Adventures of a Video Production Wizard

This Blog is Moving to a New Location

2011-05-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr Happily there are no stacks of crates full of VHS videotapes, books, kitchen paraphenalia, etc. This is a rather simple move to a new location for our blog.

Feel free to explore this site, as it still contains some valuable information. And then come on over to the new site: "Diary of a San Diego Video Production Crew."

C-ya there!

Mark

What is ENG? - by Mark Schulze

2011-01-24T18:02:00.000-08:00

ENG is an acronym for "Electronic News Gathering." It's a pretty broad term in that it could mean one person going out to collect news on a camera, or it could mean a larger crew with camera operator, sound person, teleprompter, satellite truck, etc.

In my case, it usually means that I will load the vehicle up with my camera, tripod ("sticks"), a monitor, cables, and sound and lighting, if necessary, and head out to a place where news is "breaking."

After the raging San Diego wildfires of 2007, I was tapped by PetSmart to videotape animals that had been evacuated or rescued. PetSmart's Pet Waggins delivered aid to these animals that were being housed at Qualcomm Stadium's parking lot. This little video takes you back to that moment in time.

One Video with Multiple Translations - by Mark Schulze

2010-11-19T10:11:00.000-08:00

We recently had the opportunity to produce a video for AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) that has been translated into several languages, about their online service for science reporters, called EurekAlert. I predict that as our countries continue to globalize economically, there will be a call for more videos of this type. We utilized green-screen interviews along with stock footage clips. AAAS is very happy with it, and so are we.

EurekAlert! Web Video from Patty Kay Mooney on Vimeo.

I Invented the Helmet Cam - by Mark Schulze

2010-10-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

My wife, Patty Kay Mooney, recently "rediscovered" some "lost" video footage of me wearing the first helmet cam rig ever invented, while riding in a mountain bike race in Carlsbad, California in 1988. Here it is, and running at less than a minute, I hope you enjoy viewing the first-known helmet cam rig in action, in the 1980's. They just don't make Lycra bike shorts like that anymore!

Video edited by Patty Kay Mooney
Music: "Slide Show" by Silverleaf

As Summer Draws to a Close - by Mark Schulze

2010-09-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a great summer during which as you may have noticed, no blog posts were forthcoming from me because I have been either out on the waves, on my mountain bike, or on the soccer field. Sprinkle in a few video production gigs, and there went the Summer of 2010.

A very illuminating gig occured on the two days my partner, Patty Mooney, and I shot IMAG for the NABJ (National Association of Black Journalists). For those of you unfamiliar with the term, IMAG involves videotaping speakers or entertainers at a convention or auditorium so that the images are projected on large screens for the audience. A special guest of honor was Dr. Oz, who spoke about the ravages of obesity. One of the things he imparted was that your belt size should be at least half of your height, or your risks of developing the disease are far greater.

Patty and I spent our lunch our walking to Seaport Village where we met a former Marine named Joel who rescues parrots. He had about 15 of them on perches where people could come and get acquainted with them. It was very tempting to take one home, but we had to hurry back to the hotel to finish out the day for NABJ, and it would have been tough explaining about the little yellow guy on my shoulder.

Patty intends to write a blog about Joel and his rescued parrots at Soldiers Heart within a few days, so I encourage you to go there to learn more about his work.

Photographs by still photographer and video camera operator, Patty Mooney

A Video by Women for the World - by Mark Schulze

2010-06-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

A volcanic plume of oil has been exploding into the Gulf of Mexico since April, unabated. This environmental disaster is the largest in my lifetime, and in the lifetime of all of humanity. In the course of such tragedy, we ask ourselves, "What can I do? I am only one person."

My partner, Patty Mooney, collaborated with a musician who lives in Florida, named Katherine Archer, to create a music video called "Black Black Blood." Katherine contacted Patty when she came upon Patty's blog, "A Diary Left Open," via a blog post called "BP is Blocking Photos of Dead Wildlife." In her Facebook message to Patty, Katherine said,

I somehow ran across ur blog while trying to find the REAL news, the pics etc. of dying wildlife. I live in Florida. I can tell you, I am not just upset and depressed over this, I'm scared. I'm a huge manatee and wildlife advocate. I am weary from lack of sleep, as many of my friends are--it's looming out there, heavy on our hearts and minds. To keep myself from completely losing it, I wrote a song about it and am pulling pics for a slideshow to go with it. It's getting wrapped up in the studio this week. I'd like to send you a copy when it's done. It's called Black Blood. I want to connect with anyone and everyone who can help get this song out there, who can use the song, who can help get the message out that our beloved gulf is dying. We need help. I want to connect with a non for profit, make the song downloadable on itunes, raise some money, consciousness, tempers--raise the roof. I want the real footage to get out there. There has to be a way. BP has no right. How dare they. How dare our government allow it.

Patty immediately responded by calling Katherine on the phone. The rest, as you could say, is "herstory." Patty edited Katherine's song into a music video that is now on Youtube, Vimeo and MySpace, getting air play and driving the point home to people that we all need to sit up and take notice of what is going on in our backyard. The planet's backyard.

Here's "Black Black Blood:"

Helmet Cam, Before and After - by Mark Schulze

2010-06-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

As I have mentioned in a previous blog post, I am the inventor of the helmet cam. Back in 1987, I rigged an old motorcycle helmet with a camera and hooked it into a 3/4" deck (those who are younger than 30 years old will probably not know what I am talking about) and took this completely top-heavy rig down a few mountains, including the Mammoth Mountain Kamikaze in 1988.

Thought it might interest you to see that helmet cam piece and compare it to a recent mountain bike downhill run through a Southern California ride, about a month ago, using GoPro's helmet camera technology.

