For those that can’t get enough of the YouTube playback on our homepage, please feel free to click on, and forward the link below!
Our creative director, Toshi Onuki designed the HTML layout - and if you look close, you can see glimpses of each character.
We had a fun time putting this together, and everyone in the facility had a hand in a part of the project. We hope you enjoy it!
- Adam Sturgeon
One challenge that we always encounter is the crossover between the newer digital technology and the older but still popular analog technology.
We take pride in our abilities to work with most formats, whether it is for a simple tape duplication or for a large event production where we provide project management and design, produce, edit projects for our clients to use on a national stage. Because today’s media technology is rapidly evolving and our clients are interested in using this new technology, we are continually transforming our media capabilities to handle more High Definition media production and editorial within our facility.
As Total Media Group shifts gears to prepare our clients for the future of media technology, we still have requests that are from an analog source such as Beta SP, VHS, 3/4 “ and hi-8. As a technician here at TMG, it is my job to take these variable sources and complete the job with the highest quality possible. Usually the types of requests that go along with these sources are DVD dubs, conversions to WMV or QT files, or digitizing. There is a little more work involved to get these older analog sources prepped and ready to be used for our digital machines. Although it is a challenge to integrate much older media technology with the latest and greatest technology, Total Media Group has continued to own and operate equipment old and new in order to give our clients the best variety of work possible.
- Aldo Panattoni
Life is a Banquet: The Rosalind Russell Story had it’s world premier on Sunday, July 26 at the Stony Brook Film Festival. The house was packed and anticipaton was high as the lights dimmed. The film looked and sounded amazing on the Staller Center’s huge screen. The audience laughed and cried at all the right times and erupted into thunderous applause as the credits rolled.
In attendance beside myself were writer and director Jonathan Gruber and Rosalee Russell Renfrow, Rosalind’s niece who was also interviewed in the film. Rosalee viewed the film for the very first time and she was quite moved by it.
After the film the 3 of us took questions from the audience. Jonathan was asked about his decision to have Russell herself narrate the film, as portrayed by Academy Award winner Kathleen Turner. Jonathan replied that he dislikes the traditional narration usually used in documentaries, so he decided he would have Russell tell her story in her own words.
After nearly 3 years in production, it was very gratifying to finally screen the film before a live audience. By their experience their response, I think we have a winner! Look for it on PBS in the fall!
- Kris Kunz
Hello, my name is Kris Kunz and I have been part of the Total Media Group team for almost 5 years in a variety of capacities, most recently creative and editorial. In early 2008, not long after the end of the high definition format wars1 (see wiki link at bottom) the Blu-ray version of Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 was finally green lit and I was given what has to date been the most rewarding experience in my career. I was brought on to Total’s design team to help create the Blu-ray discs.
My role was under production for the 3000+ menu designs and as a line producer. I got to work under TMG Creative Director Toshi Onuki and the Shakey Pictures team. It was not only an honor but also an amazing learning experience to work with the myriad of talented people who had been brought together to create the Archives.
Relative to a 20+ year long project, my role was comparatively minor, and I worked only on the Blu-ray portion of the job. However, I was able to learn a lot during my work on this project and I would like to share what I can and hopefully satisfy some curiosities of anyone who is interested in the Blu-ray volume’s creation.
Over the next few weeks I plan to post entries giving a behind the scenes description of the design process, what some of the major challenges were and how were they met. Stay tuned.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_definition_optical_disc_format_war
