Red 5 Studios

If you’re looking for our wedding films, which include our Same Day Edit videos and highlights, please visit www.loydcalomayfilms.com!

Photo by Thao Vu

2010 was a big year for us and for my last blog entry I wanted to recognize the videos and the couples that brought in a lot of viewers to both our sites (Red 5 Studios and our new site, Loyd Calomay Films). Hey, if Ryan Seacrest can have a year-end Top 40, I can at least showcase a Top 3, right? So here we go.

Each of our Top 3 Most Viewed Videos on our blog proved to be challenging on the production side, but the response from our live and online audiences was well worth the stress and effort. Here are this year’s Most Viewed and some secrets behind each one.

Number 3: Christine + Johneric | Same Day Edit

When I talked with Johneric & Christine over the phone and they told me they wanted to use Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight” my first thought was “YES! I love that song!” My second thought was “OH NO!” because I knew that this edit wasn’t going to be easy. However, what made it easier was that all the elements were there to make a great story… the drama of putting together a wedding in less than 3 months, the laughter and smiles brought on by the simplest of vows (”I love you” is perfect, I think), and one very cool and authentic Jeepney from the Philippines. This one simply ROCKS. Thanks Johneric & Christine for choosing such a cool song.

Christine + Johneric | Same Day Edit from Loyd Calomay Films on Vimeo.

Number 2: Liza + Chad | Same Day Edit

Normally, I wouldn’t attempt to do a Same Day Edit for a ceremony that’s at 5pm or later just because I’d like to finish the edit and show the video before they open the dance floor. But I made an exception for this awesome couple, who were the very first of many couples to request Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are”. The other major challenge was that the week before, I shot in the same locations (Hotel Maya and The Reef in Long Beach) with my good friend Jason Magbanua, who used the very same song for his SDE video! So to avoid making the video look the same, I pre-visualized everything prior to the wedding day. The transitions between sections of this heavily time-shifted edit were not by accident. The final shot needed for the video was also my favorite shot… the rings on the DJ turntable using our new macro lens. The secret to making the rings stop on a dime? The shot was reversed in post! When I shot it, the rings were standing completely still, then I turned the vinyl record counter-clockwise. As Chad & Liza would say: BOOM! This video also ranks as the top video to have the most views on its first day of release. Congrats guys!

Liza + Chad | Same Day Edit from Loyd Calomay Films on Vimeo.

Number 1: Everlyn + Jojo | Same Day Edit

Everlyn & Jojo’s video was by far our most viewed video. Not only for the year, but of ALL TIME. What makes it so special? Why was it the first video to make this event filmmaker cry while watching the premiere? (Whoa, did I just say that out loud?) One word comes to mind: emotion. It’s what makes video, specifically a Same Day Edit, such and special part of a wedding reception. The combination of moving pictures, captured audio and a swelling rock ballad, watched in a darkened ballroom with other audience members…. it’s a very unique movie-going experience. And we are moved by the emotion of it all. Everlyn and Jojo, we can’t help but share in your tears of joy as we watch you become man and wife.

Here’s something that no one knew about. On this warm day, my nose started to bleed while I was editing the video. So most of this was edited with one hand on the laptop, the other desperately trying to keep my vest and tie from getting stained. Hmm, maybe that’s the secret?

Everlyn + Jojo | “Chasing Cars” from Loyd Calomay Films on Vimeo.

Thanks, everyone, for making this our best year ever and we look forward to another year full of blessings in 2011.

- Loyd
Loyd Calomay Films / Red 5 Studios

Style Me Pretty, “a style savvy wedding resource for the modern bride”, and one of the premiere blogs for weddings has recently chosen us to be part of their Little Black Book, a collection of some of the best vendors in the country. You can find us listed under our new company name, Loyd Calomay Films, in Orange County Wedding Cinematography.

Click here to check out our vendor page!

Our new blog site, Loyd Calomay Films, is now up and running showing our latest wedding films!

Continue to check in here for concept videos, news, and behind-the-scenes features.

