Believe it or not I purchased the tickets for last Friday’s UCLA Live Presents: Werner Herzog exactly 6 months ago. It was worth the anticipation even though there was a slight change to the program. The musicians scheduled to perform live the music for his film, Requiem For a Dying Planet didn’t make it to LA. Thanks God the projector worked, so we saw a clip from the movie. Truly breathtaking!

Well, here are my favorite quotes from the evening:

1. “I’m NOT a ROMANTIC.”  In his effort to proof so, Herzog picked up couple of loose pages from the floor and start reciting his favorite poem. Point being that you cannot love this poem and be a romantic. As he moved to the second page, he stopped confused. Apparently he didn’t have the right page in his hands. He starts looking for it among the pile with no result. Finally he gave up and said with a very solemn voice: “Things like this happen to me. The page has disappeared.”

2. “Sometimes a good question is better than an answer.”

3. “A man that knows how to milk a cow could be my friend.”

3. “Make an ecstatic movies!” The world in which we live has changed. We cannot believe anymore what is presented to us as a Reality. Visual effects, Photoshop, the Internet, have manipulated it. Therefore the filmmaker approach to reality should be ecstatic if he wants to speak the truth.

4. “I don’t believe in Mother Nature. Nature is too hostile to be viewed as a loving mother.”

5. “The World reveals itself to the one who travels on foot, not to the academia.” It’s a fact that in 1974, Herzog walked from Munich to Paris to see the sick Lotte Eisner. He wrote a dairy about his pilgrimage entitled Walking on Ice, for which he received a literary award.

Among Werner Herzog’s most popular films are “Aguirre: The Wrath of God”, “Fitzcarraldo”(Best Director Award in 1982 Cannes Film Festival), “Cobra Verde”, “The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser”(Special Award in 1975 Cannes Film Festival). Herzog never attended a film school and had no formal film education. He was 14 year old, when he knew that he would be making films. You can find all things Herzog at his official website. And here is something I found on You Tube that ’s pretty amazing -  Werner Herzog gets shot by LA sniper during interview - the title speaks for itself.

                                                                                                                                           Valentina Ganeva

I went last night to the ACE Eddie Awards Show with my friend and colleague Igor Ridanovic, HD and D-cinema Consultant at HDhead.com and expert on post production for RED . The show was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. We were invited by AVID, one of the show’s Gold sponsors - so of course we were seated at a great table, right by the stage. Most of the nominated movies and shows last night were cut on AVID system, but one picture edited on FinalCut snuck among the nominees for Best Edited Feature Film, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. Thank God, “Slumdog Millionaire” won. Yes, AVID rules! Everybody on our table was happy. I was happy for the winner too. It’s very well edited picture and Chris Dickens absolutly deserves the award. You can check all the winers and losers at the ACE website. The ACE Golden Eddie Award Honoree for 2009 was Richard Donner. Among his credits are couple of blockbusters like “Superman”, “The Omen” and “Lethal Weapon” franchise.

It made sense that Mel Gibson was among the presenters of the awards. He’s grown a goatee - love it or leave it. Richard Donner’s message last night - NO MORE FUR! The full acceptance speech you can view courtesy of my Sony Cybershot camera:

Click here to play video

Question: So you wear two hats, Executive Producer and Editor. Valentina Ganeva which hat you wore last night at the Twiistup party and how was it?

V.G.: Neither, I wore my party hat! It was great! Great Martinis, and really fun people, very inspirational.

Question: Describe a fun person you met, and the most inspirational part of the party.

V.G.: It was great seeing all these young people who have really cool ideas. For example there was this company called causecast.org.

They had their “State Your Change” camera, and you get in front of the camera, and tell what you want changed, and then they post this video on their site. It is a social network of people who want to connect with others who are passionate about the same causes you are. I am having a hard time answering because I had one too many martinis last night.

Question: Good answer for someone who is hung over.

