James Savoca

Where are the opportunities in production? Los Angeles public radio station KCRW did a story a few days ago about vertical microdramas. They highlighted a studio launched by early-career entertainment professionals after being introduced to the format early on. (Link in comments.) The comparison is being made to music videos in the 80s and 90s. A new format then where opportunities for innovative and ambitious filmmakers flourished. Takeaway: When new formats emerge, the hierarchy resets. The people who step in early, experiment, and learn the language of the medium often become the ones shaping it. #entertainment #entertainmentcareers #verticalmicrodramas Photo credit @neonboiiz at Unsplash

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The Changing Voice of the Industry: Professional Voiceover in the Age of AI In recent years, the voiceover industry has experienced a seismic shift. As artificial intelligence continues to evolve at a rapid pace, it’s natural for businesses and professionals alike to ask: What is the future of professional voiceover talent in an AI-driven world? At first glance, AI voice synthesis seems poised to disrupt traditional voiceover services. With the promise of lower costs, faster turnaround times, and 24/7 availability, synthetic voices are becoming a tempting option for companies operating in high-volume environments. However, what may initially appear as an efficient alternative often reveals its limitations when put into real-world applications. What AI still struggles to replicate is the emotional depth, cultural awareness, and creative intuition of a professional voice actor. In corporate narration, advertising, eLearning, and entertainment, tone, timing, and subtle inflection carry more weight than words alone. A professionally trained voice actor brings more than just a voice—they deliver intent, brand alignment, and audience connection. Human voiceover professionals possess an intrinsic understanding of context. They can adjust delivery based on the target audience, adapt mid-session to directorial feedback, and bring storytelling to life in a way that AI voices, while technically impressive, cannot yet authentically achieve. While AI-generated voices may offer speed, professional voice talent delivers consistency, quality, and accountability. In regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and legal, clear and precise voiceover is critical—not only for engagement but for compliance. A mispronounced term or flat intonation in these contexts isn't just a distraction—it’s a liability. More organizations are coming to recognize that while AI may suit low-stakes, high-volume applications, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. When brand reputation, emotional impact, or user experience is at stake, the decision leans heavily toward human expertise. The rise of AI should not be viewed solely as a threat to voiceover professionals, but rather as a signal of transformation. Just as digital tools redefined photography without eliminating the role of the photographer, AI will augment voiceover production—not replace it. Savvy voice artists are leveraging technology to streamline workflows, localize faster, and collaborate globally. Meanwhile, companies are learning to balance automation with authentic voice artistry. The future of the voiceover industry lies in strategic integration. Businesses that understand when to deploy AI and when to invest in human talent will find themselves best positioned to create compelling, high-performing content.

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Hi Folks, Todd‑AO has just released a new sound design tool called FX‑GEN. It’s designed to help “refresh” and expand existing sound libraries. You can read more about the philosophy behind the software here: https://lnkd.in/giRWg-JZ And here’s a short tutorial I had the pleasure of making: https://lnkd.in/gAVE37Qf

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Every child deserves access to a quality music education.  Their brains, and our communities, are better for it! A few years ago, with support from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the ANN AND GORDON GETTY FOUNDATION, I published a report called “Music for Every Child”, exploring how music training boosts attention, memory, language, creativity, and executive function. It even improves school attendance and graduation rates. Music education isn’t “extra.” It’s essential. Take a look: https://lnkd.in/gumHAM77 #MusicEducation #Neuroscience #ArtsInEducation #ChildDevelopment #SFConservatoryOfMusic #GettyFoundation

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Hollywood Heavyweights Travel To Sacramento for a $750 Million Lifeline - new article: https://lnkd.in/gDNj7imJ - plus FilmLA Wins Five-Year Contract Renewal Despite Criticism From Industry Workers - new article: https://lnkd.in/gYGkC__3 - plus The city’s complicated & expensive permitting process has received a fair amount of criticism this year amid discussions about how to revive California’s film & television industry, which has dwindled at the hands of runaway production over the last decade - new article: https://lnkd.in/ghFXqWAp

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Here is a recent project I worked on as a Crowd TD. It was quite challenging because of the huge crowds we had to create for many shots. For our workflow, we used Houdini to create the crowd, and then we exported it as USD to render it with Maya and V-Ray. A very useful technique I used to optimize the crowd was to use instances of agents instead of making each agent completely unique. It really sped up the process and lightened the caches. Let me know what you think!