Hey everyone!   Our new blog, consisting mostly of weddings and wedding related films will be found at www.loydcalomayfilms.com. Concept videos and other news will be posted here. An exciting transition is coming in the near future. Thanks for visiting our new site!

- Loyd

Well, it’s that time of the year again. We’re rapidly approaching our goal for the number of weddings we want to do for 2010 and this here is the “two-minute warning”… the “last call”… the “bring your items to the checkout” announcement. There are only a few spots left, so contact us ASAP!

Wow! We just learned that we were voted by our industry peers as one of Event DV’s 2009 All-Star Team and among the hottest, most influential studios on the planet. It is truly an honor and we’re thankful to all of those who considered us deserving.

There’s much to say… but right now I’m speechless.

Stay tuned. I’ll update this entry once I’m able to pick up my jaw from the floor.

- Loyd

UPDATED - Here is the press release from EventDV:

MADISON, WI—February 25, 2010—EventDV magazine has unveiled the 2009 EventDV 25, and Loyd Calomay of Corona-based Red 5 Studios, was named to the list as one of the 25 hottest and most influential event filmmakers in the world. The honorees were announced in a four-part awards show presented this week on EventDV’s online video channel, EventDV-TV.

EventDV, the Authority for Event Videographers, is published monthly by Information Today, Inc. and read by over 20,000 event videographers and independent video producers around the world. For more information on EventDV, visit www.eventdv.net. To view the 2009 EventDV 25 awards presentation online, visit www.eventdv-tv.com.

Well, I’m back from Austin and the first In[Focus] conference for event filmmakers… and I’m more excited about the business I’m in more than I ever. This “gathering” was special. I can’t put a finger on exactly why it was, but there was something different and fresh about it. I can spend days writing about everything I learned from all the amazing speakers. But I can spend even more raving about the things I learned just from being around all the attendees. It’s what I love about going to these events. And it’s what inspires me to work harder. 2010 is off to a great start and I’m looking forward to the year ahead.

Here’s a nice video and article by Steve Nathans-Kelley, editor of Event DV magazine, reflecting on all the things that happened at In[Focus].

If you’re an event filmmaker and missed out on In[Focus], they’ve created a learning site where you can view many of the great seminars. Check it out here.

Photos by Jet Kaiser and Joe Taravella

Excited to announce that I will be speaking at the IN[FOCUS] video conference this week. For more info, check out their website. And check out this video to see what I will be presenting. It’s gonna be sweet.

I am in tears.  I just found out that Julian St. Pierre of Studio Vieux Carre, co-founder of In[Focus], passed away last night. It was just a year ago, I met Julian. I was at a conference in New Orleans and I was so excited to be there that I was up very early in the morning. I went down to get breakfast and I was the first attendee in the lobby. As I was pouring my juice, I looked up and noticed there was a man who looked exactly (I mean EXACTLY) like Steven Spielberg. Baseball cap, eyeglasses, scruffy gray beard… except he spoke like he was from New Orleans. It was Julian. He introduced himself. We chatted about the city, the people, the conference, and the world of event video. But what I remember most was smiling… and laughing. Being a “newbie” in the industry, I asked a few questions and Julian gave me some words of encouragement. I don’t remember exactly what we talked about in detail, but what I do remember is how he made me feel and the impression he made on me.

We kept in contact over the past year online and through e-mail. So I was in great shock to hear the news this morning. It was just too hard to believe. I immediately went to watch this video just to see and hear his infectious enthusiasm again.

Julian was a leader in our industry and will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Terry, her son Joe and their family.

Photo by Nelson Nunez

A year ago I was lucky enough to be one of the attendees of the first Re:Frame in New Orleans.  There’s a saying: “Iron sharpens iron”.  Meaning if you want to be the best you need to be around the best.  And essentially that’s what Re:Frame is all about.  The highest level of learning in wedding & event filmmaking in a small, intimate group setting.  I came away from that first event so inspired and excited.  It was a game changer.  Wanting to experience more, I quickly signed up for the follow-up event in Austin.