V.G.: Another company Scour, it is a search engine company that gave away their business card with a dollar bill attached. Everyone got one, and some people even two. Basically they let you make money every time you use their search engine, and they give you the first 10 results from 3 engines while you make money, Google, Yahoo, and MSN. Not bad for these times, and they let you give feedback on the search results. You rack up the points for everything from searching, recommending, commenting so I am getting on that engine.

Question: How many business cards did you get from Scour?

V.G.: OK, I admit I got two. I needed cash to tip the bartender because I was out of one dollar bills.

Question: Any more companies to earn money with?

V.G.: Yes, ehow.com. You go to their website and you can learn how to do everything from auto repair, like how to bleed your brakes, or how to contact Oprah. The information is free, and if you have a topic that you are an expert in, you write an article. If the article gets traffic then you earn points and they pay you based on the popularity of your article.

Question: How will you make money on this one?

V.G.: We are going to write an article about how to edit a music video, because it is a very specific skill and we have the expertise. We have an idea of how to make this article so special you can’t believe. I’m not going to say any more until I do the article.

Question: Any sketchy companies?

V.G.: Well, I am not sure where I stand on cogi.com. This is what Cogi does- For example, if we were working on a project, and we needed to communicate lots of details back and forth. You don’t have time to write me a big email, if we were on Cogi, I could have our conversation recorded and transcribed.

Question: This is free?

V.G.: No, a subscription, but pretty inexpensive. So at any time we could have this recording and transcription start up. I asked if I could be recorded without knowing it, and they said it is up to the person to tell me…I don’t know how legally they can get away with that.

Question: Wow, give me one last one.

V.G.: OK, when it would be thescene.com, and we all want to be a part of it. We want to hear about the best clubs, but usually by the time you hear about a great place, it is already dead.

Like right now, say you are at the House of Blues and it is great at the bar, you have the scene application on your iPhone, you take a picture, send them a note and everyone can see what is happening at the place. They are having their launch party on Feb. 28th and you are all invited, just go to the website and RSVP….see you read my blog and already you are invited to a cool party. They of course have pictures from the Twiistup party last night.

Question: How do you hear about the Twiistup party?

V.G.: My client Devin McBeth, gave me a ticket. He has a company called MondoDesigner and they provide website design and hosting for up to 10 websites for $10/month. They also have a social networking site MondoMarket, which is in beta testing, and when it is released you will be able to make money by selling and buying within the network. Anyway, that is how I got to this Twiistup. By the way, they are a website that connects media, technology and entertainment. This was the 5th event, they are always sold out. They choose start up companies to introduce to media types. Basically it is about what the next hot thing in tech is.

Interviewer: Jesse Gift

Echo (Click to see trailer)

Echo by Stephen Hamel with Olivia Fougeirol & Keanu Reeves by Company Films.

For years this pretty little film was sitting on the shelf due to a technical problem which prevented its release, now editor Paul Heiman, who cut the story, gives us the inside scoop.

Question: What held up this film in the beginning?

Paul: They shot the film in on the island of Cyprus 15 years ago. When they had it processed, they discovered it had some light leak damage. The whole thing was shelved as a result.

Question: How did you get involved?

Paul: Producer Brad Wyman recommended to the director that he send the film to me, to see if I could repair it.

Question: How did you fix the film?

Paul: We were able to use digital magic to fix it. So for all those years there was nothing to work with, and all the sudden we were able to get down to the work of telling the story they wanted to tell. One of the most amazing things about this story is that it is told from a woman’s point of view, the main character Echo. Remember from Greek Mythology, that she was cursed with only being able to repeat the voices of others, as her own was taken away.

Then also, Keanu is there working with a famous fashion photographer as director, playing a supporting role . What is almost haunting about this story, is that the tale is being told 4000 years afterwards on the same island.

Question: What is now going to be done with this film? Any release coming soon?

Paul: They are still talking about when it will be released. Now that the first obstacle of the film damage is gone, the next obstacle is getting the film in front of an audience.

Question: Can you show us anything?

Paul: Sure, you can see a cool clip here on the Murex site (see link under Keanu photo).

Question: What should we watch for?

