In my last blog I talked a little about what makes a web-show as opposed to a vlog. I mentioned my team and I were hoping that our interview would help us get some legitimacy and publicity. Not many people are too familiar with what actually goes into making a large four-person-roundtable-interview. To be honest, neither were we. Working on a shoe-string budget was hard enough for just doing reviews and discussion videos ourselves, but when faced with the task of actually working with industry professionals and stepping up to the plate, we were a little nervous.

Before the day of filming I had already met and been in contact with all of the subjects prior to speaking with the team. I had worked out all the details and was ready to make a checklist as to what we needed to film. My team and I met the weekend prior to the interview to give us all enough time to prepare for that coming Friday.

Jesus, our lighting guru, was a little worried about his end of the deal since he had never been to Obsidian Entertainment before, our venue. One of our contacts said that he’d secured the large conference room for our filming and after I told Jesus this he felt a little more at ease when he learned that there were large windows adorning one of the walls. There were also plenty of lights in the ceiling and walls as we found out upon our arrival. Just in case, however, we put all of our lighting equipment down on our list to take with us.

Our team with all our equipment headed up to the conference room!

Michael works our microphone and camera and he was more concerned about only using one of each for the whole job. We spoke for a while and finally he came up with a way to get enough sound equipment to cover all the guests as well as myself, plus an additional camera to give some variety. Jesus had previous experience in those fields so that meant we needed another person to work audio while they worked visuals.

Luckily, Parker made himself available for filming after he heard we needed another hand. Parker is one of our other reviewers and was happy enough to just be at Obsidian as he was a fan of their work. Now we had a three-man crew working all the technical aspects of our interview. The hardest part was next: the questions.

I’d had some practice doing our other videos and was fairly confident on camera. My biggest concern was conducting the interview itself. I had done some phone interviews in the past and peer interviews for class, but this would be my first time doing on camera interviews for the Vault. The most important thing to me was giving the subjects the spotlight and not talking too much myself since I tend to do that when I get nervous.

To prevent this, I prepped questions ahead of time and did my research on them all to ensure I knew what I was talking about. The next task was to make sure I was relaxed so I got plenty of sleep the night before and didn’t drink any coffee to make myself overly hyper. Since we all arrived at the location early we were able to relax and settle in. I got to chat with one of our subjects for a while too so breaking the ice with him helped to calm my nerves.

Mike and Jesus did a terrific job of setting up. They were able to work the two cameras in with one moving between the subjects, and the other holding a stationary establishing shot so the whole room could be seen occasionally. We ended up not needing the lighting and by the time we were finished setting up the crew was ready to go as soon as the rest of the guests arrived.

To be honest, that was the most nerve-wracking part. Granted, we were an hour early and all a little skittish to begin with, but I hadn’t heard from some of our other guests in a week and I hoped they would still show up. Thankfully they arrived precisely on time and we were able to have them mingle and chat with each other. Mike and Jesus checked the audio levels before we began and once it was all set, we went ahead with the interview.

To bore you with every detail of the actual interview would be annoying, so I’ll just give you the end result. After about two weeks of editing on Mike’s part, we released the video this week and within two days received over two thousand views. This was an exponential increase in viewing and we even landed about twelve new subscribers to our channel.

Seeing our video online was helpful because it enabled us to make notes and improve for next time. We had a problem with the audio and it was too soft in some parts of the interview for a few of the viewers who commented on it. I also took some notes for a follow-up interview with one of the guests who happily offered to do one in early November.

Through all of this, we learned a lot. Our crash course in duel-camera filming proved to be a success, but we clearly needed to do some work on audio and perhaps invest in some more lapel mics to really get some crisp sound. Lighting is something that can never be predicted, but it’s always good to come prepared should there be an issue.

Many interviews I’ve seen online are from a point-of-view perspective without any real production value, and I really feel that a professional look like ours really helped us. We’ve even been linked to on several other websites and we expect to see more traffic in the coming days.

