Friday, March 28, 2008

Pixeldust Films teams up with Surfjet, LLC

Pixeldust Films has teamed up with Surfjet, LLC, to provide their clients full production in conjunction with Surfjet’s offering of SEO services.  Currently, Pixeldust Films is involved in production on a series of videos that will be search-optimized using Surfjet’s proprietary and proven approach to finding digital content on the web.  Pixeldust Films continues to provide full pre-production and post-production services to the top organizations in the USA and is fast-becoming a leader in the area of digital content creation for web, CD-ROM, DVD and training presentations.  As well, Pixeldust Films web studio continues to build standards-compliant, browser-friendly websites that consistently perform in the entertainment, e-business, educational, transactional and financial industries.

Why not take a look at some of our recent work, or, learn more about us.

Monday, March 24, 2008

It Started on Newbury.com

Client: Dave and Anna
Work Performed: Custom Website, Custom Flash Development, CSS, XHTML, Custom Expression Engine installation, Web Hosting

Dave and Anna are pulling out all the stops for their upcoming wedding.  They decided that in addition to sending out the standard invitation, they wanted a website that showed their personalities.  They also wanted a place where people could go and get information about the wedding, learn more about the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and Chuppah holders.  They approached Pixeldust Films with their ideas and let us roll with it!

The site is an Expression Engine powered site that has been custom designed by Pixeldust Films.  The slideshow on the opening page was custom developed and features the randomization of their favorite photos.  We also did all the custom CSS work, graphic design, and integrated their Flickr photos using the flexible Flickr API.  Visitors can sign up on their mailing list, browse content that’s relevant to their guests, and just have an overall smashing good time.

Just like I’m sure they’ll have at the actual wedding!

The site was launched in March, 2008.  Congratulations, David and Anna!  Visit the site today!

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Pixeldust Films to shoot Villanova - Seton Hall Sizzler

It’s nothin’ but net! Pixeldust Films is headed to Villanova this Saturday, February 9th to shoot some footage in support of Turn Here.com, who will be taking the footage and using it as a “sizzle” reel for CBS executives.  The game is between Villanova and Seton Hall, and Pixeldust Films has been asked to capture pre-game footage of rabid ‘Nova fans getting crazy in support of the home team.  With my camera on my shoulder, I’ll be hitting the bars, the tailgate parties, and any other place that is stockpiled with crazed Villanova fans. 

I became a Turn Here filmmaker a number of years ago, and one of my earliest “infomericals” was acquired by them as the basis for many of the films they were trying to make in their start-up days.

I’ll post some short clips on my return!

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Pixeldust Films on You Tube

Pixeldust Films bit the bullet and actually signed up for a You Tube account a couple of years ago.  For the most part, I’ve always felt that a lot of my stuff didn’t belong there as You Tube has been a place for novelty videos.  I believe, however, that this is starting to change, and there is some really viable content on there if you are willing to sift through the junk.  Hopefully, our entry into the world of You Tube will be viewed as more of the viable content!

Anyway, in spite of the fact that you can see all the films here on Pixeldust Films.com, now we’re broadcasting some select pieces over there as well.  If there’s one thing You Tube brings to the table, it’s a lot of eyeballs…

Check out my channel and watch it grow.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Pixeldust Films relaunches website

I’m pleased to announce the relaunch of Pixeldust Films.com!  After 2 years of building out the business, I finally figured out what I wanted to do here on the web not only to show the work, but to show the person behind the work.  This new site has a lot of cool features, for sure, but mostly, I hope it allows you to get to know more about me and my approach to the services my company provides. 

I’m excited to talk about all the cool stuff here, and whether you’re a first time visitor or somebody who’s been here again and again (we have our share of repeat stopovers), I’ll hope you’ll find something interesting to do.

For starters, I should say that the entire site has been built in Expression Engine. I'm no stranger to content management systems, but this was my first project using this powerful CMS. I gotta tell ya that I've done more with Expression Engine in 2 weeks than I've done with Wordpress or Joomla in 2 years. In fact, I'm trying to figure out why I'd even use those tools (except that they're free) for any of my clients going forward.

