News
Road to HD: Update
Apr 13th
I’ve been asking fellow videographers, inquiring on local computer electronics suppliers and researching through the web trying to find ways of delivering HD videos. And here’s what I’ve found, so far:
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1. High-Definition HDD players
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I saw a couple of these in a local mall in CDO. Basically it’s an HDD (hard disk drive) multi-format player that outputs on different mediums especially HDMI (the best possible way to view video on LCD TVs). Costs about P10,000 to P15,000 including the hard disk (prices differ on the gig capacity). Never tested one yet, but the brands mostly come from China, so product quality may not be that reliable. Pros: plug it directly to your LCD TV and you can view your wedding video in true High Definition. Cons: unlike a Blu-ray player, you can’t view blu-ray discs of hollywood movies (unless you convert it and transfer to this hdd player). Because we have to give you one, quite expensive on our part. 
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2. Blu-ray discs
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Blu-ray discs have a capacity of 25gig for single-layer discs and 50gig for the dual-layer ones. Alot cheaper than the High-Def HDD players but the client must have a Blu-ray player (costs about P30,000-P60,000) or a Playstation 3 (P20,000+). Pros: a somewhat “hard copy” of your wedding video, easier to carry and can be duplicated. Cons: Cannot be played on DVD players so unless you already have one, purchasing a Blu-ray player would really hurt your budget.  Blank Blu-ray discs are still rare here in the Philippines, none available in CDO.
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3. Hard Disk Drive w/ enclosure
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Remember, you have to have an LCD TV to be able to play your high-definition wedding from either the hdd player or blu-ray disc, but if you still don’t have one, but you have a laptop or a relatively new PC, you can opt to have your video copied to an enclosed 2.5″ or 3.5″ hard disk drive. You can then play it on your laptop or PC and enjoy the high-def experience. Pros: Cheap way to avail of our HD wedding coverage.  You can also have the video burned on Blu-ray later on when you already have an LCD TV and blu-ray player. Cons: Can’t think of something negative about this one. Just that if you do have an LCD TV, this cannot be played there unless you purchase the HDD player. Also on our part, the cost would be higher than a blu-ray disc.
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This is my update for now. The next step probably is our test shoot on my brother’s civil wedding this weekend. Feel free to leave a comment or suggestion on this entry. Thanks.Â
Road to HD
Apr 3rd
It seems there is an underground “buzz†that 2008 is the year pinoy videographers go HD. With LCD TVs becoming more and more affordable and Blu-Ray players finally getting shelf space among electronic appliance centers, it won’t be long until clients will go for High-Definition coverages.    MG Digital Video & Threelogy already offers HD. I’ve heard the guys of Mayad also has their HD transition in the works.
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In case you still don’t know what HD is, click here for an HD-for-dummies type of explanation.
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Anyway, here is the start of what I call MVP’s Road to HD. I’ll keep you updated on our progress in adapting to the future of professional videography.
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I recently found this video sharing website that lets you upload videos in HD!  I’m still trying to get the hang of it so please bear with me.
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This will where we will probably post our future HD videos, so stay tuned.
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In the meantime, here’s a sample upload of one of our videos (still in SD though).Â
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Camiguin Wedding – Ingrid & Ian
Feb 8th
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Whew! I uploaded their onsite video a couple of hours after the wedding so as the groom’s relatives may see it within the day (about 3 in the afternoon in Wales & England).
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We instantly fell in love with Camiguin Island during our prenup shoot (see previous blog entry). The place has many beautiful spots and driving within the island is a breeze. The church, I think, is about 125 years old! (well part of it, some parts were already renovated).
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There is so much to talk about the wedding but unfortunately, the hotel here only has WIRED internet access so I had to use the manager’s computer. 
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Anyway, just watch their Camiguin onsite video. Enjoy.
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Ingrid & Ian
February 8, 2008
Sagay Church
Camiguin Highland Resort
Camiguin Island
Oyen|Grace… and The 2 1/2 Hour 150km Drive to the Reception
Jan 21st
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Everytime I mention to people that this wedding’s church ceremony will be held at the magnificent Monastery of the Transfiguration in Malaybalay, Bukidnon & the reception will be at Xavier Estates, Cagayan de Oro City (approximately 150km in distance), their immediate reaction would be, “What?! That’s insane.” “Well,” I said to them, “it’s gonna happen.”
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And it did, all 15+ cars & vans carrying the couple, the guests, and the suppliers travelled in a convoy going back to Cagayan de Oro City, passing municipality after municipality, residents amused, and rain coming down hard. It just shows how determined the couple (and all of us) are in making their wedding one of a kind.
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The couple are both U.S. based and had little time to prepare for their wedding. Everything was “buzzer-beated”, including us, (again? ), booked less than a week before their big day. But the couple’s desire and hands-on attitude, plus getting very reliable suppliers in CDO, made this wedding really something special.
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Watch their onsite video below.
