World's Most Expensive Cell Phones

We were looking for a case for our iTouch and found a few possibilities. As we were looking, we stumbled across the most expensive cell phones in the world, which you might enjoy if you have some spare change.

For the Ladies

The Diamond Cryto Smartphone
Price: $1.3 Million

Designed by diamond encruster extraordinaire Peter Aloisson, The Diamond Crypto Smartphone is sometimes quoted as the World’s most expensive cell phone (depending on exchange rates). Russian firm JSC Ancort has developed a Windows CE-based smartphone ready for Aloisson’s bejeweling that employs “powerful encryption technology” to “provide secure protection of information against kidnapping, technological blackmail, financial racketeers and corrupted state officials” — sounds like marketing speak for a password-protected wallet app. Of course, with its $1.3 million price tag and 50 diamonds (10 of which are blue) you might start to have more trouble with mugging than with technological blackmail.

The Goldvish "Le Million"
Price: $1.2 Million

The Goldvish “Le million” was exhibited at the three-day Millionaire’s Fair in Cannes, France and was bought by a Russian businessman for his wife for 1 million Euros. Created by GoldVish SA, a Geneva based luxury communication goods company, the cell phone is made of 18-carat white gold, mounted with 1800 (totaling 120-carats) VVS-1 graded diamonds and equipped with the latest in mobile technology.

Bucheron for Vertu Cobra
Price: $310,000

Parisian jeweler House of Bucheron linked up with Nokia subsidiary Vertu on this limited-edition series of eight cobra phones, which include a two-carat pear-cut diamond, a one-carat round diamond, two emerald eyes and 439 rubies totaling 21 carats. Vertu phones also link up to a special concierge service with information about travel, entertainment, restaurants and events.

Vertu Signature
Price: $81,000

Vertu, a subsidiary of Nokia, claims that it took expert craftsmen three years of training to learn to make their phones. This classic, the Vertu Signature, contains 943 diamonds on its bezel and 48 more on its keypad, each set in place by hand in Switzerland.

Motorola V220 Special Edition
Price: $51,800

Austrian designer Peter Aloisson, has taken a standard Motorola, studded it with 1,200 diamonds and added a keyboard inlaid with 18 carat gold.



Diamond iPhone
Price: $41,000

The diamond iPhone boasts an impressive 420 diamonds at a total weight of 5.65 carats set in 18K white or yellow gold. It can also be ordered in white, black or pink sapphires. The phone, by UK blingmeister general Amosu, at a blustering $41,000 is sure to not make any “Will it blend” videos anytime soon.

For the Gentlemen

VIPN Black Diamond Smartphone
Price: $300,000

The creation of Swiss manufacturer VIPN, the titanium construction known as the “Black Diamond” is a one of a kind actually a 1 of 5 to be exact, and for generously shelling out 300,000 big ones, you get a Quadband phone with WiFi and Bluetooth, a 2 inch 256K TFT screen, 4MP camera, VOIP and 2 huge diamonds.

Gresso Black Aura Collection
Price: $13,000

Gresso boastfully claims that its Black Aura cellphones are 200 years old - due to the age of the African Blackwood on each phone’s case. Black Aura series ranges from $6,500 to $13,000 with the most expensive featuring an 18-carat gold front panel.

Gold Edition Nokia 8800
Price: $2,700

One phone bitten by the Gold Bug is the exclusive Nokia 8800 which will now be available in 24K gold. By owning one of these babies you'll no doubt be the talk of the town. However the features found on the Gold Edition are the standard 8800 features (bummer). It includes a 0.5 Mega pixel SVGA camera and a 2, 62,000 colors, TFT (208 x 208) display. Connectivity options include EDGE, Bluetooth, Infrared, Java, MMS, SMS, USB, WAP and it has 64 MB of internal memory. Some other features found on the phone which may now look standard include, 64 polyphonic, FM Radio, MP3 Player, Video Recording and 180 mins talktime.

Mobiado Professional EM
Price: $2,200

Made from ebony wood, hard-anodized aluminum and titanium, Nokia driven Mobiado Professional EM handsets are individually unique due to the variations in wood patterning per instrument. It features a 1.3 MP camera, music playback and an FM radio.

A Life Well Lived

Sadly, our friend Tim, who valiantly battled ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, passed away last week. When we started out as videographers, Tim, a fellow-videographer, was the only one who extended his hand to us and gave us advice on how to prosper. He was among the top videographers in the Bay Area at the time. How lucky we were to have him as a friend! And, as his star was waning and ours was ascending, he took so much pride in our achievements, as though they were his own. His brother said at Tim's funeral, "I never understood why Tim so freely shared his trade secrets with you. You were competitors." But the brother did not realize that first and foremost, Tim was a good man, and we were good friends. Only after that, were we videographers.

Tim's memorial service was an extension of the courage and grace he exhibited during his life. So many things that his three devoted sons said had a depth of wisdom that belied their 20-some-odd-years. Here is a sprinkling:

1. What is the value of happiness? Without happiness, life is meaningless. You can subsitute the word love for happiness, and it would also be true.

2. Bring humor to every life situation.

3. Tim was truly the most wonderful father. He was actively and lovingly involved in his sons' lives every day of their lives. These were the happiest moments of his life.

4. Tim never complained - not once. He lived a life with gratitude. Even after he was diagnosed with ALS, Tim said every day, "I'm the luckiest man in the world."

5. Tim showed by example how much more you could learn from sympathetic, non-judgmental, non-manipulative, patient, compassionate listening. He listened with an open heart.

6. First you must accept a thing before you can deal with it. By his acceptance, he made it easier for all of us to accept his fate.

7. Although Tim was not a simple man, he often had simple answers to the troubles plaguing those around him. It was as simple as the zen philosophy of, "When you are hungry, eat. When you are thirsty, drink. When you are tired, sleep." When a son called on the phone and cried how homesick he was at college, Tim said simply, "Then come home."

8. Acknowledge the presence of others in your life - often. He thanked his sons 10,000 a day for taking care of the most intimate needs, and for giving up their lives for him. They responded that they didn't give up their lives; they found their lives and the meaning in their lives from being with Tim.

9. What he wished for us all was the peace and bliss he had come to know during his illness, but without having the illness.

10. Tim said that if God gave him the choice to live out a normal life span of 80+ years, or to have only six months to live, but in that six months he would be cared for and loved like no one before had ever experienced, he would choose the later. And that was his fate, so do not feel sad for him.

11. The clergyman said to the many, many people gathered at the funeral, you have given Tim a favor he cannot return. You are here today to honor him. Because he cannot return it, it is the highest form of a favor you can give.

12. Despite his passing, Tim will always be connected to life so long as one person who knew him, or knew of his gentle soul, still remembers him. We already miss him very much.

Cork Chair Competition

Since so many people liked the One Sheet of Paper contest, here's another. The retail store, Design Within Reach, just held their annual DWR Champagne Chair Contest™. The rules are to create an original miniature chair using only the foil, label, cage and cork from no more than two Champagne bottles. See http://www.dwr.com/champagne/.

World's Largest Plasma TV

Once you've bought your new Blu-Ray HD player, what HD TV should you buy to view your wedding movie on? Why the 150" high-definition plasma Panasonic TV, of course! Its screen is the equivalent of nine 50" TV sets, with an effective viewing area of 11 feet. This is a step up from the 103" version which cost $70,000 when it was launched.

If that's not quite your cup of tea, there's always the 42" Panasonic HDTV which uses half the energy but stays as bright or the ultra-thin 50" panel which is less than 1" thick. We're seriously considering the Sharp Aquos.