The other thing that's significant is that I've decided to pretty much abandon my personal blog and start blogging over here at Pixeldust Films. Bloggers know that it's hard enough to keep one blog up-to-date, but keeping up 2 will be pretty much impossible. Given the fact that Pixeldust Films generates a fair amount of traffic, I'm going to dedicate my time to blogging over here. I'm currently migrating all my blog posts from there and moving them over to here. Shouldn't take too long to complete.

Other significant additions and changes...

• The new front page has lots more to do than the old one! Watch a film, sign up on the new mailing list, check out my Flickr pictures, read news or blog entries, and get random testimony from my customers. The front page is a digital playground for those who drink their coffee slowly.
• Pixeldust Films is primarily a one-person shop (I'm the one). Although we I staff people as necessary, I wanted it to be clear that you're pretty much hiring me. The entire site has been rewritten to reflect that the work here is being done by a single entity. I'm a small studio and I'm proud of it. Every element you see on this website, including the site itself, the films, the motion graphics (did I say everything?), was done by me personally.
• I'm planning on blogging like a maniac this year, and I hope to help others in the field understand more powerful ways to use their website as a tool to do more than simply showing off their work.
• The new "tell a friend" feature goes across most of the site and makes it easy for you to share this content with others. You can see it at the bottom of this post. Go ahead and click it. You know you want to!
• Sign Up! This new site invites you to be a contributor! Do you have a comment on one of my films? Perhaps you're a client and you'd like to comment on a project I've done for you? Maybe you just want to chime in on my blog. No sweat! Signing up is easy, free, and calling your name right now!
• Lastly, and for me, most importantly, this site is about more than just showcasing my work. It's about getting to know you, and giving you chance to get to know me (don't worry, I'm married, so get your mind out of the gutter). It's about doing by example what I try to do for each of my clients: tell their "digital" story. Pixeldust Films is mine.

Thanks for your visit!

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Winter Solstice premieres on Pixeldust Films.com

"Winter Solstice" represents my first at-home studio recording. The album was initially recorded for the purpose of testing mic placement in a grand piano, but, it also served as an opportunity to try some other things. For starters, using microphones on a grand piano and getting good results takes a little practice. In fact, the better the piano, the more important this becomes. Then, of course, there was the actual selection of the pieces and reworking them into arrangements (many of the pieces were improvised). Then there was the post-production process, which was all about getting the piano to still sound like it should, but giving it a little bit of depth using Apple Logic Pro.

"It wasn't until I listened to the first day's recording session that I actually decided this album would make a decent Christmas present." -Gino

One of the final experiments was to work with the fine folks over at discmakers.com to get the entire product packaged using custom-designed DVD jewel cases. Using their templates, we were able to do the entire project at their online "self service" kiosk, and there was no need to send any hard-copy media to Discmakers whatsoever. Gino, still awaiting the copies, is excited to see and hold the final product. We'll be using similar packaging going forward for all our Pixel-Produced video biographies, audio projects and just about everything else.

"...The mp3s above represent the entire album. A little classical, some ragtime, holiday music, it's all there. Many of the songs I chose were the ones my family would ask me to play when I was just learning the piano, and I tried to pick out some of the ones I was asked to play again and again. It's cool to look back to the days when I was just learning, and compare it to what I was able to create after all the years of formal training, music school, and the insight that comes with experience." -Gino