To see our interview and the rest of our work, follow the link here: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGameCreatorsVault

To Pay, or Not to Pay

Movie studios spend millions to have an A-list star in their movie. This is supposed to bring in crowds and up ticket sales but to A-list celebrities really make the difference?

I think this question was really raised with the release of Paranormal Activity in 2007. The budget for the whole film was around $11,000. This probably wouldn't even pay for a super stars list of demands while working on set. The movie ended up being extremely profitable staying in the number one spot for several weeks. Two unknown actors were cast in the leading roles and the movie was noticeably low budget. So is it really worth it for a studio to put out the big money for a big name?

Recently, Moneyball, starring big names Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, was out shined by two different movies. The film was beat out by Lion King 3D in its first week then Dolphin Tale in the second. While Dolphin Tale did have reasonably known actors the film clearly was not in the same budgeting field as Moneyball. The studio probably thought Brad Pitt would be sure to draw in audience but he really did not compared to other movies.

I think people do not go see movies for a variety of reasons these days. One reason could be financial woes and I think people are trying to be smart with their money. With the $1 movies at Redbox a lot of people just opt to wait for the video to come out on DVD. I know I don't see movies because of all the outrageous prices so I really have to be motivated to go to the theater.

Another reason could be, people are savvier. People love celebrities but they do realize the “stars” are looking to make money and can make duds (not saying Moneyball was, I really liked it). I think there are some actors that are picky about their films and will not just do a movie to make a quick buck but most are not like that. It is understandable people want to make money but it can create less of a loyal fan base.

Lastly, maybe people judge movies based on the actors involved. Thanks to reality shows, Facebook, Twitter and sites like TMZ, we know a lot about the everyday lives of celebrities. People are obsessed with them, annoyed by them, discuss them or have some type of hatred toward them. All of this can help or hurt their image. You can really create an opinion about a celebrity and choose to support them or not. It could be that people just do not like Brad Pitt because of all his personal decisions. His wife’s movies have not always faired well either.

These days, a lot of factors go into going to see a movie. It can be costly, it can star someone we hate or love, or it can just be the sense of something different. Whatever the reasons may be, I think it is a good idea for studios to do their research and find out what people really want to see.

CALIFORN-I-A

As I approach my graduate date in May, I become more and more fond of the idea of traveling for the summer instead of going straight to work. But even with great dreams of traveling the world, I began to think about just how much there is in my own backyard. California is full of gorgeous landscape. We’ve got everything from beaches to mountains to bays to wineries to major cities. So before I try taking on the world, maybe I should start with my own state...that’s in my own country.

• Starting in the south, San Diego comes to mind. The county offers night life at the Gaslamp
  District. The downtown atmosphere offers dining, entertainment, history, hotels, and this month--a couple of Halloween parties and a haunted house.

During the day time, San Diego has some wonderful attractions as well. Apart from Sea World and the beach, the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park are very popular. And for those who are sports enthusiasts, Petco Park hosts the Padres, and Qualcomm Stadium hosts the Chargers.

• Orange and Los Angeles Counties are full of fun things as well. Hollywood is your guide to the stars, Disneyland in Anaheim can make magic for you, Knott's Berry Farm can thrill you, Medieval Times can take you back in time, Universal Studios can show you what's behind the scenes, and the Ducks, Kings, Dodgers, Angels, Clippers, and Lakers can all encourage your competitive side. For those who like to be outside, there are of course beaches, but also hiking trails. Monrovia trails (pictured) lead hikers to a waterfall, hiking through Malibu can end on the old set of M*A*S*H and Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills treats hikers to a site of the city that's hard to find anywhere else.

As I began to think about what lies outside of my comfort zone (what's north of LA), I started to become overwhelmed. So here are the hot spots, some tourist-y and some not-so-much.

