Changing with the times: USB drives: Part Deux

Last week's post I told you about us changing from DVD to USB as our main digital support for delivery. Today, my good friend Braja, sent me those beautiful pictures of the drive I've created for her and Gene.

I just wanted to share them with you so you can see the final product. I hope you enjoy it!
Have a great week,

Matthieu

Changing with the times: USB drives

When I started working in this industry as a wedding videographer in 2001, I was using VHS tapes to record 2 hour films for my clients. For nearly the past decade, Cinematt has been providing customized DVDs to clients along with an option of adding a USB drive since 2011.  Now fast forward to 2014, Cinematt is very excited to announce that we are transitioning to providing our films only on USB drives.

It seems that as technology improves over time (with the emergence of Amazon drive, Apple TV and Google Chrome) DVDs and even Blu-ray are going extinct.  CDs are now becoming obsolete.  As most of you have probably noticed, as I did when I purchased my iMAC last year,  Apple has removed the optical drive for playing CDs on their newer model computers. 

There are many advantages to receiving your wedding film on a USB drive.  It is important to show our films, which are filmed in HD, in an HD format.  DVDs are standard resolution.  As more people purchase smart HD TVs, they have the capability to view their wedding film in the highest quality resolution. With the USB drive you can play your film directly on your TV, on your computer via iTunes, and you will save time without having to load different chapters as with DVDs. Sharing the film is also easy via email or social media.

We look forward to delivering your wedding film on a USB drive and hearing feedback from you.

Matthieu

98 percent of brides regret not having a videographer on their special day

This morning I read this interesting Huffington Post article by Ariane Fisher, which I would like to share with you.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ariane-fisher/98-regret-this-mistake-af_b_3738817.html

While I completely agree with the points that she highlights, I would also like to add my thoughts and recommendations. One of my first recommendation is to hire a photographer to capture your wedding day. Photos are a great way to preserve that instant moment, and forever be a keepsake. 

The message I would like to convey is that you should consider high quality photography and cinematography equally (ie. budget equally for both).

Here are some excerpts from the post:

Like most brides, I looked forward to my wedding for 4 reasons:

1. I was marrying a man better than I ever could have dreamed for myself
2. The Big Day was a creative outlet for my DIY dreams
3. Friends and Family were coming together from all across the country
4. Biggest. Party. Ever.

After the wedding, here is what I had to show for it:

• Gorgeous photos
• A preserved wedding gown
• Stories from friends and family about it being the best party, not just wedding, they had ever attended

Cue the regret. Like most brides, I budgeted for photos, but not wedding video. Like 98 percent of brides who make that decision, I regretted not getting a wedding video.

A beautiful well-crafted wedding film transforms those moments into a magical audio-visual experience that will forever remind you of how you felt on that day.  You will be able to re-live those special moments while you were getting ready with your bridal party, the emotion you had while seeing each other for the first time, and reading the vows you spent days to write.  And let's not forget your beautiful choreographed first dance you worked on for months.

As Ariane mentioned, it is also a wonderful way to keep memories of loved ones who have passed. One of my favorite parts of my wedding day was when my aunt and uncle (who were celebrating their anniversary) told us that in 54 years they will be the ones who will bring us champagne to celebrate our 54th anniversary. Unfortunately, my aunt at the age of 83 passed the following year.  Thankfully, I have this last soundbite of her. It's priceless!

Previous brides and grooms have mentioned that their family and friends loved watching their wedding film, especially since some of them couldn't attend.  Many times their comments were, "I felt like I was there!"  In a recent letter that I received, one of my brides said, "Do you know, my dad never remarked on my speech? I've wondered all this time if he didn't like it. But in the video, I could see his emotion. I can't tell you how much that means to me. You have given me such a gift by allowing me to experience our wedding day the way I should have, but couldn't, in the first place."

So as some of you become engaged this fall and winter, and you are planning for your special day, please make sure to allocate as much budget for a cinematographer as you do a photographer. Who knows, maybe one day that film will become your kid's favorite!

With that said, I would love to leave you with Jason and Alison's wedding film.
Alison is one of the sweetest people I've had the pleasure to work with. When I met her and Jason, I instantly felt a connection and I knew that working with them and capturing their beautiful day would be special. It did not disappoint.  From the bride prep to their final kiss, you can feel the sheer excitement they had of saying, "I do" to each other.  Jason's expression when he saw Alison in her gown for the very first time was priceless. And with the perfect weather, despite being in November, this day was nothing short of perfect for this loving couple. Here is their beautiful story captured on film.

Bonne journée, et a bientôt 
Matthieu

Alison and Jason | Short Film | Presidio Log Cabin, San Francisco from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.

13 minutes

Today's post is very special to Cinematt. We received an emotionally beautiful thank you letter from one of our brides, Melanie, that highlights the essence of what we believe about the value of cinematography. We are sharing excerpts from her 2 1/2 page letter and the 13-minute film that we created of her wedding day.  One particular statement really stands out, as Melanie stated, "In thirteen minutes, you literally obliterated every negative emotion I've been carrying around guiltily for nearly seven months." 
Merci et bonne journée,

Matthieu,

….I planned nearly the entire day on my own over six short months, and stressed, and stressed, and stressed right up to the very day.  When the day did finally arrive, I couldn't let the anxiety go. Once the day had passed, I couldn't really remember much about it. My feelings about it ever since have been burdened by guilt over having failed at being able to take in the wonderful reality that was finally happening for me. I needed Larry to convince me that I was actually smiling when I walked down the aisle, because all I could remember was the photographer shouting out that I had forgotten my bouquet!

I hoped that when the photographs arrived, they would help me remember all the wonderful moments; remembering it like a fairy tale, and feeling absolutely no regrets. But the photos didn't work that way. They were still moments that somehow just didn't feel real. We instantly told ourselves to lower our expectations of the video. For over five months, that's what we did.

We decided to watch your film on Saturday night. Larry cooked dinner and we had a video date night. Just before hitting play, he looked me in the eyes and held my hands and told me that the video was not going to be great - it was going to be dark, we would hate the music, we would both look terrible, and my dad wouldn't even make an appearance. 

Matthieu, how can I come up with the words to tell you what the next 13 minutes changed for me? You single-handedly gave me back my wedding day. For the very first time, I could feel how beautiful it was. I instantly saw how happy I was, and all the love in my eyes when I looked at Larry. In thirteen minutes, you literally obliterated every negative emotion I've been carrying around guiltily for nearly seven months. 

Larry and I gripped hands throughout the entire 13:23, and I could feel his tears dropping on my hands. Tears were streaming down my face too. We've probably watched it 20 times since Saturday night. My mom told me that she found my dad crying while watching it for a second time, and he told her how beautiful my speech was .. something I'd longed to hear from him. You captured emotional expressions from my dad that I've seen my whole life, and have always worried I'd never have on film to remember him by….….Larry turned to me last night, out of nowhere, and said, "I stand so, so, so very corrected. I didn't think we needed a videographer, but you pushed for it, and now it seems so obvious to me. A thousand times over, it was so worth it. It was the most important thing we did."

Matthieu, I can't tell you enough what you gave to me. Not just a beautiful video, but you gave me back the day I'd waited all my life for, just to have it slip right out of my hands. On behalf of Larry and myself, thank you so, so much for this precious gift. This email doesn't begin to explain how thrilled and grateful we are. :)

Sincerely,

Melanie

Melanie and Larry | Short film Feature | Murrieta's Well, Livermore, Ca from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.