Juliette and Martin's San Francisco Wedding

There's something magical about intimate weddings - it means we get the chance to catch all the heightened emotions on everyone's faces; no one gets lost in the crowd. There is so much shared joy between family and friends who are close knit, and Juliette and Martin's wedding was no exception.

They chose the Swedenborgian Church in San Francisco, an Arts and Crafts style venue built in 1895 - full of charm and a gorgeous backdrop for their big day.

Witnessing the quiet, joyful love between Juliette and Martin is like seeing a beautiful story unfold - and the sweet, heartfelt stories shared by family and friends will most certainly bring a smile to your face. We were so honored to capture each happy moment of their rehearsal and wedding day, and are so excited to share their whole video with you.

The best part for us is definitely hearing back from our amazing couples, knowing that we gave them a priceless memory.

From Juliette:

"Dear Matthieu,

Martin and I are delighted to let you know that we absolutely LOVE the film - it is elegant, beautiful, touching, warm, and full of the loving moments we had wanted to capture on film and relive in the months and years after our wedding day.  I can't think of anything we would change.

Thank you for the time, care, and effort you put into this project.  It is just what we hoped for!!  And worth the wait."


We wish them the best of luck, and all the happiness in the world.

Photography: Caroline Winata of Milou + Olin Photography 

Wedding Film: Farrah + Taichi at the Julia Morgan Ballroom

Today's dreamy video is at the incredible Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, where Farrah and Taichi tied the knot last year.

Alex Baranquo of Dreams on a Dime perfected every detail, and we are so fortunate to have captured the stunning end result. Not only was there soft candlelight illuminating the already gorgeous venue, but cream-colored florals seemed to bloom everywhere, making the event effortlessly elegant.

The real highlights of this film, however, all belong to the moments between the bride and groom. Each of them reads sweet, funny vows that make it apparent the two are best friends. Listening to all the praise, advice, and words of joy from all their family members (who traveled from across the globe!) you can feel so much love in every moment of their special day.

We wish you all the happiness in the world, Farrah and Taichi, and we're so honored to have documented the start of your family!

- Cinematt

Sadee + Joey: Same Day Edit Wedding Film

We're so excited to show you Sadee and Joey's Same Day Edit wedding film - it truly was a labor of love! These two didn't want full coverage of their wedding day, just the short video highlighting their ceremony and morning of the big day. It was a wonderful challenge, filming all the most important details and editing on-site to create something special to show at their reception - a big thanks to my editor Jeremiah for some early planning and amazing work!

Same Day Edit films are something we love to offer - it's a wonderful capsule of the wedding morning that offers a peek at the intimate moments with the bride and groom the guests don't usually witness. The excitement of getting ready for the big day, all the heightened emotions during a "first look", and the best moments of the ceremony are woven together to create a personal snapshot of the day just hours after it's happened!

See Sadee and Joey's Same Day Edit video below, and for a little extra fun we've included a video of their reactions to their video at the reception!

Vendors:

Photography: Junshien Lau 
Coordinator: Frances Liu with Charmed Events Group
Florist: Nicole Ha
Makeup: Tammy DO
DJ: Spintronix
Officiant: Reverend Tim

Thinking of adding a Same Day Edit film to your wedding day? We'd love to chat! Contact the studio at info@cinematt.com.

À bientôt!
- Cinematt

Cinematt Adventures: Hot Air Ballooning

I'm lucky enough in my work to go to some of the best hotels and resorts in the West Coast, Canada, and Hawaii. Part of my job is to take part in some of the "experiences" these hotels offer, and last week I was lucky enough to try out hot air ballooning for the first time in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. (Scroll all the way down for the film!)

It was an incredible feeling to be lighter than air, and be able to soar above Jackson Hole as high as 2500ft above the earth. I'm usually afraid of heights in many ways, so being able to overcome that fear and film the experience is something I'll never forget. If you're looking to do something incredibly fun that takes your breath away, I would recommend hot air ballooning to anyone.

There is a lot of wonderful tradition around flying a hot air balloon that goes back centuries.