I wish this sort of lightweight and high resolution technology had been available back in the "olden times" but I am happy that I was involved, in my own small way, in forwarding Point-of-View footage gathering by way of helmet cam.

Here's the 1987 helmet cam clip:

Mammoth Mountain Kamikaze Downhill, 1988 from Patty Mooney on Vimeo.

And here is the clip from 2010:

Helmet Cam with Olympian Great, John Howard from Patty Mooney on Vimeo.

Father of the Helmet Cam - by Mark Schulze

2010-06-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

When I first modified an old motorcycle helmet into a POV camera device back in 1987, I had no clue where such technology would steer. I just did it because I wanted some good footage from a mountain-bike rider's point of view so that my movie, "The Great Mountain Biking Video" would be more interesting to the viewer.

Now I'm in Wikipedia, and featured in this month's Mountain Bike Tales (thanks to my wife, Patty Mooney).

Don't worry, I am not going to get a big head about this, so to speak. I'm happy that technology has reached the point where video cameras now weigh ounces versus pounds, and they now have far greater resolution than ever before. Also, I won't break my neck attempting bike stunts with a camera on my head.

GoPro, a company that manufactures these lightweight cameras for use in sports, in the sky and under water, would like to team up with me as I gather footage in the new century. I will keep you updated on our progress.

How to Turn Your Footage Into Money - by Mark Schulze

2010-04-20T10:10:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

Today I wanted to inspire you to put your video footage to good use. If you have shot any interesting, unusual, rare or awesome clips, there could be a market for them.

My wife, Patty Mooney, and I started our stock-footage library, New & Unique Videos, back in 1994, when we returned from a journey around the world, during which we collected dozens of hours of stock footage for our mountain bike documentary, the award-winning "Full Cycle: A World Odyssey." It won kudos, multiple honors and lots of reviews in publications around the world, but was never broadcast on television.

We have never lost hope that it would some day be broadcast, because we do a lot of broadcast television work, and we know this is a stellar show. However, where we seemed to get ROI (Return on our Investment) was via stock-footage sales. We have sold clips shot for "World Odyssey" to all kinds of programs and corporate projects. Clients have bought our Tasmanian devil, boxing kangaroos, underwater mountain bikers, Canadian waterfalls, and many other clips.

The way that you, too, can pocket a little cash from your videographic passion is this.

First, invest in a tripod. There's a market for what I call "shaky-cam" but the traditional smooth work done with a tripod will always be desired.

Second, make sure that you gather three versions of your shot: a wide (establishing) shot, a medium shot and a close up.

Third, log your footage. Make sure you are as detailed as possible, even down to transcribing what people say. You just never know what a client is going to want. If you have it, and you logged it, it's going to be a lot easier to find it when you need it.

Fourth, if your work is professional enough, or at least engaging or sensational enough, then approach some stock-footage libraries and let them know you have footage available. Be prepared to send digital clips (with your watermark) so they can see what you have.

This is just one way to help support your addiction to videography. You may sell a clip here or there. You may even decide you want to get fully engaged in the arena of stock footage. How deeply you venture into the profession is up to you. The way technology keeps advancing, and because the appetite for video content is seemingly unquenchable, you may be able to carve a niche for yourself that will keep you nicely involved in all kinds of amazing adventures. That's how it happened for us. The sky is really the limit for today's videographer.

The First Underwater Mountain Bikers - by Mark Schulze

2010-04-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

Does everybody remember early video games? Well back in the mid-90's, yours truly "starred" in a PacMan commercial. No, I am not an actor. I prefer to spend my working days BEHIND the camera. This was kind of a fluke, though. It all started over chips, salsa and some feisty Costa Rican beers back in 1994. Four of us - all intrepid mountain bikers - hatched this plan to marry two sports that we all enjoyed: mountain biking and scuba diving. A couple of days later, there we were, popping wheelies on the ocean floor. (Note to eco-minded people: No, we did not ravage any corals or other precious sea life.) We of course documented our adventure on video using an underwater housing, and this footage was added to the library vaults of San Diego's biggest (and only) stock footage library, New & Unique Videos.

Consequently, a clip with me mountain biking underwater, videotaped by Director of Photography, Marco Eveslage, became an instant classic on this PacMan commercial. (Look for me at about the 15-second mark.)

PacMan Commercial Uses Clip from Stock Footage Library of New & Unique Videos from Patty Mooney on Vimeo.

The Invention of the Helmet Cam - by Mark Schulze

2010-04-06T12:45:00.001-07:00

Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr

I became intimate with the term "Necessity is the Mother of Invention" when I was producing a video called "The Great Mountain Biking Video" back in 1987.

Let me just step back a year or two and give you a little background. My wife and business partner, Patty Mooney, and I spent almost a year galavanting around the United States and Canada back in 1986. While hiking and exploring the Yukon, we discovered the sport of mountain biking when we happened to see a guy riding his mountain bike through a river. He was up to his knees in water. Patty and I looked at each other and asked, "What sort of a bicycle is THAT?"

We later found out at the Whitehorse sporting goods shop that it was a mountain bike, and people rode these two-wheeled wonders out there in the MOUNTAINS! "See that mountain out there?" the clerk said. "That's a six header." A "header" as we would soon find out ourselves, was when you fly over the handlebars while on a descent, if you are sitting too far forward on your saddle. As soon as we returned home to San Diego about nine months later, we bought our first mountain bikes as a Christmas present to each other.

