Source: Associated Press

A new travel and adventure-based music show that seeks out the roots of popular music around the world is preparing for its debut. The upcoming TV series was shot by Denver-based Filament Productions.

Set to debut in the U.S. early 2010, The Music Voyager takes viewers on a journey to unique destinations around the world to discover the culture, uncover popular local music and understand its contemporary significance — all while showing adventures the location has to offer. The show will be broadcast on American Public Television/PBS affiliate stations throughout the U.S., on National Geographic Channels International’s Nat Geo Music and Nat Geo Adventure channels (internationally for the first season), as well as on other local broadcast partners (CVM Jamaica, etc.) and online. Kelly Magelky is the Director and Chief Editor. Rod Blackhurst and Oliver Cheneval served as director of photographers for the India and Jamaica shoots respectively.

Initial episodes, shot earlier this year with AG-HVX200 P2 HD handheld camcorders, feature the Northern regions of India, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, and Jodphur. Upon availability of the HPX300 camera, the production crew jumped at the chance to take the P2 HD camcorder to Jamaica for an 11-day shoot documenting the roots of reggae music in the homeland of world-renowned music legend Bob Marley.

“I had many concerns after reading our schedule for Jamaica, as it seemed most shoots were going to be at night, and most likely in areas difficult to find lighting,” said Director Magelky. “I did some tests at home in Colorado and found that the HPX300 had an amazing capability to handle low lighting. I kept checking the shutter speed, gain, etc. and was truly amazed at what I was seeing.”

“Fast forward to Jamaica – we were, indeed, in many locations where lighting would be an issue, but the camera delivered great results,” he added. “I was amazed at the footage, even while in the edit.”

“A large part of why our show is being received well by our broadcast partners is that we capture great imagery, we absolutely pride ourselves on the fact that every single frame is a knock-out. The HPX300 delivers such a wide dynamic range and color palette that the show sells itself,” said Magelky. “Consistent responses that we hear are that the colors are amazing (pre-color correction). The camcorder does a great job of capturing blacks and reds. Our DP was able to make gamma corrections on the fly very easily and we were able to get the image and color we wanted.”

World Beats

Think of rhythms of world music and it’s easy to be swept away by your imagination. Drum beats of Africa conjure images of safari sunsets and game watching, while the sounds of Spanish guitars transport us to the beaches of Malaga, where stately Andalucia properties overlook the Costa del Sol. This show will not only attempt to transport you to a day in the life of those lucky enough own Costa del Sol properties, but will explore the roots of the music the locals call their own.

The segments were shot in 720p/30PN in AVC-Intra 100. “We created scene files for day, night, overcrank (60fps) and undercrank (12fps),” said Magelky. “We shot a large amount of scenics at 60fps and sunsets/sunrises at 12fps. For me, the big benefit of AVC-Intra is in post-production. I’m finding that the footage handles effects and web compression really well, and general picture quality is definitely impressive.”

“There were many bonuses to shooting with the HPX300,” he said. “The camera’s ability to handle dark situations without gaining was excellent — we didn’t have to up the gain at all. Also, because the camera was shoulder-mounted and not too heavy, we were able to shoot a lot of moving interviews. I personally thought the ease of viewing clips on location was great.”

Magelky continued, “I was very surprised at how quickly the camera was able to switch to the viewing mode, and back to camera mode. This was a huge time saver, and it made me feel comfortable asking to see certain scenes on the fly. As for battery life – we never had to worry about it – that’s priceless!”

“We needed a variety of focal lengths when dealing with this show and the lens we used (17x HD Fujinon lens) worked really well. The quality of the viewfinder was incredible; it was nice to know we had focus during the shoots.”

The crew utilized twelve 8GB P2 cards. “While we could have used larger cards, the capability to hot swap cards kept us from any real issues. Each night, or even between shoots, I would manage the media by offloading through my computer.”

“The quality of the footage is great, but more importantly, the integrity of the footage during and after post-production is superior; it holds up very well,” Magelky said. “This is a great codec – especially as so much footage is online these days. Even if it’s on air, it usually ends up being streamed online as well and this codec is great to work with overall.”

The Music Voyager is being edited in Final Cut Studio Pro 7. For more information about The Music Voyager, visit http://www.tantraww.com.

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My Take: I don’t know about you, but right now, with half the East Coast at a standstill due to extreme winter weather conditions, I’d give anything to be transported to the beaches of southern Spain. I’m sure the folks who bought South Nyack real estate last fall are counting the days until they can dig out from under the snow and enjoy their beach-front property. Not that all Piermont real estate is under snow, but the winter has hit the area hard and no telling when it’s going to let up.