If you engaged us to film your wedding movie in January, 2006, right now, you'd have a beautiful reminder of one of the best days of your life - in high definition. It might not have seemed important 2 years ago, but right now, while sitting in front of your 52" hi-def TV, you've got to be silently congratulating yourself on your foresight. We didn't charge any extra for HD at that time, and we still don't. Back then our clients engaged us, in part, to advise them on realistic options based upon our assessment of where technology was likely to go. They still trust us to advise them well so that their wedding movie will be viewable for 50+ years into the future, no matter what technology changes occur. And because we "hold the cheese - no cheese, please", it will still be a classic with style and not a laughable relic of the early 21st century.

We were ahead of the pack then as now. What's the latest? We offer live internet broadcasts of ceremonies from areas with poor internet access. We are the only wedding cinematographers, to our knowledge, who offer true surround sound. And we are continually scanning the horizon for technology that will improve the images and sounds of your wedding movie, yet remain within a realistic price range.

Blu-Ray Poised to Win HD Player Wars

The war is all but over. Warner Brothers may have started the domino-effect last week by announcing at CES that they will offer their titles on Blu-ray disc, not in the HD DVD format. But it was Toshiba that may have finished the job today by slashing prices on their HD DVD players, apparently conceding defeat.

It's about time for the wars to end! During the several years that the marketplace was holding its breath and waiting for the knockout punch, no one was a winner. Not the movie studios who couldn't sell DVDs, not the equipment manufacturers who couldn't sell HD players, and not us. We could film in HD but couldn't deliver until the stalemate was broken.

At this point, Blu-ray has sewn up 70 - 75% of the market with all the titles from Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox, MGM, Lionsgate and Sony. Only Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation are still releasing their movies exclusively on HD DVD. Paramount and Universal may well jump ship when their agreements expire later in the year.

Then today, Toshiba announced they were slashing prices on their HD DVD players by 50%. Even so, who wants to own a piece of equipment that will be obsolete within the year? This could be the death knell for the HD DVD format. Last time Sony was engaged in a format war - Betamax vs. VHS - they lost. This time, however, the technologically superior format has won. Fortuitously, last week Sony announced the debut of a Blu-Ray player under $200. To the victor go the spoils.

So what does this mean for the average consumer?

Q: Can you use a Blu-ray player if you don't have a hi-def TV?
A: Yes, but there's not going to be much of a difference in the picture between hi-def and standard def until you get a new HD TV.

Q: Does size matter?
A: Yes. The bigger the TV (>40") and the closer you are to the TV, the more it matters.

Q: Do you have to replace all your standard-definition DVDs?
A: No. Blu-ray players will play standard DVDs, but some will do a better job than others.

Q: What does a Blu-ray player cost?
A: Prices will most certainly be dropping in response to increased demand and in response to Toshiba's price slashing on their HD DVD players. In the meanwhile, prices are $300 - $1000. Or, buy a PlayStation 3 which is basically a Blu-ray player AND a gaming console for $500.

Q: Which Blu-ray player should I buy?
A: Depends on what quality you are seeking in picture quality, design, load times, sound and extra features. See product reviews on C|NET, Consumer Reports and HD Guru. Here's a summary:
The player with the highest ratings was the Pioneer BDP-94HD ($1000).
In the next tier were Samsung BD-P1200 ($800), Samsung BD-UP5000 ($800), Samsung BD-P1400 ($300); and the Panasonic DMP-BD10 ($1000) and Panasonic DMP-BD30 ($450).
The Sony BDP-S1 ($400) and Sony BDP-S300 ($450) were rated a fraction lower.
Or you can buy a Sony Playstation for around $500.

One Sheet of Paper

<-----Holding on to Myself

You would think these are just papercuts, but once you see Danish artist Peter Callesen's unique form of art, you will be saying that this is the kindest cut of all. Oh the cleverness of the human mind! See more of his remarkable work at his website: www.petercallesen.com.




<--Tower of Babel






Many of the artist's pieces are inspired by fairytales. Others explore the relationship between 2- and 3-dimensionality. There is an aspect of the tragic in some, the ironic in others. But no matter what the underlying thought, each piece of art is precise, clever, and incisive, sometimes provoking thought long after we've stopped looking.


Looking Back

Citizen Kane and Apocalypse Now

I gathered up my birthday money and registered for a seminar on The Aesthetics of Editing. It is enlivening to get inspiration from new sources. I thought I was critically evaluating movies. But, now it seems I was only giving them a cursory glance. The good news is that beginning with the first wedding movie we edited, we've intuitively edited according to the five basic criteria for excellent editing. We just didn't know it.

How should a movie be judged? By the story and message? By the the art and style? By its influence on other movies?

I decided to go back and look at the Top 25 movies ever made with a more critical eye. But, which Top 25? Who says they are the Top 25? The American Film Institute has one of the most popular lists of the Top 100 Movies. But they are all produced by, well, Americans. Here is the AFI List of the Top 25 Movies. No surprises here. Movies we've all heard of and seen.

AFI Top 25
1. Citizen Kane (1941)*
2. Casablanca (1942)
3. The Godfather (1972)*
4. Gone With The Wind (1939)
5. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
6. The Wizard of Oz (1939)*
7. The Graduate (1967)
8. On The Waterfront (1954)
9. Schindler's List (1993)
10. Singin' In The Rain (1952)
11. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
12. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
13. The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
14. Some Like It Hot (1959)*
15. Star Wars (1977)
16. All About Eve (1950)*
17. The African Queen (1951)
18. Psycho (1960)
19. Chinatown (1974)*
20. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
21. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
22. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)*
23. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
24. Raging Bull (1980)*
25. E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the Top 100 Maverick Movies broaden the horizon, but it's still an American horizon. Here are Rolling Stone's Top 25. The movies listed under the AFI with an asterisk were also in Rolling Stone's Top 25 list.

Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 25
2. Vertigo (1958)
3. The Searchers (1956)
8. Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
9. Blue Velvet (1986)
10. Pulp Fiction (1994)
11. King Kong (1933)
12. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
13. Fargo (1996)
15. Do The Right Thing (1989)
16. Night of the Hunter (1955)
17. Sherlock, Jr (1924)
19. Nashville (1975)
21. Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
22. Brazil (1985)
23. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
24. Badlands (1973)
25. Don't Look Now (1973)

Why not widen the list to include foreign films? But once again, whose list do you look at? The British Film Institute, the Online Film Community, winners at the Cannes Film Festival? It's hard to say, so here is an amalgam of all three. For a wonderfully complete list, check out the movie critic Roger Ebert's list.

Top 25 Foreign Films
Australian - Strictly Ballroom (1992)
British - The Third Man (1949)
Chinese - Curse of the Golden Flower (2006); Farewell My Concubine (1993); Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
French - 400 Blows (1959), Amelie (2001), Beauty and the Beast (1946), Breathless (1960), Earrings of Madame de... (1953), Rules of the Game (1939)
German - Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), M (1931), Nosferatu (1922), Run Lola Run (1998), Wings of Desire (1988)
Italian - The Bicycle Thief (1948); Amarcord (1974); Cinema Paradiso (1989); The Leopard (1963)
Japanese - Rashomon (1950), Ran (1985), Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)
Russian - Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Swedish - Seventh Seal (1957)
Vietnamese - Scent of Green Papaya (1993)

Finally, here are some of my personal favorites not mentioned on any other list. Each is my favorite because the combination of artistry (acting and cinematography) and storytelling created an unforgettable impact the first time I saw it, which has stayed with me, and continues to effect me the same way every time I see it.

Jewel's Top 25 Not Previously Mentioned Films
A Christmas Carol (1951)
A Man for All Seasons (1966)
Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
Amadeus (1984)
Body Heat (1981)
Color Purple (1985)
Crash (2005)
Das Boot (1981)
Empire of the Sun (1987)
Excalibur (1981)
Gods Must be Crazy (1980)
Good Morning, Miss Dove (1955)
High and Low (1963)
Joy Luck Club (1993)
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Legends of the Fall (1994)
Like Water for Chocolate (1992)
Lone Star (1996)
The Natural (1984)
Out of Africa (1985)
Scotland, PA (2001)
Seabiscuit (2003)
To Catch a Thief (1955)
Three Days of the Condor (1975)
Witness (1985)

Best Movies of 2007

So why do they always cram the releases of the best movies of the year into the last 14 days of the year? Yes of course - to be fresh in the minds of those who make Oscar nominations.

