CinemaCake - Philadelphia Video Blog

Brynne & Ryan

2012-04-09T02:32:06+00:00

Hi!

So, I must say we got the best surprise ever today. Thank you SO much for the absolutely amazing wedding video! We were SO excited to receive this package and can honestly say the video far exceeded our expectations. It is stunning and artistic and with the perfect choice of music it helped us relive the day; we could not imagine if we hadn’t hired you and your team. Thank you so much for making our day truly a dream come true and capturing it in a way we will cherish forever! We cannot wait to share it with our families and friends who we are positive will be stunned by your work.

We’ve already watched the video 3 times - and I could probably watch it all night. We were laughing and crying all at the same time; the outtakes were amazing!

We cannot thank you guys enough - we’ve said it before but having you as part of our day was one of the best decisions we’ve made.

Can’t wait to share it with Sarah (who highly recommended you guys and she was right!). Will it be posted to your website eventually so we can share with our friends? Thanks again!

Brynne & Ryan

PS if you need any references we would be happy to serve as one for you/have already recommended you to a lot of our friends!

PPS this could not have come at a better time because Ryan is away for work Sunday-Friday and if I received this while he was away it would have been very difficult to not watch the video

Transparency Builds Confidence

2012-02-19T00:16:17+00:00

Couples want to cut through the clutter and make informed decisions. The smart companies are the ones who help them get there quicker. A company who shares information openly will make that job a lot easier.

When I was in Charleston a few weeks ago, meeting hundreds of videographers from around the world, one thing became obvious: because of technological advances and the new tools available to production companies, more clients are making the decision to hire filmmakers before meeting them.

However, technology is a double-edged sword. Because it’s so easy for any company to share their goods, there are that many more sites to forage when couples are searching for the perfect filmmaker. This is why it is more important than ever for companies to be as transparent as possible online.

Public Pricing As I speak to other wedding and event filmmakers around the world, I realize that the #1 question they get from prospective clients is, “How much?” Some people in our industry actually get frustrated with that question. They say, “Don’t they care about anything but price?” What they don’t realize is that most people have never bought a wedding film before. Couples simply don’t know what else to ask.

There are many variables a wedding and event filmmaker must consider when setting prices for the work they do. Some will argue that prospective clients may be scared away by the price of a film. “I want them to see my work first,” is the common feeling. The argument could also be made that if a filmmaker’s prices are too low, couples with bigger budgets might overlook a company who doesn’t charge enough, thinking, “Why so cheap? They must not be that good.” We have found that making our prices public is the fairest thing to do.

Our Online Production Schedule allows clients to see where they are in line. Full edits sometimes take several months to get through, depending on the season and the workload. We realized many years ago that our couples just want to know that things are moving along and that they have not been forgotten. They like to see progress. Therefore, we maintain a public production schedule online and update it weekly. Our clients love to see their names move up the list and get really excited when they see their films go into edit.

Client Reviews build consumer confidence. Any reliable third-party recommendations are invaluable to couples who are looking for the perfect filmmaker. Couples today have sites like WeddingWire.com to read favorable AND unfavorable reviews. In fact, one of the smartest things you can do when looking for professionals is to Google the company’s name with the word “Reviews”. Example: “CinemaCake Reviews”.

Our Staff is comprised of the most talented in the industry. They truly are the backbone of our organization. We show them off for many reasons, but the most important is so our couples know who was behind each film they watch in our Gallery. We are so proud of our team, and we make sure they get the recognition they deserve. Clients find peace knowing who shot and edited their favorite films.

After 11 years making films, we’ve learned that clients are happier when they can make informed decisions in less time. Being up-front about pricing, the production process, online reviews, and our team makes the entire process go smoothly. In the end, fair expectations produces happier clients.

3 Days, 3 Weddings, 3 Stories

2012-01-02T01:20:19+00:00

Having been a part of three weddings, back to back to back, it’s clear that everyone has their story and every day is unique.

Doing weddings every weekend can be monotonous, right? Not quite. Every wedding is different. Having been a part of three weddings, back to back to back, it’s clear that everyone has their story and every day is unique. I’d like to share a little bit of what I saw at each one; a peek from behind the lens, if you will. Here are some nice tid-bits that stood out for me, someone who has been a part of over a hundred weddings so far.