Fast Facts

• Pixeldust Films is starting to move into live music event coverage, and this project was done in part to learn the art of mic'ing a grand piano.
• The recording was done on my Steinway model "B." The piano was purchased new in 1995 and took 8 years to pay off. I was lucky enough to buy it when I was too stupid to know I couldn't afford it.
• The recording was captured with a pair of Audio Technica AT-4050 mics placed about 7 feet in the air. The piano was open to "full stick."
• It wasn't until I listened to the first day's recording session that I actually decided this album would make a decent Christmas present. Since the premiere of this album went online before Christmas day, I'm largely banking on the fact that the potential recipients of the gift won't find this area of my website until December, 26th, 2007.
• Many of the pieces were largely improvised arrangements. The classical music was largely read from the score, except in the case of the Beethoven sonata. Although the score for the Beethoven was never consulted, I know I'm playing parts of it incorrectly as I learned that sonata in his mid-teens. I'm ok with that.
• The Beethoven sonata was meant to be a test to make sure I wasn't clipping the mics, but it was kept in although it's only an excerpt.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Pixeldust Films launches We Train Pets.com

Pixeldust Films recently handed over a great new website to a very talented dog trainer. We Train Pets.com is a custom Wordpress blog that allowed Christine the opportunity to update her site quickly and easily. Over there you'll find some great podcasts that we produced that give dog owners some real-world tips from a person who spends more time with animals than with humans (and she was one of the nicest people we've ever met). Maybe we should all start hanging out with dogs...

Stop over to We Train Pets.com and have a look and a listen! Pixeldust Films launched the site in October, 2007.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Pixeldust Films launches Podcasting Services

Podcasting. It's become such a buzzword. And, just like when it was fashionable to be a "webmaster," now it's fashionable to be a "podcaster." The problem is always the same: a technology becomes accessible to everybody and suddenly there are all sorts of traffic jams on the information superhighway...Don't worry, we're here to help you sort it all out. We not only have the technology to make you sound like you mean business, but we have the marketing and analytics background to make sure you're actually connecting to your target audience.

What we can do for you

• We can produce your podcast. If you have a script, we'll do the rest (we bring our own voice talent, too).
• Don't have a script? We can write it.
• We can host your podcasts.
• We can help you Market your podcasts.
• We can tell you if anybody is actually listening to your podcasts.
• We can create bumpers, intros, and endings for your existing podcasts.

Check out our Podcasting page to learn more and hear some examples!

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Pixeldust Films launches Collegeville Dental.com

Pixeldust Films is pleased to announce the launch of Collegeville Dental.com. The website features a profile of the highly successful Collegeville dental practice, owned and operated by Dr. Ryan A. Estelle and his amazing staff. As well, Pixeldust Films was responsible for all the digital photography, web content, user experience, and of course, the fantastic film we created that features the patients and staff.

We appreciated the opportunity to create this end-to-end solution for Collegeville Dental. It reminds us of how versatile we are, and how we can empower our clients through well-crafted solutions that speak to their business needs.

Visit Collegeville Dental now!

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Thursday, June 14, 2007

The Bryn Mawr Conservatory of Music

Pixeldust Films has been commissioned to design the website of one of the finest music conservatories in the Tri-State area.

The Bryn Mawr Conservatory of Music was founded in 1934 by Dr. Joseph Barone. Situated in the midst of the Main Line’s cultural community, it not only serves pupils from the local public and private schools but also provides instruction to students from Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Rosemont Colleges, and Villanova University, and to adults. While its original mission was the musical training of those who wished to play avocationally, for the sheer joy of it, the Conservatory has also launched the professional careers of a number of talented artists who have gone on to perform with major orchestras and opera companies both in this country and abroad.

Pixeldust Films expects a July, 2007 release.

Friday, June 01, 2007

Pixeldust Films launches Bryn Mawr Conservatory of Music.com

Pixeldust Films has designed and launched the website of one of the finest music conservatories in the Tri-State area.

The Bryn Mawr Conservatory of Music was founded in 1934 by Dr. Joseph Barone. Situated in the midst of the Main Line’s cultural community, it not only serves pupils from the local public and private schools but also provides instruction to students from Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Rosemont Colleges, and Villanova University, and to adults. While its original mission was the musical training of those who wished to play avocationally, for the sheer joy of it, the Conservatory has also launched the professional careers of a number of talented artists who have gone on to perform with major orchestras and opera companies both in this country and abroad.