We became so involved in the sport that a few things occurred. We started racing mountain bikes at local venues like Big Bear, Riverside, Lake Morena and Anza Borrego. We got married on our mountain bikes in the Cleveland National Forest in the summer of 1987. We spent our honeymoon racing mountain bikes in Big Bear, and then Mammoth Mountain. As a woman with virtually little competition, Patty did very well in her race class, bringing home a few first place trophies and lots of mountain-bike swag. I did well, too, usually placing in the top three in my class.

The next logical step was to incorporate our business - video production, with our passion - mountain biking, and voila, we produced the first-ever instructional mountain-bike videos. The first one was called "The Great Mountain Biking Video" and contains clips of local trails along with tips and techniques from the top pros of their time, Ned Overend, Martha Kennedy, John Tomac, Julia Ingersoll, Kevin Norton and Tinker Juarez. This video won accolades, honors and a lot of press, as it was "The complete guide to one of the world's most exciting and fastest growing sports." It's pretty interesting to realize that it's been nearly 25 years since we produced the video and it's now considered "archival," "historical," "nostalgic." That's life, right?

While in production with "The Great Mountain Biking Video," I realized that we needed some way to capture POV (Point-of-View) footage that showed the viewer what the rider was seeing and experiencing. As a bona-fide packrat, it so happened that I had an old motorcycle helmet to which I affixed a VHS camera. I had to balance the camera which was on the front, with a weight on the rear of the helmet. Thus, this helmet was so heavy that anyone who ever wore it on a mountain-bike ride or Trials jaunt of any length would invariably complain, "This thing's HEAVY!"

In order to operate the camera, we needed to pad a VCR in a backpack and attach this by cable to the camera. This helmet-rig contraption was a far cry from today's lipstick and button cams. We only WISHED we had technology like that at the time, but there is something to be said about being a pioneer and an inventor. Today's technological advancements are based on the trials and errors of people like me, a guy who simply wanted to share my love of riding through the beauty of nature, with interested viewers. (If you are reading this, Sony, I would accept your thanks with the latest and greatest HD lipstick cam, no problem!)

Patty has been digitizing some of our old VHS masters before they turn to dust, and she unearthed this historical helmet cam footage from the 1988 Mammoth Mountain Kamikaze Downhill. Our friend, a San Diego mountain biker named Jeff Detweiler, wore the rig down the entire run, which as anyone who has ever ridden it knows that a rider could easily break their neck WITHOUT wearing a motorcycle-helmet-cam. Kudos to Jeff. You'll see me popping in and out of Jeff's POV, and Patty even makes an abbreviated appearance at 3:40 as Jeff blazes down. This is unedited, real-time footage, so it's as though you are riding down the Kamikaze yourself, in 1988. And don't forget, mountain bikes were also primitive at the time, without the luxury of shocks. Enjoy!

Mammoth Mountain Kamikaze Downhill, 1988 from Patty Mooney on Vimeo.

How I Got Started in the Video Profession - by Mark Schulze

2010-03-04T10:10:00.000-08:00

Many students and young professionals approach me wondering how I got started in the industry of video production. I've been involved in the profession so long now (nearly 30 years) that my story is almost mythological. I started my own company, Crystal Pyramid Productions, in 1981, after graduating from UCSD. I had reached my decision to go into video production after leafing page-by-page through a copy of the Yellow Pages. Most young people may not know exactly what this is because you can now find everything you need on the Internet.

Anyway, when I had reached the "V's" I knew that Video was truly the career for me. The way I got started was to intern while a student in college. Then, when I had become a businessman - which entails a bunch of paperwork and official certification - I began offering my services to nonprofit companies at reduced rates. I also placed small ads in local publications. I gave up my weekends to shoot lots of weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and other special family events.

Eventually I began making a name for myself. I collected testimonials from people and created demo reels from clips off of finished videos. Little by little my company rose, along with the help of my partner, Patty Mooney, whom I met in 1982, to the place where we are now - a high-echelon, award-winning broadcast and corporate video production company.

Looking back, I realize that my rewards were not the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, but that they were embedded in my path from the very beginning. To those bright and shiny students who want to enter the realm of video production, I say, make sure that video production makes you happy. It's the kind of work that requires a lot of manual labor, responsibility, constant decision-making and sometimes long hours. It also pays in the dividends of meeting all kinds of great people, seldom working in the same location twice, and the pride of creating art that will probably outlive you.

In the above photo you'll see a production still from one of my very first productions, "Get Smart About Toxins." It was a video for the Environmental Health Coalition about the dangers of toxic waste (paints, varnish, battery acid, etc.) to waste collectors. I had a chance to direct waste collection personnel, Paramedics and representatives from the Fire Department. To my knowledge, the EHC is still using that video today.

Outdoor Video Production Can Be Tricky - by Mark Schulze

2010-02-24T12:32:00.001-08:00

Over my nearly three decades as a video producer, Director of Photography and videographer, I have participated in both inside and outdoors shooting. The outdoor shoots can be a bit trickier because of several factors. Rather than working in a controlled indoor environment, when you are outside, the sun - your main source of lighting - will shift. The savvy camera operator needs to constantly be aware of where the sun is and how it is affecting your shot. You may have to white-balance the camera more than once, particularly if a series of clouds passes over the sun.

The above photo was taken at an Animal Planet shoot for their series "Baby Animals." We chose to set up under the shade of a tree with the morning sun at our backs. We sat our talent down in a spot that had consistent shade (not mottled). We used a reflector (a big round fabric disc that is shinier on one side than the other) to direct more lighting to her face. You want to avoid backlighting in which the subject is almost a silhouette and the background is blown out.