The champagne toast at the end of the flight isn't simply arbitrary, there's actually meaning behind it! On November 21st, 1783 the first free flight carrying a person occurred in Paris, France. It was in a hot air balloon made out of paper and silk by the Montgolfier brothers. Although they knew filling it with hot air would allow them to lift off, they weren't sure how to control the craft, so each time they would float until the balloon landed, often in a remote country field. At this time in history, France and most of Europe was gripped by the fear of witchcraft, so these hapless aviators would more often than not be seized by the locals and burned alive. To remedy this issue, these balloonists reached out to King Louis the XVI of France, and he signed a decree that balloonists were allowed to carry Champagne that bore the royal crest, to show they were true Frenchmen.

At the beginning of the video there is an Irish prayer that was recited by balloonists long ago before takeoff, and one at the end to thank the sky for allowing their craft to land safely.

à la vôtre!

- Matthieu

Sharing Our Favorite Things

Bonjour!

Cinematt is proud to announce that we're officially a Design Aglow Affiliate! You may have noticed that Design Aglow products pop up from time to time on our blog, and we've been featured as one of their 12 favorite filmmakers for their new Cinematography line - read the interview here!

What is this all about? We'll fill you in....

1. What is Design Aglow? 

If you're a wedding industry professional in photography or cinematography, you're probably well acquainted with this design-savvy online company. They sell a wide variety of products that make our busy lives easier, from workflow solutions to marketing templates, all very easily customizable to your branding and style. For our clients, this means more time focused on you and your event, less time hunched over a computer attempting to design our own materials.

2. What will change?

You'll occasionally see us review and highlight our favorite Design Aglow products on the blog. We only endorse products we use and love, and don't get paid for our posts. If a purchase is made through our affiliate link, we receive minor compensation.

Other than that, Cinematt will stay the same! We're just excited to share some of the tools that have made our business successful and stress-free.

3. How do I purchase products through Cinematt? 

If you see us talk about a Design Aglow product, it's available for purchase through our affiliate link. This link will be included in the blog post, and a small percentage of the sale will go to us. Just a little thanks from Design Aglow for putting the word out!

Stay tuned, and have a wonderful Monday!

5 Tips for Saving Your Digital Wedding Film

How to Care For Your Wedding Film 

If you're one of our wonderful wedding clients who has just recently tied the knot (congratulations!) there's a good chance you're patiently waiting for your Cinematt wedding film. 

After hours and hours of reviewing your footage, editing it down to the most magical moments, and synching it with music to match your amazing day, we add a little of that Cinematt je ne sais quoi and wrap it up nicely for your enjoyment. 

But then it's up to you! Whether you receive your film via digital download, usb flash drive, or DVD, the future of your digital memories are in your hands. 

 5 Tips for Preserving Your Digital Files

1. Save it in more than one location. Upload the files to a computer at your earliest convenience.
2. Save it externally. To make sure they aren't deleted by accident or lost in a computer crash, copy or upload to an external hard drive as well. 
3. Don't toss your original. Keep your original source (USB, DVD, etc) somewhere safe and filed away. It's best to leave it in protective packaging. 
4. Don't keep problems to yourself. If there is something wrong with your file, please let us know at the earliest convenience! The longer you wait, the harder it will be for us to pull your files out of storage, and there may be an additional fee. 
5. Evolve with the digital world. Make sure if a new format becomes widely used, have your video copied to it. There are many services available to copy VHS tapes to DVD or Blu Ray discs, and in the future I'm sure there will be other new ways to save and store files. 

And as always, if you have any questions about your files, don't hesitate to contact us at info@cinematt.com!

The Phan Family | Short Family Feature | San Francisco

We love capturing every amazing family that comes together on our clients' wedding days, full of tears and hugs, every emotion running high; it makes for wonderful, unforgettable moments on film. But not every day is a wedding day, and our clients go off to create incredible families of their own. Sometimes it's refreshing to observe the quiet moments between a mother and son, the joy of brothers at a park - a small slice of time for the family to keep.

That's exactly what we set out to do for Mary of Very Mary Inspired, who wanted to give her husband something thoughtful for his birthday. Their two rambunctious boys are at the age where they need a lot of wide, open spaces to tear around in, so we set our sites on a local park where the family could interact naturally, and not feel too cooped up!

What we got was a fun series of playful moments with Mary, her husband and their boys, that they'll be able to watch for years to come. Watch their video below!

mary from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.

Thinking about one of your own? A family film could be the perfect gift for grandma, dad, or just an investment in archiving your growing family. You could put a fun day in a time capsule - a trip to the zoo, a day at the beach... anything you can think of!

