Blog provided by The Foam Factory

Have you noticed wedged square panels on the walls in your favorite YouTuber or streamer’s videos? If you’ve worked in the music industry, you might recognize these fixtures as acoustic foam panels. Many recording studios use these panels to improve the quality of music recordings since they absorb stray echoes and reverberations for a clearer sound. In our previous blog, we explained that acoustic foam’s open cell structure makes it harder for sound waves to reflect off its surface. Furthermore, acoustic foam takes the energy from sound waves and dissipates it as heat, eliminating excess noise from a room.

This makes acoustic foam ideal for independent musicians with home recording studios, and these principles also make it a good investment for aspiring content creators trying to gain an Internet audience. Many amateur content creators’ videos have suffered from a lack of quality because they film in noisy rooms using rudimentary equipment. If you want to take your videos to the next level, you should make sure your voice is clearly heard. Many content creators don’t realize their sound quality is being affected by indirect sound bouncing off their walls and into their microphones. Acoustic foam will help your videos and streaming sessions sound better and more professional.

At The Foam Factory, you can find a variety of foam products such as RV bedding, foam seat cushions, and acoustic foam. Be sure to browse their acoustic foam products for all your sound absorption needs. If you have any questions, contact them today at info@foambymail.com or by phone at 586-627-3626.

Blog provided by Curacao

Many TV owners are looking for a streaming media player with all the best features for their home entertainment needs. To help you choose the right one, here are some of the best streaming media players and their core features.

Roku Ultra

Roku’s claim to fame is its large amount of free content channels, along with compatibility with subscription-based apps such as Netflix and Hulu. The Roku Ultra is designed to be the high-end Roku device with unparalleled high-definition visual fidelity. It also has user-friendly features such as personal shortcuts, one-touch voice control, and headphones for private listening. It’s a suitable choice if visuals are your priority.

 

 

 

 

Apple TV

 

 

Apple TV brings Apple’s design philosophies for iOS devices into the realm of media players. While it’s also great for playing high definition video and audio, it’s also integrated with other Apple apps such as iTunes, Photos, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade. Multiuser support makes it great for families.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Google Chromecast

 

The Google Chromecast is compact, portable, and straightforward to use. It even integrates your other devices such as phones, laptops, and tablets to control its functionalities. You simply tap the “cast” button on one of your apps, and the content will appear on your screen. When it comes to ease of use, the Google Chromecast is the most user-friendly streaming media player on the market.

 

 

 

 

Amazon Fire TV Stick

 

There’s no question the Fire TV Stick is a quality product. It has all the standard features such as multi-app functionality, support for major streaming apps, and live TV features. If you have any other Amazon products with Alexa, it integrates quite well with Alexa voice commands. It may not be particularly unique, but it’s a solid choice.

At Curacao, it’s our mission to make streaming media players and other home entertainment products as affordable as possible for buyers on a budget. If you need a payment plan for a media player or TV financing for a buy now pay later TV, sign up for Curacao Credit to finance these products through low, easy monthly payments!

Blog provided by The Foam Factory

Over the past decade, independent DIY musicians have been able to achieve success by recording in their home music studios. By having the right equipment and uploading their tracks to platforms such as SoundCloud and YouTube, you can develop a dedicated following and sell records from the comfort of your home. However, in the process of chasing your dreams, you may run into some unexpected obstacles.

Your neighbors may not appreciate living next to be a budding musician when a dash of inspiration hits you at 3 a.m. and you decide to record into the early morning hours. You might wish there was a way you could record whenever that perfect melody is echoing in your mind. Luckily, there’s a way you can make your room less loud to avoid the noise complaints and the unnecessary drama with your next-door neighbors.

Foam has been used for many different purposes, from package padding to aircraft cushions. Today, there is a type of foam that is designed to reduce the echo from sound waves. It is known as acoustic foam or sound proofing foam. This type of foam has wedges or grooves cut into it that change the quality of vibrations bouncing off your walls. The foam takes the amplitude of sound waves and converts them into heat. This can help increase the quality of sounds you are recording, while also dampening sounds that travel outside your walls.

As Triple Pundit contributor Randolph Hoover writes, acoustic foam will not work unless it is placed in the right area. It might be a good idea to hire an expert to help you install the acoustic foam or do some extensive research on the optimal placement of foam for soundproofing. Furthermore, be aware that acoustic foam will help dampen sounds but it will not block out sound completely. You might be satisfied with just decreasing the volume coming from your music studio, but if you want something even quieter, you can also add sound barriers and bass and broadband absorbers to increase the room’s sound absorption.

The Foam Factory has a robust selection of acoustic foams and other soundproof accessories that can ensure you’ll have no distractions or issues when making music. Don’t let anything hinder you from becoming the artist you were meant to be. Contact them today for more details on their soundproofing solutions.

Advice for Directing Actors

Article by Herb Kimble .

Summary: Want to know how to be an “actor’s” director? Here are some tips.

Actors are a curious group of coworkers because they have to do a lot of unorthodox duties as part of their jobs. Training exercises, vocal and physical stretches and being in the moment are all par for their course. As a director, and in order to be effective, you need to know how to rein those people in and use their talents to your advantage.

Be Specific

If you watch directors as the movies portray them, they say things like “no, get angry! Get real angry!” That’s textbook for now not to direct. Angry is an emotion, you become angry for a reason. It’s better to use the context of the scene to better inform the actor. Actors have to know the script as part of their job, but you can help remind them of the key moments you want to accentuate.

