The P3 Update Magazine Blog

By Gordon Meyer
P3GizmoGuy@gmail.com

These days, the world seems to live and die by our Internet connections.  I know when I travel, having a solid broadband connection for my laptop is critical.  But let’s face it.  How much time do you really want to spend schlepping your way to a Starbucks or McDonald’s just to take advantage of their free WiFi? Many hotels these days offer WiFi connections as well, but more often than not for $10 a day or more, which is fine if you’re on an expense account, but when it’s your dime on the line…   And what do you do if you’re on location and there’s no local WiFi for you to tap into? 

The answer is “wireless broadband.”  In a nutshell, this is a gizmo that either plugs into your computer’s PC Card slot, or now more commonly into an available USB port, and taps into a wireless carrier’s system to give you that high speed connectivity.  All the major carriers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon) offer a mobile broadband solution. 

Over the next few months, I plan to test several of these mobile broadband devices.  I began my informal survey with Sprint’s U300 USB modem, which first came out about a year ago.  It has since been replaced by the Sierra Wireless  250U USB modem, which as of today (August 30, 2010) is available for free with a two year contract.

One of the things I like about the U300 and 250U is the fact that they are both 3G and 4G compatible and automatically connect to the faster network when it’s available. While 3G is the current semi-high speed standard, Sprint is in the process of rolling out 4G service, which promises bandwidth that Sprint claims to be 10x faster than its EVDO-based 3G network.  Unfortunately, although Los Angeles is slated to get 4G service “sometime in 2010,” it’s not here yet, so I was only able to test Sprint’s 3G broadband service.

I installed Sprint’s SmartView software on a 5 year old HP laptop running Windows Vista (32 bit).  Even though I used the installation CD that came with the U300, I encountered connection problems after a few days.  Turns out, according to a very capable tech in Sprint’s support staff, I needed a newer version of SmartView, which I easily downloaded from Sprint’s website.  Once that was in place, the U300 performed flawlessly all over the Los Angeles area – basically anywhere I would be able to use a Sprint phone.

OK, let’s talk about speed.  Using the Ookla speed test from www.speedtest.net, I tested that 3G connection from a variety of locations around town and, on average, was able to achieve a download rate of about 1.8 megabits per second and a 400+ megabit per second upload rate, putting the U300/3G combo in a performance class comparable to an entry to mid-level DSL connection.  Not bad.  Certainly this was more than adequate for email and most types of web surfing that I’d want to do.  And it wasn’t too shabby when it came to streaming video either, at least when it came to SD video.  I can’t wait to re-test their network when 4G service becomes available in LA. 

 You get up to 5GB of 3G monthly bandwidth for $60 a month and unlimited 4G bandwidth.  While the 3G rate is the same as AT&T and Verizon, if you’re lucky enough to be in an area served by Sprint’s 4G network, that same $60/month charge becomes a real bargain with unlimited access. 

Of course compared to typical pricing for 2 Mbit DSL or cable modem residential service, Sprint’s 3G mobile broadband is pricey.   On the other hand, if you’re in one of the cities where they offer 4G service, it’s an absolute bargain.  More to the point, if you’re on the road often enough and need a reliable broadband connection, especially at location shoots that are within Sprint’s phone coverage area, their mobile broadband solution can be a real life saver.

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By Margie Barron
Not too long ago in Hollywood, a big event like the Emmys was “The Big Event.” Nowadays the awards shows get grandiose “pre-productions” with various pre-event festivities that sometimes outshine the main events. You can thank folks like Gavin Keilly for casting a wider spotlight during awards season. Keilly is founder and CEO of GBK Productions, the luxury lifestyle special events company specializing in entertainment marketing integration.
There are several companies that create the celebrity lounge environment. These oasis of luxury pop up all around town, creating an exciting atmosphere way before any awards are handed out.
But the popular GBK is widely known in the entertainment industry for bringing something extra to the environment. In honor of the 2010 Emmy Awards nominees, presenters, and television professionals, GBK recently presented a pre-Emmy lounge at SLS Hotel. The lounge was filled with celebrities as well as diverse items from sponsors looking to market their specialties with the help of the stars.
Getting a lot of attention was Capital A Entertainment, a New York City based company which hosts and markets elite A-list parties surrounding major sporting events around the country. They had customized iPads equipped with electronic Save the Date invitations to their upcoming NBA All Star and Super Bowl related events. Celebrities in the sports, music, television, and film industries enjoy the unique atmosphere created at these events, which sometime feature mini-concert performances by top stars in the music industry. You can go to www.capitalaent.com to find out more.
Adding a charity element to the events, Keilly always helps worthwhile causes and organizations at his affairs. Tic Tac® was the Emmy event’s title sponsor and it tied into the Shake, Share & Care campaign supporting CancerCare, a nonprofit focused on providing support for people affected by cancer. The Tic Tac representatives helped celebrities upload their own acts of caring on the Tic Tac brand Facebook page. It was impressive to read what some famous folks have done.
Equally impressive was learning that GBK was helping the Ann & George Lopez Foundation with its mission to create positive change in education and health, as well as increasing community awareness about kidney disease and organ donation. And the Hollywood Arts educational facility that uses art and music-based learning to help high-risk people also benefited. Along with GBK, the stars were happy to help at the big pre-event.
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By Gordon Meyer
P3GizmoGuy@gmail.com