If I owned any one of the homes along the eastern seaboard right now I’d be seriously considering hiring a solid property management company to rent out my house while I wait out winter somewhere where the ice doesn’t stick to my shoes and I can wear flip flops to the fanciest restaurant in town.

By the way, if you’re planning on moving to the east coast, specifically New York, you might want to check into a class that will help you learn to drive NY style, because the rules of the road are quite different there. Even if you’ve mastered truck driving school on the west coast, you’d benefit from some driving tips for moving those big 18-wheelers across East coast highways and byways.

Other Resources:

Decorative Ideas
If you are looking for those old wanted signs for your kitchen, a business or your get-away family cabin, there are great sights online that sell them at discounted prices. You can find other interesting items that hearken back to the days of yore on these sites, too, such as old wood propeller/s, brass bells and other interesting items.

Minnesota Housing

Thinking of moving to the Blaine County area of Minnesota but not quite ready to commit to a home of your own? There are several sites online that offer free Blaine MN Homes for rent that will allow you to search for homes based on your price, square footage, pet allowances, proximity to schools and public services. Check for the latest information on rental assistance, taxes, and other local services at http://www.mnhousing.gov/.

Many people like the idea of investment property but really do not like the many headaches that come with it. They do not want to have to worry about water leaks, collecting rent, or tenant issues that sometimes arise. They simply do not want the “dirty work” of hassling with the tenant and property-management issues inherent to real estate investing.

Nobody ever said that investing in real estate was going to be a bed of roses. There are a lot of thorns you have to deal with. However, there is one resolution for many investors. The hiring of property management companies can help trim those thorns. If you have MN townhomes for rent, a property management company can deal directly with the unpleasant and tiresome details associated with that rental property.

Even with the cost of professional property management, it is still worth considering. With the proper research, you can locate a trusted local property management company that can keep your units rented as well as vacant as little as possible. A good property manager can also control the expenses by following the budget you have set up.

A good property manager will remove the thorns from that bed of roses. Even more importantly, they will do the dirty work while you spend extra time with your family. So if you have ever thought about investing in property now is your chance.

If you have not joined a real estate networking group for women in your area, you should. If there is not one, start one. The advantages of being part of a networking group and meeting regularly are immense.

Women realtors networking can be a powerful tool for all involved. It can help you develop that dream team that will help you work your deals. That dream team will consist of not only real estate agents but also lenders, maintenance personnel, contractors, property managers and lawyers.

Networking for women can offer benefits to others of their experience and knowledge. This can save you a lot of time and frustration. This is where you realize that working alone does not help you.

Another benefit is that women in real estate who group together can flip deals in one to another. Someone in your group may have what you are looking for and you may have something they are looking for. This makes for a perfect match.

Many networking groups offer ongoing education for their particular field. That could be a formal lecture from an expert or one of the members. This could include changes in laws and ordinances as well as sales protocol or interest rates of lenders. It does mean that you will learn about your market and the experiences of others.

Being part of a networking group will allow you to learn from the experiences of others and get first-hand knowledge from others by watching what they are doing and it will give you the knowledge and competence to go forward with your own business.

Louisville Kentucky mortgage refinancing is when you change your mortgage to a new mortgage with a lower interest rate and possibly a different term length. The majority of people usually do this when interest rates drop by about 1%. This also gives people with an adjustable interest rate the opportunity to get a fixed rate mortgage.

Locking into a fixed rate mortgage with a set term length when you have, at present, an adjustable rate mortgage is a wise decision. This is true even more so when rates are beginning to rise. It will also lower your monthly payments. It is recommended that you only use this option when you are planning to stay in your home for the next few years.

You should ask your lender about the amortization schedule when you are considering KY refinancing. Your amortization tells you how many years you still have left to pay on your mortgage. If your original mortgage was a 30-year loan and you have been paying on it for 15 years, you do not want to start over again at year one. You want to make sure that you still have those 15 years left to pay off your home.

If you are planning on staying in your current home, for 3 years or more, you could save thousands of dollars by refinancing your original Louisville KY purchase mortgage, when interest rates drop.  Shortening the term from 30 to 20 or even 15 years will save you even more money. Talk to your lender or a refinancing professional to discuss your options and discuss what is best for you.

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Americans Losing Their Homes

According to RealtyTrac’s monthly data on the state of foreclosures, they rose 7% in July from June to 360,149. This means that 1 in every 355 housing units in America received a foreclosure notice last month, a nice way to state that people are losing their homes all over the country. Getting Southfield MI mortgage help can help Americans avoid that foreclosure. Foreclosure numbers are up in many states, but they are actually down in both Michigan and Ohio. In addition, the drops were both month-to-month and year-to-date because people got a Southfield MI Loan Modification and avoided foreclosure.