It was there in Austin, the Re:Frame Collective, made up of Julie Hill from Elysium Productions, Bruce Patterson from Cloud Nine Creative, and Kristen* from Bliss Productions approached me to speak at the next event.  Me?!!  Stand in front of a group of people and teach them something?!!  I can hold a mic, sing badly and do The Running Man to get some laughs… but say something intelligent and inspire creativity?!!  Ummm…

Quick flashback to when I was in Junior High.  Remember those days when you had to stand in front of the class and do oral reports?  I hated them.  And hated having to speak in front of people.  Why?  Because for some reason, I would break out in a cold sweat, get incredibly dizzy, and come seconds away from fainting each time I did.  It was so bad sometimes I couldn’t  even hear the words coming out of my mouth.  I would have to put my head down when I returned to my desk relieved that I had survived such horrible torture.

Flashforward to Austin.  “Sure!” I said to them as we strolled to the karaoke bar.  O. M. G.  Was I nuts?!! But it was time. I wanted to do this.  My heart was so full… I wanted to give back and this was the opportunity.

So as nervous as I was, I came to Re:Frame San Francisco, ready to speak about my experience in the industry and hoping that at least one person would take something away from my talk.  The good thing was that I had plenty of videos to share (so I would get to sit down, watch, drink lots of water and catch my breath - something they didn’t let you do in Jr. High).  After some early jitters, I was able to get through my Concept Video presentation without passing out.  Whoohoo!!  It was actually a fun experience.  The best part was being introduced by Jason Magbanua, the newest member of the RF Collective, a superstar in the world of wedding cinema, and good friend from the Philippines.  That totally made my day.

If Re:Frame was a “trilogy”, then this third installment set in San Francisco was the biggest and baddest of them all.  It was truly epic… like “The Return Of The King” or “Return Of The Jedi” (without the Ewoks).  Although I was only able to attend the first half, I felt I had learned so much in the time I was there.  Not only from the incredible speakers in our “classroom” sessions but during the in-between times just hanging out.  So much fun. And it was fun watching the faces light up on all the first time attendees who I know went home inspired and excited as I was just one short year ago.  I’ve been there, done that… and want to do it again and again and again.

Julie, Bruce, K*, and Jason: Thank You (x4).  Look forward to the next Re:Frame!

- Loyd

Also, check out this incredible video from RFSF by Philip Bloom made up entirely of stills!

Yes, that seems to be the question everyone is asking.  No, I wasn’t eaten by a shark (though some of you probably thought I might have).

But if you’ve kept up with us over facebook, twitter, or read our last blog post, then you know that Hazel and I experienced the joy of having our first child.  The weeks leading up to and immediately after Jude was born have been, well… kinda crazy (you parents know what it’s like).  How can I describe what we’ve been going through? These words come to mind: Amazing, difficult, humbling, incredible, draining, exciting… life-changing.

So now that things have settled, I’m going to make up for the lost time by blogging each day this week to let you know what’s been going on.  And there’s been a lot going on besides changing diapers, feedings, and getting used to life’s new schedule.  So stay tuned for plenty of videos, news and stories in the upcoming days.

Hey everyone!  We wanted to introduce to you our son, Jude Cameron Calomay, born Friday October 2nd at 3:10 pm at an astonishing 8 lbs. 11 oz. and 20.5 inches.  As most of you may know, we’ve waited a long, long time for this to happen.  Jude is a happy and healthy boy and mom and dad are so proud. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

We are so honored and thrilled to be the recipient of the Gold Creative Excellence Award in the category of Concept Video Production presented at the 2009 WEVA Expo. The award was given for “Terrance Gump” created for Maggie & Terrance’s wedding earlier this year. Although we could not make it to this year’s ceremony, we feel so blessed to have won an award.

Click here to watch our award-winning video in HD.

Here’s a screen shot from our Terrance Gump film which we produced earlier this year. Being a child of the 80’s, Michael Jackson’s videos were truly inspirational (check out this dance sequence from 2005). I can’t even count how many times I’ve done Billy Jean on the dance floor. Thank you MJ for all the good times.