The Truth About Hollywood Film Schools

So you want to be the next Spielberg or Peter Jackson or maybe just Oren Peli, who directed the hit "Paranormal Activity" for under fifteen thousand dollars. It makes sense to consider Los Angeles film schools because most of the industry is right here. But the most important question you have to ask yourself is: how much are you willing to shell out?

USC is the most famous of the film schools in the metropolis, with alums like George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, Judd Apatow and Bryan Singer. The cost for just two semesters? More than thirty thousand dollars, not including supplies or room and board, as per the USC website. Come to think of it, that would be the cost of two Paranormal Activities! They do have great professorsÖ but some classes can have hundreds of students in them.

The American Film Institute is another renowned Los Angeles film school. Tuition for one year alone is roughly forty thousand dollars, as per their estimates. For some people, that amount is nothing compared to the fact that you would have the reputation of graduating from the same school where Darren Aronofsky, Ed Zwick and Terrence Malick came from. But then again, there may not be sufficient space for one-on-one activities with a class size of over a hundred.

UCLA costs a meager six thousand annually if you're a California resident, but if you're not, it's over twenty thousand. Even though you'll be under the instruction of such luminaries as Peter Guber and Joe Roth, classes are still so big.

Another notable school that offers an undergraduate degree on film and television is Loyola Marymount. Their fee is around USD 34,000 a year. Student-teacher ratio is ideal, around thirteen-is-to-one.

Now there is the Los Angeles Film School, founded in 1999. It has featured guest speakers such as Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody. Cost: over $41,000, with a student body of 595. A recent graduate co-directed the feature film "Gamer" starring Gerard Butler.

While the programs provided by these reputable schools are equally prestigious, they still follow the typical classroom setup. None of them offer true one-on-one mentors where a student can observe a professional at work regularly and learn on the job.

Women in Film looks like a promising academy but searching the internet proved to be futile - there were no success stories associated with their program.

CBS, fascinatingly, offers a mentor program (in fact, they offer two mentors) for television writing. One of the mentors is a senior-level writer for one of current drama or comedy series of CBS. Over the course of the program, the participant gathers creative feedback on their writing as well as tips on their career objectives. The other mentor is a CBS network or studio executive with whom they meet regularly to discuss their work, get feedback and also get support in furthering their career. This course and the Women in Film program are both free to participants.

It seems like Los Angeles film schools are missing out on a great opportunity - if they offered such one-on-one mentoring programs, there would probably be a lot more stories of great achievements from their students.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Video Games - The Advantages and Disadvantages

The CBS recently carried a report mentioning the vexed and very controversial subject of whether video games can harm kids or not. Given the problems that ADHD kids have with inattention, this is particularly relevant when we have to consider the question of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and video games.

The report which was published in Pediatrics also covers the difficult question of watching TV and other media. This report was about a twelve month study carried out by The Iowa State University. The researchers found that those children who had been watching video games for more than two hours were reported to be having attention problems in the classroom and at home. Usually parenting organisations and other experts recommend that the time limited to this media should not exceed two hours a day. The more time the children spent on video games, the more attention problems they had at school. As we can imagine the implications for ADHD kids are enormous.

It would seem that this is a problem which will have to be addressed, especially when we consider that most entertainment and even learning now is based on screen technology. Every child in the country is glued to some sort of screen. What a pity they have not got their heads in a book!

There are other problems connected with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and video games in that there is a definite risk of addiction. Try telling a kid to stop playing and the reply will be that he does not want to lose the level he has already reached. There will probably be hostility and aggression present as well. The dangers are there of addiction and social isolation.

I know of one ADHD kid who played the Diablo 2 war game every day for two years and gained 170 lbs! What a waste of energy! Kids are losing out on outdoor activities which can get rid of pent up energy for hyperactivity whereas video games can shut the kid into a doubtful, violent and fast moving world which is light years from the reality of school and home life.

There are some advantages of course in being able to be quick and expert at these games. For example hand-eye coordination can be enormously improved. I know one family who bought the game 'Rock Band' and their kids are limited in its use but they have gone on to actually start learning the guitar and drums.

Other research done by NASA suggests that video games can actually improve focus and attention and control. The fact that they can get short term rewards can apparently stimulate the dopamine brain transmitter which is important for motivation. The research was done to test astronauts' attention levels on long space trips. Obviously more research needs to be done especially in the area of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and video games.