There is a fine tightrope you walk when you are working outdoors, not only when it comes to lighting but when it comes to sound. San Diego is notorious for its military bases and with military bases come big toys such as F-16s, helicopters and transport planes. These all crisscross the sky just when the talent has finally perfected their sound bite after the 20th take. You can check it out for yourself. Your location will be eerily quiet as you set up your camera, tripod and all the ancillary equipment. Just as you are pulling the trigger on your camera, you will be accosted by crows, and then the leaf-blowing gardener will get started fifty feet away.

Just joking. Not really.

If you really want to include outdoor shooting in your production, and you are a perfectionist like me, just budget a little more time than you think it will take to capture beautiful shots with clean audio.

Celeb-extravaganza - by Patty Mooney

2010-01-15T15:38:00.000-08:00

My partner, Patty Mooney, compiled this slide show of celebrities whom we have encountered along the way on various video productions and interviews conducted via our video production company, Crystal Pyramid Productions. You may be able to recognize a face or two......

A Timelapse of A Video Production Set-Up - Video by Mark Schulze

2010-01-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

Here's a 30-second timelapse of a satellite video production set-up that took all day. This was a five-camera shoot (two mobile and three long-lens cameras on tripods in the back of the performance center in Escondido. It was a Christmas presentation by Mystery Science Theater 2000 with Weird Al Yankovich and ranks by the crew as the most fun video production gig of 2009.

Mystery Science Theater 2000 Production Set-up Timelapse from Patty Mooney on Vimeo.

Happy Holidays to All

2009-12-21T18:35:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season filled with laughter, good friends, family and fun times. This is a good time to look back at 2009, remember all the highlights and express gratitude for all the learning experiences. As Susan B. Anthony said, "Failure is impossible." Just learn from any mistakes you made and move on.

I will now leave you with a slideshow of holiday images to enjoy. Photographs are by my partner, Patty Mooney.

Proud Finalist of "Most Admired CEO" Awards

2009-11-24T18:39:00.000-08:00

I was honored to be a finalist in the San Diego Business Journal's Third Annual "Most Admired CEO Awards" competition. SDBJ held a well-attended gathering downtown at the San Diego Marriott Ballroom where we all had a chance to network with each other and enjoy "heavy hors doervres." I was in great company with other CEO's from around the region.

It's always a good thing when you receive recognition for your work. And my profession as a video producer and Director of Photography is a little bit different than your usual "nine to five." Each video production calls for a whole new venue and cast of characters. It's rewarding, but there's a lack of consistent social interaction, as you would find in most jobs. So shaking a few hands and networking with other CEO's was a lot of fun for me.

I even had a chance to say hello to San Diego's Mayor, Jerry Sanders.

Photographs by Brian Bostrum, Brian Bostrom Photography. Thanks Brian!

DOF Secretary Hilda Solis Visits San Diego - by Mark Schulze

2009-11-19T10:18:00.000-08:00

Crystal Pyramid Productions recently had the opportunity to videotape the visit of Department of Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis to the Veterans Village of San Diego, a nonprofit organization that works to bring homeless veterans back into society. VVSD was celebrating the completion of the construction of Phase Two of its rehabilitation center for homeless military veterans suffering from chemical dependency or mental health issues. This phase of the project adds 112 early treatment beds, a medical facility, an employment center and administration building to better serve those in need.

Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), aka Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, is dedicated to extending assistance to needy and homeless veterans of all wars and eras and their families by providing housing, food, clothing, substance abuse recovery and mental health counseling, job training and job search assistance. Their mission statement: "We believe in the inherent worth of each and every Veteran and his or her right to a rehabilitation program which leads to renewed self-worth and independent living."

Here I am videotaping the speech that Secretary Solis delivered to the residents and volunteers at VVSD.

These are some of the residents of VVSD, formerly homeless veterans who have made the commitment to eliminate drugs and alcohol from their lives, participate in a year-long live-in program at VVSD, and return as healthy and beneficial members of their communities.

Phil Landis, CEO of VVSD, stands in front of a mural that features himself as a young man who served in Vietnam

I discovered this video on youtube that covers Secretary Solis's visit to VVSD. I am the camera operator wearing a white baseball cap. And my partner and wife, Patty Mooney, who shot the above three photographs, is the woman in blue carrying the boom pole. This is rare footage of us, the people usually BEHIND the scenes.

San Diego Comic Con Back in 2001 - by Mark Schulze

2009-07-06T03:03:00.000-07:00

A view of the convention floor at San Diego Convention Center from above. At the time we were amazed at the crowds, but this appears empty compared to today's standards. The show has been sold out for weeks. There will be many people trying to sneak in and there will be many disappointed people who cannot get in.

Electronic Playground's Julie Stoffer interviews Director, Bryan Singer, on the fly.

The crew poses for a group photo after a two-day shoot together. Seen are myself (Mark Schulze), Patty Mooney, Tommy Tallarico, Victor Lucas and Julie Stoffer

Top two photographs by Patty Mooney who was a Sound Technician on this gig.

San Diego Comic Con Blast From the Past - by Mark Schulze

2009-07-03T03:03:00.000-07:00

Photographs of some interesting conventioneers on the floor of the San Diego Comic Con back in 2001.

Photographs by Patty Mooney.

Vintage Batmobile at San Diego Comic Con - by Mark Schulze

2009-07-01T02:00:00.000-07:00

In 2001, the Batmobile was on display at the San Diego Comic Con. Kids and Dads really seemed to get a kick out of it.

That year we were shooting for Electronic Playground, Canada's biggest TV show related to videogames and technology. Producer, Victor Lucas and his pal, Tommy Tallarico, couldn't be happier to get a "ride" in the Batmobile.

Here I am wearing my Easyrig II which really takes the pressure off your shoulders and back. It's turned out to be one of the best video equipment investments I ever made; I still use it, it still performs beautifully, and I recommend it to any camera operator.

