As you may know... June 14, 1991 was the day that I decided to change my life. I was thirty-five years old. Technically I was an out-of-work Producer/Director/Editor. I was broke. Denise was working full-time as an RN to support our family. We had a three-year old and a six-year old. (Nicole and Aaron) I was a stay-at-home Dad. 

I was ready for a life-change – a game changer as they say. I felt like I was on the verge  something... As May turned into June that year, I felt a growing sense of destiny which was closely followed by a shadow of despair.  As I like to say now (it is easier to say now!) at that time in my life... "I was a “wandering generality.”

June 14, 1991 was a Red Letter Day for me. 

On June, 14th, 1991, I made a decision that would pay off for me personally and financially that year. Eventually that decision would blossom into the Home Video Studio opportunity. The opportunity that many have taken over the years. 

Basically I made a decision to move forward on that day. Before June 14th, 1991, I was allowing myself to be pulled in several directions and going nowhere. After, June 14th, I was totally focused. I had a purpose!   

That purpose has grown into the Home Video Studio Family, the studios, the Getaways, the Advanced Trainings, The Great American Home Movie and Digital Video Archive. I truly value the friendships that Denise and I have made over the years with our studio owners - you - and of course the journey we have been on. It is always the journey right... the destination keeps on moving.

I have taken some incredible risks over the years, had a lot of successes and made a few mistakes as well. Always with me has been that purpose that I found 25 years ago.

It's good to remember the past and then move forward - ever forward. 

I truly love what I do and I appreciate all of you. Please join us for the next twelve months as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary! 

Robert Hanley

Producer/Director/Editor

CEO, Home Video Studio & Digital Video Archive

Your DVDs are Fading Away!

DVDs were the state-of-the-art for more than ten years in the video and home movie transfer industry. But there's a new kid in town: The DVA (Digital Video Archive) – Video in the Cloud. It's like the "Changing of the Guard" – a watershed moment in history. Plus, you may have already found something out. There are a lot of devices that will not play a DVD! 

Your brand new Apple computer is one of them; plus your IPad, IPhone, Android tablet, smartphone, etc. Many new Windows

If you have DVDs of your family (or of personal content) from the past five to ten years, beware: your memories are in danger of vanishing! It may already be too late. Of all the old media that we transfer, believe it or not, the DVDs are the most perishable. Here's why: 

Most DVDs are not archival. When Home Video Studio transfers video to a DVD we always use Platinum Archival DVDs. Most other companies do not. In fact many just use plain old store-bought DVDs. Worse yet, they may have used "consumer" encoding and not Professional Encoding. Even worse, perhaps you or a friend "burned" your DVDs on a home computer. This might have made sense at the time but your images are now in jeopardy of being lost. Those old DVDs are degrading quickly. It's time to transfer to a DVA – Digital Video Archive – Video in the Cloud! 

We'll Transfer Your Old DVDs to DVAs! Watch on your Computer, Smartphone, Tablet & Smart TV!

Call Home Video Studio for your DVA Transfers!

It's fun and easy! Once we have transferred your content to your new DVAs, you'll receive access to your new Digital Video Archive account. With your new DVA account, you can view, edit, share and modify your movies and videos. You'll want to invite your friends and family as Viewers so you can share your video with them. This will give them access to the DVAs you would like for them to see and enjoy. You can also grant ("gift") DVAs to them. Every DVA has smart chapter markers with thumbnail images, just like the old DVDs, so you and your viewers will be able to fully experience each DVA. 

Here's a great bonus! With your new Digital Video Archive account you can immediately begin uploading your own personal videos from your smartphone or computer. You'll be able share these videos with your friends and family as well. Plus, your friends and family will receive free DVA accounts and can begin uploading their videos too. Soon you'll have new DVAs from them to watch as well! 

Upload your smart phone video to your Digital Video Archive account!

"DVDs were the state-of-the-art for more than ten years in the video and home movie transfer industry. But there's a new kid in town..."

Instantly Share Your DVAs with Anyone on the Planet!

Ready to get started? You can get your own free DVA Account today! at www.Digitalvideoarchive.com. Or... bring your videos, film DVDs and other video content to us! www.homevideostudio.com.

