News Archive

Video Portfolio

The Latest News and Tidbits

Anne Hathaway and Justin Timberlake Filming at the Hasty Pudding

Anne Hathaway and Justin Timberlake will be roasted at the Hasty Pudding's Woman and Man of the Year Roasts at Harvard University. Charles River Media Group will be there to film it all. We're also be doing a multi-camera shoot of the Hasty Pudding theatrical show this year and have DVDs on sale. For more information on the roasts and show visit http://www.hastypudding.org/

Anne Hathaway Justin Timberlake

Political Week! TV Spots, Documentaries, and More

Last Week was CRMG's Political Week!

We shot a commercial for a candidate for Mayor of Boston as well as documentary style footage and TV spots for a Democratic candidate for the US Senate. This week will include extensive filming for a major pharmaceutical company...

democrat

Blu-Ray Authoring and Anime

Charles River Media Group Just delivered 2 custom made Blu-Ray DVDs for an exhibit at the Tisch Art Gallery for "Sacred Monsters: Everyday Animism in Contemporary Japanese Art and Anime" running from September 10 - November 22, 2009.

anime

Sacred Monsters: Everyday Animism in Contemporary Japanese Art and Anime
September 10 - November 22, 2009
Tisch Gallery
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 17, 5:30–8:00 pm

Participating Artists: Chiho Aoshima / Nobuhiro Ishihara / Kenjiro Kitade / Mahomi Kunikata / Tomokazu Matsuyama / Mr. / Oscar Oiwa / TOKYO KAMEN

This exhibition examines representations of mythical spirits, gods, monsters, and other mutant, sentient beings in contemporary Japanese art and film as expressions of animist belief through the work of eight emerging and mid-career artists. The theme is also explored through a complementary program of continuous anime screenings presented in the Gallery.

Many contemporary Japanese visual artists and animators incorporate animist beliefs in their work as cultural rather than religious expression. A shared iconography connects the artists and anime included in this exhibition, ranging from kami (gods) to yokai (monsters), sentient and non-sentient beings with supernatural powers, and hybrid mythical creatures. These traditionally Japanese representations - visible, tangible, and ubiquitous - actively dissolve boundaries between the living and the dead, the human and non-human realms.

Chiho Aoshima's anime-inspired work evokes a gothic realm of spirits and monsters that are neither anthropomorphic things or animals nor distorted, grotesque humans. Aoshima's beings continually change forms but are frozen, like stills from animated films. A visit to the ancient Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan, at night sparked painter Nobuhiro Ishihara's interest in investigating the legend of the deer-messenger. He reimagines the folkloric spirit as a wise but tormented kami. Kenjiro Kitade's earthenware sculptures symbolize a premature, foreboding intelligence of environmental disaster that feels simultaneously futuristic and nostalgic. Mahomi Kunikata paints scenes grounded in Japan's traditional culture of matsuri. Her manga-esque drawing style and big-eyed characters are pastiches of contemporary and traditional social references. Tomokazu Matsuyama
re-presents the mythical creature known in Japan as the kirin. Japanese art has depicted this powerful yet peaceful beast as having the attributes of a deer, a dragon, and a unicorn. Mr. created an anime-inspired doll head with an aperture through which viewers encounter a miniature dollhouse inside the hollowed-out head. Oscar Oiwa's paintings compose strangely unpopulated cityscapes that are nevertheless animated by mysterious, unseen forces. Tunnels and passageways beckon us to foreboding realms we can only imagine. Finally, fashion design duo TOKYO KAMEN (Tokyo Mask) have created a troupe of five life-size "monster dolls" made of brightly colored fake fur and decorative materials.

Continous Screenings:
Akira, 1988, Katsuhiro Otomo
Beautiful Dreamer, 1984, Mamoru Oshii
Ghost in the Shell II: Innocence, 2004, Mamoru Oshii
My Neighbor Totoro, 1998, Hayao Miyazaki
Paprika, 2006, Satoshi Kon
Princess Mononoke, 1997, Hayao Miyazaki
Spirited Away, 2001, Hayao Miyazaki
The Grudge (Ju-on), 2002, Takashi Shimizu

CRMG in the foothills of the pyrennées

"I couldn’t believe it when the DVD arrived... we were REALLY isolated, in the foothills of the pyrennées – completely cut off from the modern world – and then this little truck comes up the dirt track with your packet!" - A CRMG client

CRMG recently created the NTSC DVD version of "One Minute More. " This work included a PAL to NTSC conversion, custom menus, random play, and over 60 customized "stories."