• San Fransisco offers the famous 4200 feet long, Golden Gate Bridge, a site everyone should see at least once (especially if you're a Californian). It can be viewed from a ferry below it; a bike ride, car ride, or walk across it; or from view points on the land below. As 2012 marks the bridge's 75th anniversary, this year should be more special than ever. While you're in San Fran, also find Alcatraz Island. You'll find great views and a may even get a history lesson out of the trip.
  
• Yosemite National Park has tons to do for everyone. With breathtaking falls as high as 2425 feet, the park truly offers a serene landscape. While in Yosemite, visitors can also walk through the giant sequoias, visit and learn about the wild life, go rock climbing, and even visit with the rangers.

• Santa Barbara has a small town feel and definitely gets you out of the hustle and bustle that is Los Angeles. With gorgeous views, great shopping, a range of food selection, wine, and Californian nostalgia, this is a sure addition to my must-see list.

• Built for William Randolf Hearst, Hearst Castle is a dream we'd all like to come true in our own lives. However, with 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world's largest private zoo, I would be easily lost. Still, I would love to stop here on a road trip and experience its magnificence.

• Just north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is most famous for its wine country. While most girls drool over the idea of getting married here, Napa also offers golf, fine dining, spas, wine tastings, hot-air balloon rides, farmer's markets, state parks, and beaches. The possibilities truly are endless. While France, Italy and Spain may come to mind first when thinking of gorgeous landscape that also offers authentic food and wine, Napa Valley is in every Californian's backyard and has joined those countries in the top ranks.

When I am at work, I meet many tourists from other countries who are doing so much in the few weeks that they are in the US which I have not been able to do in my entire life time. So before I travel the world (which holds its own magnificence, I know), I will first discover California.

Raising Stuart!

Fresh out of Malaysia, I was not exposed to a lot of wild animal species that America had to offer. One of which was called a “Possum.” Now when I think of the word “possum” and link it to an animal, I think; of a furry ball of a softness that loves to cuddle with anything or anyone; a possum!

Walking down the road one day, my brother came across a dog barking at the bottom of a tree. He decided check if the dogs had any tags on it. As he walked towards the dog, he realized that the dog had discovered a baby possum curled up in the corner of the tree with its eyes shivering to open. My brother cradled it in an old shirt and brought it home. He burst through the doors saying “LOOK WHAT I FOUND!”

I had never seen anything like it. It was small and had its mouth wide-open ready to bite. My brother than said “we will keep it for two weeks till its eyes are opened and it’s ready to fend for itself.” It was for the best after all as we had no idea how to raise this creature called a possum.

Two weeks passed and our agreed time frame went right out the window! The little thing grew on us as he began to walk towards us wherever we went. We fed him milk with a silver spoon and the dogs slowly accepted him.

Every time it was cold outside, to make sure he was warm with his favorite clothes and just like the other dogs, he hated taking baths, getting his teeth brushed and the infamous nail-clipping.

Stuart began stealing the fruits from off table and had an intimate affair with barbeque sauce. He had blueberry yogurt for breakfast and soon was big enough to where he could snap a chicken bone in his mouth in half. His abnormal strength never scared us, as he was still our little Stuart. He grew big fast and started cuddling up with us to watch us watch TV. Many friends were shocked at our strange animal that we had nurtured for almost one and a half years, but eventually, everyone that met Start knew he was harmless and fell in love with him anyway.

Soon he was old enough to mate and started making strange clicking noises with his mouth. It sounded like someone smacking gum and he got moody sometimes. He refused to cuddle anymore and wanted to play in the yard more often.

One day he went missing from the yard. Everyone was worried. This was the first time in two years that Stuart had left. Had he ran away from home? We got worried but the next morning he came back. Every night we started noticing that he would leave at night and come home early morning for breakfast. We would let him in and he would go back to his crate and fall asleep for the day. This “#1 Player” has been working it with the lady possums at night we figured, since he was nocturnal.

