One Video with Multiple Translations - by Mark Schulze

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.

A Video by Women for the World - by Mark Schulze

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

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

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 I Got Started in the Video Profession - by Mark Schulze

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.

Celeb-extravaganza - by Patty Mooney

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

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.

Proud Finalist of "Most Admired CEO" Awards

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

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.