Tag: Movies

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“Futurama: Bender’s Big Score” is Leaked Out

Upon reading my web-access log, I found out that the soon to be released “Futurama The Movie – Bender’s Big Score” is now available for viewing on the internet. I don’t know if this is official, I’ll find out soon.

Apparently, the stream itself is coming from a legitimate source, but I am not sure if the “leak” is officially sanctioned.

But honestly, if you’re a fan of Futurama, BUY THE DVD!!!!!

“Futurama The Movie – Bender’s Big Score” will be released on November 27th, 2007. I already pre-ordered it through Amazon.com. The crazy part is that I know that I’ll be picking it up at the local Target or Circuit City store. I despise “Best” Buy, and have no plan to spend my money there. OK, I’ll buy the DVD from Best Buy if they would give me a life-size Bender statue.

Silly Futurama Preview @ Amazon.com

Futurama The Movie - Bender's Big Score

Based on the available informations, the “Futurama The Movie – Bender’s Big Score” will be in a “glorious” widescreen format.

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Carlos Alazraqui, AVCHD, Panasonic HDC-SD5, Macs, and iMovie ’08.

I finally finished the first project involving Carlos Alazraqui, AVCHD, Panasonic HDC-SD5, Macs, and iMovie ’08. I learned a lot from this project, from using the Panasonic HDC-SDC camera, importing AVCHD movie clips, using iMovie ’08 even further, and the hardware requirements for this project.

First, I’d like to thank Hollywood Improv for giving the permissions to film Carlos Alazraqui’s stand-up sets.

I do realize that my personal MacBook Pro Core Duo is a little bit underpowered in handling AVCHD movie clips. For certain, it took a long time to import the AVCHD clips, and it took even longer to export the HD clips.

I do learn a lot of tricks in using iMovie ’08. I originally was going to use Final Cut Pro to edit the clips. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to install Final Cut Pro on my MacBook Pro, after I clean installed Mac OS X Leopard on it. In addition to that, I have yet to acquire Final Cut Express 4 which now supports AVCHD format.

I will post my review on Panasonic HDC-SD5, my experience with iMovie ’08, and what I learn about AVCHD format.

As a preview, please take a look at the following screen capture taken using Panasonic HDC-SD5.

Carlos Alazraqui, Hollywood Improv, 2007.11.17 - 3

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I Need New Macs

For the past 7 years I have been purchasing at least one portable computer each year with the exception of 2007. It is now November 2007, and I have yet purchased a computer. OK, I did get a new Core 2 Duo PC from the office. It is currently running Windows XP, take that Windows Vista. I can’t bear using Windows Vista at all. The PC itself is more than powerful enough to run Windows Vista Ultimate, but up to this moment there are some softwares that wouldn’t run properly on Windows Vista. In addition to that, the networking stack in Windows Vista does not play nice with other Operating Systems. I have not reinstalled Windows Vista back on any computers I have in my home office.

I have recently acquired a new AVCHD camcorder, Panasonic HDC-SD5. I just finished recording Carlos Alazraqui‘s stand up sets at the Hollywood Improv. It is roughly an hour of raw footage, and recorded in High Definition at 1080i. Working with AVCHD format requires a lot of processing powers. It takes 2 hours to re-encode an 11-minute of edited footage on my 2GHz MacBook Pro Core Duo. I am sure that it would take significantly less time if I have a Core 2 Duo Mac (or better). I am hoping that the 64-bit CPU and Operating System (Mac OS X Leopard) would be able to handle the HD encoding better and faster.

Anyway, I am waiting for the next version of MacBook Pro sometimes during Macworld 2008. I was talking to a friend who wanted to do movie editing on MacBook Pro in High Definitions, and I did convince her to wait until the next version of MacBook Pro is released.

I am thinking about getting an iMac or even a Mac Pro for all the multimedia projects I am working on right now. As of this point I can’t justify spending the money for any of them. I personally prefer using portables such as MacBook Pro. Maybe I can convince the office to get me new Mac or Macs.

One other thing in mind is for me to somehow contact Apple and get them to donate a Mac or two. It’s a wishful thinking. If you’re working for Apple Inc., please let someone know at the corporate office that I need new Macs and the Pro-Apps.