One Minute More

Filling in for ESPN

Charles River Media Group filled in for an ESPN crew for "Outside the Lines" yesterday.

The piece is a profile on the NFL Players Association's new executive director, DeMaurice Smith. We fimed location footage of a baseball camp sponsored by Reebok along with coonversations with Mr. Smith and Husky Coach Neil McPhee.

CRMG commercial now online--and in 20 million households

CRMG produced this spot for Findtoto.com and National TV Spots. The 30 second commercial will also premiere on television in approximately 20 million households in the beginning of July.

"A Good Whack" premieres at the ReelheART International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada

"A Good Whack - The Making of 'Tonya and Nancy: The Opera' " premiered at the ReelheART International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada on June 23, 2009. This short documentary is now on sale at CreateSpace and Amazon.com.

An excerpt from eyeweekly.com:

Still, ReelHeART’s 129 entries certainly aren’t lacking variety. Animated short subjects like Flora’s Fancy Free and Larry and RozUp-like “three and a half minute glimpse into one couple’s six decade relationship”) offer unique and beautiful visual syles. Lovers in a Dangerous Time (winner of Best Canadian Film at the 2009 Okanagan Film Festival) promises Little Miss Sunshine-style indie quirk as two childhood friends are reunited at their high school anniversary. The documentary Art in the Face of War chronicles how WWII vets used art for journalistic purposes and psychological comfort. Oh, and there’s also something called A Good Whack: The Making of Tonya and Nancy — The Opera. The poster features a bloody skate and advertises a guest appearance by Tonya Harding herself. Wow.

reelheart posters

Tribeca Film Festival 2009

Here's some pictures from the Tribeca Film Festival 2009.

CRMG was hired by Director Barry Ptolemy to be the 2nd Unit Crew for "Transcendent Man" - a documentary about inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil. This feature length documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.

2nd Unit included:
Don Schechter, 2nd Unit Director

Bruce Petschek, 2nd Unit Director of Photography

Trevor Chamberlain, 2nd Unit Camera

Chrissy Farrel, 2nd Unit Sound

Liz Jones, 2nd Unit Production Assistant

Don at tribeca

tribeca logo

Updated Video!

We have updated the video on our home page with new video clips and pictures. Check it out!

http://www.charlesrivermedia.com

"Transcendent Man" Premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival!

"Transcendent Man," directed by Robert Barry Ptolemy, will premiere at the Worldwide Documentary Competition at the Tribeca Film Festival. In 2008, Charles River Media Group founder Don Schechter directed the 2nd Unit crew (comprised of CRMG members including Bruce Petschek and Trevor Chamberlain) for this film. You can check out the trailer here .

http://www.charlesrivermedia.com

"A Good Whack" Premieres at RHIFF

A Good Whack: The Making of "Tonya and Nancy: The Opera"

On May 2nd, 2006, "Tonya and Nancy: The Opera" premiered in Boston, MA. Before a single note was ever written, this opera received worldwide press coverage. MSNBC, ESPN, the AP, BBC, CBC, Good Morning America, and Jimmy Kimmel Live, were all racing for coverage. What was it about this work by an unknown composer and an erotic fiction writer that caused so much controversy? With all this media scrutiny, a tiny budget, a host of inexperienced performers, and one week to put it all together, would the opera meet expectations? Would the producers, performers, and director crack under the pressure?

These are just some of the questions "A Good Whack - The Making of 'Tonya and Nancy: The Opera'" explores during the opera's journey across the country.

...and Tonya Harding herself weighs in...

A Good Whack image A Scandal That Endures....and the Opera that Celebrates it...