Not only did we realize his strange night absence, we also started noticing that he would come back every day with a wound or scratches and one time a broken toe! We started getting worried and decided to try and keep him in till he got better but he would wait by the door at night wanting for someone to open it so that he could leave. We eventually let him out one night and came back in the morning with blood all over him and was limping terribly! I picked him up and burst into tears I could not fathom anyone hurting my possum. He looked tired and sick on this day and I could not help but be so worried about him. He went straight to sleep after drinking some water and wanted to be around my brother and I more. He would sit next to us more often and tried to sleep on the bed in an attempt to be around us. He was not active anymore and was sleeping more than often. We finally took him to the vet and x-rays revealed that he had a broken jaw. He’s wounds were also infected and he had a case of Gangrene. The vet had supposed that a coyote could have gotten to him that night.

I was in dance class when my brother called me and broke the news to me that the vet had suggested we put him to sleep. I excused myself from class and went home. After having Stuart for two and a half years, putting him to sleep was one of the most difficult things.

Stuart was just a possum but he also showed me that to never care what people thought about you. I mean, Stuart was a possum after all and yes people judged me for having one. I will never forget my Stuart and the joy he brought to our family.

Golden Nirvana

“Because it’s convenient and cheap.”

This is my reply to the scores of people who ask. Yes, I already know the health effects, and yes, I have seen “Super Size Me.” I just don’t care that much. These people look down on me, as if eating from McDonald's was a crime. Well, it’s not folks. I am a full-time student who interns 30 hours weekly and I am unable to make gourmet three-course meals daily or spend an extra couple of bucks on an organic Panini. Go ahead and turn your noses up at me. I’m going to continue to dip my chicken nuggets.

“But it’s all processed food!” Yeah, but it only costs one dollar. Weighing the pros and cons, I’d rather chomp down on a decent burger made with plastic-like cheese and limp buns. The meals aren’t of the highest class, but the grease smothered patties are worth every penny.

It’s not like I eat from McDonald's every time I have an hour break at my internship. Even though I can probably recite every item on the Dollar Menu, I only buy a parfait and McDouble in moderation (maybe one a week). So back off, people. You don’t have to preach to me why I should lay off fast-food. It’s not an addiction that’s controlling my life, and the looks of revulsion as I unwrap my high-calorie meal are tiring. Maybe a vegetarian, vegan, pescetarian or whatever other lifestyle isn’t for everyone. It certainly isn’t for me.

I respect what you guys are doing, but please don’t try to convert me. It’s like when I’m sitting on the lawn at Cal State Fullerton and a Catholic Crusader approaches me to talk about God. I tell them I’m atheist just for the hell of it, but they continue to preach, nipping at my ear with reason after reason of why it’s beneficial to have Jesus in my life. All I do is nod until they tire themselves and trot away to their Crusader friends. This is the same strategy I employ when scolded about my eating habits.

So, next time you see me holding a bag with the golden arches, you know what to do. Hold your tongue and walk away because your attempts at a health intervention will be futile. Maybe when I’m rich I’ll be more concerned with my health, but until I’m rolling in dough leave me and my 75 cent vanilla ice cream cone alone.

Halloween Tricks & Treats!

Halloween is only a little over 2 weeks away and it can always be tough to find fun yet easy and cheap snacks to make for a party! It can get pricey when you are expected to make snacks for lots of people that may like different foods or could be trying to eat healthy, etc. 

Here are a few of my favorite recipes that I have tried in the past! The ingredients are expensive so you can even do a test run at home before the big day! 