What are my criteria for Best Movie? First, it tells a compelling story, engages you and holds your interest. You never once look at your watch until the ending credits start to roll. It makes you care about characters whom you've never met. It entertains, informs, or moves you emotionally. It can change the way you live your life.

Second, the technical qualities of the film are excellent. And they do not call attention to themselves. At its best, the color palette conveys emotion (whether ethereal blue, parched desert or super-saturated warm tones). The soundtrack is richly layered with voices, sounds and music which subtly convey a mood. The images are ordered in an interesting way. The editing is tight - not one frame more than is needed to tell the story. The pace helps create the emotion whether you feel fidgety because time is hanging heavy or because you are breathlessly running from danger.

So, there are a big bunch of movies I want to see soon, and will update my Best Movies of 2007 list as we see them. So far...

Best Movies of 2007
Atonement - Keira Knightley, James MacAvoy
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Eastern Promises - Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts
Great Debaters - Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker
Michael Clayton - George Clooney
Nanny Diaries - Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney
No Country for Old Men - Tommy Lee Jones
Ratatouille
Rendition - Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherspoon
Stardust - Michelle Pfeiffer, Clare Danes

Movies I Want to See
Away from Her
Diving Bell and Butterfly
Golden Compass - Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig
In the Shadow of the Moon
Juno
Kite Runner
Lives of Others
Love in the Time of Cholera
Lust, Caution
Once

Christmas in San Francisco

Dear Diary,
When the end of wedding season comes and our colleagues in other categories return to their families and a normal life, we are just kicking it into high gear to deliver wedding movies by Christmas Eve, yet without sacrificing quality. But, let me take a short break and tell you what's new.


The holiday season started the day after Thanksgiving. Chris and Anna Williams (Anna, of McCall's Catering fame, www.danmccall.com) invited us to attend a party at a 100,000 square foot Barrango showroom in South San Francisco showroom where fabulous Christmas displays are created (www.barrango.com). I went with my friends Stacie Tamaki of The Flirty Guide (www.flirtyguide.com) and Edward Bellingeri (www.edwardbdesign.com), a very talented floral and visual designer. We saw Morgan Doan of Events by Morgan, Neil Adams of Neil Adams Events, Isabella Boyer Sikaffy of Florabella, and so many more fun friends. But the 50' tall creations stole the show. They had dozens of animated creatures, beautifully restored carousel horses, 50' Christmas trees, and a winter wonderland of frozen delights.

Chuck and I went to see San Jose Repertory Theater's show This Wonderful Life. It is a one-man show interpreting It's a Wonderful Life. Yes, we wondered too, how one person could portray the scene where George and Mary fall into the high school swimming pool, or put their ears together to hear Sam Wainwright on the phone. But, amazingly, this guy played all the parts simultaneously and very believably. It definitely put us in a Christmas mood.

Proposal Planner

Deck the Halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la, la la la la la
'Tis the season
To make a proposal

Yes, we are coming into "high season" for gentlemen to go down on one knee. We've heard of so many wonderful proposals. The most successful were not the ones that cost the most, but the ones that were created with a lot of thought toward what the bride would cherish.

The first question is whether to ask her Father for permission. Would she find this sweet or outdated? If she is quite close to her family, it might be a nice touch to arrange for them to meet at the restaurant after the proposal. Our good friend Karen Miyanaga at the Ritz Carlton thought she was just going for a lovely Sunday brunch with her boyfriend. But he surprised her with an unforgettable question. What followed is something that she will never forget. He flew her parents from Japan to California to surprise her and share in the joy. We happened to be at the Ritz finishing up filming a morning-after brunch and saw her. I will never forget the joy in her face. It went so far beyond joy to a place for which I have no word. What a great way to start a marriage, with the utmost consideration.

We've heard of creative proposals which clearly had the bride in mind. Some have been simple - a Scrabble board with "Will You Marry Me" spelled out to a bride who loved to play Scrabble. Some have been elaborate vacations to a tropical paradise, or a trip to a restaurant that has become "our place".

I don't know why, but a large number of proposals do not go as originally planned. Our friend John planned to ask Stacie to marry him while vacationing in Quebec. The weather was rainy and blustery, but he plowed ahead with his plan and took her outside, set up a small camera and proposed anyway. It is hilarious to see, because you can't hear a word over the 30 mph winds! He created a short video with sub-titles, which makes it even funnier. Until you see Stacie's reaction. Then, you cry.

And if all else fails, there are proposal planners who can help you come up with an idea and plan it so it is perfect. There are some independent ones, some at luxury hotels and resorts. The skills required are similar to those required of wedding plannes, so that may be a route to go. Or, you can advertise on Do My Stuff to find a proposal planner. www.domystuff.com/rfp.php?id=18037598

And of course you'll need a ring. The proposal is something she will always treasure, remember and talk about - so make it a good one.

A Fun and Flirty Wedding!

Chuck and I attended Stacie and John's wedding a few weeks ago and had a smashing good time. Stacie is the genius behind The Flirty Guide. In the Guide she advocates that every bride and groom should create a wedding that both suits them and uniquely caters to their guests. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money, it just has to be authentic. Everything she advocates, she did at her own wedding.

Stacie had an original Colleen Quen gown (a dear friend of Stacie's and one the most talented couturiers in the US). Stacie, being a talented seamstress herself, created a wonderful, colorful bustle of several kanzashi flowers (see photo), which honored her Japanese heritage. She also had a beautiful display of 1000 origami cranes forming the backdrop to their ceremony. Since Stacie loves origami, all of the gentlemen's boutonnieres were origami flowers, unique to each gentleman.

John was on the Apple team that brought you the iPhone. This theme was creatively integrated into the cake. The icing was simple, but three iPhones, trimmed with Swarovski crystals, were mounted on the front of the cake, each playing a different movie of Stacie and John's life together.

One of my favorite Flirty Moments was when John and Stacie took the dance floor for their first dance. Neither particularly likes dancing, so as soon as they took 2 or 3 steps, another couple dressed as the bride and grom waltzed in from the sidelines and performed a steamy hot tango. Then, John and Stacie stepped back in at the very end for the final dip, and of course, the thunderous applause. It was fantastic! It didn't cost anything, yet it totally suited Stacie and John and entertained everyone who was there.

Oh, and the wedding took place on a Thursday because that was the day of the week that they first met. How romantic!

These were the outward expressions of their personalities as individuals and as a couple. But what really made this a wonderful wedding was the love and respect they have for each other -- the look on John's face when Stacie floated down the aisle, the truly heartfelt speech John delivered at the reception to honor his bride, the way Stacie lightly touched John's arm to reassure him she was there by his side. These are the moments we will cherish. We wish them a lifetime of happiness together.

Halloween Horror Stories

Once a year, around Halloween, I give myself permission to tell wedding-related horror stories that we've actually witnessed. These experiences always underscore the need to be well-advised when selecting wedding professionals, and to hire a professional. And it must be said that these are exceptions. Most of the people we know are extremely dedicated to giving good products and services to their brides. Many professionals give up family-time on weekends, work long hours, and give more than was asked or paid for.

Beauty
Problem: Warning Sign #1. The makeup artist was 45 minutes late for the trial. But, in about an hour, she did a nice job, took a Polaroid and said that she would do the same hair and makeup on the wedding day. On the wedding day, the same makeup artist took 4 hours to do the hair and makeup of the bride (a warning sign if ever there was one).

At the end of the marathon session, the bride had dark circles ringing her eyes like a raccoon, and her hair that looked like rattails rather than ringlets. When she timidly asked the makeup person about it, the person exploded, "I'm an artist and I say it looks just fine. I have a more important bride to get to, so just get over yourself."

