8 Frame Dissolve

8 Second Review: Tres Carnales

Wed, 30 May 2012 23:04:31 -0600

Tres Carnales (10119 100A Street, Edmonton, AB)

Very unique taqueria on the suddenly cool Rice Howard Way. Tacos were tasty but a bit overpriced. Fun atmosphere, the servers were attentive and friendly. Very trendy and crowded, go early to avoid lines.

The 8 List: My favourite songs from 1992

Sun, 27 May 2012 23:28:00 -0600

With my 20th high school reunion quickly approaching this summer, I’ve been thinking a lot about the year 1992. That was a big year for me; I graduated high school, got my drivers licence, and secured my first job slinging burgers at McDonald’s.

Like the late Dick Clark said, music is the soundtrack to your life. Here in no particular order, are some of my favourite songs from 1992, compiled down to 8. (like 8 Frame Dissolve, heh) I sure I could think of more, but we must stick to the parameters….

Countdown by Lindsey Buckingham on GroovesharkBefore I even know about his past with Fleetwood Mac, I just thought Lindsey Buckingham was the dude who sang the theme song to National Lampoon’s Vacation. I liked singing this song in my head as I was working at McD’s, it’s helped pass the time as I was stuck toasting Big Mac buns.

Alison Road by Gin Blossoms on GroovesharkFrom New Miserable Experience, one of my favourite discs of that year. This song reminds me of my crush on Courtney Thorne-Smith, who played Allison on my favourite Fox soap opera, Melrose Place.

To Be With You by Mr. Big on GroovesharkA guy can only dream to grab an acoustic guitar, sit around a bonfire, and belt this out with a bunch of your friends singing along. Someday, that will be me. Until then, the Rock Band version will do.

Brian Wilson by Barenaked Ladies on GroovesharkTo satisfy the Canadian Content rules, we have Barenaked Ladies. There were a lot of fun songs from the Gordon CD, but this one is the best, just like Brian Wilson.

Justified And Ancient by The KLF Feat. Tammy Wynette on GroovesharkI grew up with old school country music, and hearing Tammy’s golden voice with some weird techno beats was a fun trip to Moo-Moo Land. Pretty sure Moo-Moo Land was the dairy section at Safeway, but who knows?

Always The Last To Know by Del Amitri on GroovesharkOne of the best songs I’ve heard with a twist ending. Just when you think you know the chorus, you’re always the last to know.

Just Call Me Lonesome (Demonstration Version - Includes Lead Singer) by Stingray Music (Karaoke) on GroovesharkNot quite the real Radney Foster in this version, but pretty close. Yea, I was a bit lonesome in high school. Who wasn’t at times? Of all the upbeat, self-pity country songs out there at the time, at least this had a good hook. Also, like me in high school, Radney had awesome glasses.

Baby Got Back [Album Version] by Sir Mix-A-Lot on GroovesharkShake that healthy butt, what more can you say?

Now after reading this list, you probably think I’m a genius of musical taste or I have no taste at all. Agree or disagree, what are your favourite songs of that year?

8 Second Review: The Avengers

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:21:43 -0600

The Avengers (Movie, 2012)

With Marvel’s iconic characters, a top-notch director in Joss Whedon, and the best VFX money can buy, The Avengers is blockbuster filmmaking at its finest. The Hulk/Bruce Banner character is especially treated with care. Shawarma will never be looked at the same again.

8 Second Review: Poutine @ Wendy's Restaurant

Sun, 13 May 2012 21:39:35 -0600

Poutine (Wendy’s Restaurant, 18411 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton, AB)

Overpriced ($4.19 after tax) and under-flavored. The Wendy’s special Sea Salt adds a bit of taste to an otherwise bland mix. Gravy could have been thicker. Good amount of cheese curds. Disappointing.

I 8 That: Round Rock Donuts in Austin, TX

Wed, 09 May 2012 07:44:00 -0600

It may be a stereotype for a Canadian fella like myself to like donuts, (take off, eh?) but I’m proud to say I enjoy a delicious donut. In fact, I would consider myself a donut fanatic. For those who know me very well, I’m not shy about my love affair with the “donut that tastes like a cloud” (my words) Krispy Kreme. Saying that, in my eyes, there is now a new King of Donuts in the USA and they are found in a little town in Texas, just north of Austin.