Graveyard Brownies

What you will need

Picture and Recipe courtesy of www.picky-palate.com

1  Brownie Mix, 8×8 size
6 Milano Cookies
5 Oreo Cookies
6 Pumpkin candy corns and 6 normal candy corns
1 Frosting to write with (In black or brown)

• First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  

• Follow the directions for your brownies in an 8×8 inch pan lined with foil 

        *Be sure to spray with cooking spray*

• Let cool completely then cut into 6 rectangles.
• With frosting pen write "RIP"  onto the Milano Cookies then press the cookie into the back of each brownie.  
• Top with a candy corn pumpkin and candy corn.  Sprinkle with crushed Oreos for the “dirt" effect 

A Veggie tray is another great snack that is healthier and involves no baking at all!
Pumpkin Veggie Tray

What You Will Need

A large serving tray or cutting board
1 large bag of baby carrots

Picture & Recipe courtesy of www.tasteofhome.com

1 cucumber
1 head of broccoli
1 carton of your favorite veggie dip
2 small bowls

• First you will want to make a pumpkin shaped outline out of carrots on your cutting board. Once you get a shape you like, fill the circle with your carrots
• Remove enough carrots so you will have room to fit your cut up cucumber slices for the mouth
• Place halved cucumber slices into your open slot
• Fill your small bowls with veggie dip and fit them into the pumpkin as eyes and nose
• Cut the head off of your broccoli stem and place that at the top of your pumpkin 

Another healthy snack that is super easy to make!

Recipe and Photo courtesy of familyfun.go.com

Apple Bites
What you will need




An Apple
Sliced almonds

• Cut your apples into quarters and cut out the core
• Cut out a wedge out of the skin side of the apple
• Stick sliced almonds in place as teeth 
• TIP: If you are making these ahead of time, baste apples with lemon juice so they will not brown

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

YOUtube, not SLAMtube

Answer something for me please; am I the only one who gets annoyed by people’s comments on Youtube?

As I was watching a segment on Youtube that was from “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Wednesday, I could not help but scroll down and notice some of the absurd comments that were made by people.

I missed a portion of “Ellen” on Wednesday, which featured two adorable little girls, Sophia Grace and Rosie, singing to Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass.” The main singer, Sophia Grace, who is 8 years old, has one of the biggest personalities I have ever seen. She is full of energy and enthusiasm.

Ellen had seen their home video on Youtube singing to Nicki Minaj, and loved it; so Ellen asked the girls to come out to L.A. to appear on her show.

Before they sang for her, Ellen interviewed the girls first, where the audience got a feel for their enthusiasm. Yet the true excitement came when Nicki Minaj came out and surprised the girls. I must say, this was one of the cutest things I had ever seen. The look on Sophia Grace’s face was priceless when Nicki came out.

Though I am not a fan of Nicki Minaj myself, I really enjoyed this portion of the show. The girls were absolutely adorable when they sang “Super Bass” and their bubbly personalities made them just that much more adorable.

However, when scrolling through the comments underneath the video, I became very annoyed. People can be so negative and mean!

I am sure, and I would hope, that Sophia Grace would not ever see or hear some of these comments because they are just plain nasty. Someone said she was annoying, someone asked: “what do her parents feed her for breakfast, crack?” another person said she is a brat; and someone said the Rosie was prettier than her. Unfortunately, I could go on and list many more negative comments, but I will stop the list here. In fact, I had to stop looking at the comments because they were making me sick. I ask, what the hell is wrong with people?

This little girl is 8 years old and full of life and enthusiasm. Is there something wrong with her being excited about meeting one of her favorite singers and being on television? Honestly, I would be more concerned if she wasn’t so excited. Yes, she may be hyper, but what child isn’t? This girl actually has personality, and I would not be surprised if she became famous one day.

Is it really necessary for people feel the need to criticize and say horrible things? I cannot comprehend this; some people have something seriously wrong with them. Leave the poor girl alone! More importantly, leave Youtube as it is, no need to slam everyone with rude comments. Especially children!

For those of you interested, here are the two links to watch the segment.

The Interview: http://youtu.be/_Tlt6WRpaTI

Meeting Nicki: http://youtu.be/f9573kGBtuE