Start Your Own Home Video Studio!

Change Your Life and Lifestyle!

Call Robert Hanley Today at 

]

1-866-714-1956 or 1-317-358-5932.

www.myhomevideostudio.com

How Do You Transfer iPhone and Android Video to the Cloud? Answer: DVA & Digital Video Archive!

I received this question the other day from Kasey via facebook: “How long would it take to transfer videos from iPhone to dvd? Hours? Days? Need to plan to be without my phone. Thank you so much. Love what you do.”

Kasey… thank you! We love what we do too!

Kasey brings up a great question and a big problem for millions of people who are recording video on their smartphones. How in the heck to get that video off of the phone and then into a format that can be useful to people? How do you transfer video to the cloud? How do you transfer your iPhone video? How do you transfer your Android video? And even how do you transfer VHS to the cloud?

Digital Video Archive (DVA) is the answer. While it is possible to transfer smartphone to DVD, that is not a great solution. A smartphone transfer to DVA allows anyone to experience their video content on any device they wish – computer, laptop, smart TV, tablet and of course your smartphone!

You can get a free DVA account at www.DigitalVideoArchive.com and actually start uploading your iPhone or Android video today. Once uploaded, you can instantly share your videos with anyone on the planet.

"Instantly share your video with anyone on the planet!"

With DVA you can upload videos directly from your phone, tablet or computer to your personal DVA account: Friends, Family, Kids, Babies, Weddings, Births, Parties, Vacations, Sports, Prom, Graduations, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Cookouts and everyday life. The list is endless. Once they're uploaded to your Digital Video Archive, you can invite your viewers - friends and family. Your DVA experience is just beginning.

If you've got old film, video or DVDs, a Digital Video Archive Authorized Rep can assist. You can find a DVA Authorized Rep at: www.digitalvideoarchive.com/dva-pros.cfm

Once you have opened a free DVA (Video to the Cloud) Account you will want to invite viewers - your friends and family. Decide which of your videos (DVAs) you want each viewer to see. You can let everyone see everything or choose certain individuals to see select DVAs. For example, you may want everyone to see your wedding videos, but only share the delivery of your first born with someone special. Anyone you invite to be a viewer will receive an invitation to create their own free DVA account. Then, when they log into their new Digital Video Archive, they will see the videos you have chosen for them, plus they can immediately start uploading their own videos, inviting viewers and sharing their new DVAs.

As you add more friends and family and share video with them you will begin building your own Digital Video Archive as well. Your viewers will share their video with you too - those precious and special moments and memories both recent and from the past. Everyone can now have all of the family videos and memories in their own Digital Video Archive. Sharing DVAs and receiving shared DVAs with your Digital Video Archive community is really fun!

Now with all of your videos in one place (smartphone and old home movies) you can organize them any way you want: by subject, by date, by person - you decide. Put in titles and descriptions. Plus you can be creative as you want to be with our easy-to-use online editor. Combine clips. Cut parts you don't want. Add titles, transitions, and effects. Choose themes. With DVA’s sharing feature you can collaborate with your friends, family and colleagues.

So for Kasey from Facebook… and everyone else on the planet… You can transfer your iPhone video to the cloud via DVA – Digital Video Archive!

For more information go to www.DigitalVideoArchive.com.

For transferring old home movies to the cloud (Digital Video Archive) you can go to http://digitalvideoarchive.com/dva-legacy.cfm.

If you are a content producer and want to convert video to the cloud go to

www.digitalvideoarchive.com/dva-pros.cfm.

For video, audio and DVD transfer go to www.homemovietransfer.com.

And if you want to change careers and start your own video production business go to www.myhomevideostudio.com.

Oh and one last thing, if you are in Indiana and want drop off film or video go to www.Homevideostuido.com/cas.

And one more last thing… want to find an Home Video Studio location near you? Go to www.HomeVideoStudio.com.

May the Force be with You

Robert Hanley

1-866-714-1956

Breaking $36,000.00 in 35 Days & Breaking into the Video Production Business - Home Video Studio Origin Stories

Robert Hanley President, Home Video Studio

$36,000 in 35 Days! That is pretty amazing and yet it is normal for our Home Video Studio. After all these years, I still run my own studio out of my house and I still make tons of money. I love the money part but I have a real serious passion for editing and transferring video and for helping other people establish their own Home Video Studios.