I shot interviews and B-Roll all that weekend for Electronic Playground and we cruised around the convention floor like there was no tomorrow, but by far the Batmobile is the thing that yanked the cranks of Victor and Tommy.

Photos by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con is Coming Fast - by Mark Schulze

2009-06-29T01:01:00.000-07:00

When you are at the San Diego Comic Con, try not to blink because then you will miss something.

Photographs by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con One Month Away - by Mark Schulze

2009-06-26T01:01:00.000-07:00

A view inside the San Diego Convention Center with San Diego Comic Con signage and a few furry characters.

Photographs by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con Is Getting Closer - by Mark Schulze

2009-06-24T01:01:00.000-07:00

You run into a lot of wild costumed characters at the San Diego Comic Con. These photographs were shot by Patty Mooney, our esteemed Audio Technician and Producer. We are all gearing up for this year's Comic Con, we have our passes, and we are ready to roll. By the way, for anybody who was not early enough to grab the worm, this show has been sold out for a few weeks now. Amazing, isn't it?

Kim Kardashian and Carmen Elektra at San Diego Comic Con 2008 - by Mark Schulze

2009-06-22T01:02:00.000-07:00

One highlight for Patty Mooney (my wife and partner who plays Sound Technician and/or Producer on our video shoots) was an interview with Kim Kardashian and Carmen Elektra. Kim and I learned that we have one thing in common; she's Armenian and I am half Armenian. They spoke about their movie, "Scary Movie 4."

San Diego Comic Con is Getting Closer - by Mark Schulze

2009-06-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots taken by my partner, who plays Sound Technician at times, and at other times plays Producer - Patty Mooney. These are glimpses outside the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego Comic Con 2008. We dig the traffic dude's Elvis do.

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

2009-06-12T02:02:00.000-07:00

By now I think you know that I am a Director of Photography and Videographer, and that I have covered the San Diego Comic Con for my broadcast clients for over a decade. Right now I am presenting this modest pictorial of photographs taken in and around the San Diego Comic Con by my partner, Patty Mooney, who is a sound technician and producer. As I mentioned before, not everything "Comic Con" is confined to the convention floor. There is a festival of happenings outside on the street. Anyone with a camera can have a total field day with the eye candy displayed during this convention, even if they never make it inside the big glass doors. And most people you encounter ABSOLUTELY LOVE having their photo taken.

Photographs by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

2009-06-10T02:02:00.000-07:00

When it comes to San Diego Comic Con, which has been going strong for the last 39 years - this year will be its 40th anniversary - there is as much happening outside the San Diego Convention Center as inside. Everybody and everything are all dressed up in fantastical costumery. Many Comic Con devotees spend the entire year gearing up for this wondrous weekend. Some embellish their get-ups for years. It's truly an honor and a privilege to be onsite during this convention; there's nothing else like it anywhere.

Photos by Patty Mooney

Hugh Jackman Rocks San Diego Comic Con - by Mark Schulze

2009-06-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

One of the moments that stands out for me at last year's San Diego Comic Con occurred right after a panel featuring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis from "Max Payne." Who sauntered into the hall but Wolverine himself, in his civilian clothes. The audience, and particularly the women, screamed and cheered, until he settled them down enough to announce that he had just gotten off a plane from Australia and that nothing could have kept him from coming to Comic Con to thank his fans. He said, "Without you, I wouldn't have a career. Without you, there would be no Wolverine." Again the hall broke out into screams and cheers. He strode across the stage a couple of times, and then he was gone, just like that.

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

2009-05-25T01:01:00.000-07:00

These are assorted photos showing the outside environment at San Diego Comic Con where our broadcast video production crew covers the show for our various clients.

A view across the street from the San Diego Convention Center; San Diego Hard Rock Hotel on the right where the limo is parked

San Diego Comic Con Conventioneers crossing the street

San Diego Comic Con is kid- and family-friendly

Whoa, remember the Hot Dog Mobile?

Photographs by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

2009-05-23T01:01:00.000-07:00

Do not mess with this guy

Do not mess with the green guy either

A glimpse of the San Diego Comic Con convention floor; it's tight

Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connolly appeared on a panel for 'The Day the Earth Stood Still," 2008

Photos by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

2009-05-21T01:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the second installment of San Diego Comic Con photos from over the years. This batch is from 2008, inside the San Diego Convention Center. But in the next days and weeks I will devote my page to some vintage photos that will take you way back!

These three handsome guys are all serving in the Marines and volunteered to be ushers at the various panels at Comic Con

Sign posted outside the lavatories; unfortunately non-humans cannot read

Two Avators in the hallway

More fun and frolicking with photogs and avatars in the hallway

These photos were all taken by my partner, Patty Mooney who serves as producer and/or sound technician on broadcast video shoots.

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

2009-05-19T16:53:00.001-07:00

San Diego Comic Con is coming, and it's coming fast. After a quick glance at their website, one can see that Friday and Saturday (July 24 and 25) are already sold out; these are the times when you will see the most costumed characters in every corner of the San Diego Convention Center halls. These are the two days that Comic Con fans spend the year preparing themselves for. If you position yourself in the right place at the right time with a camera, the crowds will slowly shuffle on by, providing great photo ops.

Thankfully we have press credentials in hand, and so we will be on our way into the maelstrom once more, just as we have done for over a decade, as an elite broadcast video production crew, gathering images from the convention floor and beyond!