One can dream……..

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Carlos Alazraqui at Hollywood Improv (2007.11.17)

Carlos Alazraqui at Hollywood Improv (2007.11.17)

Carlos Alazraqui at Hollywood Improv (2007.11.17)

UPDATE:
Just got back from Hollywood Improv. I had a great time covering both 8:00pm and 10:00pm show. Carlos was actually sick and and having troubles with his voice. There were more people on 8:00pm show than the 10:00pm show.

I have both Carlos’ sets recorded, and will soon (whenever I have the time) be edited. I want to get the video clips out as soon as possible, pending Carlos’ approvals.

Special Thanks to Hollywood Improv for letting us film the sets.

I’m heading off to Hollywood Improv to see Carlos Alazraqui, the man behind Reno 911! James Garcia’s mustache, the voice of many characters including Taco Bell Chihuahua, Family Guy’s Mr. Weed, Rocko, and Lazlo.

Full report from the show tonight, and maybe some interview with Carlos.
Watch this post for reports.

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Roxio Releases Toast 8.0.3 Update

Roxio releases Toast 8.0.3 update.

Roxio Toast 8 icon

Roxio Toast® 8 now support Blu-ray discs recording on the Mac. Toast® 8 includes exclusive EyeTV burning and TiVoToGo™ transfers to DVD or iPod®.

Toast® 8 now supports Mac OS X Leopard.

Toast® 8 version history:
http://www.roxio.com/enu/support/toast/version_history8.html

Download Toast® 8.0.3 update:
http://www.roxio.com/enu/support/toast/software_updates.html

Buy Toast 8 Titanium @ Amazon.com

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Apple Introduces Final Cut Express 4

Apple introduces Final Cut Express 4.

Final Cut Express 4 box

For more informations on Final Cut Express 4, head to:
http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/

System Requirements

  • A Mac computer with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, or Intel Xeon processor
    For AVCHD: A Mac computer with an Intel processor
  • 1GB of RAM or more
  • An AGP or PCI Express graphics card compatible with Quartz Extreme; or an Intel GMA integrated graphics processor in a MacBook or Mac mini computer
  • Some FxPlug filters are not compatible with integrated Intel graphics processors.
  • A display with 1024-by-768 resolution or higher
  • A DVD drive for installation
  • Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later
  • QuickTime 7.2 or later
  • 500MB of disk space to install Final Cut Express and LiveType
  • Additional 500MB to install LiveType content

It is finally answering the one question out of many that I currently care about.

“Why doesn’t Final Cut Express support AVCHD? Final Cut Pro can, but I rarely use it for small projects. Wait a minute, iMovie ’08 can too. I feel that iMovie ’08 is under-powered, and Final Cut Pro is an overkill. Apple, please add AVCHD support to Final Cut Express. I would like to import and edit the AVCHD-encoded clips that I took using my new Panasonic HDC-SD5 camcorder.”

OK, apparently Apple was not going to add AVCHD support to Final Cut Express 3.5 and older. The AVCHD support will be built in Final Cut Express 4.

Anyway, I like using Final Cut Pro; but it’s a bit overkill at many times. I like using iMovie HD ’06; but it’s a little bit limited in features. I like using iMovie ’08; but it’s missing some important features such as audio extractions, and many others. In my mind, I’d say that for most of the projects I’m working on, I can sufficiently handle them in Final Cut Express. I recently purchased Panasonic HDC-SD5 camcorder and it records into the AVCHD format. I was going to fire up Final Cut Pro to work on some videos, but since Apple announces Final Cut Express 4 with AVCHD support; I don’t need Final Cut Pro for most of my projects.

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Futurama: Countdown to “Bender’s Big Score”

“Good News, Everyone…….. Futurama is BACK!”

First and foremost, I can’t wait to watch the brand spankin’ fresh and new Futurama. I’m a big fan of the show. I cursed the day Fox Network revealed that they are canceling the show. Anyway, the first installment of the “Return of The Futurama” is coming within a “feels like a space eternity” 2 weeks. Can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait, and Bender is Great! Bender is Great!