With all the customized applications people in our industry often use, it’s nice to have a keyboard that makes the use (or at least launching) of those programs easier.  That’s one of the reasons I like the Eclipse wireless litetouch keyboard.  It’s a wireless keyboard that includes both a built-in trackball and a 10-key pad that’s actually three keypads in one.  It sells for about $129 and is available at Best Buy and other retailers, both online and brick & mortar.

Let’s start with the basic layout and feel, which is excellent.  The backlit keys have a firm, comfortable touch, a responsive feel and are nicely spaced.  If the litetouch was only about a wireless keyboard with a good feel, it would earn good marks.  But this product is much more.

First of all, I found the installation, including the bundled USB wireless transmitter, simple and straightforward.  The built-in batteries charge with a standard USB cable (included).  Although I haven’t honestly attempted to max out the keyboard’s transmitter range, I can tell you that I was able to easily use it a good 20 feet away from my computer.  Eclipse states a 30 foot range in its promotional material.  That’s because they’re also positioning the litetouch as a gaming device that you can use with a living room-based media center.

There’s a small trackball directly under the LCD keypad.  It’s a great idea, but frankly so small, there’s a big adjustment involved to be able to use it effectively compared to the mouse I’m most accustomed to (as I suspect you are as well).  Of course, if you are, in fact, using it in an environment where it’s on your lap instead of a desk or table, that trackball is pretty handy for things like menu navigation, though I wouldn’t want to use it as an alternative to a mouse as a game controller.  The good news is that while it’s a convenient option, there’s nothing to prevent you from using a traditional mouse or external trackball instead.

The litetouch’s LCD keypad is the real reason for considering this product because you can instantly toggle between traditional 10-key mode, media mode and “MyEclipse” mode. In each of the three modes, the keys on the LCD keypad change to a mix of dedicated and programmable functions, including media controls for volume, web surfing and opening email and the ability to launch your favorite applications, websites and even data files using a simple drag and drop technology.  Pretty slick!

It’s these easy to program shortcut keys that makes the litetouch such a cool keyboard and one that can be good time saver for programs you regularly use. 

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By Gordon Meyer
P3GizmoGuy@gmail.com

While I love the mobility of a laptop computer, let’s face it, certain aspects of any laptop’s design are a performance and/or ergonomic compromise out of necessity.  Case in point, the typical laptop keyboard, which for all but the largest laptops, tends to be cramped, lacking in a 10-key pad and awkward to type on because of the big distance between the base of the unit and where the keyboard itself begins.

This is why there’s been a long-standing aftermarket for docking stations, so you can easily connect a full-sized keyboard.   Now there are lots of wireless keyboards and mice out there, many of which can make using a laptop more ergonomic.  But the folks at Eclipse (www.eclipsetouch.com) have a couple of nifty wireless products that are worth looking at – their touchmouse (yes, it’s all one word and lower case) and wireless litetouch keyboard.   I’ll start with the mouse and talk about the keyboard in my next column.

The touchmouse, which lists for about $60, uses Bluetooth technology to connect to your computer.  Unlike many wireless devices that come bundled with a USB transmitter, the Saitek/Eclipse people assume you already have Bluetooth in your computer.  Since I’m using a Logitech Bluetooth keyboard, I was able to connect the touchmouse with relative ease using Logitech’s Bluetooth utility.  And, of course if you’re using a computer that already has Bluetooth built in, you’re in good shape as well.