San Diego Convention Center, street level

Check out the Caped Crusader's double chin; looks like he picked up a few things for the bat cave

Actor Hugh Jackman makes a surprise appearance in 2008

Actor Beau Bridges talks about Stargate: Continuum on the flight deck of the USS Midway, 2008

Stay tuned for more Comic Con photos taken over the last ten years, in the days and weeks to come, as our way of gearing up for San Diego's largest convention.

These photographs were taken by Patty Mooney

Adventures at the Landfill - by Mark Schulze

2009-05-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

Mark Schulze on camera at Otay Mesa Landfill - Photo by Patty Mooney

Johnnie Perkins, Allied Waste Services Director, and Mark Schulze, Director of Photography - Photo by Patty Mooney

Video production has been my way of life since when I left college in 1981 and started my video production company, Crystal Pyramid Productions. One thing I love about the business is that no two productions are ever alike. Each one has its own special demands and features a whole new roster of people who are involved, as well as its own location or set of locations.

We have recently shot on various occasions for our local waste management company, Allied Waste Services. These shoots have been interesting in that they have also provided an education to all of us on what happens to our garbage once we dispose of it and cart it out to the street curb. My wife and partner, Patty Mooney, has blogged about it herself, as she accompanied me several times as a sound recordist at two of San Diego's landfills, and she edited the award-winning video, "Operations at Sycamore Landfill."

Adventures at the Landfill - by Patty Mooney

Check it out - it's really quite fascinating.

Balboa Park, San Diego's Jewel - by Mark Schulze

2009-04-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

Mark Schulze collecting stock footage in Balboa Park, San Diego - Photo by Patty Mooney

One of the fun things I do in my job is to gather clips for our stock footage library, New & Unique Videos. We actually started the company after shooting a documentary called "Full Cycle: A World Odyssey," which took my partner, Patty Mooney, and me around the world with our mountain bikes and a ton of video equipment. After the documentary was completed, we started getting calls from clients who wanted to buy footage from the places where we had traveled. And thus began the stock footage branch of New & Unique Videos.

"Full Cycle: A World Odyssey" garnered over 13 international awards and lots of press; however, it was never broadcast on television because it was considered too "nichey" and because it was the first "reality show" ever produced, it was misunderstood and just too far ahead of its time. Patty and I started calling it our "red-headed stepchild" as we began parsing out clips like the crazy Tasmanian devil and the underwater mountain biker clips which both appeared on Real TV.

Anyway, one of my favorite places to shoot footage is our very own jewel, Balboa Park. Above you will see one of the two water fountains featured at the park along with the Museum of Man. If you ever get a chance to visit San Diego, you must be sure to check out Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. There are also several museums that are excellent, including the Reuben H. Fleet Space Center & Theater, the San Diego Natural History Museum which is now showing the Body Worlds Exhibit, the Automotive Museum, the Hall of Champions Sports Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, and the list goes on. On a beautiful day you cannot go wrong.

Pat and Oscars Give Away One Million Breadsticks - by Mark Schulze

2009-04-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

A very interesting production gig occurred in 2004 when Pat & Oscar's, a local fast-food restaurant chain here in San Diego, decided to give away breadsticks, calling the campaign "Summer of One Million Breadsticks." Their mascot, as seen in the above photo, is one of the funniest mascots I have ever had occasion to videotape. A very personable breadstick, to be sure!

I shot a VNR (Video News Release) for Pat & Oscar's. What this entails is first shooting footage of an event (such as "Summer of One Million Breadsticks"). After the shoot, the videographer (me), drives like a bat out of hell back to the studio to edit the best clips into a five-minute reel that then gets messengered to all the big local news stations. You hope for a slow news day so that your VNR gets aired. This particular one was picked up by two of the stations and shown on both the 6 PM and 10 PM news segments. So that was a successful campaign for Pat & Oscar's.

Shooting Footage at a Quarry - by Mark Schulze

2009-04-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

One of my more interesting recent video production gigs here in San Diego involved a local quarry with large earth-shifting machinery manufactured in Ireland. I was a Director of Photography hired by Miracles Productions out of Ireland. These great photos are by Producer and Director, Dave Johnston.

Those Were the Good Old Days - by Mark Schulze

2009-04-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

Soccer Team, White Horse, Yukon, 1986 - Photograph by Patty Mooney

My wife, Patty, recently had some slides digitized. These particular slides have been in a binder on a shelf since 1986 when she and I sold or gave away everything, halted our video production business, rented our house out to some tenants, and set out from our hometown of San Diego for the wilds of North America in a small Chinook camper. We ended up driving 25,000 miles in the course of nine months. Along the way, Patty took some photographs and I shot video footage to document our adventures. I'm third from the left in the above shot, the guy with the lanky blonde locks (which are sadly no more).

On this particular day, after hanging out with some newfound friends in White Horse, Yukon, Canada, the soccer team invited me to play a game. As you can tell, they were quite fond of Coke.

We have since unfortunately lost touch with these wonderful, generous and hospitable people, but here's a shout out, 22 years later. Thanks for all the great times! Man, those were the good old days!

My Days With Mario Lopez - Before He Made It Big - by Mark Schulze

2009-04-03T18:11:00.001-07:00

Mark Schulze and Mario organize Mario's cue cards - Photo by Patty Mooney

This little girl had a Chihuahua (pictured below); she was enthralled with Mario - Photo by Patty Mooney

Many people don't realize or remember that before he was the face of Extra, Mario Lopez was once Animal Planet's Pet Star Search "ringleader." He and his "dog and pony show" used to come to San Diego every Spring in search of the world's funniest, most talented and videogenic animals. The first year there was a horse that could stamp out the answer to various math questions. There was also this amazing dog that ended up winning the prize for best talent that year. After that, no more horses showed up, and the level of talent seemed to decline. All in all it was a good three-year run and we are happy that Mario has been doing so well with his career since those happy and innocent days.