Title #263400
Format: DVD-R

http://www.charlesrivermedia.com

Renee Zellweger, James Franco, and The Hasty Pudding

Charles River Media Group filmed The Hasty Pudding Man of the Year, Women of the Year, and the HPT161 performance at Harvard University. This year's roasted celebrities were actress Renee Zellweger (Cold Mountain) and actor James Franco (Milk). CRMG provided coverage of the roast for the organization as well as provided the press pool feed.

hpt small renee franco

http://www.charlesrivermedia.com

2008 Wrapup and 2009

After a productive summer (see previous posts) we finished 2008 on a high note. We continued our relationship with Ptolemaic Productions (a CA based company) and became the official 2nd Unit Crew for "Transcendent Man ." We also finished up the documentary "A Good Whack- The Making of Tonya and Nancy: The Opera." Other new and returning CRMG entertainment and corporate clients included 1800TVCrews, EQAL, Maged and Rost Law Firm, Deiterlein Worldwide, Centennial Farms, Pearson, "The Banjo Project," Tufts University, Holy Cross GOST, Hellenic College, and Harvard Univerisity. CRMG filmed also filmed an iPhone application commercial for Viximo in collaboration with designer Chanel and began the first of many expected national television commercials for National TV Spots.

2009 is shaping up to be an exciting year. Charles River Media Group recently filmed Michael Flaherty's announcement for candidacy for Mayor of Boston in collaboration with the D.C. based political media consulting firm Dixon Davis Media Group. We also wrapped up work for the Massachusetts School Building Authority. CRMG is excited to annouce that Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Awards (Man of the Year, Women of the Year, and Theatrical Performance) will be exclusive filmed (and provided to the national press pool truck) by CRMG in February.

montage

http://www.charlesrivermedia.com

Filming at Fenway Park

Charles River Media Group was hired by Kurzweil Technologies to film Sonya Kurzweil throwing out the first pitch on June 6, 2008. We filmed from the Green Monster, the Budweiser Roof Deck, and the field itself. We were also graced with the presence of Wally The Green Monster. Check out all our photos at http://www.charlesrivermedia.com/redsox

don at fenway

don and trevor

Don Filming

Don Green Monster

manny

Ben Fenway

trevor fenway

Canvas DVD Now on Sale

One year ago, CRMG filmed Joey "Pants" Pantoliano (Sopranos, The Matrix) at a screening of "Canvas" for the special features section of the DVD. The movie, starring Joey Pantoliano and Marcia Gay Harden, is now on sale at Amazon .

For more information on the film, visit canvasthefilm.com .

Tom Brokaw

We had the honor of filming Tom Brokaw for a short period on April 14, 2008 for an upcoming project - a Tribute to Neal Shapiro. Brokaw was in Boston speaking at an Edward R. Murrow Symposium at Tufts University and we filmed him prior to the event. Check out our production stills for a quick look.

3 Days, 3 New Clients

Charles River Media Group is proud to work with three new clients, three days in a row.

4/25/08 - CRMG is shooting and editing a High Definition introduction to be shown in Portugal for RSA, The Security Division of EMC. RSA is the premier provider of security solutions for business acceleration. As the chosen security partner of more than 90 percent of the Fortune 500, RSA helps the world's leading organizations succeed by solving their most complex and sensitive security challenges.

4/26/08 - CRMG is sending 3 cameras to shoot a hearing for Congressman William Delhant from the 10th District of Massachusetts.

4/27/08 - CRMG is shooting High Definition interviews for Pearson. Pearson is an international media company with world-leading businesses in education, business information, and consumer publishing.

Telly Award Winner for Cinematography, Use of HD, and Nature/Wildlife

Charles River Media Group just won three new Telly Awards in the following categories: Videography/Cinematography, Nature/Wildlife, and Use of HD.

"Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards are the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. The Telly Awards annually showcase the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. The Telly Awards is a widely known and highly respected national and international competition and recieves over 14,000 entries annually from all 50 states and many foreign countries."

HD Advanced Technologies Lab Video Online

CRMG wrapped up our promo for the Advanced Technologies Laboratory at Tufts University. This HD video was displayed to the Trustees of the University on a 14'x8' high-resolution display. You can check it out in our high definition section .

"Soft Robots" in High Definition

Charles River Media Group has just completed our first 1920x1080p (true high definition) corporate film for the Advanced Technologies Laboratory at Tufts University. This film highlights the innovate work being done on "soft-bodied robots" - technology based on caterpillars. It's a fascinating video and will serve as a good demonstration of our new high-end HD capabilities.