Contact our studio at info@cinematt.com and we'd be happy to brainstorm the perfect video for your family!

Cinematt on Design Aglow Cinema!

Are you ready for a big announcement? We're beyond excited to announce that Cinematt is a contributor for Design Aglow! Joining so many other talented professionals from around the nation, we're going to offer up solid advice for success in the wedding industry. 

If you're a photographer or cinematographer, you probably know all about this uber-modern, design-savvy blog shop, that provides everything from educational guides on posing and business marketing, to photography actions and website templates. Their blog is also a must-follow for anyone with an online presence and services to offer; it's full of tips and tricks for optimal web traffic, drool-worthy contests, and inspirational interviews. 

As part of the brand new launch of Design Aglow Cinema, Cinematt was featured as one of 15 of Design Aglow's favorite cinematographers from around the world! Matthieu chatted about his demo reel, the importance of picking the right audio, and those crucial first 15 seconds of film. 

Click here to see the full interview! 

The Design Aglow Cinema line includes an amazing collection of useful tools for cinematographers. Everything from workflow guides to marketing suites and packaging accessories - all ready to insert your unique branding and improve your business. 

We can't wait to see what Design Aglow has in store, and keep an eye on their blog; you may see us there! 

Susan and Jesse | Teaser/trailer | Big sur wedding

Susan and Jesse's Big Sur wedding will have you falling in love with love all over again. This gorgeous couple invited close friends and family to the private Paion Estate for an intimate destination "I do".

From the ethereal coastal light to the fresh green and white color palate, everything was perfection on this magical day. Their Jewish ceremony was full of meaningful tradition as well as heartfelt commentary on love and marriage, and the best man's speech will definitely make you grin. We caught Susan and Jesse in a magical "golden hour" moment, radiating love, and again on the dance floor, haloed by whimsical edison string lights. Crackling fires and s'mores rounded out the evening, and the guests walked away with donut holes and milk bottles.

We couldn't help but adore this amazing couple; their joy was infectious, and they deserve all the best. Enjoy their wedding video below!



If you're still craving more from this amazing wedding, check out the beautiful photography on Oncewed.


Photography: Bryce Covey | Coordinator: Elegant Events & Big Sur Weddings | Venue: Big Sur | Shuttle: AITS | Bride Accommodations: Ventana Inn and Spa | Caterer: A Taste Of Elegance | Designer: Joy Thigpen | Music: Lucky Devils Band | Dessert: Just Cake | Royal Restrooms: Royal Restrooms | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals & Archive Rentals|  Florist: Studio Choo | Video: Cinematt | Carmel Plant Tenders: Carmel Plant Tenders | Sitters: Corporate Kids Events; anamika@vipbabysitting.com

Kathryn and Alan | highlight feature | Casa Real

This gorgeous wedding was 17 years in the making! Kathryn and Alan might have viewed eachother as awkward friends in high school, but that didn't stop them from reconnecting in college and falling head-over-heels in love. After ten years of dating, Alan finally popped the question at a family Thanksgiving dinner, and a year later they were able to finally call each other husband and wife.

Nestled in the rolling hills above Livermore, California, the Casa Real at Ruby Hills Winery in Livermore was the perfect setting for Kat and Alan's whimsical wedding. Enchanting baubled trees and an aisle lined with white flowers framed their ceremony, while shimmering chandeliers added some serious glamour to their reception ballroom. Kat and Alan's day was truly magical.

We were so excited to capture their big day, and to be surrounded by a ton of vendors we already know and love. Jane Kim of The Glamourist was on hand to work her bridal magic, Henry from Big Fun DJ kept the party going for hours, Danny Dong was in the middle of the action with us, photographing the entire day for Kat and Alan.

Watch their video below to listen to their lighthearted, touching vows, see their most romantic moments, and feel the joy that made their day special.




Kathryn and Alan | Highlight feature | Casa Real from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.

Meredith and Mike | Highlight feature | Grand Island Mansion

There is nothing quite as enjoyable to film as a couple so obviously in love. Tucked away in the beautiful deltas of Sacramento county, Grand Island Mansion was the perfect backdrop for Meredith and Mike's romantic black tie wedding. Its manicured grounds and wrought-iron victorian arbor made for an enchanting late-afternoon ceremony, and the ornate ballrooms were lit up with pink and gold for the festive reception.

