NPR Fresh Air interview with Big Love Creators Mark Olsen and Will Scheffer

I hope you caught the great interview with Big Love Creators Mark Olsen and Will Scheffer on NPR's Fresh Air. If not here it is. They said the Big Love characters were constantly "talking" in their heads as they wrote their scripts. Think about that conversation!

Big Love: The Complete Third Season DVD As if juggling three wives weren't tricky enough, Season Three of Emmy®- and Golden Globe®-nominated Big Love finds modern polygamist Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) tackling problems outside his three-house suburban home. Bill a practicing polygamist who lives in suburban Salt Lake City with his three wives and seven children. An independent businessman who runs a growing chain of hardware stores, Bill faces a myriad of challenges in meeting the emotional, romantic and financial needs of his wives Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn), Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) and Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin).

HDW-F900R CineAlta 24P HDCAM Package

If I had some extra cash laying around... There isn't a finer professional video camera than the Sony HDW-F900R CineAlta 24P HDCAM

Sony HDW-F900R CineAlta 24P HDCAM Package Sony HDW-F900R CineAlta 24P HDCAM Package, 2/3" 2.2MP FIT CCD, 1920 x 1080 Active Pixels, 3.5" LCD Color Viewfinder, Tripod Adapter, 24P, 25P, 29.97P, 50/59.94Hz Interlace, 4:2:2 RGB Color Space, Cinema-Quality Imagery, 320 ISO Equivalent HDW-F900R Professional Camcorders (ENG) HDW-F900R CineAlta 24P HDCAM Package

3D Camcorder!

Panasonic HDC-SDT750 3D Camcorder Panasonic HDC-SDT750 3D Camcorder, 1920 x 1080/60p HD, 3D Video Recording, SD/SDHC/SDXC Flash Memory, 3 x 1/4.1" 3.05MP CMOS Sensor, 3" Touch Screen LCD, Leica Dicomar Built-In Lens, VW-CLT1 3D Conversion Lens, 18x Intelligent Zoom, Hybrid Optical Image Stabilization, Digital Still Capture HDC-SDT750 Consumer Video Camcorders HDC-SDT750 3D Camcorder

Red Camera Steadicam

Yes, first I need a Red Camera (drool) and then I will buy a dedicated Steadicam!

Steadicam FLYER-LERED Flyer-LE Red One Camera Stabilizer System Steadicam FLYER-LERED Flyer-LE Red One Camera Stabilizer System, Red One Camera Compatible, High Definition Monitor, Hard Transport Case, Iso-Elastic Stabilizer Arm, Red One Camera Power FLYER-LERED Pro Video Stabilizer Systems FLYER-LERED Flyer-LE Red One Camera Stabilizer System

I love Corel Paintshop Pro!

I "appreciate" and now feel comfortable with Photoshop, but I felt like it was a steep learning curve. Corel Paintshop Pro speaks english. When I need a tool, it's where I thought it should be and is labeled what I would think it would be called. I think they call that intuitive software.
New Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 Ultimate.Only $99.99 and packed with over $400 in free upgrades

Best Home Video Editing Software - Adobe Elements

I am asked everyday if video editing at home is possible and easy. Yes and yes! Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop Elements are sold together and are the best of Adobe's media software at an amazingly affordable price. One semester I had a student using Adobe Premiere Pro Elements on a laptop right next to students editing with Premiere Pro CS3 and larger desktops. She could do everything we did on the more expensive software. Premiere Pro gets a bad rap from professional editors because it isn't considered to be as technically sound as Final Cut Pro or Avid. I am proficient in all 3 and there are times when I'm cutting with FCP and wish I could have a particular tool from Premiere (and vice versa). Nothing beats Adobe's CS5 integration in the teaching environment so I think Premiere Pro will continue to get more and more respect, which is highly deserved. It is excellent non linear video editing software and Premiere Pro Elements is the best home, affordable version around. With Photoshop Elements included you are all set to create professional images and videos from your home computer.

Photoshop Elements 9 & Premiere Elements 9 - License Complete photo and video editing made easy.

Canon XL - The BEST Professional Camcorder for the Independent Producer

I saw my first Canon XL1 at a promo shoot for my TV station in Philadelphia. All our news camerapeople were shooting with $30,000 Panasonic DVC Pro cameras and the station had hired an independent company to produce promos and they were using a $4000+, little Canon XL1. I was intrigued so talked to the videographers about why they liked it. I bought one shortly after that and have loved it with every shoot. The way you know they did their homework is that the body style and basic camera haven't changed since they designed it. If you can find a used one buy it. It's the best mid range, independent producer camcorder on the market.