So how do you make that final Leap of Faith that allows you to jump into Home Video Studio and run your own business? I can point you to how others who have come before you have done it.

Many owners have journeyed to Indianapolis. They have either attended a Show ‘N Tell Saturday or have picked their own personal day to come meet me and see our studio.  I fondly remember owners such as Chad Godfrey, David Gardner, Andy Conte, Tony and Lori Melendez, Pete Gallo, John and Tammy Montgomery, Peter and Sharon Galluzzo and many, many more when they came to SNT.

David Gardner Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Others purchased over the phone and email: Dan Weiniger, Roy Wilson, Jack Bara, Arthur Bradshaw, Eli Brollo, Mark Kaiser, Richard Lopez, Chris Moen, Michael Ondrasik and many, many more. We had conversations, webinars and emails and then they signed on the dotted line.

Chad, Tony & Lori, Pete, Peter & Sharon, Arthur and Chris started part-time.

John & Tammy, David, Michael, Eli, Mark, Richard and Dan started full-time.

Tony Melendez & Alan Fon

Chad was in audio. Tony was a teacher. Lori ran a daycare. Peter was in high end IT. Arthur worked for a big company. Chris worked for a home theatre company. John was retired Navy. Tammy was a stay at home Mom. David was running his own video production company already. Richard was an auto service manager. Eli was in-between. Dan had had many positions and was a stay-at-home dad.

Eli was living in Shanghai and wanted to move to Alaska. She purchased over the phone and shortly after that arrived for Advanced Training! Chad and his wife were expecting their first child. Michael wanted to leave Fed Ex. Roy was a nuclear plant engineer and had a passion for video.

Every one is different and yet the same. Everyone has his or her “HVS Origin” story. It’s that moment when they made the decision to move forward. They made a decision to take the next step. Everyone had their own fears but they all took the Leap of Faith.

I invite you to take your own Leap of Faith. Call me. Come See me. Email me. Take the next step. Don’t fall back into the same old rut.  

Chad Godfrey setting up a shot in his studio

We have a lot of opportunities coming up. You can attend the February 20^th Show ‘N Tell. We also have a fantastic Show ‘N Tell coming up on March 5^th.  That one is our Advanced Training Show ‘N Tell so you will meet Chad, Tony, John and Arthur and many more of our owners at that event.

Here is the way Show ‘N Tell Saturday works. We start on Friday. We always have a nice dinner on Friday night. This is a “break-the-ice” dinner and you will meet me and my wife Denise and other SNT attendees. At the March 5^th SNT several owners will join us for dinner on Friday evening. So you will get to chat with them that night and again at breakfast on Saturday.

We start early on Saturday. We will take you through everything about starting and running a Home Video Studio that day. SNT is held at my Home Video Studio so you will be right in my studio the entire day. This gives you a chance to see our studio equipment, our jobs in house and of course the content and context of HVS. This is a marvelous day and a day that changes lives. I urge you to attend.

Here’s what it takes to attend. You need to call me at 317-358-5932 or email me at Robert@homevideostudio.com and make arrangements to attend. Space is always limited and especially at our Advanced Training Show ‘N Tell.  Give me a call and we can discuss your situation and what it takes to attend. We do credit you for your travel, meals, car rental and hotel should you come aboard.

Advanced Training in Indianapolis Jonathan's Class

Now for those of you who want to be like Eli Brollo… there is still time to call me and attend Advanced Training 2016 as an owner! Get a jump start! I have been helping people make a transition into running their own studio for over fifteen years. Eli’s story is a great example of making it happen. Eli called me on a Friday and a few weeks later she was in Indianapolis her first training. I recall that she even attended mass with Denise and I on that first trip into Indy.  Eli was living in Shanghai China! Today she lives in Anchorage, Alaska and runs her own Home Video Studio from her home.

Everyone has situations, obligations, kids being born and children getting ready to go to college. You want to know the really scary thing? The really scary thing is to continue to do what you have been doing and not taking action. We’re all going to die. None of us are getting out of here alive but some of us (hopefully you too) will have lived our lives with gusto, taken opportunities when they appeared, broken though the fear and become more than we were. Plus we will have left a legacy and pathway for our children to follow.