The makeup person had guaranteed there would be no other clients on the day. The bride had paid over $1000 for the privilege of being spoken to in such a disrespectful manner, and then was cursed out in a foreign language. The bride cried for an hour, then locked herself in the bathroom saying, "The wedding is off." It took compassion, resourcefulness and 3 hours to get the wedding back on track.

Solution: Bride re-did makeup and hair herself with some items from our emergency kit. The emergency kit contains 107 items. We rarely go to a wedding where at least one item isn't needed.

Caterer
Problem: Ran out of food after 70% of the guests were fed. There was no Plan B.
Solution: No solution. People were hungry...and irritable.

Photographer
Problem: The assistant photographer had holes in his pockets and lost several rolls of film. I picked up several rolls throughout the day and returned them to him, but he kept putting them in his holey pockets. As a result, large sections of the wedding day were missing.

Problem: Wait. It gets worse. The same bride and groom had paid for 2 senior photographers. After the ceremony, the prime photographer left, saying she had broken her camera. But she never returned. The assistant photographer left holding the bag (Mr. Holey-Pants) was mad as hell for the rest of the day - and didn't try to hide it.

When the bride respectfully requested a refund for the part of the wedding that was not covered due to the photographer's negligence and for services that were not rendered because there was only one photographer for most of the day, the prime photographer threatened to burn each and every negative if the bride brought the subject up again.

Solution: The bride opted not to take photographer to court, as she found the whole subject so distressing. She said over and over, "Thank heavens I had a great videographer, or I'd have nothing at all."

Photography/Videography
Problem: Lest you think we have it in for photographers (we don't - we love working with 99.99% of them). Here's a story that skewers both photographers and videographers.

Before filming a wedding at a cathedral for the first time, we sought permission and were able to observe a wedding at the cathedral the week before. Although we attend every rehearsal, this was a particularly complex ceremony at a particularly restrictive church. Boy did we get an eyeful.

The photo/video company had sent out two bozo's. They had safari vests on with the name and phone number of the photo/video company emblazoned on the back. I would not have been surprised if the name pulsed on and off like a marquee.

The church strictly forbids cameras in the center aisle. That's exactly where one of the video cameras was stationed. On a 6' tall tripod. On wheels. So the holy host of tripod/camera was rolled up and down the aisle continuously, with one creaky wheel. Once the tower arrived at the front of the aisle where it could block the maximum number of guests' views the bozo snapped down the brake, whipped out a still camera and started clicking away like the rat-a-tat-tat of a machine gun accompanied by a blinding flash every time.

But then there was a lull in the action as the clown spied the altar flowers which were in his way. So, in the middle of the holiest part of the ceremony, he clomped up the stairs to the altar and while almost tipping the arrangement oer, moved them out of the way so that all subsequent pictures were no longer symmetrical.

Solution: What can you say?

Cake
Problem: Friend of a friend said she'd make the cake. It never arrived.

Solution: Director of Catering scrambled and got a suitable cake on 4 hours' notice.

Invitations
Problem: Friend said she'd make the invitations and have them addressed by 6 weeks before the wedding. The bride and groom arrived back from a trip to find nothing had been done.

Solution: We called up our favorite stationer, and asked that she keep her shop open late, and to give a 24-hour turnaround to this desperate couple. The stationer stayed until 9 PM (closing hour was 6 PM) and delivered the perfectly addressed invitations within 4 days.

Flowers
Problem: Flowers were delivered after the first 3 bridesmaids went down the aisle. Then the altar flowers went down the aisle, then the remaining bridesmaids, flower girls and bride.

Solution: What can you say? It becomes part of the memories of the day.

Event Planner
Problem: Arrived late, poured herself a mimosa, put her feet up and sipped that mimosa and 4 more. Was worse than having no event planner because people were waiting for her to give directions and cues which never came. Also, with an hour to go until the reception was to start, escort cards had not been put out and decor had not been put up.

Solution: All the event professionals scrambled to do the tasks the wedding planner should have been doing, for the sake of the bride. This took time away from what we all should have been doing, but was necessary for the wedding to go on. The wedding was not as smooth as it could have been, but this was invisible to the guests and not very noticeable to the bride.

Venue
Problem: Seven chairs had wet seat cushions from being left out in the rain the night before. When asked to replace them, was told every chair was being used in every ballroom in the hotel.

Solution: Wedding coordinator stepped in and within 5 minutes, dry chair cushions had replaced wet cushions.

A Magic Moment

We went to a Celebration of Life yesterday afternoon. Our friend, who has Lou Gehrig's disease, decided he wanted to be with his many friends and family before it was too late. All of us who were there shared a magical afternoon. His brother read a letter from our friend because he no longer has enough breath to speak. I wanted to take notes, but thought it would be too rude. What I remember touched me and changed me. I know the lessons I will take away with me.

First, at every event we film, I want to relax and have more peace in my heart. Even if the schedules on a wedding day are so tight you couldn't squeeze a toothpick in, I promise myself that I can still feel a greater calm. I want to prepare just as hard beforehand, but let go and really let the flow of the event guide me in an intuitive, not an analytical way.

When I took ikebana lessons (Japanese flower arrangement), you could always tell when someone was creating their arrangement analytically or intuitively. There was a real difference in the spirit you felt looking at the final arrangement. I was able to make that intuitive leap after 1-2 years. But, I've held on to the analytical side of filming because I felt it was supremely important to capture everything that was going on, since you don't know in advance which of the moments will be a critical moment. I am encouraged to make the leap and elevate my work to another level.

Second, I want to tell my husband Chuck I am proud of him more often than I do. As Presdent of the Bay Area Professional Assocaition, Chuck presented our friend with a beautifully framed card and the signatures of all the current members. Chuck even tracked down some people who were members years ago, but not now, from as far away as Florida. He gave a brief but perfect speech. Chuck really, really, really dislikes public speaking, but he did it for his friend. I was so proud of him.

Third, as soon as this wedding season is over, I want to reconnect with the friends we have neglected for the last five years, since we've been in business. It's hard to imagine how much time is required to film and edit, and run a business. It is more than 2 full-time jobs for each of us. It is the same for all the dedicated professionals we know in the wedding industry - florists, photographers, coordinators, caterers, cake bakers. But, our friend had been a videographer for over a decade, and 150 of his good friends and family filled a restaurant on very short notice. By example, without preaching, he let us know what was really important.

Fourth, I want to learn more about people because they will amaze you. We knew our friend had been jailed and tortured by a foreign government for standing up for his basic human rights. But we didn't know that when he moved to this country to give his family a better life, he pumped gas and delivered pizzas, without complaint, until he could get his business going to support them. He was a skilled professional, but humbly accepted humble jobs for the sake of his family. I never knew this about him.

Our friend is a great example of making every moment count and being grateful for what you have.

Pacemakers and Hair Cuts

I can't believe it's been a month since my last post. Since then, I've learned about something amazing. It takes less time to insert a pacemaker than to have my hair cut. That's right. What an amazing device. Mom needed one, so she breezed right in and out in less than 1/2 hour. Like the old fashioned barber shop: 4 chairs, no waiting. Only in this case, 4 operating theaters, no waiting. Medical Science. Amazing. Mom and I are already back to our Sunday morning walks at almost the same speed and distance. Way to go Mom!

A Perfect Wedding Gift

We're editing a beautiful ceremony that took place at the Julia Morgan Ballroom. As an aside, Linda Hylen is one of the most fabulous Directors of Special Events in the city. She makes every event go smoothly, and is unfailingly helpful, cheerful, positive, energetic, resourceful and NICE.

Oh, but I've gotten off the topic. We are editing one of the most beautiful ceremonies we've ever witnessed. The officiant spoke as though he was reciting a fragrant poem or verse. The 350 guests were transfixed when he addressed the bride and groom.