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The film industry is not disappearing. It’s filtering.Vertical takes attention. AI reduces cost.The market demands speed.But real value is still measured by execution and decision-making. Those who use technology will lead. Those who fear it will fade.The industry isn’t shrinking.It’s getting smarter. 🐣

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🚀 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐔𝐍-𝐒𝐊𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄. And guess what? It wasn’t the fancy camera… It was Speed Ramping — mastered in DaVinci Resolve. ➡️ It’s all about using speed ramping to amplify motion, build rhythm, and create a cinematic flow that hooks the viewer. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝:  • The footage was clean... but flat. • After color grading? Better. • But when I added precise speed ramps on engine revs, gear shifts, and drifts… 🎯 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐌! 𝐈𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦. ✨ Speed ramping isn't a trend — it's a storytelling weapon. It’s how you direct the viewer’s eyes. It’s how you create tension. release. emotion. 𝐼𝑡’𝑠 𝑤𝘩𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝐷𝑀𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔: “𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 & 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬!” 👀 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚: • Film Director • Video Editor • VFX Artist • YouTuber or Social Media Video Creator And your videos still don’t feel cinematic enough... 👉 The issue might NOT be your camera. It might be your rhythm. Your edit pacing. Your lack of speed ramping. 💬 Drop a 🚗 if you’ve ever used speed ramping. Or tell me your biggest editing challenge in the comments 👇 I'll respond to everyone. 📢 Let’s turn your next car video into a cinematic masterpiece. I’m here if you need a second pair of eyes or color grading help. ✨ Your next-level video content is just one effect away...  Create boldly. Edit fearlessly. Stay cinematic.  – peace, love & ai 🎬 #CarEdit #DaVinciResolve #SpeedRamping #VideoEditing #CinematicEdits #VFXCommunity #YouTubeContent #ContentCreation #FilmmakerTips #VideoMarketing #AliNouri

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Filming week at the TV studio. Right now, our VFX students are in the middle of production, working on a green screen stage at the university. From here, their projects will move into post, combining traditional VFX techniques with virtual production workflows. It’s always interesting to see how ideas translate once they hit the set—and how much of the process is really defined in this stage. There’s a simple idea behind all of this: you’re only as good as your students are able to surpass you. And if that’s the case, we’re on the right track. I’m convinced that Tecnológico de Monterrey is one of the best places to learn VFX in Mexico. 🎬

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A Call for Transparent and Sustainable Artist Fees in the Arab Music Industry As the live music industry in the Arab world experiences rapid growth—with rising demand, new venues, and ambitious programming—it faces a crucial challenge: the need for clear, objective, and sustainable standards for determining artist fees based on real audience demand. Currently, many artist fees are negotiated on reputation or personal relationships rather than measurable market performance. This leads to inconsistent, often unsustainable fee structures that threaten the industry’s long-term health. Such practices create real challenges: • Difficulties in accurate budgeting and planning for promoters and venues • Increased financial risk, especially in emerging markets • Reduced profitability that can undermine the viability of live events • Barriers to developing a fair and professional music market that benefits all stakeholders Towards a More Professional Model Industry leaders are calling for a shift to data-informed pricing practices. In more mature markets, artist fees are based on clear, objective criteria such as: • Historical ticket sales in comparable markets • Venue capacity and expected sell-through rates • Ticket pricing strategies • Production costs and breakeven points • The artist’s marketing power and ability to drive sales A Message to Artists and Managers Artists and managers are encouraged to see fees as a fair reflection of real market value. Artist compensation should be based not just on negotiation, but on proven ability to draw audiences. “An artist who can sell 5,000 tickets at a fair price has greater market value than one who sells 500 at the same price.” Embracing this principle will help artists build sustainable careers, expand audiences, and strengthen negotiating power in new markets. Promoter Responsibility Promoters and producers also have a duty to support this shift by sharing ticket sales data and market insights to enable fairer, more sustainable deals. This is not about reducing artist compensation arbitrarily, but about achieving balanced agreements that reward artists while ensuring healthy margins for promoters and reinvestment in future events. A Shared Vision for the Future By adopting these principles, the Arab live music industry can: • Increase the number and quality of live shows • Build a robust artistic and commercial infrastructure • Empower artists to reach broader regional and international audiences • Attract greater regional and international investment into the entertainment sector It’s time for transparency and sustainability in artist fees. #ArabMusic #LiveEvents #FairPay #SustainableIndustr

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Proud to see how raw facial performance capture transforms into expressive digital characters APPLE ARTS STUDIOS Motion Capture Services. With 15+ years of experience, we continue delivering high-quality motion capture solutions for films, games, and virtual production. #MotionCapture #FacialCapture #VFX #Animation #VirtualProduction