B E N D E R

Bender! Bender is Great!

I got carried away there.

“Futurama The Movie – Bender’s Big Score” will be released on November 27th, 2007. I already pre-ordered it through Amazon.com. The crazy part is that I know that I’ll be picking it up at the local Target or Circuit City store. I despise “Best” Buy, and have no plan to spend my money there. OK, I’ll buy the DVD from Best Buy if they would give me a life-size Bender statue.

Silly Futurama Preview @ Amazon.com

Futurama The Movie - Bender's Big Score

Based on the available informations, the “Futurama The Movie – Bender’s Big Score” will be in a “glorious” widescreen format.

From Fox Home Entertainment and courtesy of GotFuturama.com (there’s where I got it from):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE FEATURE-LENGTH ACTION EPIC 1000 YEARS IN THE MAKING ARRIVES…

FUTURAMA IS BACK, BABY!

In Fox Home Entertainment’s First Carbon-Neutral Release, Fry, Leela, Professor Farnsworth And Bender Triumphantly Return On DVD November 27

Century City, CA – The future is back…and it’s cleaner than ever! Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents the first of four direct-to-DVD Futurama adventures when Futurama: Bender’s Big Score makes its highly anticipated DVD debut on November 27. As the studio’s first carbon-neutral release, the carbon impact of the production, manufacture and distribution of the Futurama Bender’s Big Score DVD was directly assessed and actively reduced. For the unavoidable emissions, the studio used high-quality, verified carbon offsets. Futurama: Bender’s Big Score also features an eco-friendly highlight: a cameo from former Vice President Al Gore, guest starring as himself.

The first feature-length Futurama action epic, with three more adventures expected through 2009, finds the Futurama crew fighting to save Earth in an epic battle against nudist alien Internet scammers. It’s nearly Christmas 3007 when evil naked aliens launch a cyber-attack on the Planet Express and make a shocking discovery: the secret of time travel, mysteriously tattooed on Fry’s buttocks. Using their devious nudist software to control Bender, the aliens send him through history where he has run-ins with the likes of Al Gore, Coolio (Daredevil, Batman & Robin) and Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program, School For Scoundrels).

In addition to the never-before-seen movie, the Futurama: Bender’s Big Score DVD features commentary from Matt Groening, David X. Cohen and cast members Billy West, John DiMaggio, Phil LaMarr, Dwayne Carey-Hill and Ken Keeler; an animated promo for An Inconvenient Truth starring Bender and Al Gore, with commentary by the former Vice President, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen; an all-new episode entitled “Everybody Loves Hypnotoad” including TV commercials of the future; a Futurama mind-shattering math lecture; character and design sketches and deleted scenes. Futurama: Bender’s Big Score will be available for a suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S./$37.98 Canada.

Tech Specs (yeah, I cmd-x and cmd-v from GotFuturama.com):

DVD Special Features:
The Futurama: Bender’s Big Score DVD will be presented in full screen WideScreen format with English Dolby Surround 5.1, along with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus features include:

  • Commentary By Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, Billy West, John DiMaggio, Phil LaMarr, Claudia Katz, Dwayne Carey-Hill and Ken Keeler
  • Futurama Returns! A Live Comic Book Reading By The Futurama Cast Featurette
  • Everybody Loves Hypnotoad – A Spellbinding Episode Of The Future’s Most Popular TV Program
  • A Terrifying Message From Al Gore: Animated Promo For An Inconvenient Truth
    • Video Commentary by Al Gore, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen
  • Bite My Shiny Metal X: A Mind-Shattering Futurama Math Lecture Featurette
  • Bender’s Big Score: The Original First Draft Of The Script Featurette
  • New Character/Design Sketches
  • Original Five-Minute Comic-Con Promo
  • Deleted Scenes
    • Monte Carlo
    • Robot Mafia
    • Limbo Contest


FUTURAMA: BENDER’S BIG SCORE
Street Date: November 27, 2007
DVD Price: $29.98 U.S. / $37.98 Canada
Closed Captioned: Yes

BENDER IS BACK, BABY!!!!