"This perfect event raises us all up
From where we find ourselves on normal days.
We see things and feel things differently.
Within the hearts of those present
Are stirrings of heightened awareness and deeper perspective.
At this moment we look with greater gratitude
At our own relationships.
It's a time of renewal, of greater hope,
Of resolution for the future.
In your reflection,
We see ourselves more clearly.
So we thank you for your wedding gifts to us."

The officiant put into words what Chuck and I sometimes feel at weddings, both when we are filming and when we are guests. Family and friends are being given an opportunity to 'touch the heavens' when they are in the presence of two people who are willing to sacrifice for each other, to commit to each other and promise to love each other. It feels like a gently guiding hand which compels 350 people to act and feel as one, in the same way that a flock of birds can swoop then soar with grace.

Anatomy of a Hora

We just finished editing a hora to end and horas. Our sweet bride Nissa and her handsome groom Tom and their 300 guests at the Julia Morgan Ballroom were out on the dance floor for 40 minutes dancing the horah and other exuberant dances. With three cameras, we captured 120 minutes of sheer joy. Here's the 3-minute PC version and here's the MAC version of the movie trailer that captures the joy. Joel Nelson was the band leader and MC. We've never seen a better entertainer who made sure 100s of guests flooded the dance floor and STAYED there!

It is so amazing when guests come together as though they share one mind with everyone else in the room. As graceful as a flock of swallows soaring in the sky, or a school of dolphins cutting through the water with their streamlined bodies. And no one wanted it to end! Only the dinner bell could interrupt the dancing.

The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming

Do you ever feel life is like a river and if you can let go and just float, you'll drift to where you should be? Yesterday Chuck and I had that sort of experience. We visited a dear friend who is dying of Lou Gehrig's disease. He never shows an ounce of self-pity. He is grateful just to hear the birds sing. After we'd spent some time chatting and laughing, we got up to leave.

Our friend asked us to stay and see some of his friends come over and sing. We demurred. He insisted. He won. We went away and came back a few hours later. We were in for an unexpected treat.

A good friend of his brought 6 of her friends, all clad in traditional Russian garb. They are part of the group called Kedry. They started singing folk songs that were from 200 to 2000 years old. Each singer came from a different part of Russian. The two Olgas, Irina, Tatiana, Natalya were from Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Ukraine, the Upper Volga, and Siberia. I never thought about it before, but Russia's people are as diverse and Americans.

The ladies sang a cappella. The songs had a similar harmony and rhythm to African folk songs. And the acoustics in the living room had an odd way of absorbing some frequencies and projecting others. So, 100% of the sound was coming at you from the front, but only 70% of the sound was coming at you from behind. Very surrealistic.

Then, a strange thing happened. I looked at Irina, a petite blonde blue-eyed pixie and saw my grandmother! They could have been sisters. But of course, Irina was younger than I ever knew my grandmother to be. I was transfixed. She looked like her, she talked like her, she had the same mannerisms. It was uncanny. I was overcome with emotion. I hadn't seen my dear, dear Grandma in many, many, many years.

I used to ride my bike over to see her on Saturday mornings when we lived in New York City. I'd knock at her door, she'd answer and always say, "Oh what a surprise! Come on in darling, and have some cookies that just came out of the oven." It was our little joke. She pretended that she wasn't expecting me, and I'd pretend right along with her. Then, we'd sit down and she'd ask how my week went. Sometimes I brought a friend with me. I vividly remember her house smelled like mothballs and she had lace doilies on the armrests and headrests of all the chairs in the living room.

I've only recently come to realize just how precious those Saturday mornings were. I really wish I could have just one more Saturday morning with Grandma or at least I wish I had a little movie of just one of our Saturday mornings together. Sigh.

Then, I'd jump on my bike and pedal home. Eventually my parents put a stop to my visits because I was taking the Long Island Expressway to get to Grandma's place. There was no way I could get there by surface roads. But it was so sweet while it lasted.

If we hadn't been visiting our friend, we never would have seen the singers and I wouldn't have taken a little trip down memory lane. Being 3rd generation, Russian was certainly never spoken in my parents' house. But I felt a deep connection to the songs the singers sang, and the melodies, and the beat. Several times, we all got up to dance, while the singers sang lively songs.

Following the dancing, our friend had arranged to have a feast of homemade strudel, fruits, nuts, candies, cheeses and assorted meats spread out before us like a banquet. What a gracious host. What a thoughtful man. Even though he is confined to bed or a wheelchair and breathes through a tube, he still thinks of others' comfort. What a guy!

What makes a person who they are? Is it their physical beauty? Or is it the personality inside? Our friend has been ravaged by a savage disease and yet he is still who he always was. He is still loyal, responsible, caring, funny, poetic, compassionate, loving, honest, and many more things.

Our friend is so brave, so honorable, so inspiring. He considers himself to be lucky - yes lucky! - to have lived the life he has and to love and be loved by three wonderful sons. Rather than a somber memorial, he's planning a wild and crazy celebration very soon, while he's still here to enjoy it.

He has a picture on the wall of himself, after he ascended Mount Damavand, one of the world's tallest mountains. He did it before the illness appeared. Maybe he had a premonition. I dunno. But I'm glad he did it. Here's a man with no regrets. Our only regret is that we didn't spend more time with him.

Word For Word

I took my Mom to see a bit of theater on Sunday. What was unusual was that every word from the book was spoken. It's called word for word or W4W. This is great for anyone who loves to read because you can hear the way the author uses language and hear the interior thoughts of each character. Mom's sometimes hard to please, but she loved it!

The play, The Magic Barrel, was about a fellow who is desperate to find a wife, but is terrified of women. He calls for the matchmaker who shamelessly exaggerates the attributes of all the ladies he introduces to the poor fellow. The play ends ambiguously with another "match". If you're an optimist, as I am, you hope it works out.

Videography vs Photography

We ran across a refreshing conversation among brides about wedding videography in the Boston Globe's Boston.com message board. We concur with most of the posts. But we feel that still images captured from video, even from HD which is what we exclusively use, are not suitable for enlargement beyond 4" x 6". Maybe one day, but not quite yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Video More Than Photography
Message #11283.1

Hi All,

I just got back from a visit to my friend in Calif. We watched her wedding video which was amazing! She went with a high-end videographer, which cost them $5,000! Here's the thing, she only spent $1000 on her photographer. she said it's not uncommon there for couples to put more money into their videos than their photos.

My FI and I are much more into video than photos. I know most couples spend more on their photos, but is there any reason not to spend more on the video? We can't afford the high end on both.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message #11283.2 in response to #11283.1

Why not. It's your money. We may do the same. My family has always been more into video. As I watch videographer demos, I think there's a big difference in quality between the $1000 videos and the more expensive ones.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message #11283.3 in response to #11283.2

Also, her videographer was able to give her some photo stills from the video. They looked pretty good!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message #11283.4 in response to #11283.3

We're looking to see if we can get a photographer for just 3 hours to cover the ceremony, cocktails, formals, intros, and first dance.

i've seen stills from videos. The good thing is that you can capture the exact moment, but I don't think the resolution is a good as a professional still camera.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message #11283.5 in response to #11283.4

Were the stills you saw from an HD video?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message #11283.6 in response to #11283.5

I don't think so. It was 3 years ago. But, if stills from HD video are of photo quality, that would be huge!
Then your videographer could supply both your video and your photos! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message #11283.7 in response to #11283.6

My Aunt and Uncle had a video of their wedding in 1988. I was the flower girl. it's the most precious thing our family has. My Dad's dad died 2 months after the wedding. In the video he's talking about how much he loves his family. You really can't put a price on that

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message #11283.8 in response to #11283.7

Wow! How lucky you are to have that. And how great it was that the videographer used the sound of voices. Those are the videos I like best!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message #11283.9 in response to #11283.8

Also, I think that some people look better on video than in photos. My friend hates her wedding pictures. it's because she has this weird expression every time she poses. But she looks great on her video. she can't blame the photographer, because the pictures are technically fine.