Meredith knew there was something special about Mike after their first date, texting her mom, "he's perfect!" As friends and family were introduced, everyone could tell they made each other incredibly happy. Mike hinted to Meredith's family that he would propose toward the end of 2012, and surprised her on Christmas morning when he hid a ring inside a box of luxury soaps!

This wedding was wonderfully personal for us, since Taylor, Meredith's maid of honor, was one of our brides, as well as her brother! Meredith had already fallen in love with both of their videos and called us up a whole 15 months before their big day.

June 6, 2014 Meredith and Mike walked down the aisle with big grins, and we couldn't have been happier to capture it all.



Meredith and Mike | Feature highlight | Grand Mansion Island from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.


Hop over to Facebook to see all the familiar faces! You'll see Meredith as Taylor's maid of honor in Taylor and Joe's wedding film from 2011, and you'll spot Taylor during her heartfelt "big sister" toast at Jacob and Tobi's wedding back in 2010!

Best of luck to you both!

Valentine et Thibault, a French affaire

Over the years, CINEMATT has been lucky to travel and film some amazing destination weddings. But this wedding was like none other. Valentine is my niece, and filming her wedding created a unique situation for me.  I was a guest and at the same time the cinematographer. To see my family celebrating through my lens and to remain completely and utterly professional was a whole new game. My sister gave one of the most poignant and emotional speeches I've ever heard, that I wanted to drop my camera to hug and support her. 

Valentine and Thibault's fun and loving personality shines through in this romantic 16-minute film. I really enjoyed capturing the sweetness of their loving vows to each other--streamed through the end of the film.

Special shout-out to Robin Killip who helped me film this special day. It was so great to work with Steph and Robin, the Bubblerock team!  I look forward to shooting again in the future; who knows maybe we will meet in New Zealand!

Thank you and as usual, don't hesitate to comment.

Bonne journée,
Matthieu

CINEMATT shoots sports too!

I love sports! This is one of my passions. Ever since I was a kid, sports have been a very important part of my life. Whether it was going to tennis, swimming, golf and of course soccer practice, I was always out and playing. In fact, one of the reasons I moved to the US, in 1995, was to become a sports reporter. So in 1998, when the World Cup came to France and I covered it as a correspondent for the Tampa Tribune, I achieved one of my lifelong dreams.

By now, you must be wondering what does this have to do with weddings, and the short answer is absolutely nothing! But I decided to rekindle my love for reporting about sports by shooting my godson’s soccer team. I’m pretty happy and excited about how it came out. What do you think?

Merci,

Matthieu

SF STARS from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.

Let's talk about money

Have you gotten engaged recently or maybe a while ago and now you’re planning your wedding?  It is such an exciting time, isn’t it?  I know discussing finances while planning one of the most special moments in your life may not be the most romantic thing to do.  But it is a very important part of a marriage that often gets overlooked during the initial stages of courtship.  Statistics show that money is one of the most common reasons marriages fail. 

When my wife and I started dating, money was one of the first things we discussed even before getting engaged (although we both knew early on that we wanted to get married).  It is one of the best things we did for our relationship.  One really helpful book that we used to guide our talk was http://getfinanciallynaked.com/ by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar.  The  author’s provide useful practical tips in a friendly, easy-to-read manner that won’t put you to sleep.  Here are a few things to consider:

-Share your credit reports
-A list of red flags to watch out for in a partner 
-How to create a budget for a combined household 
-Who will be the CFO of your marriage? Or will you manage the finances as a team?
-Joint bank accounts or separate accounts?

We hope you find this post helpful and if you have any additional thoughts or insights, please let us know.  We look forward to sharing other additional tips that my wife and I hold dear in our hearts.

Happy wedding planning and congratulations on getting engaged! 

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.

Nick | The proposal before the proposal

CINEMATT was challenged this past week with a new and exciting project idea. Not only did it require being the cameraman but also writing the story-line, imagining the set-design, and directing this unique film.

When Nick called us three weeks ago, he was about to propose to his girlfriend. He wanted to create a film for his soon-to-be fiancée, to show her before he popped the question. With Nick’s general vision and his trust to allow CINEMATT to have complete creative freedom, we brought his idea to life.  Check out Nick’s romantic vision, The Proposal Before the Proposal, come to reality. And by the way, she did say yes! and we heard family and friends cried watching this film. Enjoy watching it, and please don't hesitate to like or comment on it.