Speaking of shapes, the touchmouse takes on an almost wedge design with the buttons on the low end of the incline.   It looks slick, but frankly, I’m spoiled by the ergonomics of the Logitech MX Revolution and the way my hand so easily wraps around that mouse.  However, if I didn’t have that comparison, I’d find the touchmouse to be reasonably comfortable.

So here’s the real question.  How well does it work?  And what makes it stand out from every other wireless mouse on the market.  There are two primary features worth noting.  One is the way Eclipse/Mat Catz has replaced the usual scroll wheel with a touch sensor.  Although it took a little getting used to, I like it because it’s one less moving part that can go wrong or needs to be cleaned.  Plus, there’s a horizontal scroll capability as well as vertical, which can be quite useful for working through documents like very wide spreadsheets or production reports.  You can also use this “touchscroll” technology to do things like open your browser, refresh your browser page and navigate back and forth.  Pretty slick.

The other is the rodent’s 1600 dpi resolution, which makes it a great choice for times when you need to do heavily detailed graphics work.  Like most mice, you can adjust the sensitivity pretty easily.  I used this feature when doing some detail work using Adobe Photoshop to great advantage.

The bottom line: for people who do a lot of web surfing and/or need to have exceptionally high resolution tracking with their pointing device, the Eclipse is an exceptional value.