Visit the Wordpress-driven site at http://www.brynmawrconservatoryofmusic.com

Friday, April 13, 2007

Dee Dee’s Video Biography

Client: Joe Cannata
Work Performed: Video Biography

"This is, and I cross my heart, the greatest gift I've ever gotten in my 50 years of life..." - Dee Dee

Behind the Scenes

This film was shot in 2 locations, Delaware and New York. The client asked us to produce some elements from the hit TV show, "I Love Lucy" as the subject was a huge fan. We reviewed the opening credits of the TV show and recreated the entire opening using Adobe After Effects. We learned 2 things about Denise through shooting this film: She loves to cook, and her relatives love to eat her cooking. We finally met Dee Dee on the night of the premiere. She hugged me like she had know me for years, and I frankly felt like I've known her for years.

Fast Facts

• The shots we got at the New York location were not color-corrected at all. Those stunning images came straight out of the camera, a Sony HVR-Z1U.
• Out of 21 people we interviewed, they all talked about Denise's cooking, specifically her Rice Balls.
• The "ventriloquist" sequence at the end of the movie was brilliant, and ended up being the only way we could get Ray to appear in the scene. I wish I could say it was my idea. Ray stole the show and happened to also be the last person interviewed that day.
• My father-in-law, the subject of a different Pixeldust Film, helped with the lighting on the New York shoot. He also provided a face to look at for the subjects while they were being interviewed. He's credited as a "Key Grip" and a "Lighting Assistant" in the end credits.
• On the evening of the premiere, Gino had to pretend he didn't know any of Dee Dee's relatives, as it would have given it away that we had somehow met before the evening of the party. Her relatives played it beautifully, and, for the most part, ignored me completely until we rolled the film.

Watch a film of the client talking about the process of making a videobiography with Gino behind the camera. below!

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Sunday, March 25, 2007

Cigar Cigars

Client: Cigar, Cigars
Work Performed: Video “Infomercial”

Here at Pixeldust Films, we smoke the occasional cigar, so we were thrilled to have the opportunity to shoot a spot for a local cigar merchant. The spot is all about their new “Hecho Fresco” cigar line, which is hand-rolled right in their Willow Grove, PA storefront. Talk about fresh! Watching the master cigars rollers go from bunching the tobacco all the way up to hand-rolling a smokable cigar was pretty amazing. They made it look so easy, but you could tell that the amount of skilled labor in those hands took years upon years to acquire. We felt it was our duty at the end of the shoot to do some quality control in the form of smoking some Hecho Frescos.

Fast Facts

• This film was shot at night, starting at about 9:00 PM and went til around 2 in the morning.
• Between the cast and crew, I believe we smoked about 20 cigars in total between everyone in the building. The gear smelled like cigars for about 3 weeks.
• The cigars rollers, who speak Spanish, did not know we were coming there to film them, only that they were asked to work late that evening. They were pretty terrified when the film crew showed up and started giving them directions.
• The primary cigar roller, Eduardo Nunez, speaks virtually no English. Luckily, our audio guy for the evening happened to be fluent in Spanish.
• Cigar rolling has to be one of the most difficult skills to learn. Sometimes, you can pick up a thing or two by watching people for several hours. In the case of rolling cigars, I was just as clueless when I walked out as when I walked in. It's really difficult. Smoking them is much easier.
• Thinking we were going to be a little light on material, my Director of Photography for the evening threw me in the humidor and asked me to riff a little on camera. Well, I riffed a lot on camera and put myself in the film, which the client loved.

Watch the Film

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Friday, February 17, 2006

I’m a “Turn Here” Filmmaker

Pixeldust Films, LLC, is pleased to announce that we have been accepted as part of the filmmaking team at Turnhere.com.  Our recent addition to their stable of independent filmmakers was in response to our submission of our most recent film, featuring the High Street Caffe as the subject.

We’ll be further contributing to the growing library of Turn Here films through more on-location shoots in and around the Delaware Valley.  If you have a spot that you think deserves our attention, let us know right here!

Roll’em.