Via Brittany Bohnet.

This is an amazing time to be alive, what with all the things that are changing, evolving, improving.

A major step was just taken that will revolutionize how video is produced and consumed. It’s called the Panasonic GH1.

It dispenses with the traditional SLR mirror and optical viewfinder, allowing a shorter lens-to-sensor distance; in turn enabling smaller, lighter, and quieter cameras. The platform, called ‘Micro Four Thirds’, maintains the same-size image sensor as a traditional DSLR, and uses similar (though smaller) interchangeable lenses that allow for shallow depth of field, which is one of the defining characteristics that DSLRs have long had a monopoly on versus point-and-shoot consumer cameras.

So it’s smaller. Why is this camera so revolutionary, then?

Well, size is not the revolution. HD video functionality is.

Though hardly the first digital camera to shoot HD video (notable examples include the Canon 5D Mark II and the Nikon D90) the GH1 manages to provide jaw-droppingly-good HD video (1080p) in a smaller and less-expensive package* than its predecessors and rivals. This means that any idiot with a thousand bucks, a subject, and a PC can become a movie producer.

Here’s the freshest example of HD video shot off a Panasonic GH1 (if you watch the HD version closely and notice the shallow depth of field and fantastic quality, you’ll understand how revolutionary this is!):

Panasonic Lumix GH1. First footage from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

What we’ve seen with print media–the replacement of the top-down newspaper/magazine model with a more democratic, user-generated model–is exactly what is going to happen with digital video. With the increased accessibility of cheap HD video recording, sites like Vimeo and FunnyOrDie are going to be swimming in quality user-generated content (if they’re not already). The losers are going to be the big studios, whose only advantages will be 1) bigger budgets for marketing/production, 2) star power, and 3) existing distribution channels (movie theaters, et cetera). The studios, however, will be at a massive disadvantage on the internet, coming up against small niche players who will be able to undercut them on production cost AND content pricing, providing the content for free (ad-supported). If the big studios eschew the free-content route, as print media did, and they’ll lose market share to the internet upstarts.

This is a MASSIVE opportunity for anybody with film-making experience. You have the opportunity to be involved in a revolution. Yes, the democratization of HD video will mean declining prestige, and an increasingly flooded content marketplace. But at the same time, it allows content creators to put more professional-looking creations on the web and garner maximum exposure before the big studios begin to adapt to the new platform.

If there is to be an internet video production star made, he/she will be made king very soon. As I said earlier, this is an amazing time to be alive.

*Note: the Panasonic GH1 may be priced similarly to the Nikon D90. We’ll have to see.

Kauai sunset: Lumix GH1 slow motion from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

In 1982, there was only one American city with persistent systemic highway congestion: Los Angeles. In 2000, there are 12. In 2030, there will be 55.

DC: two girls behind me were speaking muffled Hebrew so I wouldn’t hear them talking about me
DC: dude, my flight from L.A. had so many Jews flying home for Passover
SC: yeah, like how many?
DC: it was like the train to Auschwitz
…
SC: get zem on zee train!!!1
…
SC: we’re going to hell.

I was introduced to 3CE through my buddy Adam while I was in L.A. this week, and I’m blown away. I’m surprised he doesn’t have a major-label deal yet (though I’m sure he’ll get one soon with this kind of talent/sound).

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FunnyOrDie.com is getting funnier and funnier every day.

In this video, Zac Efron throws a party that his hick uncle crashes (and ruins). The guests include a who’s-who of Young Hollywood. The spoof paints them as typical airhead actors and actresses, but some of them make fun of their own superficiality by attempting to sound deep and intelligent. My favorite quote came from Brody Jenner, who is deep in discussion with some blonde models poolside, asking them, “But is Paul Krugman a true Keynesian economist?”, looking serious. Another pair of blondes debate Libertarianism and the candidacy of Ron Paul as Justin Long jumps into the pool, managing to swig a Corona underwater.

