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New Virtual Walk DVD Released

September 7, 2007 by Wayne Jacobs

Hawaii - Volume 1 - The Hau'ula Trail is our eleventh Virtual Walk DVD. A one hour walk filmed in 1080i High Definition (but released, for the time being, in Standard Definition) in June of 2006, it is the first of three Hawaii DVD Virtual Walks that we have scheduled to be released during the next 12 months.

Kathi, Sarah, and I filmed this walk during the first week of our two week visit to Hawaii. Actually, we had rented a guest house on the North Shore of Oahu and were staying just a mile or two from the Hau'ula trailhead so you'd think this would have been an easy walk to shoot. Kathi did mention to me something about a "700 foot rise" on the trail but that didn't register for some reason.... until we were actually on site and I was suited up. After about 20 minutes of filming, the trail began to go uphill and didn't stop for another 10 minutes. By the time we reached the peak at the top of the ridge, I was exhausted and had to rest for 15 minutes before continuing.

On some shoots, we have the opportunity to actually walk the pathway first, then we go back to the starting point, get the camera equipment, suit up, and begin filming. This, of course, is the best way to approach a shoot and we used this method in the Cotswolds. But other times, we find ourselves in a situation that demands an unrehearsed shoot and this was one of those situations. Since the trail we were going to shoot was two and a half miles long and went up a small mountain, we decided to shoot it as we walked it the first time.

So, after the rest period ended, we continued the shoot and were pleased with the results. The Hau'ula Trail certainly has varied topography: from dry creek beds (the Waipililo Gulch), to switchback paths leading to the mountain's ridge - and varied flora; ironwood forests, glades of ferns, giant wild pineapple plants, and Norfolk Pines, in addition to beautiful vistas of the Pacific Ocean.

For the Bonus Chapter, which we always include on a Virtual Walk DVD, I decided to use beach scenes which we filmed on both Oahu and Kauai. I spent almost a week searching for just the right music to use with these beach scenes and finally located four beautiful selections that are sort of a cross between New Age and Light Classical. In any event, they seem to compliment the beach scenes perfectly and I am happy with the results.

 

Faster, Virtual Jogs & Bike Rides To Be Released

September 7, 2007 by Wayne Jacobs

Customers have asked for them and soon, we'll have faster-paced Virtual Jog DVDs available.

A number of 10 to 12 mph Virtual Jogs have already been filmed and awaiting editing. In fact, the Acadia Park Virtual Jog will be our next DVD release, scheduled for early October. Viewers will be treated to a one hour jog through the scenic winding roads of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island in Maine.

Soon to follow are Virtual Jogs through the famous Hollywood Hills, past the homes of celebrities and movie stars, and a Jog through the most exclusive zip code in the USA: 90210 - Beverly Hills, California.

These faster, 10 to 12 mile per hour Virtual Experience DVDs are also suitable for use as Virtual Bike Rides while using stationary bicycles (spinners).