Found on a corner in the quaint community of Round Rock is the world famous Round Rock Donuts. I’m not shy to admit I’ve wanted to try this place because it was featured prominently in an episode of Man vs. Food. :)

Many of the standard donut flavours were behind the glass cabinet, but what makes Round Rock Donuts unique is the donut’s yellow colour, which is from using fresh eggs. No pre-made frozen crapass donuts found here!

My goal this particularly pleasant Monday morning was to conquer the legendary ‘Texas Sized” Round Rock Donut. For $5.99, what you get is the equivalent of 12 donuts, only all-in-one as a super donut. That’s right! I failed to get a picture of the comparison between a normal sized and Texas Sized donut, so here’s one from their website. You get the idea!

I opted for the traditional glazed, but it also comes as a chocolate-on-top version. I told the friendly staff I came all the way from Edmonton to try their famous donuts; they laughed at me as they gladly took my $5.99 and gave me the super donut.

I pulled up a chair on the patio to enjoy the taking down of this beast (I’m no amateur, after all!), however I had a problem … how was I going to eat this thing without making a huge mess?! There was a lot of glaze on this piping hot, super donut; things would get quite messy if I just dove in with my bare hands! I went back inside to ask for a fork and knife, and after more laughter, the staff offered to cut it for me.

Finally this was manageable! In the end, I did not conquer the super donut, but made a valiant effort to make it almost half way. No small feat, trust me!

The taste and texture was unlike any donut I’ve had before, and it was the best donut I’ve ever had the pleasure to eat. I can see why this little donut shop in Texas attracts visitors from across the continent. It was, indeed, a beautiful morning for this donut fanatic!

8 Second Review: The Hunger Games (movie)

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:07:00 -0600

The Hunger Games (Movie, 2012)

I can see the appeal to teens, but as a parent the subject matter is disturbing. I’m glad it wasn’t more violent. One of the best uses of sound I’ve ever heard in a movie. Should have had more action in the last third.

2012 NAB Show Preview: Post|Production World (and how to make the most of it)

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:02:00 -0600

The time is almost upon us as thousands of film and video professionals descend on Las Vegas for NAB Show 2012. I’m continuing my mini-series of NAB previews. Today I’ll focus on Post|Production World.

Post|Production World (PPW) is one of the biggest draws of NAB Show. Normally it wouldn’t take much to convince me to sit indoors all day in the middle of April, but in Vegas of all places? Near impossible, unless you say the best instructors and experts in all of editing and production are under one roof for 5 days. Jeff Greenberg, Rich Harrington, Steve Martin, Abba Shapiro, Alexis Van Hurkman, Scott Simmons, the list goes on and it’s a mile long.

Looking at the PDFs of the PPW courses being offered, there are many and it looks intimidating. What to choose? There is a class for every editing software and skill level; FCP X, Premiere, Smoke, Resolve. From basic Boot Camps to complex After Effects stuff I know nothing about, it’s all here.

UPDATED: Adobe’s big announcement of CS6 Production Premium has many folks in the post-production community excited. From my understanding, CS6 specific courses and Premiere CS6 Certification will be offered at PPW.

So how do you make the most of your PPW experience? I’ve made a list of 8 PPW Tips ‘n Tricks to help you out!

1. Wi-Fi Woes - There is free wi-fi in the Convention Center hallways, but not in the classrooms. Why this is, I have no idea. I’ve found you can get a slight signal in some of the rooms by sitting next to the exit door, but that’s about it.

2. Free Water - There are water coolers in the main PPW hallway, so bring a water bottle and fill up! They do tend to not be refilled near the end of the day, however.

3. BYOFaC (Bring Your Own Food and Coffee) - Sounds obvious given the extraordinary price of food at the Convention Center. Last year there was a pop-up Quiznos and Starbucks booth near the PPW area where I paid $12 for a mediocre salad and coffee. If your home-base hotel has a breakfast buffet, grab a couple muffins or some fruit on the way out before coming to class. Even better, pre-order a continental breakfast from room service to deliver to you first thing in the AM. Then pack up the easily transportable food and coffee with you for the day. (there are usually coffee cups in your hotel room)

4. Bring Your Laptop…and A Notepad - Especially important when taking a class about a certain software. It’s so much easier to follow along with the instructor. I bring a notepad as well to jot down stuff quickly like software shortcuts, which can come fast if you’re not paying attention!

5. Power Plugs Are Scarce - Most of the power plugs are along the walls of the classrooms, and they are in high demand. Bring an extension cord/power bar and share nicely with others.