"Transcendent Man" - Filming Ray Kurzweil

CRMG filmed inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil for the upcoming documentary "Transcendent Man " for Ptolemaic Productions based in California. We spent two days following Mr. Kurzweil around as his announced new products for the blind for Kurzweil Technologies, showcased his upcoming moive, and discussed his controversial vision of the future. Expect "Transcendent Man" to include interviewes with William Shatner, Ed. Ed Begley Jr., Alan M. Dershowitz and many more. The film will also feature Walter Cronkite, Chuck Missler, Stevie Wonder, Jack Welch, and Colin Powell. CRMG looks forward to future collaborations with Ptoelmaic Productions.

The Biggest HDTV Around...

Charles River Media Group is producing a "sizzle video" for the "Tufts Center for Scientific Visualization." This High Definition video combines interviews, animation, and location footage involving this 14'x8' high-resolution display.

End of the Year Blitz!

The end of 2007 saw a blitz of production and post-production work. CRMG filmed concerts at the usual locations including Tufts, Babson, and Harvard as well as added The Conservatory Lab Charter School and St. Peter's School to our client list. We wrapped up the final videos for About.com for the year (We produced literally hundreds of short tutorials on cooking and computing this year.) CRMG also wrapped up work for individuals including weddings and lectures while putting the finishing touches on our new website and getting acquainted with our new High Definition capabiltiies.

MIXX Expo, Sept. 2007

CRMG is headed back to New York to shoot the next round of interviews at the Interactive Advertisers Bureau's MIXX Expo. Keynote speakers at the event include Charlie Rose, Seth Godin, and John D. Hayes.

Houghton Mifflin, July 2007

CRMG was contracted to create a learning video for elementary education called Readers' Theater used to teach history.

New Balance, July 2007

Following the success of the initial training video we produced for New Balance, CRMG produced a promotional video to be shown kiosks in New Balance stores.

Interactive Advertiser's Bureau, June 2007

After a successful trip to the IAB conference in Chicago, CRMG has completed a second series of interviews at the IAB conference on digital video at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. This project is a joint venture between About.com, Brightcove, and the Interactive Advertiser's Bureau. We will be heading back to New York City in September for more interviews.

New Balance, June 2007

Immediately following our move to our new location, we began work producing a 25 minute training video for all of New Balance stores in the U.S. and Canada. A six-person crew carted out all the equipment from the crane to the teleprompter to produce this video with New Balance's Visual Merchandiser.

We've Moved! May 2007

Charles River Media Group is now located at 111 Marion St. Brookline MA 02446! Coolidge Corner is a great location right outside of downtown Boston and easily accessible by car and public transportation.

Metacafe, May 2007

CRMG is proud to announce a new client - Metacafe. CRMG is producing dozens of video tutorials on video editing for their client base.

Joey "Pants," April 2007

When Joey "Pants" Pantoliano (Sopranos, The Matrix) came to Boston for an advance screening of his independent film "Canvas," we were there to film the behind the scenes footage for the DVD special features. For more information on the film, visit canvasthefilm.com

H&R G&SP 50th Anniversary, January 2007

The Harvard Radcliffe Gilbert & Sullivan Players, a repeat client of CRMG, commissioned us to produce a 2 DVD set of their 50th Anniversary Celebration weekend. The DVD set included an entertaining mix of performances, toasts, master classes and even a grand Victorian ball.

NY Times/About.com Milestone July 2006

Charles River Media Group reached a milestone by producing over 50 online video tutorials for About.com, a New York Times owned company. These "how-to" videos cover many topics ranging from food preparation to software tutorials. Many more are on the way!

CRMG documentary on MSNBC, May 2006

Footage from CRMG's documentary "A Good Whack - The Making of Tonya and Nancy: The Opera" was recently shown on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Look for CRMG video and audio content of this event on the BBC, CBC, Sirius, and more. Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel Live recently requested footage. The Associated Press wrote a story on the opera you can view here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12594915/

Celebrating a Great News Man, April 2006

CRMG just finished a tribute piece for David Burke, former president of CBS News, to be shown prior to an Edward R. Murrow Symposium sponsored by Tufts University. CRMG worked closely with former NBC News president Neal Shapiro to edit this 12 minute video. Interviews included Ted Koppel, Dan Rather, Leslie Stahl, Senator Kennedy, Gov. Cuomo, and Tim Russert.