So there we have it. Every parent will have to decide how much gaming and computer time is right for their children. Moderation and a wide variety of different activities is probably the best approach. I would hate my kid to be a slave to a war game!

Diablo 3 - The Adventure Will Soon Be Upon Us

Anyone who has walked the realm of the first two Diablo saga's knows that the soon to be released Diablo 3 will be the complete adventure of role-playing adventure. From the cutting edge graphics to the suspense filled story line, D3 is a complex non-linear RPG packed with hours of challenging fun. For the D&D lovers of old, this is the next evolutionary step,brought straight to your monitor.

The jist of this latest version is of course to confront and defeat Diablo, which promises to be no easy task. There are five total characters at the gamers disposal, each with their own unique ability. Solve challenging tasks,explore and learn from your environment,defeat the bad-ass foes that stand in your way in a whirlwind of bloodshed to level up. Confront the brothers evil of Diablo,Baal and Mephisto, to earn your place in the annals of war!

Along the way your character will meet many NPC's that will assign the player quests and send you well on your way to gaining the necessary experience needed to face something as terrible as the Diablo. The types of quests are similar to those of the second Diablo but D3 uses an enhanced user interface and added chat codes. If you thought the either of the first two installment of this series were addicting, wait until you load up this version! Powerful weapons are aplenty waiting to be discovered and the magic abilities unique to each class make the user wonder why we were cursed to live here in our nine to five world and not defeating the horrors of the underworld.

An exact date has yet to be determined from the team at Blizzard but we are getting close my friends. If you have yet to play either of the first two Diablo quests, go out and purchase them now. You will not regret it. For those of us that have played, patience, D3 will be upon us shortly. We can lock ourselves in front of the monitor for hours at a time and slowly but surely strengthen our characters until it's time for the final confrontation!

Remember the People Who Got You Where You Are

I was watching a tech show recently that was doing some video game reviews. Something they mentioned was a recent complaint being raised by many fans of a series called Diablo.

The company that makes this series of games, Blizzard, recently released a lot of information on the third game in the series set to be released some time in the near future. They showed a trailer of the new game to showcase all of the differences between the new one and the one that came before it.

The problem arose from a core group of people who loved the first two games and felt that Blizzard was abandoning them with the new game. How were they doing this? The style of the first games were very dark and gothic, while the new one was far brighter and friendly looking. It appears as if the company is trying to reach a broader audience by lightening the overall look of the game, something fans of the earlier games are displeased with. In fact, they currently have an online petition they're going to send to the company with thirty thousand signatures on it already.

What's the lesson here? These people are hurt by the fact that they feel the company doesn't care about them anymore. They're some of the people who helped make the company into the giant that it is by supporting the earlier games when they weren't as well known. Now that the company is big these people are having their opinions ignored in favor of something that will appeal more to the general public.

Whenever you release something new there is always going to be the risk that you alienate your loyal customers if you don't give them the attention they need. When you use color printing to send out those advertisements you may be met with a backlash from the people you thought were going to support you the most if you take that support for granted.

It's easy to lose sight of the people who are already shopping with you because most companies focus their color printing on getting new customers. Why would you advertise to people who are already giving you plenty of business?

Too often this ends up losing a company more business than they bring in with new customers. If your company is small enough you may find that every sale is going to be important to you and every customer will be highly valued.

In a case like this you need to be extra careful about never forgetting that the people who are loyal to you are the ones that helped establish you in the marketplace to begin with. These are the people you need to be rewarding, not ignoring.

Even major companies like Blizzard can suffer from this problem if they aren't careful. What kind of long term affect this will have on the company remains to be seen, but odds are good if they keep ignoring their loyal customers, they might end up losing as many customers as they gain. Don't let this happen to your company.

Diablo - Lachdanan (Diablo 1)

This is the story and lore behind Diablo's "Lachdanan", the quest itself and what the townsfolk had to say about it. I plan to do this for all of the Diablo and Diablo 2 quests. I'd like to add that level 15 of hell in this particular game was filled with absolutely nothing but Succubi. Possibly the most annoying possible circumstances for a warrior.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4c5mSudwxU&hl=en

Jamis Mountain Bikes

The story behind Jamis Mountain bikes is one of passion, commitment, inspiration and perfection. In short it's a story of great men and women dedicated to build a perfect bicycle. In fact, what is Today a national powerhouse distributing globally, started out in 1937 as a humble local distributor of imported European bicycles and their parts. Today, GJC is one of the largest and oldest bicycle companies.