Wedding Webcast

Every now and again we like to tell the world what we've been up to. This week we put out a press release about a wedding we filmed recently. We love talking about our passion - making movies - but we are always a bit uncomfortable talking about ourselves. In this case, we overcame our discomfort to write a news piece in the hope that a bride somewhere will read about the possibility of webcasting and solve the problem of how to take the sting out of dear relatives who cannot make it to the wedding.

PRESS RELEASE

Savadelis Films may have made history by successfully webcasting a bride's outdoor wedding ceremony to her mother's hospital room 2500 miles away using full-motion video. But best of all, they made a Mother and daughter very happy.

Just days before Pam and Phil's wedding, Pam's Mother Sue shattered not just her leg, but also her dream of watching her daughter walk down the aisle. Pam and Sue were heartbroken. Pam frantically searched for a way to get her Mother to the wedding. But given the nature of the break, there was no way her Mother could travel. Sometimes, though, a miracle can happen in a way you never expected.

When the couple's wedding videographers, Chuck and Jewel Savadelis of Savadelis Films learned of Pam and Phil's predicament just 48 hours before the wedding, they vowed to do whatever it took to broadcast Pam and Phil's wedding ceremony live over the internet. Magically, the pieces started to fall into place.

On Friday, as Pam and her bridesmaids drove to the spa for a day of relaxation, Savadelis Films contacted the head of technology at the hospital in Ohio where Pam's Mother was receiving care. The hospital was able to provide a computer from which Sue could view the live webcast of the wedding. Then Savadelis Films called on Event by Wire to provide the streaming technology to webcast the ceremony live from a California winery to an Ohio hospital. Although slated to play in an annual golf tournament, Dan Grumley, owner of Event by Wire, committed to forego the tournament to personally oversee that the broadcast went flawlessly.

Ten minutes before the wedding, just as Pam and her bridesmaids were ready to walk down the aisle, the internet broadcast went live. Sue, dressed in the pale pink chiffon dress she had chosen, and adorned with a corsage, saw guests gathering under a stand of stately redwood trees on a brilliantly sunny day at a private winery near San Francisco. Then she saw a sight she'd been praying to see: her daughter floating down the aisle on her father's arm. Sue saw her husband gently kiss Pam's cheek as he presented her hand to Phil.

As the couple approached the minister Phil whispered to Pam, "You are so beautiful. You take my breath away." As Pam spoke her vows to love Phil in joy and in sorrow, he wiped her tear away. Then they exchanged rings and kissed. Sue saw and heard it all. At the moment that it was happening. From 2500 miles away.

Afterwards, Pam said, "I truly felt like my Mom was there in the crowd of family and friends who surrounded us. Knowing that she was watching freed me from worrying about her, and allowed me to fully experience all the joy of our wedding day." Pam's Mother put it more simply: "It felt like I was there. I really was there, sharing every moment with my children."

First-Class Wedding Professionals

99.99% of the people we meet in the wedding industry are talented, caring, diligent, principled folks. Here are a few we met in or who we have recently worked with who stood out:

Event Designers

Jubilee Lau
Jubilee Lau Events
www.jubileelauevents.com

Maxine Andrew
Instead of You
www.insteadofyou.com/

Kristi Amoroso
Kristi Amoroso Special Events
kristiamoroso.com

Stephanie Beer
Covenant Coordinating
www.winecountryweddingsite.com

Jean Marks
Jean Marks Weddings
www.jeanmarksweddings.com

Duncan Reyes
Duncan Reyes Event By Design
duncanreyes.com

Marie Rios
Creative Occasions
www.creative-occasions.com


Caterers

Rolando Mafnas
Alex's Catering
www.alexscatering.com

Elaine Bell
Elaine Bell Catering
www.elainebellcatering.com

Audrey Hardy
Paula Le Duc Catering
www.paulaleduc.com

Tom Henderson
Thomas John Events
www.thomasjohnevents.com


Floral Designers

Arianna Nichol
Robert Fountain Design
www.robertfountain.com

Nicole Sillapere
Sillapere
www.sillapere.com

Edward Bellingeri
Edward B Design
www.edwardbdesign.com

Anthony Levy
Julie's Flowers
www.juliesflowers.net


Rentals

Jon Retsky
Got Light?
www.got-light.com

Youngsong Martin
Wildflower Linens
www.wildflowerlinens.com


Photographers

Melissa Bagley
www.melissabagley.com

Darcy Padilla
www.weddingsbydarcy.com

Lisa Crawford
www.lisanjames.com

Wendy Maclaurin Richardson
www.wmrphoto.com


Invitations

Pavan Kochar
Alia Designs
www.aliadesigns.com

Sabrina Moyel
Hello Lucky!
www.hellolucky.com

Missing In Action

Time flies. I can't believe the last time I posted anything was in January, 7 months ago. During the winter we were editing weddings from last year. Then, the wedding season zoomed into high gear. I popped my head out of the gopher hole, and now it's August. I'll try to catch up over the next several weeks by telling you the places I've seen and the people I've met.

I've seen a few new venues worthy of your consideration. The first grouping are all on the contemporary, modern, maybe even on the edgy side in a few cases. I'll start with edgy first.

Dog Patch Studios
www.dogpatchstudios.com
A hip, modern open and light space in San Francisco which you can transform into anything you please. Got-Light did a fantastic job of lighting each space on several different floors in a different way.

Hotel Vitale
www.hotelvitale.com
Candace Palec, a very charming lady, oversees weddings at the chic, contemporary venue which has several levels of rooftop terraces which overlook the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero in San Francisco, with a spectacular view of the Bay Bridge. A creative idea that Candace has pioneered is offering substantial hors d'ouevres rather than a sit-down dinner so that guests can continuously mingle.

Carneros Inn
www.carnerosinn.com
Brooke Baglietto is simply one of the nicest people in the wedding industry. A recent bride herself, she completely understands a bride's mindset, and her desires. The Carneros Inn in Napa has a relaxing, elegant simplicity. Imagine sheer white curtains fluttering in the breeze under the portico which looks out onto a large grassy lawn. The infinity pool reflects the beautiful mountins and vineyards which form a perfect backdrop. And the apple orchard is a charming place for the ceremony.

Natural, Wine Country Feeling

The next two venues each have a unique feeling. Sometimes these things are hard to articulate, but you "know it when you see it".

Bear Flag Farm
www.bearflagfarm.com
Tina is such a nice person and this working farm is quite unique. Your caterer can harvest fruits from the trees and vegetables from the earth on the 25-acre farm in the morning, and prepare and serve a tasty meal by evening. Two of our favorite caterers work closely with Tina: Rolando Mafnas at Alex's Catering and Jennifer Bowman at Elaine Bell Catering. If you are looking for an organic, earthy feeling to the wedding (though there's nothing to stop you from hanging chandeliers in the trees), then Bear Flag Farm may be for you. They only do about 12 weddings a year, so check it out sooner rather than later.

Nicholson Ranch
www.nicholsonranch.com
Sarah Roach does an outstanding job of making you feel right at home. This working winery has a distinctly Tuscan feeling to it. Everyone at the Ranch is relaxed, and makes you feel warmly welcomed. This winery also only hosts 12 weddings per year and books up quickly.

Old World Charming Wine Country

Right in the middle of wine country, there are several large stone buildings that make for grand weddings. You can rent three, but the fourth I must tell you about anyway.

Ledson Winery
www.ledson.com
Gina Batti the Director of Hospitality (such an appropriate title) has the charm and grace befitting such a splendid venue. Ledson Castle is an imposing structure in Kenwood, just north of Sonoma. And yet, since it was a family's home for a time, it has a warm feeling.

Jacuzzi Vineyards
www.jacuzziwines.com
Yes, there really is a Mr. Jacuzzi. He invented water well pumps and eventually the Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath. The Jacuzzi family just finished building a lovely Italianate villa with a large fountain in the central courtyard. Chris Merino and Jennifer Alvarez who also run events at Cline Cellars across the street, are simply delightful ladies to work with.