The Home Video Studio Family

Join us. Join the Home Video Studio Family.  Call me at 317-358-5932 or toll free 866-714-1956. You can also email me: Robert@homevideostudio.com.

Remember, I just made over $36,000.00 in 35 days! I can teach you to do the same thing.

May the Force be with You!

Best regards,

Robert Hanley

Producer/Director/Editor

President & Founder Home Video Studio.

Happy Birthday to Two Great Film Directors - Sergei Eisenstein & D. W. Griffith

Sergei Eisenstein

Happy Birthday to Two Great Film Directors! 

Just a quick note… today it is the birthday of two great and early film Directors: Russian Director Sergei Eisenstein born in 1898 and American Director D. W. Griffith born in 1875. 

Eisenstein is best remembered (at least by me) for his 1925 silent film Battleship Potemkin and especially for the best known sequence of that film set on the Odessa steps. I suggest you watch the entire film but if you only watch one sequence watch the Odessa steps sequence. 

If you watch any part... watch the Odessa steps sequence.

Here is a link to it: http://www.bing.com/videos/searchq=sergei+m.+eisenstein+steps&view=detail&mid=6A18839F11E0CF8587556A18839F11E0CF858755&FORM=VIRE1

D. W. Griffith

D.W. Griffith sometimes called the  "Inventor of Hollywood", was an American film director who pioneered modern film-making techniques. He is mostly remembered for the groundbreaking 1915 film The Birth of a Nation, as well as its sequel Intolerance(1916). Birth of a Nation is very racist and caused riots at the time of its release. Griffith filmed it for $110,000 and it returned millions of dollars in profits, making it, perhaps, the most profitable film of all time. Griffith was pioneer of film and film making techniques. He founded United Artists, together with Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks.

I remember watching both The Battleship Potemkin and The Birth of a Nation in film school. I was mesmerized by Eisenstien’s Battleship Potemkin, but I must admit that I was mostly bored by Birth of a Nation (groundbreaking or not). 

Funny Story… (at least to me). I had to watch Intolerance on my own (instead of in class). To do that (way back in ancient days before the invention of the VCR) I had to go to the library and check out the film (three huge reels - the film is 197 minutes long!) along with a 16mm Projector on a cart and then wheel it to a viewing room which as I recall was like a big closet.

So I set up shop in the viewing room, turned off the lights and began watching and taking notes. If I remember correctly I was writing a paper comparing and contrasting Intolerance andBirth of a Nation, so I was making notes and filling up notebooks all afternoon. At some point (with great relief) I realized that I only had one more reel to go! I put it on, threaded the projector and once again started watching and scribbling away, not really paying attention to anything but the screen and my notebook. Finally the credits began to roll and I sat back, sighed, yawned, stretched and reached behind me while still watching the screen (albeit lazily…) and turned on the lights. Kind of at the same time, I started to recall that the projector had had a slightly different sound during that last reel. What had that sound been?

I turned my head, looked at the projector, stared at two empty reels instead of one empty and one full, looked at the floor, looked at the entire floor… and saw where the film had actually gone. The projector had not worked correctly! In fact it had not worked at all!

Finally the credits began to roll and I sat back, sighed, yawned, stretched and reached behind me while still watching the screen (albeit lazily…)

The last reel of Intolerance all 65 minutes of it… had unraveled all over the floor including covering my feet! I just sat there for a minute trying to figure this thing out and what to do about it. I was terrified that someone would walk in and see this classic priceless film in its current shape. Finally I decided to reverse the projector and then sat there for another 65 minutes or so while the projector did its work and I carefully guided D. W. Griffith’s film with my fingers. (I have always been hands-on with film and video since then.) Later I nonchalantly wheeled everything back and the trusty Librarian was none the wiser.

Anyway, two great and ancient directors were born today. Take a look at their films but watch your feet!

Producer/Director/Editor Robert Hanley

Want to jump start your own video and film career? Ready for a second or third career? What to be in the video production business? Call me. I can help. 

Check out my website www.Myhomevideostudio.com. 

May the Force be with You. 