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By Margie Barron
The semi-annual Television Critics Association’s press tours not only allow TV writers to attend press conferences, it also provides great insight to network deal-making– Why do some productions get the green-light; What goes into casting and budget considerations; the scheduling; etc. In other words, it’s an opportunity to get inside the minds of the network brass. The TCA also allows journalists to ask the top executives “What were you thinking?” when a disaster-of-a-show crashes and burns. Attending TCA for more than 25 years, I’ve seen a few disasters.
That’s why at the recent summer press tour I was so impressed by the “grace under fire” that was displayed by Jeff Gaspin, chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, and Angela Bromstad, president of Primetime Entertainment at NBC and Universal Media Studios.
At NBC’s executive session Gaspin and Bromstad addressed the past difficulty the network has had with shows that didn’t work, especially the primetime Jay Leno show. It was explained that the network was trying to move more towards a future model of where TV is headed. But now NBC is going back to more conventional scripted shows.
Gaspin said, “I think we made too many changes too quickly from a position of weakness. [Now] the goal is to rebuild, get stronger. Then, if we need to make changes, at that point we’ll have more information. But we won’t be working from a position of weakness, which, I think, really jeopardized some of the decisions we made.”
It was hard for Gaspin to speculate about what the Comcast merger will mean for NBC’s future, but he expects beneficial synergies. He called Comcast chiefs Brian Roberts and Steve Burke “tremendous executives,” and noted that having them in the media space “to have conversations about what’s going on and ways to approach the future, is going to be valuable.”
When asked if he expects to see some payback for the investment in productions– in terms of growing audiences, better advertising rates, etc., Gaspin said, “Frankly, the good news on all fronts is that, while the economy is starting to come back, and questionable how fast it’s coming back– on the broadcast business, on the advertising side, on the international side of buying content– it has actually come back incredibly robust. So I think our payback will actually be even greater and sooner than we would have expected. I hope it’s not just a bubble, but I think there’s some real health in the broadcasting business.”
If Gaspin is right, that’s good news for the production business. Let’s hope.
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By Frank Barron
The Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank has consistently undergone change and expansion, as I was reminded when I recently took the VIP studio tour at the historic studio. It’s a massive place, encompasses 142 acres, and is home to 35 soundstages, plus its 20-acre backlot has places that can double for anything from a metropolitan city, to a rainforest jungle, or Main Street, U.S.A.
Originally built on farmland in 1926 by First National Pictures, the four Warner brothers– Albert, Sam, Harry and Jack– acquired the property in 1928. In 1930 nine new soundstages were built. And the very popular animation division was created.
In the 1950s, the studio moved into television, expanding its Western area called Laramie Street to accommodate such hit series as Maverick and Cheyenne, among many others.
In 1972, Warner and Columbia joined forces to become the Burbank Studios. At the same time, the two studios acquired the nearby 12-acre ranch facility, housing mostly television productions.
In the 1990s, Warner Communications and Time merged to become the Time Warner corporation which acquired the entire studio lot, changing the name from the Burbank Studios back to Warner Bros. Studios. During that period, Warner Bros. Television and Lorimar merged to become a TV production company, launching the WB Network in ’95. In 2006 Warner Bros. and CBS Corporation joined forces to become the CW Network.
Since cowboy movies and Western series have declined in popularity, the studio planners decided years ago to replace the Laramie Street area with a more contemporary filming location. On the same site grew Warner Village, with 11 neighborhood styled homes that mask 43,000 square feet of production offices.
Today the studio continues to revamp its soundstages. Most recently it has created fully digital, permanent homes for talk shows such as Telepictures Productions’ Ellen DeGeneres Show, and TBS’ Lopez Tonight, late night show with George Lopez. The latest update is that a new soundstage and offices are being readied for Conan O’Brien’s upcoming talk show, which will make its home at the famous studio, becoming part of Warner Bros. ever-changing backlot.
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By Frank Barron
TV’s best will grab the spotlight at the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, airing Sunday, Aug. 29 on NBC. It stands to reason that the more nominations for a show, the better the chance at winning a golden statuette. So let’s tally up the nods, and see who has the greatest advantage.
Leading the list of multiple Emmy nominations is the HBO miniseries The Pacific, with a tsunami of 24 nominations, followed by 19 for Fox’s Glee, and 17 for the acclaimed Mad Men on AMC. And HBO movies Temple Grandin and You Don’t Know Jack, plus NBC’s 30 Rock are tied with 15 each, followed by 14 for ABC’s Modern Family. Racking up 12 each are ABC’s Lost, NBC’s Saturday Night Live and The 82nd Annual Academy Awards. I still think it’s funny when an awards show gets honored by another awards show. Nine nominations went to CBS’ freshman drama The Good Wife, which tied with the Lifetime movie Georgia O’Keefe and ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.
All are deserving, pretty much, but the event is also about entertainment and picking Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, was a good choice. The former SNL star is funny and sharp. At the recent TCA press tour he not only did his dead-on hilarious imitation of Mick Jagger, he also talked about what to expect on Emmy night. “It’s a great opportunity for more people to see my type of humor. The only note [from the TV Academy] was ‘we have to give out awards.’ This is not The Primetime Jimmy Show. We know how far to push things. I want to make people laugh and be entertaining. It’s been a crazy good year for TV. I’m still trying to figure out what happened on Lost.” Me too.
Executive producer Don Mischer reminded that 27 awards have to be handed out “in two hours, six minutes and 54 seconds, and we’re already running over. We also have included the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for the first time in six years.” George Clooney will be receiving the honor.
John Shaffner, chairman and ceo of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, said Clooney is being recognized for “the work that he’s done on behalf of all of us. He is someone who really understands the power of television and has used it to reach into the hearts of people around the world so that we can come to the rescue of people who find themselves in sudden desperate need.”
So what’s the best bet for a sure winner on TV’s big night? Well, The Pacific looks pretty good with the most nods. That’s not surprising since Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg headed the stellar production team. Oh, don’t misunderstand. I won’t just be cheering because I think that Hanks and Spielberg need a few more trophies for their mantelpiece. It was powerful filmmaking about real heroes. Compared to all the drivel that’s on these days, The Pacific is something to make us proud on the airwaves.