Don't Shoot the Brewmaster! - by Mark Schulze

2009-03-26T18:26:00.000-07:00

Mark Schulze, Jim Koch and Patty Mooney

Don't shoot the brewmaster! Okay, that's my little allusion to the old quote, "Don't shoot the piano player." It's an inference that you don't want to destroy something or someone that brings you pleasure. And I was being sarcastic, in that I DID shoot this particular brewmaster, Mr. Jim Koch, the CEO of Samuel Adams, but I shot him with my camera when he appeared at the Craft Beers Convention in San Diego last summer. If you've ever seen the Sam Adams commercials on television, yes, that really is Jim's voice.

This is a man who knows his beers! And why not? He is a third-generation brewmaster, and he and his forebears have been immersed in hops for decades. See the taps behind us? That is what they call a "perk" of the gig. It was one of the best video production gigs I have had the pleasure to be a part of.

Some of the finest beers on Earth, right there in that room. Well, as they say, someone has to do it! As someone who is part German, I certainly know how to appreciate well-crafted beers. And so does my wife, Patty, who is part Irish. 'Nuf said.

An Interview With Ced Dempsey - by Mark Schulze

2009-03-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

Ced Dempsey and Director of Photography/Videographer, Mark Schulze - Photo by Patty Mooney

Now that March has roared in like a lion, it seems like a great time to talk about the day we shot a short interview of Ced Dempsey, who is one of the most respected men involved with intercollegiate athletics in the United States.

According to his bio on the Albion College website, Ced Dempsey, who has been President of the NCAA since 1994, "has championed athletic involvement as a means of enhancing international understanding. He provides leadership for the more than 1,200 colleges, universities, conferences, and affiliated organizations that comprise the association."

Additionally, "A nine-time letter winner in three different sports at Albion (football, basketball, and baseball), Ced was named the MIAA Most Valuable Player in basketball his senior year and was inducted as a charter member of the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. From 1959 to 1962, Ced served as Albion’s head basketball and cross country coach. The following year he was dean of men."

"Prior to joining the NCAA, he was director of athletics at four institutions, the University of Arizona, University of the Pacific, San Diego State University, and the University of Houston.
He earned a doctorate from the University of Illinois in 1963. A recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Albion in 1993, he was presented with an honorary doctor of laws degree from the College in 1995."

"He and his wife, June Luke Dempsey, ’54, recently funded extensive improvements in the College’s softball field. The Dempseys are the parents of three children and reside in Indianapolis."

It was a great pleasure for my wife, Patty, who is also my sound person, and I to meet Mr. Dempsey. It would be difficult to meet a more gracious man. Although Patty met the late, great Pete Newell a couple of years ago, just before he passed, and he, too, was fantastic.

The great Pete Newell - Photo by Patty Mooney

"The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans" Website

2009-03-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to announce that the website for our multiple award-winning documentary, "The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans" has been updated with our latest awards. There's a trailer there and viewers can click on that and see the four-minute piece that highlights the plight of nearly a quarter of a million homeless veterans across the nation. Every American needs to see it. The thing is, those who served their country and performed the work that was required of them should not be disposed of like trash. There are veterans from every war, even going back to WW2, who are sleeping on the sidewalks. We have troops coming home now from Afghanistan and Iraq who are slipping through the cracks and finding themselves sleeping in cars and on park benches because they missed one payment on their home or apartment. After getting clued in by watching the trailer, you will realize how deluded someone like Bill O'Reilly is when he says "there are no homeless veterans." Yep, and I have some swamp land to sell you in Florida.

Premiere of "The Invisible Ones" at San Diego Public Library

2009-03-04T20:13:00.000-08:00

This last Sunday afternoon was matinee time for around a hundred people who came to see the world premiere of our latest project, a documentary called "The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans. The reason we created this documentary is that we felt not enough people know about the plight of homeless veterans; they comprise around half the population of homeless on our streets. My wife, Patty, has written extensively about this topic, so if you are interested in learning more about veterans, and homeless veterans in particular, read these blogs by Patty Mooney. Here are the links.

Our Gift to Veterans

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

Steve Mason's "The Wall Within"

"The Invisible Ones" Wins Two Prestigious Awards

Casey Tibbs, Paralympian and Natural Born Hero

2009-02-25T17:45:00.000-08:00

Casey Tibbs and Mark Schulze at Olympic Training Center, Otay Mesa, California - Photo by Patty Mooney

Casey Tibbs & Mark Schulze at Olympic Training Center, Otay Mesa, California - Photo by Patty Mooney

Prior to the 2008 Beijing, China Olympiad, I had the opportunity to videotape Casey Tibbs, the Paralympian, at the Olympic Training Center in Otay Mesa. It's amazing how developed the area is now, as I remember shooting off bottle rockets there 30 years ago when it was just dirt, sagebrush and the occasional roving border patrol agent.

Casey was a very down-to-earth guy who spoke of his "disability" as an "opportunity." I enjoy working with such positive people. Casey at the time was about to head over to China for the Paralympics, and he was dedicated to working out as much as possible, while balancing a life with his family and his work in the Navy.

I later learned that he had won a gold medal in Beijing in the Men's 4 x 100 m relay as well as a bronze medal in the Long Jump.

If you are interested in learning more about this inspirational man, follow this link:

Casey Tibbs, Paralympian

Life at the Landfill

2009-02-19T19:41:00.000-08:00

We've been shooting landfill footage for Allied Waste Services over the last couple of years, including timelapse footage of landfill excavation and lining. It's quite an intriguing topic, especially if you have ever wondered where your garbage ends up, and how it is managed. My wife, Patty, wrote a story about this at her blog. Check it out!