Paul: The most amazing digital effect is when Keanu, as Narcissus is looking down into the pool of water, transfixed by his own image for the rest of his life. In the actual film shoot, there was no lake, we added that digitally in post to augment the story.

Question: Who came up with the idea to add the water?

Paul: That was me and that is one of the many reasons why editing is such a privilege, I get to really impact the story.

Candie’s Spot (click here to play)

Question: How much of this commercial was based on experimentation in the edit, as opposed to sticking to the storyboards?

Nabil: We started editing the music video to milk our best performances from the dailies. So we could then get the concept in at the highest level. This was a collaboration with my partner Valentina, who cut the commercial based on the storyboard, while I cut the music video version with the same track “Wake Up Call”. Then, we somehow merged the music video with the commercial to come up with the final draft of the commercial which optimized everything done by Valentina, Chris and myself. The song had to be edited and we came up with 6 versions. The agency chose their own version.

Question: What is the best thing about this commercial?

Nabil: The scene in the bathroom was a lot of fun to cut. Even though we had a storyboard, I had lots of footage to create with.

Question: Hayden is such a big star, so what is the main difference for you in cutting a commercial with a celebrity specifically Hayden?

Nabil: Hayden is such a great actress that she gave us an exceptionally high ratio of good takes to work with. In the case of many music artists, they are amazing talented musicians, but acting sometimes is not as developed.

Question: Chris Applebaum is your director on this one…correct? How many projects have edited with Chris?

Nabil: Around 40 music videos, and 9 commercials. Out of the music videos we have received maybe 8 award nominations, MTV VMA video of the year award, at least a dozen of MTV TRL number one hits, and of course I will never forget the Paris Hilton Carl’s Jr. spot and the worldwide bang that it created.

Question: What is it with Chris and you? How do guys keep this going?

Nabil: It’s the “Zappers” and the “Snappers”.

Question: Ok, you got lot’s of explaining to do man. What are you talking about?

Nabil: Not what you think. The “Zappers” are all the double espressos we pound, and the “Snappers” are like the video visual boosters we invent while in the edit bay. We have figured out how to enjoy the tedious process of editing by cracking jokes, and getting buzzed off our rockers on caffeine.

Pets (click here to play)

Producer, Director, Editor Jesse Gift Talks About His Experience Shooting and Editing in High Def, on P2 Cards, & Creating HD Graphics With After Effects.

Question: You just produced, directed, and edited a new series of 1080i HD video shorts for one of your clients. Tell us about them.

Jesse: Yes, they are video air travel tips. My client, Farecompare.com is a new generation travel site that combines cutting edge advanced technology, with expert insider tips to help users get the best price on an airline ticket. One of the founders, Rick Seaney is also an ABCNews.com weekly columnist. You will be hearing a lot more about them.

Question: What was involved in the project?

Jesse: They are headquartered in Dallas, so when it came time to book a crew, and package, I contacted several really good shooters I know there. I ended up working with Guy Hernandez, who somehow convinced me to shoot the project High Def with his Panasonic HPX 2000, and master on P2 cards. He guaranteed me I would love it, and I booked him for a 2 day shoot in Dallas.

Question: How did the shoot go?

Jesse: I wanted these video air travel tips to be visually exciting, no talking head stuff, all location shots in the airport, at the ticket counter, behind security, on the tarmac, to make them interesting. So, with a skinny budget, and a two day only shoot….I set out to master all 12 video tips, not in an office somewhere, but each spot shot in a different location….not only that, but somehow I got talked into shooting additional video for 2 handout news stories at the same time

Question: What? How can all that be accomplished in 2 days?

Jesse: I am not sure, but we were somehow able to pull it off. Actually, my news combined with my documentary video background helps a lot ( I used to follow doctors and dentists around, shooting documentaries of them providing free medical and dental services in Guatemala, and Nicaragua).

Guy, my photographer also has a news background, so we can really work fast, and be creative on the fly, as well as get all our scripted material shot at the same time, and my client, Rick Seaney, the CEO is such a good sport, he was the on camera talent for all of this and just worked like a horse. The man is a brilliant software, data mining expert, not a professional in front of the camera, but he really rose to the occasion..did a great job and helped make everything really fun and entertaining.