6. The Classrooms Are Cold - Maybe it’s just me, but I think the classrooms are freezing cold. Did I mention I was from Canada? :) Bring a sweater, and be warned about wearing shorts. It’s hard to concentrate on when you’re shivering! #brrrr

7. Go To The Keynote - Sunday, April 15th at 10:15AM is the PPW Keynote, featuring Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Rob Legato, the visual effects supervisor of the Oscar award winning “Hugo” and “Titanic”. Last year, prizes were given away as well, so maybe there are some free goodies to be had!

8. Meet New People! - You can feel lonely sitting in class by yourself all week, so why not chat with the guy/gal next to you? Everyone who is in a class at PPW shares some common interest, so make a new friend or 10. You can find out what classes everyone is going too, and what parties everyone is going to after. Networking in one of the best benefits of going to NAB Show, so make it a part of your PPW experience as well.

If anyone has any more Post|Production World tips and tricks to share, please let me know! I’m looking forward to this year’s PPW, and hearing about your experiences.

2012 NAB Show Preview: Avid

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:20:00 -0600

The time is almost upon us as thousands of film and video professionals descend on Las Vegas for NAB Show 2012. What’s great (and intimidating) about this conference is that there is so much going on between the education, side conferences, and parties. What does an NAB’er decide to focus on? I’ve picked out a few companies and events to spotlight leading up to the week-long event April 14-19. Today I’ll focus on Avid.

Last year I was lucky enough to attend Avid’s press conference the Sunday before the NAB Show floor opened, and this year I was asked to come back! The presser will be live streamed and it looks like you will have to pre-register to attend virtually. I’ll be tweeting live during as the event. Avid is promising “the largest array of new product announcements from Avid at NAB in over a decade.” Sounds like there will be lots of news to report, stay tuned!

The Avid NAB 2012 page has a list of events happening at their booth in the South Upper Hall. (SU902). One special guest speaker Tuesday, April 17th at 1:00 is filmmaker/McDonald’s fan Morgan Spurlock. It might be best to grab a seat early if you want to see Mr. Spurlock. Last year’s special guest filmmaker Kevin Smith jammed out the booth for his hilarious talk.

Other speakers of interest include the editor of X-Men: First Class and Kick-Ass, Eddie Hamilton. Also, the post-production team of the CBS drama Person of Interest will be there to talk about how they use Avid in their daily workflow. Their talks should be very interesting to editor types like myself! Check out the full calendar of booth events here.

Avid has an industry ‘Buzz’ blog where they will be providing their own timely news during NAB. And I’m sure their Twitter and Facebook updates will be coming fast and furious all week.

With a number of expected announcements and the amount of guest speakers lined up, it looks like Avid will be one of the ‘can’t miss’ companies at this year’s NAB Show.

I 8 That: Tubby Dog

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:08:00 -0600

If you know me (and if you check out my blog once in a while) I love burgers. To me, the burger is a delicious masterpiece. However, one cannot live on burgers alone. Since I also like hot dogs too, why not change it up? The question is in today’s post is this: where can someone find a great hot dog outside of Costco…

A two and a half hour drive to Calgary with my two kids in tow, and we end up at a place called Tubby Dog. This is not any ordinary hot dog joint, but somewhat of a legend in the Calgary food world. With their decadent, yet affordable take on the classic hot dog formula Tubby Dog is a popular destination. They even have their own documentary. How cool is this place?

But how are the dogs, you ask? As you can see, there are many to choose from…

I decided on 2 dogs, the original Tubby Dog and the A-Bomb. I was able to snap a couple pics as they were being constructed. The dog being made on the far right is with a Ukrainian sausage instead of the 1/3 pound dog. I didn’t order that one, next time!

Adding the chili…

Now the potato chips and bacon…

The famous Space Cheese…

Here we have a finished product! It’s kind of an amazing sight to behold. A zillion calories in the palm of your hand - never a bad thing of course!

On the left, the A-Bomb: space cheese, bacon, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and potato chips.

On the right, the original Tubby Dog: homemade chill, space cheese, onions, and mustard.

My kids shared the A-Bomb, they had fun picking off the toppings first and then diving into the dog. The mix of flavours worked for them, because it basically contains all of their favourite foods. :)

I polished off the original TD myself. The chili was fresh and had a great flavour to it; the dog itself was very tasty! Needless to say, I did not eat dinner later that night.

Mad props as well for all the kitchy food containers on display. I spent twenty minutes explaining to my kids how I switched cereals from Boo Berry to Frankin Berry after seeing the old cereal boxes on the walls.