GJC acquired Jamis mountain bikes in the year 1990 and since then it has been improving. Notably, the then bunch delivered in Dakar in early 1990's for racing. This were no gimmicks, no compromise and no nonsense designs that were custom built and ready to race.

Dual-suspended Diablo, is another type that has been sensational to the fans worldwide. Made of monocoque frame molded of carbon fiber, it has remained the first of it kind. At the pick of carbon fiber, a Xenith series of road bikes were introduced and as if not enough, the XC Expert and Dakar XC Pro featured the lightweight carbon bell-cranks and seat stays.

Good things always last and so will good history in the making. With Jamis mountain bikes, it's not yet done and actually the history is still in the making. With the newly redesigned carbon fiber Xenith series, things couldn't be any better. They are a major hit and in fact many professional racers are already proclaiming it's the best for racing. The frame is designed with stiffness, comfort and light weight well balanced. As if all this is not enough, the New MP3 suspension that is even lighter, stiffer and more efficient is destined to be introduced this year.

5 Places to Visit in San Salvador Part 2

There are so many things to do in San Salvador. The options are really endless, but I've come up with 5 more must-see places that are sure to make your San Salvador visit more complete.

The options below are well suited for families travelling together and for those travelling alone; be sure to take them into account when planning your next visit.

1) Tin Marín Children's Museum: This museum caters especially to children and was designed to make learning fun as it touches on different academic areas in fun and interesting ways.

The museum has an airplane that children can board and take turns at piloting, it also has a planetarium where children can look at the nearby constellations using the telescope. The grocery store also helps children with everyday areas of life like health and nutrition. Tin Marin museum also has a section dedicated specially to pre-school children.

The museum is located in Cuscatlán Park (San Salvador's landmark urban park); they have guided tours Tuesday to Friday from 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm and weekends from 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 6pm. General admission is $2.00; Planetarium admission is $1.00 or you can opt for the "combo admission" for $2.50 which includes access to the Planetarium.

2) Puerta del Diablo (Devil's Door): It is a lookout point on the southern side of San Salvador. Its rocky formation came from heavy rains in the 1700's. Be sure to bring your camera, to capture some of the spectacular views; the adventurous visitors can even try rappelling down the hills. Puerta del Diablo is located on the Southeast of San Salvador, 1 km south of Balboa Park in the suburban area of Los Planes de Renderos. Great for those who love nature!

It was given its name due to its unique formation: 2 large boulders that come out from an "abyss" that cuts right through the mountain. This makes it seem like a gigantic door with a spectacular view in the background. From Puerta del Diablo the coastline is visible as well as the Ilopango Lake, the Panchimalco village (a native's village) and the twin-peaked Chinchontepec volcano in the department of San Vicente towards the east of the country.

3) Panchimalco: This is an indigenous village also on the south of San Salvador at an altitude of about 600m asl. The local church dates back to the colonial times of 1725; this village also celebrates a flower festival during the month of May. Panchimalco of pre-Colombian origin is one of the few places left in El Salvador where the women can be seen in their native dress as they go about their day to day business.

It is definitely an interesting place to visit to get a feeling of how villages were built around the time of the conquistadors. It is located on km 17 of the road that leads to Rosario de Moya, but to get there, one must get to Los Planes de Renderos first and from there head to Panchimalco it is only a few more minutes.

4) Cihuatán Ruins: Now stepping back even further in the time line, a visit to the Cihuatán Ruins Archaeological Park is a great experience. They're the largest ruins discovered in El Salvador and are located about 36 km northeast of San Salvador - about 30 minute drive; near the town of Aguilares. It is open Tuesday to Sunday 9am - 4pm; admission is $3.00 and $1.00 for on-site parking.

Many of the artifacts that have been found here are displayed on the on-site museum and visitors can also learn about the history of the people who lived there and how much they liked playing the ball game, which can be compared to modern day soccer.

5) Museum of Popular Art: This museum, with its interesting slogan, "The Greatness of Miniature", specializes in the area of miniature pottery and it focuses on popular art and traditions of El Salvador.

The Museum of Popular Art in El Salvador also showcases other forms of art such as wood carving, weaving and jewelry making from many other Salvadorean artists. The museum is located on Avenida San José, unit #125 in Colonia Centroamerica, San Salvador. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm. General admission is $1.00 and it includes the option of making a small clay piece.