Sebastiani Vineyards
www.sebastiani.com
Sebastiani, another family whose roots run deep in the wine country, have a very beautiful stone building and a small casa for weddings right in the center of the town of Sonoma. Piper Andersen is the very sweet and soothing person who assists you with your wedding.

Next time, I'll post some notes on some lovely people I've met in the wedding industry.

Time Magazine Person of the Year

Tongue in cheek, we wrote a press release based on Time Magazine's most recent selection of "you" as the Person of the Year. They are referring to the millions of people who participate in social networking on places like MySpace, post their videos on YouTube, or put out more current information than the professional newsmakers in their individual blogs. So, enjoy!

San Francisco, CA -- January 16, 2007 -- Savadelis Films has been named Person of the Year for its participation in the new digital democracy. "Yes, we are one in a billion, of internet users that is, but we are no more deserving than the other 999 million users," said a modest Chuck Savadelis co-owner of Savadelis Films. "Time Magazine named all of us as Person of the Year for "seizing the reins of the global media", citing YouTube, Facebook and MySpace as the prime examples."

Savadelis Films has done their part to earn the moniker in 2006 by being the only wedding videographers tapped by two of the most prestigious wedding magazine websites to provide their wedding videos online.

Conde Nast's newly redesigned omnibus website, Brides.com, features two Savadelis Films wedding videos at www.brides.com/videos. The website combines articles from Elegant Bride, Modern Bride and Brides Magazines along with original material, attracting well over 200,000 unique visitors a month. Theresa DiMasi, Editor in Chief of Brides.com said, "A Savadelis Films wedding movie is an exquisite work of art that tells a story and deeply affects you. In fact, it is more accurate to call their métier wedding cinematography because their work looks just like a movie."

Grace Ormonde, Editor in Chief of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine, personally selected a Savadelis Films movie trailer as the first online Featured Wedding at www.weddingstylemagazine.com/featured/ to inaugurate her newly redesigned website which was launched on September 29, 2006. Ms. Ormonde said, "Savadelis Films is one of the premiere wedding cinematography companies for brides who want a wedding movie which is as stylish as every other aspect of their wedding. Their work is beautiful, tasteful and elegant. Stylish brides have discovered the Savadelises and are close to having a feeding frenzy over them."

Grace should know. She is the doyenne of the ultra chic wedding magazine that recommends the best professionals internationally. Grace Ormonde has a knack for discovering new talent, giving established wedding industry artisans a forum to express themselves, and inspiring them to take their creativity to a new level. Artists whom Grace has encouraged include wedding gown couturier Reem Acra; celebrity photographer Mike Colon; event designer Colin Cowie; caterer Paula Le Duc; and cake designer Sylvia Weinstock.

"We are delighted to be associated with visionaries such as Grace Ormonde and Theresa DiMasi who have long provided insightful and useful information to their readers in print, and now have grabbed hold of the future by offering videos and other interactive experiences on the internet to serve and enrich their brides." said Jewel Savadelis, the other half of Savadelis Films. "Perhaps they more than we deserve to be Person of the Year because of the way they are shaping the web in meaningful ways."

We Love Our Brides

There is nothing we like more than to hear that our clients are delighted with their wedding movies especially when the bride and groom are professional photographers who have a very artistic eye. We find it so difficult to explain BEFORE the wedding how much a couple will treasure their wedding movie AFTER the wedding (if you have a suggestion, let us know). It always seems so self-serving, even if it is so true. Before their wedding, Jenny & Mike weren't at all sure they wanted a wedding movie, but Jubilee Lau, a fabulous event planner, assured them that they would be sorry if they didn't have one. Today we received a lovely note from our sweet Jenny and Mike.

Dear Chuck and Jewel,

Thank you SO much for the amazing, amazing video! We have been traveling, so it was difficult to email, for which I apologize - we wanted to email you immediately and tell you how great it was. We absolutely LOVE it! Thank you so much for the multiple copies. The presentation boxes, the "extra" slideshow, the editing, we loved all of it. I felt almost voyeuristic watching the part of the wedding that occurred before I walked down the aisle - it was so amazing to be able to "see" the parts of our wedding that we missed. You guys have made me a firm believer in wedding videos. I can't believe how much work you put into our video. Thank you for everything, your thoughtfulness, your caring, and all that you did for us, before, during and after our wedding. You will both always be a part of one of the most special days of our lives.

Please stay in touch!
Jenny & Mike

Just to show how interrelated we all are...Samantha and Alvin were considering engaging us for their wedding but wanted to know more about us, from a bride's perspective. Jubilee, who was their event designer, gave Samantha Jenny's cell phone. Jenny was on her honeymoon in Tahiti at the time. But Jenny immediately called Samantha back and talked for quite some time about how much they enjoyed working with us and with Jubilee. Samantha and Alvin not only engaged us, but invited Jenny and Mike to their wedding in order to surprise us! Did I tell you...WE LOVE OUR BRIDES!!

When Only the Best Will Do...

We have had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful professionals this year. Each brings his or her own creative talents and personality to the mix to enhance every wedding for which they are engaged. If you want the very best service and artistry, here are the best of the best in five categories.

Floral Designer
Edward Bellingeri
www.edwardbdesign.com
Edward designed and coordinated many celebrity weddings in Southern California before moving to Northern California. He was in great demand for his attention to detail which satisfied even the most discerning brides and mothers-of-the-bride. And yet, he is very warm, personable and thoughtful. He is the real deal, the whole package.

Couturier
Jin Wang
www.jinwang.net
A number of our brides have been 'Jin Wang' brides. Not only was every interaction with Jin personal and calm, but each dress was perfectly suited to each bride's personality. The dresses were so comfortable and flattering. We never saw a bride pull up the bodice or smooth a wrinkle all day. Not once. These dresses were perfectly fitted. And the dresses swished and flowed as you would imagine in a fairytale, looking as beautiful from the back and from the front. And now, Jin has added another bonus: no charge for alterations for her couturier gowns. That's Jin - adding a higher level of service before even being asked.

Caterer
Paula Le Duc
www.paulaleduc.com
I was at a reception held by Paula Le Duc to thank a variety of professionals for their support in the past year. Every aspect of the food and service was impeccable. If you ordered a drink from a waitperson, even if you moved around the very large space, they would find you and deliver your drink promptly and courteously. How do they do that? Every guest had a story to tell of how Paula and her staff surpassed all expectations. Her motto is so true, "Perfect will be just fine."

Cake
Shinmin Li
www.idreamofcake.com
I can't remember another professional taking their art to such a high level so quickly. Shinmin approaches every aspect of designing and creating cakes differently than anyone else. Just look at her showroom - it looks more like an exclusive shoe salon than a bakery. Her look is fresh and hip, elegant and classic, . If those adjectives sound contradictory, just take a look at her designs.

Floral Designer
Nicole Sillapere
www.sillapere.com
When people attempt to do two things well, they usually come up short. Not so with Nicole Sillapere. She is one of the freshest, most creative minds in the business AND she treats the planet gently by using biodegradeable and recycled materials wherever possible. Nicole produced the most recent Global Green event at the Bently Reserve, attended by Leonardo diCaprio, Salma Hayek, and Orlando Bloom among others, raising over $250,000 for smart solutions to global warming. But let's go back to Nicole's designs. They are crisp, contemporary, stylish. In fact, she is a trend setter. And when Nicole designs an event, she takes into account as far as the eye can see. This keeps the florals, the furniture and the accessories in proportion rather than having just one element screaming for attention which visually throws everything out of balance. Her crew are a cohesive group of talented individuals who, despite tight deadlines, are always calm, have fun with one another, and seem to be both at play and at peace.