Pretty ill color choice and execution:

(click to enlarge)

How Jewish is Hollywood?
by Joel Stein
Los Angeles Times
December 19, 2008

I have never been so upset by a poll in my life. Only 22% of Americans now believe “the movie and television industries are pretty much run by Jews,” down from nearly 50% in 1964. The Anti-Defamation League, which released the poll results last month, sees in these numbers a victory against stereotyping. Actually, it just shows how dumb America has gotten. Jews totally run Hollywood.

How deeply Jewish is Hollywood? When the studio chiefs took out a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times a few weeks ago to demand that the Screen Actors Guild settle its contract, the open letter was signed by: News Corp. President Peter Chernin (Jewish), Paramount Pictures Chairman Brad Grey (Jewish), Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger (Jewish), Sony Pictures Chairman Michael Lynton (surprise, Dutch Jew), Warner Bros. Chairman Barry Meyer (Jewish), CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves (so Jewish his great uncle was the first prime minister of Israel), MGM Chairman Harry Sloan (Jewish) and NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker (mega-Jewish). If either of the Weinstein brothers had signed, this group would have not only the power to shut down all film production but to form a minyan with enough Fiji water on hand to fill a mikvah.

The person they were yelling at in that ad was SAG President Alan Rosenberg (take a guess). The scathing rebuttal to the ad was written by entertainment super-agent Ari Emanuel (Jew with Israeli parents) on the Huffington Post, which is owned by Arianna Huffington (not Jewish and has never worked in Hollywood.)

The Jews are so dominant, I had to scour the trades to come up with six Gentiles in high positions at entertainment companies. When I called them to talk about their incredible advancement, five of them refused to talk to me, apparently out of fear of insulting Jews. The sixth, AMC President Charlie Collier, turned out to be Jewish.

NBC’s plan for the network over the last several years is now fully formed — Expand the Today show, expand the Tonight show, so eventually there is nothing else, no other reality, nothing to actually talk about on Today or Tonight except Today or Tonight.

When time travel is developed, they will add to their lineup new concept the Tomorrow Show, in which time travelers will enter the future (specifically the next day) to give you celebrity interviews, heart-warming human interest stories, and Jay-Walking Through Time. The Tomorrow Show will be followed by the The Yesterday Show, in which, a time traveling host or robot will go back to the day before and give you celebrity interviews, heart-warming human interest stories and authentic cooking tips from the past (yesterday).

Jay Leno staying on NBC in prime time – AP

Today Followed by Tonight on NBC – LoSC

I’m throwing a holiday party, and cookies are key.

I want to share a little secret with all of you: the best-tasting cookies on earth come from Hermosa Beach:

And they ship free!

If you want to blow your friends or co-workers away, just order a batch right now.

little laura’s sweets
310.798.7021
http://www.littlelaurasweets.com/

I’m not so fond of this economic depression, but I’m loving the strides that people are making to make cultural reference to it.

For instance, one of my favorite spots in Los Angeles, The Edison, is toasting the financial meltdown with a melt-down of their own:

Soup Kitchen Fridays, with complimentary grilled-cheese sandwiches and tomato soup from 5-7PM

And on Thursdays, Depression-era cocktails are given Depression-era prices: 35¢!

Also, Friday December 5th, they’re going to be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the repeal of the Prohibition!

I wish I could teleport myself there every week.

108 W. 2nd St. #101
Los Angeles, CA 90012

The Mini E will debut next month at the LA Auto Show. You can lease one of the 500 battery-powered Minis starting sometime in 2009. It sports a 204 horsepower electric motor, gets 150 miles per charge and sprints to 100 kph mph in only 8.5 seconds.

Via Autoblog.

I wonder who inspired Apple in its choice of iPod Nano Colors? American Apparel.

Inspired by AH

The tremor today centered in Chino Hills, CA reminded me of a photo my girlfriend took of me and my friend Charlton last year, inside of the Safeway supermarkey just 15 miles from Chino Hills, in Upland/Claremont:

(click to enlarge)

“Earthquake Kit: $8.99 + tax”

We were sure surprised to see it; definitely one of those things that you’ll only see in California.

On the positive side of the quake: Charlton’s private lemon orchard probably rained down a bounty of citrus:

(click to enlarge)

I called Charlton today. He said he felt the quake all the way in San Diego.

DGENERATE NATION – Skate With Me @ Vimeo.