Adventures at the Landfill by Patty Mooney

Covering the San Diego Wild Fires

2009-02-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

Covering Evacuees at Qualcomm - Photo by Patty Mooney

Our hearts go out to our "mates" in Australia right now, for they are suffering through some devasting wild fires. We can also commiserate, having been evacuated from our home once, and returning with relief to find it still standing. After suffering a drought for 20 years or so, we San Diegans are now used to enduring an elongated "fire season" every year now, from summer through autumn.

In 2001, Extra called on me to document footage of the evacuees at Qualcomm Stadium. Look at how brown the air is. The air is thick with burnt ember particles and face masks are

a must.

Good things eventually do sprout from the devastation, such as tender green shoots in the ground heralding new life, and people experience a new awareness and gratitude for what they have. We all continue to learn that this life is fleeting and it can all be gone - up in smoke - tomorrow.

Shooting a Commercial with Olympian Swimmers, "Pre-Michael Phelps"

2009-02-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

The Crystal Pyramid Productions video production team shot a commercial for Games 'n Flix a couple of years ago, starring Olympian swimmers Brad Schumacher, Gabe Woodward and Lenny Krayzelburg.

Mark Schulze with Brad Schumacher

Photographs by Digital Still Photographer, Patty Mooney.

Here's the commercial:

Covering the San Diego Comic Con For a Decade

2009-02-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

Me and the Klingon - Photo by Patty Mooney

Me at the Marvel Booth - Photo by Patty Mooney

My crew has been covering the San Diego Comic Con (Comic Book Convention) for a decade now. It has grown from a fledgeling convention of around a thousand participants to a huge venue with around 115,000 attendees. The Comic Con has become a Hollywood satellite featuring celebrities from A, B and C lists who come to publicize their movies and projects.

My partner, Patty, has written up a couple of blogs on this. To see photos and learn more, check out:

Week of the Hotties - Part One (the hot guys)
Week of the Hotties - Part Two (the hot women)

Roger Hodgson Concert for the Benefit of Firefighters of 911

2009-02-11T16:13:00.000-08:00

Me Documenting Roger Hodgson - Photo by Patty Mooney

Just after 9/11, Roger Hodgson played at a concert here in San Diego to benefit the firefighters who had risked their lives performing their jobs at Ground Zero, 9/11. My wife, Patty, was on the stationary camera. She posted a music video:

Roger Hodgson - Take the Long Way Home

Julie Foudy, Soccer Champion

2009-02-09T19:31:00.000-08:00

An Interview with Julie Foudy on the USD Soccer Field - Photo by Patty Mooney

It was great to have the opportunity to shoot an interview with Julie Foudy, premiere soccer player, back in the day (2001). Unfortunately, San Diego's ladies' soccer team, The Spirit, had to vanish due to limited funding and lack of corporate sponsorship.

What was cool about this particular interview was that the key message concerned the efforts of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) to keep stadiums smoke-free by not advertising or selling tobacco products at any games and by encouraging fans not to smoke in the stands or concourses.

A second message addressed young girls, encouraging them not to start smoking. "We would never be able to run around a field kicking a ball for 90 minutes if we smoked," said Julie. "Smoking's not cool, and it's not glamorous."

Julie was fun to work with. She was very down to earth, a really good person and a great sport... even with a 2K light in her face.

Blue Skies and Monsters of Motocross

2009-02-05T19:27:00.000-08:00

A perfect day to shoot Motocross rider, Mike Cinqmar, in sunny Southern California. I'm a mountain biker myself, and enjoy the adrenaline rush of highspeed downhill technical riding. But what these guys do is really incredible. Following them with a video camera can be quite the challenge.

Aerials Over La Jolla

2009-02-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

One of our clients needed some aerial footage of the La Jolla coastline. It occurred to me that it would be much less expensive to go up in a hang glider than in a helicopter. And at Torrey Pines novices can hang glide in tandem with instructors. So voila! I went up with my Sony PD150 and got one of the thrills of a lifetime along with some outstanding stock footage. Photos are by my wife, Patty Mooney.

Preparing for take-off

And we have lift-off!

Airborne!

A view from the sky

Wedding Crashers Bridesmaids

2009-02-03T19:16:00.000-08:00

Crystal Pyramid Productions' broadcast video production crew shot interviews of the bridesmaids from "The Wedding Crashers" for AMC's "Sunday Morning Shootout." Sound Technician, Patty Mooney, and Director of Photography and Videographer, Mark Schulze, have fun with the bridesmaids.

An Encounter With Weird Al Yankovich

2009-02-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

While wending our way through the San Diego Comic Con crowds, I spotted Weird Al Yankovich, who was kind enough to stop and grant an interview for Electronic Playground. That is M-TV's Julie Stoffer laughing in the background. Photo by Patty Mooney.

Take the Wheel in the Batmobile, Victor!

2009-01-30T17:39:00.000-08:00

Grabbing a shot of Victor Lucas of Electronic Playground in the driver's seat of the Batmobile, San Diego Comic Con, early this century. Photo by Patty Mooney.

A Day With Apollo Anton Ono

2009-01-29T21:26:00.000-08:00

Crystal Pyramid Productions' broadcast video crew shot a day in the life of Olympian, Apollo Ono, whom CW Now challenged to "dance on the water" on one of Bob Montgomery's jet-powered surf boards. Seen in the shot are Sound Technician, Patty Mooney, Director of Photography and Videographer, Mark Schulze, Apollo Ono and Bob Montgomery in his silver helmet. Working with Apollo Anton Ono was pretty cool. He's a very personable guy.

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