Denver Video Production

Apple Boot Key Combos:

Bypass startup drive and boot from external (or CD).... CMD-OPT-SHIFT-DELETE
Boot from CD (Most late model Apples) ................. C
Boot from a specific SCSI ID #.(#=SCSI ID number)...... CMD-OPT-SHIFT-DELETE-#
Zap PRAM .............................................. CMD-OPT-P-R
Disable Extensions .................................... SHIFT
Rebuild Desktop ....................................... CMD-OPT
Close finder windows.(hold just before finder starts).. OPT
Boot with Virtual Memory off........................... CMD
Trigger extension manager at boot-up................... SPACE
Force Quadra av machines to use TV as a monitor........ CMD-OPT-T-V
Boot from ROM (Mac Classic only)....................... CMD-OPT-X-O
Force PowerBooks to reset the screen................... R
Force an AV monitor to be recognized as one............ CMD-OPT-A-V
Eject Boot Floppy...................................... Hold Down Mouse Button
Select volume to start from............................ OPT
Start in Firewire drive mode........................... T
Startup in OSX if OS9 and OXS in boot partition........ X or CMD-X
Hold down until the 2nd chime, will boot into 9?....... CMD-OPT
OSX: Watch the status of the system load............... CMD-V
OSX: Enter single-user mode (shell-level mode)......... CMD-S

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After startup:

Bring up dialogue for shutdown/sleep/restart........... POWER
Eject a Floppy Disk.................................... CMD-SHIFT-1 or(2) or (0)
Force current app to quit.............................. CMD-OPT-ESC
Unconditionally reboot................................. CTRL-CMD-POWER
Fast Shutdown.......................................... CTRL-CMD-OPT-POWER
Goto the debugger (if MacsBug is installed)............ CMD-POWER
Reset Power Manager on PowerBooks...................... USE THIS LINK
Put late model PowerBooks & Desktops to sleep.......... CMD-OPT-POWER

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Application Specific Keys:

Startup key combos to reset the resolution on video boards:
SuperMac (at least some models)press&hold.............. OPT
Imagine 128 Card (reset resolution).................... N
RasterOps (at least some models)press&hold............. CMD-OPT-SHIFT
Radius (Use cable sense pins to set resolution)........ U
Radius (Cycle through available resolutions)........... T

Conflict Catcher:
  Pause Boot........................................... P
  Launch CC at Startup................................. SPACE or CAPS LOCK
  Skip remaining extensions............................ CMD-PERIOD
  Reboot cleanly while loading extensions.............. CMD-R

RAM Doubler:
  Disable at Startup................................... ~ (Tilde) or ESC

Apple System Installer:
  Change custom install to clean install............... CMD-Shift-K

Claris Emailer:
  Bypass specified startup connections................. Hold CMD at launch
  Bring up rebuild options............................. Hold OPT at launch

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Controlling the Post-Startup Environment
Most Macintosh users know about holding the Shift key down to prevent extensions from loading, but there are numerous startup modifiers that affect the state of the system after the boot process finishes.

* Shift causes the Mac to boot without extensions, which is useful for troubleshooting extension conflicts. If you hold down Shift after all the extensions have loaded but before the Finder launches, it also prevents any startup items from launching.

* Spacebar launches Apple’s Extensions Manager early in the startup process so you can enable or disable extensions before they load. Casady & Greene’s Conflict Catcher, if you’re using it instead of Extensions Manager, also launches if it sees you holding down the spacebar, or, optionally, if Caps Lock is activated. Conflict Catcher also adds the capability to configure additional startup keys as ways of specifying that a particular startup set should be used. Choose Edit Sets from the Sets menu, select a set in the resulting dialog and click Modify. In the sub-dialog that appears, you can specify a startup key and check the checkbox to make it effective.

* Option, if held down as the Finder launches, closes any previously open Finder windows. On stock older Macs, holding down Option does nothing at startup by default, although some extensions may deactivate if Option is held down when they attempt to load; see below for Option’s effect on new Macs and Macs with Zip drives.