Robert Hanley

Producer/Director/Editor

866-714-1956

DVA & Digital Video Archive - Its Like Netflix for Personal & Business Content!

The poor plight of the once revered DVD...

DVDs were the state-of-the-art for more than ten years in the video and home movie industry and worldwide with consumers, movies, media and more. But… have you tried to play a DVD on your smartphone? It won’t play!

There are a lot of other devices that will not play a DVD! Your brand new Apple computer is one of them, as well as your iPad, iPhone, Android tablet, etc.  

But don’t worry. There’s a new way to experience, edit, modify, archive and distribute your personal and business video content: The DVA (Digital Video Archive) Video in the Cloud. If you have not tried out DVA yet you can get a free account at http://www.Digitalvideoarchive.com. I highly recommend it.

Indeed we are at a watershed moment in history. We’re witnessing the end of physical media. Film had its day. Videotape had a long run including VHS, Mini DV and other formats. Then came DVDs.

But if you have DVDs of your family (personal or business video content) from the past five to ten years, beware: your memories are in danger of vanishing! It may already be too late. Of all the old media that needs to be converted to some new format DVDs, believe it or not, are the most perishable. Here's why:

Most DVDs are not archival. Unless you used or are using a service like Home Video Studio or www.HomeMovieTransfer.com to convert your videos and home movies, your DVDs are most likely not archival. (HomeMovieTransfer.com still transfers to DVD and always uses Platinum Archival DVDs. Most other companies do not.) In fact many places just use plain old store-bought DVDs. Worse yet, whoever transferred your video content may have used "consumer" encoding and not Professional Encoding. Even worse, perhaps you or a friend "burned" your DVDs on a home computer. This might have made sense at the time but your images are now in jeopardy of being lost. Those old DVDs are degrading quickly. This is why I am excited by DVA – Digital Video Archive – Video in the Cloud!

If you’re like most people you want to watch your personal video the same way you consume your media entertainment which is pretty much online these days – Netflix, Hulu, etc. In fact most people access the internet from their phones.  So you can see that DVD’s days are indeed numbered.  What should you do? What can you do?

The tech team at Digital Video Archive has figured out a new way for us to experience our video content: The DVA and the Digital Video Archive services. So far, I love it. In fact I will go as far to say that most likely some day soon everyone will have their own DVA account – it will be part and parcel of their daily lives, much like Facebook.

Actually according to the folks at Digital Video Archive, a DVA - Digital Video Archive is a specially designed and engineered MP4 file format containing unique customizable metadata - title information, chapter markers, thumbnail images and more which enables playback on a DVA player (computer, smartphone, tablet and smart TV- with internet access). DVAs are easily viewed, modified, edited, shared and archivally stored in the cloud at DigitalVideoArchive.com. A DVA can be shared with one person, several family members or your entire circle of friends and family. Here's more information about this new and exciting product and service.

◦       Digital Video Archive (DVA) is a cloud-based technology. Your memories are safely archived - never again vulnerable to fading or being lost.

◦       You can instantly share your video content with anyone on the planet!

◦       You can view your DVAs on your smartphone, computer, tablet or smart TV.

◦       DVA's sharing service is private. Unlike public sharing sites, Digital Video Archive is a safe, family-oriented viewing experience.

◦       With DVA you can easily edit and organize your videos. Combine clips by category (content, date, people, whatever you like). Insert chapter markers and add titles.

◦       You can also grant – or "gift" - your DVAs to others and then they will own their copy of the family home movies, etc.

Who will you share your DVAs with?

Sharing your smartphone video is one of the coolest things about having a Digital Video Archive account and it’s a great bonus! With your new Digital Video Archive account you can immediately begin uploading your own personal videos from your smartphone or computer. You'll be able share these videos with your friends and family as well. Plus, your friends and family will receive free DVA accounts and can begin uploading their videos too. Soon you'll have new DVAs from them to watch as well! I love this feature.

You can also check out www.Digitalvideoarchive.com for more information on DVA.

Digital Video Archive Plans and Pricing:

Digital Video Archive Free Membership

Up to 2 GB Storage

Digital Video Archive Paid Membership

2 GB to 100 GB

$7.95 per month

Enjoy!