YouTube

This was the year of YouTube. Video was everywhere. Some of it good, most of it not. No single photo would be able to convey the sense of movement, fun, surprise, or emotion that these videos do. Here are our Top Favorites:

Kiwi:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdUUx5FdySs

OK Go:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NINJQ5LRh-0

Free Hugs:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

Come Into My World:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTrO6LYSHQQ&eurl=

Talk Talk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcQIwbvGRKU

Can:
cjcphoto.com/can/

Urban Ninja:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2kJZOfq7zk

Tony vs.Paul
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJzU3NjDikY&eurl

Where is Matt?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNF_P281Uu4

9/11 Truth
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsMgYgpyQjI&mode=related&search=

Early Christmas Gift

We awoke to an early Christmas present. Our movie trailer of Nissa & Tom's Ceremony is the very first featured wedding video on the Brides.Com website! The companion piece, The Veiling, which preceded the ceremony is also featured. Theresa DiMasi. the Editor in Chief of Brides.com and Condé Nast Bridal Media is an extraordinary woman. She was the visionary and the heart and soul behind the legendary websites Epicurious.com, Concierge.com, Style.com, MenStyle.com and YM.com. And now, she's making great things happen at Brides.com (online home of Elegant Bride, Modern Bride and Brides Magazines).

We are the only wedding videographer to have wedding videos featured by the two leading wedding magazine websites, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine (another great visionary in the bridal media world) and Brides.com. You can view our movie trailers at www.brides.com/videos and at www.weddingstylemagazine.com/featured/. We are glad that there is a forum for us and our colleagues to show brides that the field of videography has changed. At its highest level, it has morphed into an art form that could more accurately be called cinematography.

No need for gifts this year, Santa Claus. We've already received ours.

Best Movies of 2006

Everyone's a critic! Now's our turn. Here are our favorite movies of the past year based upon how impactful they are, how well they tell a story and how well they are crafted (technical considerations), regardless of political outlook, lifestyle or likeability of the key actors.

1. Flags of our Fathers
2. The Queen
3. The Departed
4. Letters from Iwo Jima
5. Lucky Number Sleven
6. Perfume: Letters of a Murderer
7. Volver
8. Akeelah and the Bee
9. Mrs Henderson Presents
10. Deja Vu


Honorable Mention
Lake House
Cars
Happy Feet
Casino Royale
The Good Shepherd
Munich
Brokeback Mountain
Devil Wears Prada
Match Point
Walk the Line
Inside Man

Second Best Wedding Investment in the World

"Frightened Girl" by Roy Lichtenstein

We have observed a fair number of weddings. Many with excellent wedding coordinators. One or two with poor ones. Some without any at all. What conclusion can we draw? Almost every wedding can benefit from the services of a great wedding coordinator. Why? Most brides or the friend/family member she designates as the coordinator for the day, have little experience in hosting parties of the size, complexity and importance of a wedding. It is difficult to anticipate what can go wrong or how to deal with the challenges.

How bad can it be? Not to scare you, but here are a few things we've personally seen, in as random an order as they happened:
1. Cake arrived and looked like a disaster.
2. Bride forgot her veil.
3. Hair dresser locked photographer and videographer out of the house and refused to let them in during bride's preparations.
4. Florist's delivery truck was in a car accident on the way to the ceremony.
5. DJ played songs from the 'do not play list' and did not play songs from the 'cherished favorites' list.
6. Parents of the groom got lost, delaying the ceremony by an hour.
7. Power failure at the venue, so no hot food could be served and lights were out during entire reception.
8. Public address system did not work; guests could not hear the ceremony.
9. Limo broke down between church and reception.
10. Chair cushions were soaking wet from being left out overnight.
11. Bride's changing room was so distant from the reception area, that it took 45 minutes for her to change and to walk back to the reception. During that time, more than half the guests had left.
12. No one could find the toss bouquet.
13. No one could find the lanterns to be hung from the trees.
14. Officiant was one hour late.
15. Photographer and uncle of the groom got into a fist fight at the bouquet toss.
16. Band leader had a heart attack the day before the wedding.
17. Bride's gown arrived very wrinkled from the salon on the morning of the wedding.
18. Hair dresser left bride in half-done state because 'she had a more important bride to get to'.
19. Ring bearer started to relieve himself during ceremony.
20. Family dynamics of all kinds in blended as well as in traditional families.
21. Mother of the bride's surgical stitches started to open and bleed.
22. Drapery structure blew over in the wind and crashed into the string quartet 15 minutes before the ceremony.
23. Bride's aunt, who had made a half-hearted attempt to commit suicide the night before, tried to crash the wedding.
24. Disgruntled ex-boyfriend of bride called vendors the night before the wedding and told them the wedding was called off.

A Shower of Babies

We just received the picture of an adorable set of twins recently born to one of our lovely couples. So we thought we'd take a look at how many babies our wonderful brides and grooms have had since their wedding days. Over the last four years, 25 sweet babies have been born! A veritable shower of babies. Some babies we know through photos enclosed in Christmas cards. Others, through thoughtful emails. Here is a gallery of the little cuties who arrived this year:

Thuy and Robert welcomed their new son
Drais on December 10
6 lb 6 oz, 19.10"


Lisa, Albert and big sister Kira welcomed
Elena on November 19, 2006
6 lb 13 oz, 19.7"


Jocelyn & Jerry welcomed Martine & Noah
in November, 2006


Claire & Son welcomed Sean in June, 2006


Laura, Andy & big brother Patrick welcomed Kyle in April, 2006


Cindy & Tony welcomed Ryan
on February 25, 2006
5 lb 15 oz, 19.25"

Elegant Parties

YWD at Meadowood

The wedding season is winding down, so we gave ourselves permission to attend a pair of lovely events this week. On Monday, a magazine which is making its inaugural debut in Northern California hosted a 'coming out' party. Your Wedding Day Magazine (YWD for short), which is a stylish magazine, threw an elegant party at Meadowood in St Helena. They carefully invited just 100 of the most highly respected wedding professionals to join them for lunch (we were honored to be included! on such a list!). Editor-in-Chief Thea Lignos-Hargrove and her colleagues graciously greeted us on the veranda overlooking the croquet courts. It's just so refined watching a croquet match with all players in white.

After an hour of greeting old friends and meeting new ones, we moved into the ballroom for a light luncheon of a creamy squash soup and grilled salmon accompanied by golden beets and crisp salad. Dessert was an individual apple tartine, baked to a golden brown.

I was lucky enough to sit at a table with the ladies from the Sonoma Mission Inn, Auberge du Soleil, Calistoga Ranch Inn, Harvest Inn and the incomparable photographer Wendy Maclaurin Richardson and the wonderful event planner Jenne Hohn. I can see why brides have a hard time deciding on a venue. All of these properties are beautiful and each of the ladies in charge are so willing to go out of their way to make a couple's day so special.


Fabulous Food at the Ferry Building

On Wednesday, I was again lucky enough to receive an invitation from the venerable Paula le Duc who is acknowledged as one of the best, if not the best caterer in Northern California. Kathleen Deery designed an intimate private supper club atmosphere with custom linens and runners from Classic Party rentals, low table lamps and monochromatic yet vivid orange arrangements in chocolate terra cotta vases.

It's hard to describe how flavorful the unique combinations of foods were. On the menu were smoked duck ravioli, thai chicken soup with crispy shrimp and cardamom braised shortribs as well as tiny scallop sandwiches, truffled cheddar pearl brulee and chicken mole on a bed of red rice. Oh, but save room for the dessert bar of miniature pumpkin tartlets, quince crisp in porcelain spoons, choclate peanut butter mousse tartlets, raspberry macaroon sandwiches, and my favorite, the tropical panna cotta which was a creamy coconut cloud topped with tropical fruits in a shot glass.

The entire layout encouraged people to move around, to gather, to meet new people, and to enjoy the food, the wines, the company in an unhurried way. And when we were ready to leave, Ace Parking did a fabulous job of valeting and retrieving our cars swiftly. What a perfect evening.