* Control can cause the Location Manager to prompt you to select a location. Although Control is the default, you can redefine it in the Location Manager’s Preferences dialog, and since Control held down at startup also activates Apple’s MacsBug debugger (see below), you may wish to pick a different key combination.

* Command turns virtual memory off until the next restart.

* Shift-Option disables extensions other than Connectix’s RAM Doubler (and MacsBug – see below). To disable RAM Doubler but no other extensions, hold down the tilde (~) key at startup.

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Choosing Startup DisksNot surprisingly, many of the startup modifiers affect the disk used to boot the Mac. A number of these are specific to certain models of the Macintosh.

* The mouse button causes the Mac to eject floppy disks and most other forms of removable media, though not CD-ROMs.

* The C key forces the Mac to start up from a bootable CD-ROM, if one is present, which is useful if something goes wrong with your startup hard disk. This key doesn’t work with some older Macs or clones that didn’t use Apple CD-ROM drives; they require Command- Shift-Option-Delete instead (see below).

* Option activates the new Startup Manager on the iBook, Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics), PowerBook (FireWire), and slot-loading iMacs. The Startup Manager displays a rather cryptic set of icons indicating available startup volumes, including any NetBoot volumes that are available. On some Macs with Iomega Zip drives, holding down Option at startup when there is a Zip startup disk inserted will cause the Mac to boot from the Zip disk.

* Command-Shift-Option-Delete bypasses the disk selected in the Startup Disk control panel in favor of an external device or from CD-ROM (on older Macs). This is also useful if your main hard disk is having problems and you need to start up from another device. (On some PowerBooks, however, this key combination merely ignores the internal drive, which isn’t as useful.)

* The D key forces the PowerBook (Bronze Keyboard and FireWire) to boot from the internal hard disk.

* The T key forces the PowerBook (FireWire) (and reportedly the Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics), though I was unable to verify that on my machine) to start up in FireWire Target Disk Mode, which is essentially the modern equivalent of SCSI Disk Mode and enables a PowerBook (FireWire) to act as a FireWire-accessible hard disk for another Macintosh.

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Seriously Tweaky Startup ModifiersOnly programmers and the most geeky of users will find these startup modifiers useful.

* Control activates Apple’s MacsBug debugger as soon as it loads. If you rely on this frequently, you may want to redefine the default key for selecting the Location Manager location at startup from Control to something else.

* Shift-Option disables extensions and virtual memory but still loads MacsBug, which would otherwise be disabled by the Shift key.

* Command-Option-O-F puts you into Open Firmware mode on PCI-based Macs and clones. Open Firmware is a cross-platform firmware standard for controlling hardware that all PCI-based Macs use. It’s mostly of interest to hardware developers, but it can be a fun way to freak out a new user who’s not expecting to see a command line on the Mac. To exit Open Firmware and continue booting, type “mac-boot” or “bye” (depending on Macintosh model) and press Return. For a list of commands you can enter while in Open Firmware mode, see the Tech Info Library article.

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Just for FunAlthough Apple has moved away from relatively frivolous “Easter Eggs” connected with startup modifiers, there are a few available for old Macintosh models.

* Command-X-O, when held down at startup on a Macintosh Classic boots the Classic from a built-in ROM disk.

* Command-Option-C-I, when held down at startup on a Macintosh IIci whose date has been set to 20-Sep-89 (the machine’s introduction date), produces some sort of graphical display that I can’t check for lack of a relevant machine. A different display appears if you hold down Command-Option-F-X at startup on a Macintosh IIfx with the date set to 19-Mar-90.

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 this was for an assignment in school. a light study. turns out it was pretty good and showed in a few galleries in San Francisco and came in second at the Columbia Student film awards.

firefly

Unleaded can help you out with your Christmas party slide show or Holiday video. I’ve worked on projects ranging from basic slides to scripted narrative, just depends what you want out of your christmas party. These projects are always fun to work on and I’m sure I can help add some excitement to the party.