Karrie + Tim
What an awesome couple to experience a Same Day Film with. Having a child in their lives years before marriage, Carrie and Tim certainly understood what family was all about, and that really came through during the day. It was a milestone for the CC team as well, as it was the first Same Day Edit to be done without Dave, something we were all a bit nervous about, but we pulled it off without a hitch. And, whoooooooa, there were plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong.

We had about four locations to cover (one location = easy to get to editor, many locations = nightmare), which we tackled early on by having Jordan edit in the car. “Who’s that guy in the car with you? Is he a shooter?” We were ready for that question, but we were so stealthy that it never came up. The secrecy was only to fulfill Carrie’s request that the SDE be a surprise to everyone, which it was—even Tim didn’t know about it. Everything came together in the end, and Carrie’s big smile as she watched her film was the only validation we needed.

Selena + Andre
Energy, pure energy. Their vibe was apparent right away, and it helped as the city is big and unforgiving. Working in Philly is one thing (I do that every weekend), but to hike up to NYC and have to chase around newlyweds from Times Square to Chinatown is a horse of a different color. And in this case, that color was red, the color of boxing gloves and quick jabs. Who jumps in the ring with their mate, dons gloves and starts fighting? This couple. Selena and Andre made it insanely fun to shoot because they were VERY much into the photos and film. Obviously.

This date also stands out for me as a great collaboration with CinemaCake and our New York friends, Jonathan Armendariz and Shar Adrias. They don’t shoot for us regularly, but when they do, they’re always solid. And in NYC, their knowledge of the city was beyond helpful.

Janine + Justin
So you’ve seen Goodfellas, right? Imagine a guy just like Ray Liotta, and then take away the ruthless killer part. This guy was a class act, and he wanted to make sure that came through in the single take walkthrough intro that mimicked a scene from Goodfellas. There weren’t boardwalk scenes like in the couple’s trailer where Ray Liotta gave Lorraine Bracco lollipops, but it works for Janine and Justin. It was the kind nature that the couple had and showed for one another that really came through that day.

One Atlantic, sitting on the edge of Atlantic City, provided a beautiful backdrop for a gorgeous day and a sincere couple. I’m not Scorsese, but if he shot wedding films, he’d work for us—all I’m saying.

Ultimate Editor Showdown Winners Announced!

2011-11-24T22:52:25+00:00

WINNERS ANNOUNCED! Fifty editors. Six finalists. Three winners!

Over 150 people asked for a link to the raw footage. 103 people downloaded the footage. 50 people turned in an edit before the deadline. We spent hours going through all of the entries, looking at several categories, including Story Telling, Technical, Look and Feel, and CinemaCake-Like Styling. Our crack team of judges picked the winners!

Here is what the winners had to say:

First Place: Matthew Peck, Reading, PA (Control #021)
“I had a blast being a part of the Ultimate Editor showdown. I never heard of or entered a contest like this before, and thought the idea was unique and interesting. Working on the cut was a challenge, especially because I’m not used to editing weddings. But overall, the contest was an excellent learning experience and a fun time. I am now honored to be a part of the growing Cinemacake family, and hope to see this competition happen again in the future.”

Second Place: Guillaume Colomb, Philadelphia, PA (Control #010)
“I had a great time working on this editor contest. I just moved to Philly, got married and actualy looking for a job, so it was perfect! It was a long time I didn’t edit, so it was a little bit scary at first to use my old PC to edit HD. But everything went well, I had a lot of fun. Very interesting also to see how, with the same material, everyone use things differently!”

Third Place: James Hartey, Warminster, PA (Control #022)
“That’s awesome that I came in Third and thank you for the opportunity to enter such a contest. I have never entered an editing contest, so I thought it was a pretty cool idea and it was a challenge. Even with my history of editing weddings over the past three years with Kenneth Stillman Video, this was a different approach to wedding films than I usually take. I’m used to more of a documentary style of editing and filming, compared to what CinemaCake does as a more film style. Making a film is difficult in it’s own right, but it’s even tougher when you have no influence in the actual production or pre-production of the film. The only time I have done a similar type of project is at Temple University in the Editing for the Media Class. I also enjoyed entering the contest, because it put my editing skills to the test and got to see where my skills are at currently. I always say a good editor is an editor who constantly puts their skills to the test.”

Thanks to all of the editors who submitted films!