Construction Estimates

When considering building a new home or business, there are many factors that you need to consider. The first, of course, is your blueprints. You cannot build anything without blueprints! This means you first need to hire an architect who can put your plans imprint. The next step is to hire a contractor. A contractor uses construction estimation software to make bids on building projects. This software will allow the contractor to give you an accurate bid on your construction project. In fact, the construction cost estimating software can actually give you a breakdown of every aspect of your building project, for example, plumbing, electrical and structural.

A Private Divorce

New Jersey has just started to embrace a new and exciting process called collaborative divorce. If you would like to proceed in a non-adversarial manner that will help you retain your dignity, sanity and your money, then this is the divorce process you wish to use. This process allows the parties control it and not the courts. A Bergen County New Jersey collaborative lawyer can reach an agreement that retains your family values, preserves your relationship with your children and with each other. The process provides you with a long-lasting, mutually agreement and an affordable resolution.

Renting Your House

Are you moving and still want to keep your house? In many cases, moving means selling one’s home because it is a necessary step to be able to affording a new home. However, there are many reasons people choose to rent out their homes instead. A more likely scenario these days, however, is that you want to hang on until the property values go back up. You can advertise your house rental for only $9.95 a month and get it rented quickly. Hundreds of people rent houses from this website because it is so easy. By placing your housing for rent here, you will get a tenant quickly and easily.

Phoenix AZ Real Estate

Remember, the most important element of each real estate transaction is the relationship you have with the agent. That relationship is built on trust and for getting the job done from your first meeting to the closing and beyond. It makes no difference whether you are purchasing a Phoenix Arizona condo or house; you need to trust your agent. Your agent should be able to utilize technology including a website to showcase your property to other real estate agents along with potential home buyers. The agent should work with you through the complex paperwork and legal issues that can impact the sale or purchase of your home.

Considering Refinancing?

If you are considering Oklahoma mortgage refinancing your home, there is a company that understands that you want to partner with a company that has your best interests in mind. They have an excellent reputation in the community for providing low rates and outstanding customer service to their clients. There are many factors to consider when refinancing your Oklahoma residence. Below are some of the main points to help you when considering an Oklahoma refinance mortgage. There is an endless variety of reasons that you may need to do an Oklahoma mortgage refinance. Whether it is for cash out or to lower the interest rate, they have a variety of programs available.

I recently read several real estate market updates on the Rockland County and Hudson River areas for 2008. Along the Hudson River are a collection of small towns and villages that are commonly referred to as river towns. These river towns are the hotspots of the lower Hudson Valley in Rockland County. They include Palisades, Piermont, South Nyack, Central Nyack and upper Nyack communities. Not only are these communities located only 15 minutes north of Manhattan, they are fantastic for anyone looking to live in a beautiful and diverse area with easy access to Connecticut and Westchester.

These real estate updates indicated that the number of homes on the market have decreased by about 1% as well as a decrease of about 35% in sales in 2008. To top it off the average sale price decreased about 15%. That means that in the Rockland County River village single-family home sales were down by about 10% of those sold in 2007. This means that Nyack NY real estate will be a bit harder to sell and will probably sell at a lower price.

Single-family homes were not the only real estate to go down. The number of condominiums on the market has also decreased by about 8%. The sale of condominiums also decreased by about 30% and the average price compared to 2007 went down by about 5%.

What I have learned from these reports is that homes in Rockland NY are still selling because they are in an area that people like. This tells me that people are still buying Piermont real estate as well because they like what they see. No figures in the world can stop someone from buying a home if they like that home and they have the ability to purchase it. That means that the Palisades real estate you just put on the market will still sell. It just might be on the market a little bit longer than you expect.

Most people, when they move, look for a particular type of neighborhood. That may be a family neighborhood or a luxury neighbor. Whatever neighborhood you are looking for, you want it to be a friendly and nice one. You want it to be crime free and safe for your family.

Some people, who do not mind a long commute to the city, may look for Danville California homes for sale. These neighborhoods are perfect for families who do not mind that commute. Then again, if you are not interested in Danville CA homes you might look closer to the city.

You might look closer to the Bay with its exclusive and expensive areas to live. Many professionals and well-to-do families live in that area. If you are sure that Danville real estate is not what you are looking for, then maybe the downtown area of the Bay is more to your taste. It is family orientated and upscale.

The Bay area is considered a beautiful and interesting area to live as well as to visit. Because it is a well visited area, you also need to consider putting up with a lot of tourists. If you are looking to start your search for Danville CA homes contact Sue Smith. She has 29 years of solid experience and knowledge of the real estate market that she will use to work for you.