AppleInsider reports that Macworld San Francisco 2008 will be the launching ground for Apple’s long-rumored ultra-portable laptop.

The new 13″ aluminum sub-notebook is described to be 50% lighter and “strikingly slimmer” than the existing 15″ MacBook Pros. To achieve this small form factor, Apple is said to have removed an optical drive from the design of the new laptop. As well, Apple will incorporate NAND flash-based storage as well as LED backlights to improve power efficiency.

Appleinsider posted their belief that a sub-notebook is coming from Apple back in February of 2007. Rumors of an ultra-portable Mac, however, have been ongoing for months with talk of a NAND-based ultra-portable Mac dating as far back as June 2006.

This new description of an aluminum case corresponds to a recent report by 9to5 indicating that slim aluminum MacBooks had been spotted with “something strange” about the touchpad.

Macworld Expo takes place from January 15-18th, 2008 in San Francisco, California.

For what its worth, Apple 2.0 Blog reports that Piper Jaffrey’s Gene Munster is 75% certain that an ultralight MacBook “or possibly an entirely new product” will be coming in January at Macworld. They also point to photos and video of Engadget editor, Ryan Block, successfully transplanting a pre-release Samsung 64GB solid-state drive into his MacBook Pro.

full article from the insider:

The 13-inch portable, which AppleInsider first detailed back in February, will mark the Cupertino-based Mac maker’s re-entry into the sub-notebook market — arriving in a form-factor that’s approximately 50 percent lighter and strikingly slimmer than the company’s current 15-inch professional MacBook Pro offering.

In achieving this smaller notebook footprint, Apple has reportedly adopted design cues that fall in line with the minimalist nature of its chief executive, including a bold move to omit a traditional optical disc drive from the aluminum-clad systems.

The thickness of today’s optical disc drive components are one of the primary factors limiting the ability of PC manufacturers to slim down their next-generation notebook designs. Although Apple had originally made attempts to build in a drive through unconventional means, it’s reported that the plan faced both obstacles and opposition, and upon last check appeared to have been scrapped.

At the same time, the new sub-notebook will mark the advent of features not yet available with Apple’s existing portable offerings, such as onboard NAND flash. The system will represent the first Mac to utilize the solid-state memory in order to improve power efficiency and facilitate near instantaneous boot times, among other advantages.

Also helping with power efficiency will be the adoption of a new breed of 13-inch LCD display panels, which, like those used in the current iteration of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, feature LED backlights rather than cold cathode fluorescent backlights (CCFLs).

While pricer than CCFLs, LED-backlit panels offer increased color saturation and are more efficient at distributing light evenly across the entire display surface. They also consume less power, run cooler, and last longer than CCFL-backlit displays. When combined with on-board NAND flash drives — which contain no moving parts and therefore also draw less power — the technology is expected to translate into significant improvements in battery performance as employed in the new notebook design.

it’s been awhile since I was in a photobooth. first time i was in a photo booth with a camera.

http://www.biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=4262

There’s always a process that works better than others. At Unleaded Media, we’ve found the following process to work optimally:

PRE-PRODUCTION: Define the Purpose

The video process begins by choosing the purpose of your video. Any effective communication is defined by clarity of purpose. Your corporate video should be created to convey one single message, promote a single product or service, or express one singular goal or intent. The key to a successful video is keeping it simple and limited to a solitary goal or intent. A cluttered disorganized video will leave the audience confused, antagonistic or wary.

Identify the Target Audience:

For your video to be right on target we must know exactly who we’re trying to reach. Clients or employees? Management or rank and file? Young or old? Once identified we can choose the style, pacing and music that motivates that group.

Develop an Outline:

An outline can be developed in-house or contracted out to a professional writer or your designated producer at Unleaded Media. The outline requires your concentrated attention. Now is the time to make revisions and offer suggestions. Pass it around to all the people who will have to approve the script and final video. Changes at this point in the production can be made easily. Later on, when production is under way, revisions can be costly, time consuming and laborious.