More About.com Videos on the Way, March 2006

After the success of our videos on alternative medicine for About.com, CRMG has been contracted to produce 20 three minute clips each month! These videos will cover topics ranging from computer skills to CPR.

Our Intern's Emmy Award, Feb. 2006

CRMG intern Phillip Martin recieved third place inthe College Emmy awards in LA. Phil's film on alternative energy called "From the Fryer to the Freeway" was an assignment for the class "Producing Films for Social Change" co-taught by CRMG President, Don Schechter at Tufts University. Congrats Phil!

Gilbert & Sullivan Players and American Repertory Theater, Dec. 2005

Charles River Media Group began a collaboration with Harvard University by producing multicamera shoots of plays at the American Repertory Theater (Slavs!) and for the Gilbert and Sullivan Players (Ruddigore, or the Witch's Curse.)

CRMG Announces New Client: The Philanthropic Initiative, Inc., Dec. 2005

The Philanthropic Initiative, Inc. has contracted CRMG to produce a DVD consisting of interviews of philanthropists including the founders of Ebay.

About.com and CRMG, Dec. 2005

CRMG was contracted by About.com (owned by the New York Times) to produce a series of infomational videos for thheir website. Produced videos were on acupuncture and relaxation techniques, with more on the way.

The Arts and Entertainment Channel, Aug. 2005

When the cable channel A&E came to New England to shoot for their reality show "Holy Journey" they contacted CRMG to help out. This production was in a collaboration with Earth Angel Productions.

Pictoral Offset Corp., May 2005

CRMG has completed production on a sales video for Pictoral Offset, a graphic arts organization located in New Jersey. Pictoral has been a preferred resource among Fortune 500 companies for over 65 years and has grown to over $70 million in sales revenue.

News Archive

Video Portfolio

Anne Hathaway and Justin Timberlake Filming at the Hasty Pudding

Political Week! TV Spots, Documentaries, and More

Blu-Ray Authoring and Anime

CRMG in the foothills of the pyrennées

"I couldn’t believe it when the DVD arrived... we were REALLY isolated, in the foothills of the pyrennées – completely cut off from the modern world – and then this little truck comes up the dirt track with your packet!" - A CRMG client

Filling in for ESPN

CRMG commercial now online--and in 20 million households

"A Good Whack" premieres at the ReelheART International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada

Tribeca Film Festival 2009

Updated Video!

"Transcendent Man" Premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival!

"A Good Whack" Premieres at RHIFF

A Good Whack: The Making of "Tonya and Nancy: The Opera"

Renee Zellweger, James Franco, and The Hasty Pudding

2008 Wrapup and 2009

Filming at Fenway Park

Canvas DVD Now on Sale

Tom Brokaw

3 Days, 3 New Clients

Telly Award Winner for Cinematography, Use of HD, and Nature/Wildlife

HD Advanced Technologies Lab Video Online

"Soft Robots" in High Definition

"Transcendent Man" - Filming Ray Kurzweil

The Biggest HDTV Around...

End of the Year Blitz!

MIXX Expo, Sept. 2007

Houghton Mifflin, July 2007

New Balance, July 2007

Interactive Advertiser's Bureau, June 2007

New Balance, June 2007

We've Moved! May 2007

Metacafe, May 2007

Joey "Pants," April 2007

H&R G&SP 50th Anniversary, January 2007

NY Times/About.com Milestone July 2006

CRMG documentary on MSNBC, May 2006

Celebrating a Great News Man, April 2006

More About.com Videos on the Way, March 2006

Our Intern's Emmy Award, Feb. 2006

Gilbert & Sullivan Players and American Repertory Theater, Dec. 2005

CRMG Announces New Client: The Philanthropic Initiative, Inc., Dec. 2005

About.com and CRMG, Dec. 2005

The Arts and Entertainment Channel, Aug. 2005

Pictoral Offset Corp., May 2005