Question: Did you have any trouble getting use of the airports, and back behind security?

Jesse: It took quite a bit of calling on favors to tell the truth. I know one of the PR folks at DFW, and also the client has all kinds of friends at Southwest, so I was able to pretty much have the run of both airports. In fact, at Love Field I was able to talk them into letting my client pull the block out from under the wheel of a jet loaded with passengers, ready to back out of the gate…all on camera while he is was delivering some of his lines for a scripted video tip….perfect example of how I love to make the script more impactful with how and where we shoot a stand-up (lines delivered to camera by talent).

Question: I can not believe you got that kind of a shot using an actual Southwest jet loaded with passengers, and ready to back away and take off.

Jesse: I am really proud of it, and that is just one of the things we took advantage of that were not scripted. The videos are visually pleasing we know how to get the most out of location shoots and random opportunities.

Question: How did you post the spots?

Jesse: I upgraded my Avid Express Pro to Media Composer, which I ran on my MacBookPro. I have resisted having edit software on my personal computer for years. I worked so many hours cutting television shows, that the last thing I wanted was to be able to edit at home. However, I have changed my tune. It was so cool that I did not have to book an edit bay, just cut when I felt the spirit move me, and when the deadline loomed.

Question: So Media Composer on your laptop, cutting HD, how the hell did that work?

Jesse: I am a very experienced editor, and made my living for years cutting for the national news magazines, and then for Entertainment Tonight. I just imported all those unlabeled P2 files into the Avid and cut in HD, faster than I used to edit in standard def at the networks….really amazing.

Question: What do you mean, unlabeled P2 files?

Jesse: I did not have time, or anyone assigned to create file names in the field, and we were running so hard and fast just to get the coverage I needed, that I just had to go unlabeled. That I don’t want to do again, but in a pinch, it worked.

Question: Was it buggy to import the P2 files?

Jesse: It was like P2 and Avid were the perfect match. You click and go, super easy.

Question: How much time did it take to render effects the HD on the MacBookPro?

Jesse: It was actually faster than I expected, not really any difference from cutting in SD, including color correction, and visual effects, everything I needed to do. I used the great G Drive raid, and I was never waiting for anything very long. The slowest part of the process was importing all the P2.

Question: I like the graphics and titles. How did you come up with this look?

Jesse: Ahhh, After Effects, what an amazing tool. I had 2 freelancers who worked with me, Sam K. Yano, and Jeff Dodson and both were remote in their own studios. I had a real deadline crunch, so I booked both artists, and I will tell you they were some of the best I have worked with ever! I gave them very specific direction, an audio track to sync to, and they did stunning work. All of this was done in full uncompressed HD for the final render, so the videos are really sharp.

Question: How do you come by your graphic and animation savvy?

Jesse: I have loved motion graphics, graphics for television, and visual effects forever, way back to the days of the Quantel Paintbox, which very few people remember. I have always produced and designed visuals for television, and in fact at one point in my Entertainment Tonight career, I was daily asked to oversee each segment, and come up with a compelling graphic, title, or effect to improve the spot.

Question: It really shows, and you know how to find the After Effects Artists who are really good.

Jesse: My artists were top, top notch. One can not get this kind of production, and excellent design out in a hurry, for cheap without super expert and talented artists. All those many daily shows, with their tight deadlines at ET taught me how much I can expect, and how to really push the envelope to obtain great visuals in a fast turnaround and on a budget.

Question: I understand these spots may also make the big time.

Jesse: Yes, I am in discussions with a major broadcaster right now who loves them and is interested in running them on the web, and possibly on the air as well. This is something that I did not expect, but when I was in New York a few weeks ago, I whipped out my client’s ipod (I left mine in the seat back on the plane, never to be seen again) and did an impromptu screening for the producers at one of the big networks where I had arrainged for my client to be interviewed on television, and they loved them.

Question: Wow, good luck. Tell us when the are going to show up if your deal goes through.

Jesse: I will let you know right away.