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Oyen & Grace
Pine Hill Hotel
Monastery of the Transfiguration
Malaybalay, Bukidnon
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Xavier Estates
Cagayan de Oro City
Pietro + Jannie… How To Be a Replacement Videographer
Jan 11th
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This wedding will go down in history as one of our most memorable. It’s not because it is a grand wedding… (sights of Tiffany & Co.’s, Prada’s) and also not because of the very bad weather. It’s memorable because it was not supposed to be our wedding.  Actually, they booked Lito Sy’s photo & video services, but due to a foggy airport, Lito Sy & his crew’s plane were diverted to Cebu & eventually went back to Manila.  Less than 6 hours before the wedding, we got a text from Armi, their coordinator from Professional Organizers that they’ll get us as replacement videographers.
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My first reaction was, “OMG! Can we do this?” Good thing we were already prepared for next day’s wedding and all our equipment was setup, batteries charged and all. Also we were in “shooting mood” that day because of our new, and now broken (on that day) glidecam.
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So we shot their wedding with fellow local photographers here in CDO, and the outcome was a very lively and memorable event.Â
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But honestly, I’d prefer that next time I’ll be informed at least 24 hours man lang before the wedding.
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January 4, 2008
St. Augustine Cathedral
Pryce Plaza
Xavier Estates
Marriage Myths
Jan 10th
I just clicked on an interesting post from Today @ today.MSNBC.com about the most popular marriage myths. Here’s a portion of the full article.Â
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For most people, the picture of a perfect marriage is a white picket fence and eternal happiness. But just how to achieve that bliss is subject to wide debate: Do babies really bring you closer? Should you be concerned if you’re not having much sex? How much should you tell your spouse? Psychologist Dale Atkins, author of “Sanity Savers,†helps separate the marriage myths from reality.
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For the full article, clicke here.
Neil & Christy: Lovely
Jan 2nd
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Our last couple for 2007. We shot their prenup video 2 days before their wedding. In different locations pa.
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The wedding itself turned out great inspite of, again, the rain that briefly stopped (and transferred) their garden ceremony. It seems every wedding that we shoot, it rains!
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The song for the onsite that we used here was chosen by the bride’s sister. It’s a very popular song for wedding videos, and here’s our version of it.
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December 28, 2007
Mountain Suites
Harbor Lights
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2007 was a great year for us: we were able to shoot weddings in Davao & Manila; transferred our office in a prime location; and we got clients that we became friends of.Â
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Now that 2008 is here… I hope that we will continue to grow and give clients the best service that they deserve. Â
Johnny & Christine: CDO’s Wedding Of The Year
Nov 19th
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I was a little hesitant about my blog title because we treat every wedding we cover as special as if it’s the wedding of the year. But, one cannot argue this really is the biggest wedding in Cagayan de Oro this year.
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Here are some reasons why:
1. They “imported” wedding suppliers from Manila & Cebu.
2. 850 guests attended their wedding in the biggest hotel in the city.
3. Their guest list included owners of shopping malls, restaurants, schools, car dealerships, and every possible business establishment you can think of.
4. Two days before the wedding, President GMA, following her speech at the hotel, was not allowed to stay overnight bacause they needed to setup the decorations for the wedding! (not entirely true, but a cool story and a future urban legend; the president really didn’t stay overnight after her speech) :)
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The bride at first didn’t want me to shoot her preparation because it’s too “corny”, which is a big problem for us because we’ll be short of footages for the onsite video, good thing the coordinator explained to Christine the importance of those shots.  The funny thing is, the real reason she didn’t want us to shoot her preps was because she doesn’t have a red robe.
(which of course you’ll see in the video) Â
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And here is their onsite video.
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Johnny Lu & Christine Uy
November 17, 2007
Pryce Plaza, Cagayan de Oro City
They Both Learned To Rock
Sep 24th
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September 22, 2007Â
Eco-ChurchÂ
Harbor Lights
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The song they’ve chosen for their onsite video was from a band that is well… kinda unpopular among videographers, and also unpopular for some time now.
But the meaning of the song mattered, and well I think people will like how this video turned out.
Some tidbits from the wedding:
1. This was supposed to be a garden wedding, but the weather didn’t cooperate.Â
2. The hotel was located along the beach, and I edited their onsite right near the window facing the sea. It rained hard, and when I looked outside, I can’t help thinking there’s a tsunami coming. It was that bad.
 3. The wedding turned out great. Everybody was happy.  Dorie was stunning in a Teresing’s gown. Hope all weddings, even on bad weather conditions, would turn out this great.Â
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Here’s their onsite video.  The song is “I’m Gonna Be Around” by Michael Learns To Rock.  Â
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Alvin & Dorie (prenup avp)
Sep 20th
Multiple prenup venues are our thing. And this is no exemption.Â
Mapawa Nature Park, CDO Carnival, McDonald’s, Fuji Digital Studio, etc…Â :)
Also, I think our animation is getting better, hope it continues to be that way.
Alvin works in Canada & Dorie at Ford Cagayan de Oro. Â
The song ”You” by Binoculars was chosen by the groom-to-be.Â
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