An outline should remain flexible. It is simply a good starting point for the ideas and message that the video will communicate. Ultimately, the outline should guide the video, rather than limit it.

Create the Script:

It is very difficult to shoot using the outline as a guide, although in a pinch it can be done. Shooting without a script adds immeasurably onto the production and editing time. A good shooting script for a video production is indispensable, like blueprints for a house: without a carefully designed script a project will wind up costing more than expected and be less than successful in conveying your message.

Scriptwriting for TV is different from other forms of writing. Visuals, not words, carry the message most strongly in video. Studies show that people learn most and remember more of what they see. We can either write the script or provide script consultation to help you write effectively for TV.

Additional Pre-Production Factors:

Meetings between the producer and client will determine a shooting and editing schedule. If talent (actors) are involved a casting and audition session will be arranged.

During this pre-production period we will arrange and book the Unleaded Media crew, designing and building of sets, plan graphics, locate and rent props and scout locations etc.

PRODUCTION: Shoot Day:

The Unleaded Media crew arrives at “call time” and establishes a centrally located “stash area” where equipment that is not immediately need is stored. We request that this room is secured since there are many valuable items left there. The crew must be totally wrapped within ten hours after their arrival to avoid overtime. A lunch break of thirty minutes to an hour is scheduled during the day.

Within a half hour to an hour of arrival we should be up and running, doing our first scene. Most clients are surprised to see how much time is involved in setting up each scene even though we work very fast. We believe that good videos are a result of craftsmanship, and rushing the job detracts from the final results.

Scenes are usually shot out of sequence which can be confusing for the uninitiated but is a more efficient use of time. We will rely on a representative from the client or location to keep us informed as to schedules, availability and arrange the cooperation of personnel. At this time they will guarantee the technical accuracy of what we are filming by watching the monitor or replays since it is prohibitively expensive to return for a re-shoot.

You may also elect to have top executives speak on camera. We realize this can be an unnerving experience and we are very experienced in helping the person relax. If the subject is expected to look and speak directly to camera, rather than be interviewed, we strongly suggest using a telepromptor.

POST PRODUCTION: Reviewing & Logging Footage:

The producer reviews the footage (rushes) to make sure we have everything in the can.

Off Line Edit:

This is a very rough version of what your final program will look like although it will not have effects or graphics.

If anything is incorrect or not to your liking we still have time to change. If you are comparing our cost estimate to others, please make sure that theirs includes an Off Line Edit. If they don’t know what that means…run!

Some clients opt to skip this stage for budget reasons. And perhaps that is OK for a very simplistic video. However, your On Line Edit will take longer, which may mean going over budget. Worse, other executives and departments may want changes after the On Line Edit is completed and that is very expensive to do once the audio is mixed and effects are laid in. We strongly recommend the Off Line Edit to allow for creativity, save money and avoid time delays.

On Line Edit:

Here’s the stage when everything comes together. You’re invited, and sometimes requested, to sit in.

with our new recording booth, unleaded will be offering Radio Spot recordings.

we can bid out any length of project.

We also have an a professional in house writer who who can help with the script and creative.

email me for any question: michael@unleadedmedia.com

Unleaded is updating its Voice Over Suite. We’re currently designing and fabricating a Sound booth to record professional quality VO’s and dialogs. We feel that with the increased bandwidth, both audio and video streaming will become an important part of your website. Unleaded is also a convenient place to record seeing that we’re located right in downtown Denver at 2314 Broadway.

We currently have a solid cast of characters for our talent pool. Let us know what you’re looking for.

We can’t ignore the direction the web is moving. The most compelling websites today include spot video clips.

Unleaded Media has mastered professional videos at affordable prices.

Schedule yours before December 31, 2007 and get $200 off.

Email michael@unleadedmedia.com today!