CinemaCake’s 3rd Ultimate Editor Showdown - Cash Prizes and Full-Time Positions Available

2011-10-27T05:28:15+00:00

So you think you can edit?

Above: CinemaCake editors staying ahead of technology with continuing education.

It’s an exciting time here at CinemaCake and our commercial brand, Media Wave Video Productions (MWVP.com). We are growing again. With up to four teams now shooting multiple events on a given day, we realize it is time to hire another fantastic editor or two to join our creative team.

In 2004, we held our first editor’s contest. It was so successful, we did it again in 2007. CinemaCake now employs four full-time editors and now we need to add another member or two to the team.

The person we hire must be able to keep up with a steady workload and work well under pressure. Most importantly, our new editor needs to fit into our culture and meet the high expectations of our clients. Finally, if you can shoot, show us your stuff. We prefer to hire editors who can shoot, and those who can will be more valuable to us than people who only edit.

Because the position is in the suburbs of Philadelphia, we ask that only editors who actually plan to live in the Greater Philadelphia area enter this contest.

Regardless of who we interview, $500, $300, and $200 respectively will go to the top three editors.

How to enter:

Step 1: a little information about yourself, including why you want to be a CinemaCake editor. Include your basic contact info (Name, Address, Phone, Email). Describe your level of experience, what editing platform you use, and any special skills. We’ll then send you the links to download the assets.

Step 2: Edit your film. Your film should be 3 to 5 minutes in length.

Step 3: Upload the finished film to us HERE. We’ll upload these films to a gallery for the public to see and comment on.

All entries are due on Monday, November 21, Noon EST. (See countdown clock below)

We’ll pick our top three favorites* who will be offered an opportunity to interview for a position at CinemaCake.
*CinemaCake reserves the right to interview other contestants who show potential.

Tips From Our Team
Tom: “Build your story with audio before you even think about your visuals.”
John M.: “Know the rules before you break them. Know how to locate a Wawa blindfolded.”
Jordan: “Emotion trumps logic.”
Sheryl: “Make us cry.”
Jimmy: “Make a movie that you would want to watch.”

So if you have the chops, let’s see them! Become the next Ultimate Editor! Win money! Get a Job!

Ultimate Editor Showdown Entries Due

ALI AND EVAN’S WEDDING FEATURED ON STYLE ME PRETTY

2011-10-05T15:12:38+00:00

We can’t say thank you enough to Style Me Pretty (and our good friend Mallory!) for featuring Ali and Evan’s Coming Soon Movie Trailer. Thanks to Susan Stripling for submitting her photos as well. CLICK HERE to see the Style Me Pretty blog.

The Reveal, Not Your Typical Introduction

2011-09-25T20:16:15+00:00

Here is an example of one of our Youvies. This Youvie was designed to bring Nicole into her jungle-themed party.

Writer: Michael Richards
Cinematographers: Jimmy Shelton, Dave Williams, Jordan Oplinger
Editor: Jordan Oplinger
Prop Girl: Sharon Pollack

Best Cinematographer in Philadelphia, Five Years in a Row

2011-08-31T04:51:22+00:00

For the fifth year in a row, CinemaCake Filmmakers has been voted the Best Wedding Videographer in Philadelphia. This year, 85 videographers were nominated. PHL17 Philly Hot List handled the voting online.

Caroline and Chris React to their Same Day Edit

2011-08-29T21:55:34+00:00

Every once in a while, we have the opportunity to record the reactions of our clients watching their Same Day Edit at the reception. The other night we presented Caroline and Chris’ Same Day Edit at the Four Season Philadelphia Hotel. We created a split screen so you can see how they and other guests reacted as the film played in the ballroom. Why does making people cry make us so happy?

Cinematographers: Dave Williams, Jimmy Shelton, Tom Connors
Editor: Jordan Oplinger
Planner: Uncommon Events
Designer: Evantine
Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia
Photographer: Barnaby Draper
Entertainment: EBE L.A. Starz

CinemaCake Featured by Style Me Pretty

2011-08-26T06:02:07+00:00

A big, humble “Thanks” to Style Me Pretty for featuring Kate and Luke’s Coming Soon Movie Trailer. Thanks to Bernadette Uzcategui for submitting her photos as well. CLICK HERE to see the Style Me Pretty blog.