us Weekly's features, Kristen Stewart cheating on her boyfriend of three years, Robert Pattinson. Who got in between them? Stewart's Snow White and Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders. A lot of fans were in disbelief claiming that the pictures might have been photo shopped but a public apology from Stewart was issued, thus, confirming that the reports were true.

My real concern with this issue is how it's going to affect the last installment of their Twilight movie. Will this scandal make or break Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2? What do you think?

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4K: Higher than High Definition

Many of you might be asking what 4k means. That's the same question I had before. I learned about 4k after CES, earlier this year. The highest resolution we used to know for both movies and television is 1080i/p (1,920x1,080 pixels) but now 4k (at least 3,840x2,160 pixels) is attempting to slowly take its place, especially after last week's announcement of LG's 84LM9600.

Based on my understanding of the online information I gathered about 4k, it works best on large screens which could be a possible reason for LG's 84-inch TV. Like 3D, the main criticism for 4k is the lack of 4k contents. It is also said that the main benefit of this higher definition would be the enhancement of passive 3D, which others criticized as not showing full 1080i/p resolution.

Last week, I saw a trailer for the first consumer 4k film and what can I say about it? Pure awesomeness!



TimeScapes: Rapture 4K from Tom Lowe on Vimeo.

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