What Happens When the Bubble Bursts?

We're not usually fans of special effects, because when they are not well-done, they are cheesy. Let's face it. That's more the norm than the exception. But every now and again, an extraordinary special effect perfectly suits a situation. That's the case with this 90-second commerical with very cool slow motion effects. It was shot with a special high speed video camera.

Over a century ago, Eadweard Muybridge completed one of the first scientific slow motion studies. He was commissioned by Leland Stanford Sr, then governor of California, to photograph his race horse Occident to find out whether the horse ever had all four feet off the ground at any one point in time. Today, you can apply super slow motion as an artistic device. The frame rate of the camera that captured the scenes in this commercial was 2000 frames/second. For comparison, standard video is shot at 30 frames/second. In order to see every tiny movement of the water droplets exploding from the burst balloons in a continuous series of perfectly sharp images, you need a camera capable of very high frame rates.

Oh, and the horse was completely airborne for a fraction of a second.

Brides of March

Every now and again we all need to do something a little different, something a little crazy. So, Chuck and I went to see the 10th Annual Brides of March last Saturday in San Francisco and produced a little 3-minute gem. Hundreds of ladies (and men) dressed up in their white wedding gowns and converged on Union Square, making a quick stop at Shreve & Co to admire the engagement rings. Oh what a vision of loveliness!

Here's what people are saying about our movie.


"Finally. A movie that shows the fair, sweet, innocent side of San Francisco."
---Mayor Gavin Newsom

"If you are searching for enlightenment, you will not find it here."
---His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

"Joel and Ethan Coen, step aside. Here come Chuck and Jewel."
---Chuck's Mother

We hope you enjoy the show.

The Ritz Carlton

I attended a wonderful event yesterday which the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay hosted for their Preferred Vendors. They hosted a half-day conference which encouraged open communication about how we can work together to better serve our joint clients. Debra Hertzog and Tony White are the most farsighted, innovative and creative people when it comes to serving their clients well.

What a beautiful venue! We've enjoyed working there because of the view, the fabulous food, but most of all, because of the people who work there. They treat us like a guest even though we are there to serve our brides and grooms. There's no other place like it. And if they treat us like a pampered guest, imagine how they treat their brides and grooms and their hotel guests.

We are honored to be on the Preferred Vendor List. Some of our favorite people share that honor:

Bridal Consultant: Jubilee Lau
Day of Wedding Planners: Jean Marks,
A Bride's Best Friend, 415.216.6139
Cakes: Elegant Cheesecakes, Butterfly Cakes
DJ: Ron Grandia
Entertainment: Bay Music
Florist: Florabella Designs
Furniture Rental: Neil Adams, 415.563.6816
Hair/Makeup: Armando
Harpist: Harpeggio
Lighting: Got Light?, Enhanced Lighting
Linens: Wildflower Linens, Classic Party Rentals
Photographers: Geoff White, Michelle Walker, Kevin Chin
Stationery: Alia Designs

Because of the level of service the Ritz Carlton offers and their world-renown, they are in great demand. So, if you are looking for a site for a fabulous wedding, call them as soon as you are engaged.

Macbook Air Bling With Gold And Swarovski Crystal

Under "I can't live without it", file this: Selfridges & Co in London is offering just 20 Golden Age Macbook Airs. Over 12,000 Swarovski crystals were applied by hand, over 24K gold, covering every inch of the case. At $39,750 they will be going fast. For more well-dressed electronics, go to Bling My Thing.

Look Who's Talking, Part II

One of our most favorite officiants, Diana Morgan, surprised us recently and blogged about us on February 28. Thank You Diana!! Here's what she said.



I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people in my travels. Today I want to talk about two of those people, Jewel and Chuck Savadelis, owners of Savadelis Films.

I recently had the opportunity to view one of the amazing Savadelis Films of a wedding in which I participated. It is particularly relevant that I was the officiant because of my experience of viewing the movie.

Let me see if I can begin to describe this experience. I was at the wedding. I was there the entire day. Yet when I viewed the movie, in some ways, it was as if I hadn't really been there. It was almost like I was watching the full experience that I was involved in, but had only experienced maybe 30% of it in person. From the views of the ceremony site to the reception site, to the different stages of the day, it was like reliving the experience of being at the wedding and viewing it for the first time all at once. I kept thinking, "I don't remember that... ", "How could I have missed that?"

Subtle things...like I was noticing the drops of condensation dripping down the outside of the glass of champagne and the sparkles of the bubbles in the glass... I didn't notice that the first time.

On the wedding day, I didn't get to see the bride and groom each individually getting ready for the day. Who does, except maybe the moms...and the photographers? But Jewel and Chuck captured every moment of emotion on film.

I didn't get to see so many things, but the movie captured EVERYTHING! As I watched the movie of this wedding, my eyes welled up with tears. I felt like I was there and it was happening all over again.

All I can say is if I had my wedding to do all over again, the only thing I would change is that I would have Jewel and Chuck create my wedding movie. Then I would actually watch it over and over again, and show it to people. (Unfortunately, all I have is the video that a kind friend shot which I watched a few times and tucked away for posterity... sigh...)

Take a look at their site and call them!

Look Who's Talking, Part I

One of our most favorite event planners, Jubilee Lau surprised us recently and blogged about us on February 23. Here's what she said. Thank You Jubilee!!



There's No Take Two!

Are you considering a wedding video? If the answer is no, may I urge you to RECONSIDER! I think this is the #1 regret of many couples. After the wedding day, they realize how quickly the day had gone by and they wish they could relive it all over again. Well, you can. Sort of. By hiring a wonderful, fabulous cinematographer like Chuck and Jewel Savadelis you can come close to reliving the most special day of your lives.

I've had the pleasure of working with Savadelis Films on many weddings, and they have always amazed me in their ability to capture in the most genuine way the love, the joy, and all the different emotions that arise on the wedding day. Their videos are movies, but in no way are they surreal. In fact, the movies are so tastefully shot and edited that it can even bring tears and laughter to a total stranger.

'How do they do that?' you may ask.

I think it lies in their passion for what they do. They shoot each wedding with heart. Prior to the wedding day, they go to great lengths to understand the couple. They try to grasp the couple's vision of the wedding, they note who the key family members and special guests are (as well as where they are seated at the ceremony and reception!), and they treat each wedding as a very special, unique day. They don't go by a 'must shoot' list, because they capture each detail as it unfolds naturally. Yet, they never miss an important moment...like when the groom first lays eyes on his bride. There is so much preparation that they do prior to the wedding day, such as meeting with me to go through the timeline intensively because they do not like to leave anything to chance.

I've heard so many couples say that they can relive their wedding through the photos. Let me tell you, I have the greatest respect for photographers but you must realize that it's a completely different medium! Tell me how photographs can make you relive that toast by your Best Man that made everyone roaring with laughter. Tell me how photographs can make you relive that beautiful first dance as husband and wife to that special song you picked. You can't! You may remember the toast a year from your wedding day, maybe even five years. But 30 years go by, and how can you remember? How can you describe it to your children, to the children of your Best Man?

Every couple deserves a wedding video. Remember, on your wedding day there's no 'Take Two', so get the best videographers you can to capture it!

Sample video from a wedding that I did with Chuck and Jewel at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay:

MAC Version
PC Version