Listen

Ideally, scenes play out and everything is great the first take. As the director, your goal is to watch and most importantly listen to what’s happening on set. The right take isn’t just about a good shot, you need to listen to the emotion and feel on set. Ask actors to run something back if it doesn’t feel right, or even if you want a different perspective.

Don’t Yell

A screaming director eventually becomes an authority figure stripped of authority. Put another way, if you have to yell more than once a day, then you have failed to capture the attention you require. In fact, try to contain your frustrations so that if you do need to yell then it will command better attention.

This article was written by Herb Kimble. Herb Kimble is an entrepreneur who has ran multiples companies, including sales & marketing companies. Most recently he has launched Urban Flix, a streaming network that specializes in multi-cultural content and CineFocus Productions, a film production company

Article written by Herb Kimble.

Whether you are writing or directing a film, it’s important to distinguish between what is a plot or a character driven story. A story uses either plot or character to drive its action. We can think about Star Wars in terms of the action defining the plot. The characters are memorable, but the plot drives everything. Understanding the crux of why that is helps you become a better filmmaker.

A plot driven story defines what the characters go through and how it changes them. Going back to our Star Wars example, most of the characters in the film could be changed in some way without altering the film. Obviously we still need our heroes, but the script could have changed certain details about the characters and the result would be the same. The single exception to this is Luke Skywalker, but even he does not change the ongoing struggle to end the Empire’s stranglehold on the galaxy.

Any Batman film is going to be a character-driven plot, on the other hand, because the titular character must be in the film. It is an examination of Batman and his struggles, rather than an event already taking place. Another example is something like There Will Be Blood, which can seem almost devoid of plot on the first viewing. This is a highly character-driven film that studies how outside circumstances shape people.

Memorable characters can exist in plot-driven films, just as interesting plot twists can exist in character-driven films. Still, the director’s job is to find and maintain the focus of the film.

This article was written by Herb Kimble. Herb Kimble is the founder of CineFocus Productions, a film production company in Los Angeles and Urban Flix, a streaming network that specializes in multi-cultural content. For more info, about Herb Kimble, visit his Twitter.

What Does a TV Producer Do?

Article submitted by Herb Kimble.

Television producers are an integral part of a show. They tend to make important decisions regarding the overall level of production and activity that occurs on set. Different producers have different types of engagement that they are involved with. This article delves into the responsibilities that a TV producer must handle.

Anything and Everything

A television producer may provide financing for a show. Or, they may have to organize and communicate between different parties to ensure that everything is going to plan. Essentially, this type of producer must do anything and everything that he or she can, whether it be overseeing an entire show or managing live programs as they air. A TV producer can also be tasked with writing or approving scripts if needed.

Some of the duties that a producer must handle include fundraising, assessing projects, securing rights to material, seeking scripts, commissioning writers, and networking. This position requires both versatility and creativity. Those who thrive as producers also have excellent organization skills, and a head for numbers.

Coordinating as a Producer

Television producers also coordinate and supervise different aspects of a production, from the administrative to the creative side. Producers must make financial decisions and handle a variety of talents, contracts, agreements, and other administrative details. It’s a role that requires multi-tasking and a headstrong attitude when the situation gets out of hand. While most producers get a chance to plan and execute a film, they also deal with numerous troubles during the production phase.

Bio: Herb Kimble is an accomplished actor who co-founded CineFocus Productions. He was an entrepreneur who’s success has allowed him to launch the inclusive streaming service, Urban Flix from his Los Angeles studio

The News Corp. who owns the Dow Jones and Company which publishes the Wall Street Journal and Barron’s weekly business magazine among many others in the U.S. is considering a company breakup into two entities. It would separate the media giant’s underperforming newspaper business from its lucrative entertainment assets. Approximately 70 percent of the company profits come from television. The new newspaper business could include The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, The New York Post, and as many as other 175 newspapers worldwide. These publishing enterprises contributed $8.8 billion in revenue in 2011. On the other hand, the much more lucrative entertainment enterprises contributed $23.5 billion in revenue in 2011 to the media empire.

Rupert Murdoch who is the Chairman and CEO of the News Corp. built the company from a single newspaper in Adelaide, Australia into a billion dollar multi-media giant. The Murdoch family owns 40 percent of the empire and will continue to handle both parts once separated.

Rupert Murdoch’s media empire is valued at about $53 billion. A recent phone-hacking scandal at its News of the World British tabloid caused it to close the publication. It is faced with enormous financial strain and decline in print advertising revenue.

Chipmunks

Ross Bagdasarian Sr. spent $190 of his last $200 in 1958 to buy a state-of-the-art tape recorder that can playback at various speeds. He recorded “Christmas Don’t Be Late” with a fictitious group known as Chipmunks who sang with a high pitched obscure voice. The song later became the No. 1 Billboard chart, sold over four million copies and created the now famous three Chipmunks: Alvin, Simon and Theodore. Today, Chipmunks is a family owned business based in Montecito, California. Ross Bagdasarian Jr. with his wife now owns the right to the Chipmunks empire.

Over the years, Chipmunks popularity came in waves. However, Fox bought the three characters in 2007 and this resulted in creating three hit movies: Alvin and the Chipmunks, Squeakquel, and Chipwrecked. Besides the major movies, there are many other productions, a TV series, several movies on DVDs and other merchandize. The company is also exploring an idea to make a live show that can travel around the world.

The current owners are very involved with the business and tightly control the branding of Chipmunks. Once they refused a proposal to manufacture and market a sugary cereal using the brand name. The owners are also involved in several law suits to protect the brand from exploitation.