Herein are presented some productions from Unhollywood - as adapted for the Internet.  This means that they'll run in a little window, with varying degrees of degradation in both video and audio quality.  Sadly, it is therefore impossible to depict anything like the true technical quality of the original version. 

I've noticed, however, that it's still possible to get the point across in this format (so telling a good story may be more important than ever.)  And I imagine we should also be grateful for the technology that makes these Internet presentations possible at all - the files have typically been compressed at rations of over 100 to 1! 
  
Plastic Sides  

Plastic Sides (inspired kind of side-ways by the old TV series Ironside, for those who might remember it), was my first real attempt at a production.  It was shot as the final project for my Video Workshop class at Orange Coast College, being completed on May 14, 1999 ... the day it was due!  I then entered it in Orange Coast's annual film festival, where, surprisingly enough, it ended up winning the Best Comedy award.  (Well, it certainly surprised me, anyway, as I sat there in the theater and saw it listed in the program - no one had told me it won anything beforehand!) 
 
 
   
Technical Details 
 
A few details on Plastic Sides: 
 
Length: 6 minutes 
Format: Mini DV Video 
Camera: Canon XL-1 (in "frame mode" progressive scan) 
Capture Card: Canopus DV Raptor 
Editing Software: Ulead Media Studio Pro 
Cost: Several hundred dollars 

(It's difficult to be more specific about the cost.  The problem is that I spent $3800 for the XL-1; but I also, of course, intend to use it on many other projects.  Even the wheel chair used as a "prop", which I bought for $225.00, was also employed to some extent as a dolly, and was purchased rather than rented so I could go on using it this way.  So my best guess, for the video tapes and props specific for Plastic Sides, plus a share of the cost for items of large capital expenditure, would be "several hundred dollars".) 
  
Real Video  
 
You'll find the web version of Plastic Sides below in the form of Real Video files.  If you don't have a Real Player, it's a good thing to get, and it's free - just click on the link here or on the button below.  (Get the minimal version; download is faster.  If installing standard or full versions, be careful about it replacing other file associations.) 

 

 
Streaming 
 
Plastic Sides is presented in a streaming version below for 56 K connections.  Unfortunately, the technical quality is pretty dreadful (blurry picture and very jerky motion), but that's all you get at normal connection speeds.  Just click on the link, after which it will take a couple minutes to buffer, and then off you go. 

Plastic Sides - Streaming at 56 K (low quality) 
 
 
Downloading 
 
You can also download a much higher quality version of Plastic Sides (which will take an hour or so at normal connection speeds) - or you can try just the introductory part first (which will take only 3 minutes or so). 
 
To download from a Windows browser, right-click, and then choose "Save Target as..." or "Save Link as..." 
(Unfortunately I don't know the best procedure for a Mac - maybe somebody could let me in on it...) 
  
Plastic Sides Intro Only - 630 KB Download (right-click) 

Plastic Sides Complete - 9514 KB Download (right-click) 
  
  
Photo Gallery  
 
Here also is a little gallery of still photos taken during the shooting of Plastic Sides by Gary Martin, Mat Tharp, and Mark Martin.  I think you'll like them! 
  
  
Future Projects 

Hopefully future productions will soon grace this page ... stay tuned for further developments!