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I'll be coming to Los Angeles to see the Lucas museum this winter. I'll also visit the Space museum and perhaps the Natural history museum. I'm thinking of going to Dante's in Beverly Hills for the "I paid too much for dinner" experience. I lived in Los Angeles 30 years ago. So I've seen and...

Here is my annual update to show you what retirement is like. Normally, the wife and I take social security ($60k) and $20,000 from our IRAs to live on (Total, $80K). What we did differently this year is that instead of taking money from the IRA, I took money from a savings account. So our...

The giant tax loophole for seniors continues. For 2024, we had an income of $84,000. $58k of Social Security and $26k of IRA withdrawal. The federal tax on the $84,000 was $121. That's right, 0.1% tax rate. We did feel the effects of inflation just a bit this year. We did contemplate pulling...

Project Farm released new test results for one-use and rechargable batteries today. This guy is a treasure.

Like you, I'm curious about those Viviana RF whip antenna savers. We all have learned from Larry of Lectrosonics that when the whip antenna rests against the talent's skin, it affects RF performance. Along comes Viviana with a solution. But I've found nothing about it's performance. It helps...

Here is a short I shot in January - March. Five days of shooting, five scenes, 3 locations, 16 pages, 19 minutes. I spent five months on post. I like to do everything myself. No, let's correct that. I'm a control freak when it comes to my movie and I just don't know how to let someone else do...

Lucasfilm held an annual meeting for all employees. It was held in the Stag Theater at Skywalker Sound. Each division made a little video that was presented at the meeting. Each video was to promote the division. I made the one for Skywalker Sound. I used a Hi-8 camera and was on my own to make...

Peter C. asked: "How does the asphalt heater work? I’ve got a large blow torch that attaches to a gas grill propane tank. I’ve thought about heating the cracks so the asphalt would melt and fill in cracks. I’m thinking that you can’t re heat old asphalt." You can re-heat old asphalt. It is a...

I finished my short and it's just now I'm thinking I should have asked this question before struggling with skin color. I had four scenes at four locations; two outdoors, two indoors, all night scenes. All the scenes were lit with Aputure 100d with CTO and Sony FX6. Same Gaffer and DP for all...

In another thread, Doug was lamenting the fact that he has to pay SS taxes and wishes he could have the money himself to invest on his own. I wondered what the outcome would be. I moved my response to the Cafe for general interest. Well, let's have a look and see what really happens with...

The IATSE contract expires in 10 days. IATSE "has repeatedly stated it does not intend to grant an extension." (Variety). I suppose that means an immediate vote to strike on July 1st if the talks don't provide an agreement over the next 4 scheduled days of meetings. Talks have ended, but...

Picking up where I left off in my "Roth IRA, a really stupid idea" thread, here is the update on our 2023 tax return that may help you understand what retirement is like. It's a whole lot better than you might imagine. For 2023, our income was $78k. That's $56k of social security, $20k IRA...

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Right on the heels of the DGA, WGA, and SAG negotiations and strikes comes the first week of IATSE contract negotiations. The contract expires July 1. You would think 4 months would be enough. But it isn't. Last time, things dragged out to October. Here's hoping Charles has successfully set up...

Boy Howdy! Here come the Oscars! I can't wait to see how dignified and glamorous this years awards will be. Everyone that is any one will be sure to slowly parade along the red carpet. High fashion dress, coiffed to perfection. Then, once inside, we can expect a new level of honor. After all...

I'm watching the 49ers/Lions game. The action came to the sideline right to a Fox cameraman with his camera on a tripod at ground level. The action gets too close and so he got up off his knees and grabbed the camera and backed away. Behind him was a man and woman with green Fox vests. She had a...

Atomos had a tough year. The annual report says that on a revenue of $42 million they lost $61 million vs a loss of $10 million the previous year.

So I'm getting an itch to spend some real folding money to make a movie. If I find the right project, it's a go. It's all about having some fun in my retirement and letting others have some fun also. Here's the basic premise - spend up to $100,000 making a movie. The money is sitting there so...