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Most editors focus on transitions and effects. But the real skill lies in pacing and rhythm. A simple way to understand this: Mitchell Starc uses sheer pace to create pressure in editing, this is your quick cuts, tight timing, and urgency-driven sequences. Jasprit Bumrah relies on variation slower deliveries, pauses, unexpected rhythm. In editing, this is what builds suspense and emotional control. Strong storytelling is not just about speed. It’s about controlling viewer attention through variation. Editors who ignore pacing end up with flat videos that fail to retain attention. If you’re serious about improving your edits, start thinking like a bowler control pace, control outcome. Hashtags: #razorcutmedia #videoeditingtips #storytellingedit #editingworkflow #premiereprotips Keywords: pacing in video storytelling, editing rhythm professional, content retention editing, video pacing strategy, mitchell starc pace analogy editing, jasprit bumrah variation analogy editing, suspense timing video, editor storytelling skills, professional editing workflow, video engagement editing tips

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🎬 Bookish Knowledge vs. Practical Experience in Film Teaching 🎥 In the world of film education, not all teachers are the same. 🧠 A teacher with bookish knowledge only can explain Eisenstein’s theories of montage, quote Truffaut, and dissect cinematic movements with precision. They offer structure, vocabulary, and historical context — essential for developing a critical eye. 🎥 A teacher with only practical experience can show you how to set up a shot on location, fix lighting under pressure, work with difficult actors, or edit a scene to meet a deadline. They teach survival, adaptability, and the real pace of production. But here’s the truth: 🎓 A great film teacher blends both. They understand the theory and how to apply it. They respect the history of cinema but thrive in the chaos of a shoot. They can critique a scene like a scholar, and craft one like a director. As someone who’s both studied film at an academic level and worked hands-on in the field — from directing promos to editing feature films — I believe the best classrooms are where theory meets practice. Because filmmaking isn’t just learned in books. And it isn’t just learned on set. It’s learned when both worlds come together. #FilmEducation #Filmmaking #Teaching #Cinema #FilmStudies #FilmSchool #CreativeEducation #TheoryAndPractice #FilmTeacher #AcademicVsPractical

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Desert View Records has completed structural organization of our YouTube catalog to improve professional review and licensing workflow. Our library is now segmented into three clear listening pipelines: • Official Vocal Masters • Instrumental Versions • A Cappella Collection This structure allows producers, editors, creative directors, and supervisors to quickly evaluate music based on project requirements. All titles are professionally produced, rights-managed, and administered through YouTube Content ID. Desert View Records operates under a one-stop licensing model to ensure streamlined clearance and usage compliance. Official Vocal Releases: https://lnkd.in/gGkh92tZ Licensing inquiries: mjrizzio@desertviewrecords.com Desert View Records LLC Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

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Modern Mythology Episode 25 explores the Cypher System through a fantasy lens with guest SJ McKean, covering universal RPG design, narrative mechanics, and flexible storytelling.

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No cap. Bravo to candidates getting in front of this issue, but the courage to outline a solution is what changes the landscape. No cap.

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It’s time for Freeway’s next video 📺, about paying US Guild Residuals to members of SAG-AFTRA, DGA and WGA, using a Collection Account.👇   🤔 What are Guild Residuals and how does a Collection Account with Freeway make sure that Independent Film Producers pay Residuals correctly?   ➡️ Residuals are additional compensation payments which may become due and payable by the Production Company to Actors, Directors and Screenwriters, under the Basic Agreements.   ➡️ Residuals may become due when a Film is exhibited, distributed, or otherwise exploited, domestically and/or internationally, beyond its initial theatrical exhibition.   ➡️ This can include pay and free TV, home video and DVD, streaming and new media.   🧐 How are Guild Residuals calculated and paid?   ➡️ Guild Residuals are payable on worldwide revenues.   ➡️ The Production Company will set up a Collection Account with Freeway as neutral third party Collection Account Manager (CAM) to manage the receipt, administration and allocation of revenues.   ➡️ The Production Company and the Sales Agent will instruct the local buyers or Distributors, to pay revenues due under the Film’s Distribution Agreements, into the Collection Account.   ➡️ Freeway sets aside, off the top and from every dollar received in the Collection Account, a fixed percentage which goes to a Residuals-Set-Aside.   ➡️ A Payroll House, appointed by the Production Company, will calculate the exact amounts of Residuals payable, based on information like worldwide revenue reports and the Film’s media allocation.   ➡️ Freeway is periodically notified by the Payroll House of the exact amounts of Residuals payable. Each time the CAM receives an invoice from the Payroll House, Freeway pays the total amount of Residuals payable from the Residuals-Set-Aside to the Payroll House. ▶️ The Payroll House will then cut the checks and pay each Guild Member individually. 👉 Do you have US Guild Members in your Film, and do you want to know more about paying Residuals through a Collection Account with Freeway? ✅ Contact Freeway Entertainment Group or visit the website: https://lnkd.in/gu_dXThz.

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