Bonne Journée,
Matthieu


Nick | The proposal before the proposal from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.

Color Grading: What is it and why is it so important?

According to the Webster dictionary, color grading is "the process of altering and enhancing the color of a motion picture, video image, or still image either electronically, photo-chemically or digitally."

Color grading is as important as picking the right music, using the right part of a speech, and choosing the right footage to make a film a complete piece. While color correcting is about getting your footage to be as authentic and as close to reality as possible, color grading is the art of giving personality to a film.  It allows the cinematographer/editor to be free to create something unique. Grading is a tedious task that requires hours of work but it can greatly enhance the film.  It’s a very personal process and many people will have different opinions on how to grade a film.  My friend and colleague, Sigmund Reboquio, said it best, “Grading your film is giving an identity to the final product that will help you to attract clients who have the same taste as you.”  

Some examples as seen on TV and in the theater include: Michael Bay’s color grading of Transformers which is very saturated, the gritty-yellow color of Cohen Brother’s in No Country for Old Men, and the black and white film by Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist.  All of these examples are different and each exudes a different mood, tone and feeling. 

Here is a sneak peak of a film that I'm currently working on with an example of color grading.

color grading from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.

Have you heard of BAPVA?

Cinematt has been asked to be part of a panel discussion on color grading at next week’s BAPVA meeting. You may wonder what is BAPVA. It’s the Bay Area Professional Videographer Association, which I’ve been a member since 2005 and a program manager in 2011-2012.  It’s a great way to network with fellow cinematographers, learn something new about your craft, and maybe share a few tips or two of your own.  Learning from great leaders (Michael Wong, Ray Roman, & Joe Simon), who have been instrumental in shaping our industry, has been a valuable experience for me.  Come join us to learn about color grading on Monday, August 18, 2014 at the Santa Clara Fire Station 1900 Walsh Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050. The program is 6:30 – 9 pm, but come mingle at 6 pm.  (fee: $25 for non-BAPVA members). Stay tuned for my tips on color grading, and if you like more information about BAPVA, please follow the link below.
www.bapva.org

Kathryn and Alan | Same Day Edit | Casa Real, California

One of my favorite things to do at a wedding is to create a beautiful Same Day Film. There is nothing better than to share those special moments with family and friends within hours of it happening. Watching the film is like going to a show and having access to the backstage. Family and friends are no longer just spectators, they are also actors within the film.   I was ecstatic when Kathryn and Alan asked me to create a Same Day Film to capture their special day and love for each other that has spanned over the past 16 years. This fun-loving couple wrote their own vows about friendship and love; a great beginning for a wonderful storyline. Thank you Kathryn and Alan for making us part of your wedding day.

Merci et bonne journée!

Venue: casa real
Photographer: Danny Dong
Make up artist: The Glamourist
DJ: Big Fun DJ
Cake artist: Sweet tooth confection
Florist: Asiel Design

Gene and Braja | Short Film Feature | San Diego, CA

When Gene saw   during their first look, the first word that came out of his mouth was "Holy, then an expletive, then another expletive!”  If you know Gene and Braja, then you shouldn't be surprised. Gene is a passionate person. He is passionate about his friends and family, and about being an amazing photographer, but most of all he is passionate about Braja!

I wanted to ensure that their film captured the unconditional love they have for each other and the passion behind it.  My favorite moment of their day was during their photo session.   Jim, their photographer, handed the camera to Gene to shoot Braja's portrait session. In that instant, Gene was the photographer, the person who has an eye for beauty and capturing the emotions of the moment; the same person who was shooting my wife and I when we got married the year before.

I’ve always loved shooting alongside Gene, as he is an inspiration for creativity and art. When Gene asked me to film his wedding, I felt honored and nervous all at the same time. And to have Jim Garner, a world renown photographer, working alongside me for the day was mind-blowing and icing on the cake. What an amazing experience!

Thank you to Isabel Gonzalez, long-time friend and cinematographer from Long Beach, for assisting to capture all the special moments and details of the day.  And lastly, thank you to Gene and Braja for trusting me with the most important day of their lives!

Please enjoy the film as much as I enjoyed witnessing their union and capturing their love on film. 

