MG’s Notes

This is a video I helped film in North Carolina this fall. 

I changed the design of my blog. I think this fits more what I had in mind for ‘MG’s Notes.’ Please let me know what you think.

Also, if you’ve missed some of the election coverage, or you’re just interested in some entertainment, I recommend hulu’s election coverage. They have comedy clips at the bottom of the page.

Every year there is a conference in Las Vegas for film and video professionals, known as NAB.  Major announcements are saved for this time, and I try to keep up with what is happening.  This year, one of the keynote speakers was Tim Robbins.  He shared some controversial remarks, but the closing part was great.    I was surprised by the small segment I heard, and it really inspired me.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1370868150/bctid1506582278

“We are at an abyss, as an industry and as a country. We are at a critical juncture in this nation’s history. This is a nation divided and reeling from betrayal and economic hardship,” he said.

“And you, the broadcasters of this great nation, have tremendous power, and the tremendous potential to effect change. You have the power to turn this country away from cynicism. You have the power to turn this nation away from the hatred and the divisive dialogue that has rendered such a corrosive effect on our body politic.”

He shared other thoughts about politics that I might not agree with, but his challenge to broadcasters was refreshing.

Finding time to watch television is difficult for me. I rarely follow shows, and most of them I watch on DVD. Even making time to watch movies is tricky. YouTube is nice for some things, but I need more than that to compete with my big TV. I’ve been looking into methods for watching high quality video on the internet, and the future is really encouraging. (for watching good video, you need a broadband connection)

Netflix - It’s nice to rent movies and have them delivered, especially with no late fees. What make me jump from Blockbuster was their viewing on demand. Now you can watch movies streaming online, instantly. Their selection is fairly small, but I’ve found a few gems that make it worth it.

Hulu.com - I got into it before it was open to all, and its very impressive. They have a lot of NBC TV shows, plus some movies. Full screen is impressive. You can even see the latest Saturday Night Live clips, and the advertising isn’t too bad.

Adobe Media Player - This is the newest delivery method, and I’m just starting to look at it. The quality is good, and I like the interface. Apparently you can subscribe, RSS-style to channels you like. They have a desktop component, so you don’t even need to be online. I’m a big fan of Adobe creation software, and interested in the impact of this player.

Are there other great sites out there?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.