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By Margie Barron
You can bet the Hollywood movers and shakers were paying attention to the big winners at Fox TV’s Teen Choice Awards 2010. Because the kids who voted for their favorites are the ticket buyers who flock to the boxoffice. They are also the young viewers that the network advertisers covet above all others.
More than 85 million votes were cast (Obama only got 69 million to become president!) by fans in support of their favorite stars, plus films, TV shows, music, sports and fashion. And the vampire trend shows no sign of fading.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Twilight Sage: New Moon lead the pack with a combined total of 17 nominations. So it was no surprise that the popular vampire chronicles were the overwhelming winners at the Fox TV event held at Universal’s Gibson Amphitheatre. They took home about a dozen awards, plus Eclipse was chosen the favorite summer movie.
Fans also picked The Vampire Diaries on the CW network as TV’s Breakout Show, and gave cool surfboard trophies to its breakout stars. So it was a good night for fang-favorites.
More than a hundred awards were given out, and some other top choices with multiple wins were TV shows Glee, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and American Idol.
Forever young Betty White was there, with her Proposal co-star Sandra Bullock, who joked that White “hasn’t been a teen since 1919.” I thought it was wonderful to see the kids going crazy over Betty. Bullock was awarded a couple of surfboards for her Oscar-winning film The Blind Side, and it was good to see a family-friendly movie among of blood-sucking winners.
Stars from Glee, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Mark Salling and Cory Monteith, got to host the Teen Choice Awards with singer Katy Perry, who also performed. There were also exciting performances by the teen sensation Justin Bieber, Diddy-Dirty Money, Jason Derulo and Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars. If these names are not familiar to you, then you may not be part of the prime demographic that studios and network chiefs are catering to these days.
The show was executive produced by Bob Bain and Michael Burg, two of the hippest guys in the awards business, as any kid at the Teen Choice event could tell you.
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By Margie Barron
It was just a few decades ago when a plethora of cable networks began to establish themselves. And they started to create their own content rather than just relying on old movies and vintage TV shows to fill their schedules.
At first, the new cable series, movies and specials were cheaply made– and dare I say “tacky.” The productions didn’t draw the most talented people, so they suffered creatively. And top filmmakers and famous actors shied away from cable projects, because it was a sure sign that your career was going downhill.
My goodness, things have changed.
I saw that change during the cable portion of the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, when the top networks trot out their new and returning shows. I saw outstanding dramas and comedies, with acclaimed actors giving award-worthy performances for cable shows.
I have to single out the FX Network, because they have an impressive stable of shows, with Damages, The Shield, Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me, Sons of Anarchy, and Justified among their critical darlings, past and present.
John Landgraf, the president and general manager of the FX Network, talked about how the quality of cable productions are luring the best in the creative community for the ever-expanding schedule of original programming.
“I think it’s almost a status symbol for an actor to have a cable show, which is a remarkable thing to say, because it would have been a reduction of status for a movie star or someone involved in the film business to be involved in any way, shape, or form with a television show. Now, it’s the opposite. I think many actors really want their own show. And I think part of that has to do with the creative boldness of The Shield, The Wire, Mad Men, Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me, Justified, and Sons of Anarchy,” Landgraf said giving credit to some of his FX shows and mentioning other cable networks’ highly praised productions.
Landgraf contended that ambitiously creative dramas, that have nuance-defined roles for characters and are made for an adult audience, have almost disappeared on the big screen. So good actors, who don’t want to stand in front of a green screen, will seek out where the best writers are working. And he said cable gives writers creative freedom to think outside the box, or beyond. That’s what FX is emphasizing with their logo and catch phrase, “There is no box.”
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By Margie Barron
Members of the Television Critics Association recognize the best on TV each year during the summer press tour. A couple of nights ago, during the 26th Annual TCA Awards, honors were handed out to the outstanding programs and actors from the 2009-2010 TV season.
It made me very proud to be counted among the TCA ranks for more than 25 years, as we all gathered at the Beverly Hilton. The event is not televised, so with no cameras rolling the honorees can relax and joke around. They can get profane or profound if they choose. Although the producers and performers are in a roomful of critics, they have already been judged to be the best, so they let loose with their innermost thoughts about the networks and media.
That’s what Dax Shepard, star of NBC’s Parenthood, did when he launched the ceremony with a great comedy routine, during which he chided, “Dog the Bounty Hunter must have turned down this gig.” Then 11 awards were announced in categories reflecting comedy, drama, miniseries, news and youth programming. The TV writers themselves made the presentations, using their gift for crafting the right words to express their opinion. It’s really an honor. I know, I’ve done it.
The big winner was Fox’s musical ensemble Glee, which won multiple awards from the 200-plus professional TV writers. Glee got the top honor of Program of the Year, as well as Outstanding New Program, and Individual Achievement in Comedy for Jane Lynch.
ABC’s Modern Family was voted Outstanding Achievement in Comedy. ABC’s Lost and AMC’s Breaking Bad tied in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Drama. Julianna Margulies, star of CBS’ The Good Wife, won for Individual Achievement in Drama.
Nick Jr.’s awesome children’s show Yo Gabba Gabba won its second consecutive TCA Award as Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming. The Discovery Channel’s Life series was honored for Achievement in News & Information. And the TCA bestowed a Career Achievement Award to James Garner for the influence his work has had on the small screen. Although Garner could not attend he sent a gracious message of appreciation.
HBO’s World War II epic The Pacific garnered Outstanding Achievement in Movies/Miniseries. Producer Tom Hanks was on hand to accept. The Heritage Award went to M*A*S*H for the cultural and social impact that program has had on society. That certainly was TV at its best.
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