A bientôt ,

Matthieu

venue: La Estancia
coordinator: Thomas Bui
photographer: Jim Garner
Florist: Jennifer Cole Florals
Officiant: Dharmasetu Das
Hair stylist: Daniel Lowry
Make-up artist: Madhavi
DJ: Daniel Peterson

Things to consider when hiring a team to film your wedding

Some of the first things newly engaged brides do is go dress shopping, reserve a venue, and hire a team to film their wedding. Chances are, this is the first time any of them have hired a film crew. It can be an intimidating and overwhelming experience, filled with explanations of packages, prices, contracts and portfolios.  In an effort to give you a few pieces of advice, we have put together a short list of things to consider when selecting your wedding film team.

1)    Don’t allow price to be the only determinant.

When shopping for a wedding film team price is something you should never skimp on. Obviously work within your budget but don’t be persuaded by deals that seem too good to be true. Sometimes the reason a film crew is priced at $500 is because they’re only worth that much. There’s a good chance that you might have some guy show up at your wedding with a camera and has no idea what he’s doing. If you spend time and energy planning your wedding, you’re going to want a film that reflects who you are and the work you’ve put into every tiny detail for your big day!

2)     Hire someone who you are compatible with.

It seems like that’s something that really shouldn’t matter. It’s their talent that’s most important, right? Well, partially, yes. But if you’re laid back would you want someone who’s going to force you out of your comfort zone and make you feel awkward all day? You have to find someone you get along with and feel truly comfortable with.

3)   Hire someone who LOVES what they do.

You have to hire someone who LOVES what they do and wants YOU to love what THEY do. You want someone who’s not burnt out on doing weddings. You want someone who is doing this because it’s their passion and they aren’t just trying to pay their bills.  We attribute our success and quality to this very simple fact.  We genuinely LOVE what we do and our work shows it.

4)   Hire someone you can trust.

Trust as in any relationship is key. You hire a team like us because we are the professional.  You trust their opinions and ideas and allow them to take some creative license knowing that at the end they will give you a film you will want to watch over and over. As Ray Roman would say, “by hiring us you have the piece of mind of getting a true professional who is going to make your wedding film an unforgettable heirloom for you, your family and friends.”

Happy Planning!

Matthieu

Love what you saw? Contact us and let’s tell your story when you say your I do's!!

About Cinematt

CINEMATT is the fruit of many years of soul searching in order to create a brand that couples can identify with.   As the creator and artistic director of CINEMATT, Matthieu put his ten years of expertise to craft a unique wedding film for you.

Along with Dennis, who he has been working with for five years, Joshua and Sean, they strive to capture every little detail you have so uniquely chosen to make your dream wedding a true masterpiece. Filming your wedding is not only showing up on your special day. It is about getting to know you and find out what your particular interests are in order to transcribe them into YOUR film... Merci et a bientot!

demo reel 2014 from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.

A Year in Review: Cinematt's Favorite Moments of 2013

For year's I've been trying to create a video journal highlighting my favorite moments of the previous year, but I always end up saying, "later".  Well, that is all about to change.  2014 is here and I had one new resolution.  To finally create that video journal that we could all enjoy.

I knew I had filmed some amazing weddings in 2013 and I wanted to showcase them in a fast but emotion filled video journal that would translate who we are and why we do what we do.

Getting married has so many layers and facets but one thing for sure is the sense of coming together: as husband and wife, as we say I do, as one family, when two meets and create a sacred bond. I wanted to show the emotion of the journey and the ultimate reward of uniting. Whether the wedding was in San Diego, France, Hawaii, Napa, Livermore or San Francisco and so many more destinations, they all have something in common; a unique story. Their story!! 

I think this 2:40 minute clearly communicates why a wedding is so special.

Big thank you to Joshua, Dennis, Kyle, Robin and Steph, Miguel, Aaron, Wendi, Isabel, and an even bigger thank you to all our awesome couples who trusted us with the most important moment of their life. 
 

Matthieu

Love what you saw? Contact us and let’s tell your story when you say your I do's!!

About Cinematt

CINEMATT is the fruit of many years of soul searching in order to create a brand that couples can identify with.   As the creator and artistic director of CINEMATT, Matthieu put his ten years of expertise to craft a unique wedding film for you.

Along with Dennis, who he has been working with for five years, Joshua and Sean, they strive to capture every little detail you have so uniquely chosen to make your dream wedding a true masterpiece. Filming your wedding is not only showing up on your special day. It is about getting to know you and find out what your particular interests are in order to transcribe them into YOUR film... Merci et a bientot!