Canon XL-H1 3-CCD Native 16:9 High Definition 1080i Camcorder with 20x HD Video Zoom Lens, SMPTE TC, Genlock, FireWire and HD/SD-SDI Output Canon XL-H1 3-CCD High Definition Camcorder XL-H1 XL-H1 3-CCD Native 16:9 High Definition 1080i Camcorder with 20x HD Video Zoom Lens, SMPTE TC, Genlock, FireWire and HD/SD-SDI Output

Panasonic HD Camcorder has a beautiful picture

When you've got the money for a really good camcorder, you can't beat a Panasonic HD. This is a progressive scan camcorder which means it records twice as much detail with each frame (as opposed to the interlacing method - too technical - you don't want to know - it's just a better video image!). Takes great low light video which is a problem with most camcorders.

Panasonic HDC-TM700 Digital Camcorder - 3" LCD - Touchscreen - CMOS - Black 0.24" 1 Year Limited 1 lux 1/2 Second 1/8000 Second 1080 12x 13.40 oz 16:9 1920 x 1080 2.60" 2.72" 230400 Pixel 3 3" 3.45 mm to 41.40 mm 32 GB 46 mm 5.43" 60 fps 7.6 Megapixel 7.9 Megapixel 700x 9.2 Megapixel Auto Indoor1 Indoor2 Sunny Cloudy White HDC-TM700 High Definition Digital Camcorder Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery Pack AV Multi Cable USB Cable Stylus Pen IR Remote AC Adapter AC Cable DC Cable Lens Hood Shoe Adapter HD Writer AE 2.1 Software The HDC-TM700 uses the progressive method to record twice as much image data as the interlace method. Whereas interlacing requires two images to produce a complete picture, the progressive method records a single image as a complete picture. Plus, the 60 Progressive Recording of the HDC-TM700 produces 60 images per second. This extremely dense image information creates intricate detail and silky smooth motion. Even when subjects move quickly, afterimages are minimized to create more natural images. The progressive method is most effective when shooting detailed designs where moir patterns tend to occur, or when capturing scenes during sports events where the subjects are intensely moving around. Also, the recorded images are displayed clearly even when they are made into still images, so it is possible to preserve stunning photos when clipping them from videos. AVCHD Auto Black CMOS Digital Camcorder Dolby Digital Electronic Flash Memory Flashlight HDC HDC-TM700 HDC-TM700 High Definition Digital Camcorder HDC-TM700K JPEG LCD MPEG-4 Manual Memory Card Microphone NTSC Optical PC Panasonic Secure Digital (SD) Card Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) Card Speaker Stereo Yes f/1.5 to 2.8 www.panasonic.com

Best MP3 player under $100

This is the best MP3 under $100 on the market. Anything SanDisk is great. Cnet ranked it in the top 5 next to players costing $250. I have one and use it at the gym. It fits just right in your pocket, sound is great and it's easy to use - non complicated controls.

Mac Pro Turnkey Video Editing System with Final Cut Studio

When you are ready for video editing system for semi-professional or professional work, you will need the best system possible to prevent downtime and lost work. Many of the good video companies will build systems for you. Called a "turnkey system", they are ready to go right out of the box. If you've got the money it's a good idea. If you don't, read the specs carefully for the video editing software you want (Final Cut Pro, Avid, Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects) to make sure your system is powerful enough for rendering, ram previews and large video files.

Best Tripod for small camcorders

A tripod is an important part of your video toolbox. But really good tripods are:
1). expensive
2). heavy
3). too big for most camcorders

THE best camcorder tripod is the Sunpak. Wonderfully easy to use, light, portable, and easy to set up and tear down. The best part is the price - usually under $50.

Sunpak 6601TM Tripod/Monopod with 3-Way Fluid Effect Head (Quick Release) - Supports 4.4 lbs (2 kg) Sunpak 6601TM Tripod/Monopod with 3-Way Fluid Effect Head (Quick Release) - Supports 4.4 lbs (2 kg) 6601TM Tripod/Monopod with Complete Tripods with Heads 6601TM Tripod/Monopod with 3-Way Fluid Effect Head (Quick Release) - Supports 4.4 lbs (2 kg)