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San Diego Video Production
Semper Fi-ghting With "The Expendables"
July 26, 2010
It doesn't get more badass than this -- Sylvester Stallone and his tough-guy co-stars from "The Expendables" joining forces with the Marines at Camp Pendleton! This San Diego video production was actually the premiere of the new action movie, held at the 1,300-seat theater on the Marine base in Oceanside. Our San Diego video crew nabbed a TV exclusive for "Entertainment Tonight" as Stallone pulled up to a cheering crowd of Marines and their families in a Humvee. Also arriving in Humvees -- co-stars Terry Crews, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Randy Couture, a six-year military veteran. The crew stayed up close with the stars, grabbing tons of memorable moments as Stallone and the boys signed autographs, posed for pictures and high-fived Marines. Inside the theater, we rolled as "The Expendables" bolted down the carpet to thunderous applause and introduced their new film, which opens Aug. 13. Our footage aired on "ET" Monday, July 26, and was featured on the show's website, www.etonline.com.
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Keeping Up With Kathy Griffin
July 18, 2010
We couldn't have asked for a better gig than covering Kathy Griffin's book-signing for "Entertainment Tonight!" From start to finish, this San Diego video production was one belly laugh after another as Kathy lamented the engagement of her "My Life on the D-List" boy-toy Levi Johnston, and had a field day with Mel Gibson's phone recordings. The energetic comedian popped into Border's Books with her mom Maggie Griffin to promote Maggie's new book, Tip It! -- and sign copies of her own best-seller, Official Book Club Selection. My San Diego video crew and I squeezed in with the crowd of about 300 that crammed the bookstore to see and hear Kathy in person. And she didn't disappoint -- signing and posing for every last person!
Los Angeles Video Production
Solana Wins with 'Biggest Loser' Trainer
Solana Productions captured all the drama as Jillian Michaels, fitness trainer on TV's "The Biggest Loser," invaded a former Hollywood star's home for a complete diet and fitness makeover. ...more
Client Testimonials
"Thanks again for the remarkable video production services provided for our series "Animal Miracles with Alan Thicke." Each time we are more and more impressed with your team when we shoot at various locations throughout the western United States."
Client Video Production experiences...
Solana Productions, Inc Videotapes
Story of Screenwriter's Nanny Nightmare
Solana Productions, Inc., has taped an interview with a La Jolla, California, mother who turned her real-life horror story with a live-in nanny into a Hollywood screenplay that she sold for six figures.
Chrisanna Northrup, a married mother of three school-age children, spotted problems soon after hiring the nanny, but ran into legal roadblocks evicting her from their home. Northrup and her family spent a harrowing 30 days as the nanny remained in their home, threatening extortion, wearing Northrup’s clothes, throwing parties and even recording pornography on the family television.
Once the nanny eventually moved out, Northrup spent a year writing “Silver,” a screenplay about the experience. She placed a one-day ad in the Hollywood Reporter, and sold the project to a film production company owned by a private investor for more than $100,000. The movie is now in development.
Her experience as a first-time screenwriter was very unusual. Many novice writers spend months and even years enduring constant rejections before selling their stories.
The first step for aspiring writers is to register their work with the Writers Guild. They can be found on the web at www.wga.org.
This provides at least some legal proof that you created your screenplay.
Ownership of creative work can be very murky, especially if others are working on similar ideas. Problems will only be magnified if your work becomes a successful movie.
The next step is getting your story in front of the right people. Northup’s method of taking out an ad was creative and ultimately successful, but it’s not a common approach.
More conventional paths are through agents and lawyers. But getting them to even open your envelope can be challenging. They are just as concerned about being accused of stealing ideas as you are of yours being stolen. Most top agents will not accept unsolicited material. Send your opus to them and you’ll just be wasting postage.
Avoid this quagmire by using one of the many books that provide the names of agents and lawyers willing to look at material from first-time writers. Just search for “screenwriting books” on the web. You’ll find there are plenty of people looking for the next great idea.
Chrisanna Northrup’s great idea made her a lot of money and also caught the attention of many publications and television shows.
A two-person camera crew and field producer from Solana Productions recorded a lengthy interview with Northrup and her husband at their home and shot re-enactments of some of the family’s harrowing moments with the nanny. The segment aired on “The Rachael Ray Show” in April.
Solana Productions, Inc., www.solanaproductions.com is a videotape production company based in Solana Beach, California, that regularly shoots for a variety of broadcast, cable and corporate clients, including “The Rachael Ray Show,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “The Insider,” “Dr. Phil” and “Oprah.”