This month's meeting on April 9th, 2003, was a REAL JEWEL! The legendary Mr. Albert Maysles spoke to us!

Here, as Mr. Maysles promised - - -


SOME DO'S AND DON'TS

- Use the manual zoom, not the electronic.

- Read as much of the PD 150 manual as you can.

- Read a book or chapter in a photography book on how to compose shots.

- Use the steady device that's in the camera.

- Never use a tripod (exception: filming photographs, for example).

- You'll get a steadier picture the more wide-angle the shot. In a walking shot go very wide angle.

- Hold the beginning and end of each shot. The editor will need that.

- Use no lights. The available light is the more authentic.

- Learn the technique but equally important keep your eye open to watch the significant moment. Orson Welles: "The cameraman's camera should have behind it's lens the eye of a poet."

- Remember, as a documentarian you are an observer, an author but not a director, a discoverer, not a controller.

- Don't worry that your presence with the camera will change things. Not if you're confident you belong there and understand that in your favor is that of the two instincts, to disclose or to keep a secret, the stronger is to disclose.

- It's not "fly-on-the-wall". That would be mindless. You need to establish rapport even without saying so but through eye contact and empathy.

- Use the automatic focus though you'll have problems if the face is surrounded by much brighter light. In that case, zoom into the face or switch to manual focus.



In the early 1960s, two brothers started a revolution in documentary filmmaking. Albert and his late brother David, pioneered the method called direct cinema. Hand-held cameras and lightweight sound equipment made possible an immediacy and spontaneity that led to an entirely new way of making films uniquely suited to non-fiction subjects. Their unique filmmaking approach continues to develop today, through the techniques and talents of Susan Froemke, Albert Maysles, and their co-filmmakers.

Thank you to Mr. Albert Maysles, for His words of encouragement for our humble profession. For a full filmography of Mr. Maysles, please visit: www.mayslesfilms.com.

- - -AFTER THE BREAK WE HAD- - -


Interactive CD-ROM Marketing - "SEEING IS BELIEVING!"

After Affects Productions, LLC based in Hudson, NH has been developing interactive CD-ROMs for customers all over the United States. Their expertise in the creation of interactive CD-ROMs has helped them to produce their very own interactive CD-ROM software, called "Visual Composer." This software will help videographer’s create an interactive CD-ROM for their business in SEVEN EASY STEPS!

Andrew Sage (co-owner) of After Affects Productions showed us how to create a powerful interactive CD-ROM that can literally bring your booking ratio up, as well as open up a whole world of possibilities for making additional income off of your current customer base!

During Andrew's presentation, he showed how easy it is to create an interactive CD, but shared a NEW and exciting way to make money on bridal clients BEFORE THE WEDDING even begins! This new and exciting marketing approach had not reached all of the WEVA members yet...but when it does, it will surely create even more excitement and revenue for each videographer's business.

A drawing was held for all who attended, and John Zaverdas walked away with a licensed version of the Visual Composer software (Retail $399.95). After Affects Productions, LLC is also donated a copy of the Visual Composer software to the NYPV Association as well. This will allow the NYPV to market the association to potential members, and to effectively communicate to its current members in this proven technology of interactive CD-ROMs!






(Special thanks to all who brought in videos: Bill Albergo, Kent Daniels, John Johnson, and Sherwin Winick.
















Welcome Aboard!!! New members: Bo Diaz, Diogenes Goris, James Doukas, Donna Gray, Andy Levinson and Sherwin Winick.

Thanks to our guests: Jeni Chao, Larry Picciano, Frank Farrell, and Jim Jontz.

Thank you all for another great meeting. See you all next month, May 7th on the first Wednesday of the month.

Respectfully,

Al Ritondo
President
New York Professional Videographers