Question: How was editing the new Kelly Clarkson video “My Life Sucks Without You”, shot with the Red camera different than cutting your other big star videos, say Britney or Rihanna?

Nabil: First, we never got tape. A messenger delivered a small drive over the holidays. It was delivered the day before Christmas, and everyone, all the “Techies” were out heating their rum, and getting ready for the holiday, you know roasting chestnuts by the fire. Thank god for our resident expert, Rik B, who came down to the edit bay with his wife and daughter… He, helped me download the needed software, Red Cine, a free software that converts the Red files to ALE, which is what I needed to import the footage into my Avid Adrenaline, running on a Mac platform.

Question: Why was the material delivered on the Holiday?

Nabil: Sony wanted the first cut by the January 3rd. So I figured I had 10 days to tame the “Red” Beast in case there was learning, I wanted to get started right away.

Question: When was the video shot?

Nabil: They finished shooting hours before they gave me the files. With the Red, no more buying film, processing the film, or telecine. Just burn the raw files to a drive, and sent it over. It took all night to import the gigantic files into the Avid.

Question: So, is the Red really as good as 35 millimeter?

Nabil: My honest answer, under certain lighting conditions it is. With the new 5K Red coming out, I believe that most commercials, and music videos will be shot this way. In fact, in the music business, the record labels are more than satisfied with the current 4K Red outcome.

Question: Is it about the money, or aesthetics?

Nabil: Right now it is about the money. I know few directors who refuse to use the Red, and are insisting on using 35 Millimeter cams. However, I say for special effects projects, the Red is real handy because you can actually grab a closeup from a really wide shot, and it is perfect, not grainy….we did this on the Kelly video all over the place…in the edit bay I can push in and out, pan, tilt, make moves without worrying about losing resolution.

Question: Give me some specifics about how you were able to enhance the Kelly video because of the Red?

Nabil: OK, there was a plate of the little girl’s necklace, an extreme close up with the head cut off. Wayne, the director wanted to see the necklace and the girl’s head. So, we stole it from the Wide shot of the girl and the boy, and blew it up maybe 400%, the shot looks fine grain and perfect. Never happen on film, just amazing!

Question: How often does something like this come up in the edit of a major star’s video. By the way, you have cut how many big star music videos?

Nabil: I have been lucky to have cut maybe 100 major star videos. In every edit, you want to have all the options, and you would be amazed what comes into the edit bay. Once I had 1 hour of dailies, for a 1 million dollar Toni Braxton video. I had to flip, flop, reverse shots, walk backwards… With the Britney video, Piece of Me, 2/3rds of the treatment was not shot because Britney somehow was not available for half of the shoot. We had to do stunt editing, and believe me that is when you need any tool you can get.

Question: Wow, not what you would expect to hear with a major star. Any other issues or surprises with the Kelly video.

Nabil: Yes, at the very end, when we had the cut locked, I learned about the “Monkey Extract“, a software we had to purchase to extract the Red Camera DPX files for the Flame.

Question: Monkey Extact, huh?

Nabil: Yes, it went super smooth except for one bug. I was having dinner and wine, celebrating the end of the job with some friends. I got this frantic email from the producer Dana saying there are black holes in the cut.

Question: Wow, black holes, not what you want to hear during dinner. What did you do?

Nabil: I called Rik B who was slowly becoming the “Monkey” expert. He investigated and found that all the black holes where my effects shots. So we had to undo the effects shots in the EDL, and enter the details about the effects by hand into the comment list…like all the motion effects in the Jeep shots, and some blow up shots, maybe 10 shots total……which is the only way to get effects info into an EDL for the Red, using the “Monkey Extract” at this time…I believe!?

Question: Will you do another Red Camera project in the future after spending your Christmas holiday trouble shooting?

Nabil: Sure, the next one will go smooth because we learned so much on this Kelly video.

Question: Do you expect to edit another big music video next Christmas holiday?

Nabil: All I will need to do by then…is bring my Powerbook along with me on my sail boat, and I bet I’ll be able to cut in 4K, as I am anchored off Catalina Island.