Overall I would recommend Tubby Dog. Not just for the projector playing old Road Runner cartoons or the pinball machines in the back. Not just for the local indie music concerts or the Street Fighter tourneys. It’s the Foothills-size hot dogs which make it all worth it and I can’t wait to go back.

Check out my Flickr feed for more Tubby Dog pics!

8 Second Review: Fulton Market Burger Co.

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:07:08 -0600

Fulton Market Burger Co. (144-160 Broadway Blvd, Sherwood Park, AB)

Tasty, nice sized sirloin patties. Great choice of buns, onion bun especially is a good option. Filling out a condiment checklist lessens confusion when ordering. Another great burger joint for Sherwood Park!

8 Second Review: Battista's Calzone Company

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:17:02 -0700

Battista’s Calzone Company (11745 84 St, Edmonton, AB)

Not a big menu but a tasty one, the Classico and the Mama Mia (meatball) calzones had excellent flavour. Friendly staff keep the place spotless. Give this place a shot if you want a change from the standard North Edmonton fast food fare.

8 Second Review: Rodeo Burgers

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:26:08 -0700

Rodeo Burgers (16045 97 Street, Edmonton, AB)

Don’t let the picture fool you. Burger was served on a squished bun, patties were too small and had little flavour. However, the fries were hot and tasty. Not good value for a $13 combo. Disappointing.

8 Second Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:01:00 -0700

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Movie, 2011)

One of the best movies of the year. Turns into an unlikely buddy movie halfway through, which I thought was great. Young Thomas Horn takes a very difficult role and makes us believe in him, bravo.

8 Second Review: "Matthew's Day Off" 2012 Superbowl Commercial

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:22:12 -0700

Matthew’s Day Off (Commercial, 2012)

Nice to see Matthew Broderick himself riff on his classic 80s character. I’m all about running gags and this has plenty. Not sure how many fine automobiles this will sell, but thank you Honda for the nostalgia.

8 Second Review: The Iron Lady

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:44:52 -0700

The Iron Lady (Movie, 2011)

Who else could play Margaret Thatcher in a bio pic than Meryl Streep? She gives an amazing performance, no question. The movie does drag in the second half, but I certainly did learn a lot about Thatcher’s life. Recommended.

8 Second Review: South St. Burger Co.

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:05:11 -0700

South St. Burger Co. 261055 CrossIron Blvd (Crossiron Mills) in Calgary, AB

Not enough burger for the price ($10.29 cheeseburger combo). Fun and unique toppings were cool (mango chutney?). Fries were subpar but the onion rings are amazing. Mildly disappointing.

I 8 That: Chuckwagon Cafe in Turner Valley, Alberta

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:01:15 -0700

2012 is a year of new beginnings for myself and my family. To start the year, I decided to take my family on a little road trip. Of course, when on a road trip, one must stop somewhere to eat. On previous road trips we always stopped at so-called ‘chain’ restaurants, ordered the basic burgers & fries combo, and went on our way. My goal for this short road trip was to search out a local, unique place to eat and of course have a delicious burger.

With a quick search on Calgary’s Avenue Magazine Best Of Restaurants, I made the decision to try the Chuckwagon Cafe located in Turner Valley about 45 minutes southwest of Calgary. Located on a picturesque area along the Cowboy Trail, the Turner Valley area is renowned for it’s ranching industry. In the heart of Alberta Beef country, I was anxious to sample the locally grown product!

The Chuckwagon Cafe is inside a large red barn, which housed many restaurants before but none as popular at it’s current incarnation. We were lucky to get a table for 3 at 11:30 before the lunch rush. Around noon the lineup for a table was outside the door!

An authentic ‘country’ atmosphere fills the cafe, with classic counter seating and various farm tools hanging on the walls. Service was fast and friendly, with myself ordering the House burger and my kids each getting the Grilled Cheese and Fries combo.

The burger was delicious and cooked perfectly. Nothing beats a hand-formed patty of AAA Alberta Beef and this was no exception. The kid’s grilled cheese sandwiches were cooked perfectly, although I was a bit choked they got more fries than I did. :) My only complaint about the burger, it wasn’t big enough!

The Chuckwagon Cafe is open only for breakfast and lunch, and I will definitely come back to try their huge breakfast platters! My mouth watered every time a server walked past with a steak and eggs combo. Our server told us that the week before The Food Network shot a segment for the show You Gotta Eat Here. Maybe it’s a good thing we ate at the Chuckwagon Cafe before it gets too popular! :)

I would definitely recommend taking a road trip to this little restaurant in the beautiful Foothills of Alberta. Beautiful mountain setting plus delicious Alberta beef, what more could a burger lover (or grilled cheese lover) ask for?

8 Second Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:52:52 -0700

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Movie, 2011)

Hollywood’s version of the novel delivers. Rooney Mara brings a breakout performance. Expertly crafted from it’s visceral opening to the last frame, this is a film you won’t soon forget.

8 Second Review: War Horse

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:58:45 -0700

War Horse (Movie, 2011)

A unique story expertly brought from stage to film. Spielberg brilliantly dances the line between hope and brutality of war. Beautiful performances and cinematography. Bring Kleenex.

One More Song For Mammie...

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:23:27 -0700

On December 23, 2007 at 11:00am, I made a phone call from work to home, where Wendy was at with our kids, ages 1 and 4. ”I got a PS3 Rock Band set on hold at Toys R Us, but they will only hold it for an hour!” I said excitedly.

No store was taking preorders for the Rock Band full band set, so a store that had the PS3 version was near impossible. Wendy had heard me wanting to buy this game for months. But the snow was coming down, making the roads slippery. Also, dragging 2 wee ones to a toy store 2 days before Christmas did not sound like an appealing idea to my wife.

She did end up going, plunked down $180 and a new era in our lives began….

This was one of many examples where Wendy would sacrifice better judgement and perhaps her sanity for me. :) I had never met anyone who understood me as much as she did. My Rock Band obsession was one of the examples. ”But it has drums, and a microphone so you can play too!” was one of the arguments I used to convince her we could spend the money for some more plastic instruments to clutter our basement.

When we started to play together, it was magic. After a few failed attempts to try the 4-coloured drums (I had to be the foot pedal, she couldn’t get the coordination down), Wendy made herself a custom character, an alter ego named Mammie to be the lead singer of our Rock Band. The customization options are almost limitless, and she loved jazzing up her character as we progressed in the game.

When I told her that extra songs to play were available to download, she usually groaned. Waste of money, she told me. However, when a Police song was released I had to buy it on the first day. So many times we played Roxanne and Message In a Bottle, I could almost play the drum section from memory.

Together in the game, we travelled the world with our 2-person band. We mastered near impossible songs like Enter Sandman, working together so we wouldn’t “fail” and finish. Our friends heard about how much fun we were having with Rock Band so they wanted in on the fun. We would host regular Saturday night parties, with a rotating cast of bandmates joining us on our World Tour. We brought our gear to help out charity. Even Zach and Addi joined us for a few songs on occasion, especially when Lego Rock Band came out. :)

Wendy and I had a Rock Band theme party each weekend a new game in the series was released. In 2009 The Beatles Rock Band added another full band set to our basement, but Wendy didn’t mind this time. She saw how excited I was for the new game, and she loved singing harmony with the classic Beatles tunes.

One item on my ‘bucket list’ was checked off when I attended E3 in 2010. I was lucky enough to see a sneak preview of Rock Band 3 and play the new game with the staff at Harmonix. Wendy was happy too, not because of the new keyboard. :) She was happy to see me fulfill a dream.

Another dream of mine came true as the Edmonton Journal came to our basement to take pictures of us playing with our plastic instruments. The weekend Rock Band 3 and the keyboard was released to stores, we had a huge party with our friends. We rocked that night and many Saturday nights after.

But what many people don’t know is Wendy and I played Rock Band just ourselves every December 23, the anniversary day we got the game. Not just to celebrate all the great time we had with our friends, but celebrate being with each other.

Since the day I lost Wendy, the basement has been empty. No Police, Blondie, or Bonnie Tyler. No Journey, Killers, or Beatles. The microphones have not been touched, the Rickenbacker guitar is gathering dust, and my drums are quiet. I’ve played the game a couple times by myself, but I can only get through one or two songs without bursting into tears. Many nights I would turn on the PS3, and stare at the title screen for hours without playing anything.

I’ve been playing video games for almost 30 years, and playing Rock Band with Wendy was the most fun game experience I ever had because we played together. And now that she’s gone, that’s not possible anymore. The music just doesn’t seem the same without her, neither will December 23.

But I do know Wendy wouldn’t want the music to stop. When I am ready to play Rock Band again, I know Mammie would be singing along.