San Diego Producer Has Car, Will Travel!

We specialize in San Diego video production, Orange County video production and LA video production -- but earlier this month, we traveled all the way to Lancaster, CA, (372 miles round trip) for what turned out to be one of our most inspiring stories yet! The subject was 17-year-old Bereniece Salceda, who only two years ago weighed 280 pounds. Through persistence and determination, Bereniece has dropped more than 130 pounds by exercising and cutting calories. She convinced her family to overhaul its fat and sugar-laden meals, and replaced her junk food snacks with fruits, vegetables and whole grain fare. We spent the day interviewing Bereniece and her family as they embraced their healthy new lifestyle. The story was featured on the Emmy award-winning "Rachael Ray Show" on January 19!

Hollywood Party Patrol Tonight!

Big Los Angeles video production tonight -- where I'll be doing interviews inside Fox Studios' Golden Globes after-party! "Avatar" director James Cameron; Jeff Bridges; Glenn Close and "Damages" cast; stars of "Glee;" "House;" "Modern Family;" "How I Met Your Mother;" and, more expected. You'll see this, plus additional Globes party, fashion and backstage coverage on Monday's "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider."

Shhh -- We're Inside A Secret Celebrity Tailgate Party!

For this San Diego video production, we're boltin' down to Qualcomm Stadium to shoot a secret celebrity tailgate bash before the Jets-Chargers game. Caviar and Cristal? Or Corn Dogs and Coca-Cola? Limos? Bodyguards? And who's cheering for whom? You'll see it all when this San Diego broadcast video airs next week!

More Palm Springs Video Production! Our HD video crew is back after storming the desert for eye-popping footage of 2 new Ford vehicles. Look for Solana Productions video when the cars debut at the Detroit Auto Show Jan. 16-24.

On Friday Solana Productions has an award-winning HD video crew in San Francisco shooting secret footage of 2 sleek new Ford vehicles. Look for our California video production when the cars are unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show Jan. 16-24!

Love "Jersey Boys?"

On Thursday, we're in La Jolla on an HD video shoot for a Canadian documentary on Des McAnuff, the Tony-award winning genius behind "Jersey Boys," "Big River," "Tommy" and so many more. Des is Canadian, but is much loved in San Diego as former artistic director of the La Jolla Playhouse. Will let you know if the doc airs in the U.S.!

What to Wear to An Awards Show When You're Not a Star

What would YOU wear to a star-studded awards gala - in the middle of a recession? Not that the fashion critics give a hoot about my working girl threads at these glam gatherings, but here's what I grabbed for my marathon day-into-night doing interviews on the red carpet and
behind the scenes video production at the Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala -- just in case anyone out there cares: a silky, black, fitted, Alain Manoukian V-neck dress that hits just above the knee, which my stylist friend Ruth brought over from Paris. ($85) Comfortable but sparkly rhinestone-studded Lucite wedge sandals by Beverly Feldman from the Sak's Outlet. ($79) To ward off the chill, a soft black, 3/4 length Ellen Tracy walking coat that was on sale at Bloomingdale's. ($200) A flashy blue topaz and diamond pendant necklace that my husband gave me (Priceless!), with pave faux diamond earrings from Nordstrom Rack ($39). Flexees (cheaper AND better than Spanx) to hold it all in -- and a SMILE (free)!

Then, a quick change into a warmup suit and fleece-lined Merrell's for the long drive home.

Just another friendly tip from your favorite San Diego video production company!

The Oscar Race is On!

The march to the 2010 Oscars began in the desert Tuesday night as A-list stars strolled down the glamorous red carpet at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards. Solana Productions’ HD video crews were once again in first position for “Entertainment Tonight,” capturing arrival interviews and exclusive backstage video with Oscar hopefuls Jeff Bridges, Morgan Freeman, Mariah Carey, Jeremy Renner, Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood, actress Michelle Pfeiffer and many others.

Palm Springs, CA – For the 12^th year straight, video crews from Solana Productions, Inc., were in prime position at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, as Oscar hopefuls Jeff Bridges, Morgan Freeman, Mariah Carey, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Renner, Quentin Tarantino and other Hollywood stars were spotlighted at the 2010 Awards Gala.

An HD crew and producer from the San Diego video production company were once again in first position on the red carpet as stars arrived for the festival gala. During the gala ceremony, two Solana crews were given exclusive backstage access to shoot additional interviews and footage with Bridges, Freeman, Carey, Cotillard, Renner, Tarantino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Anna Kendrick, Helen Mirren, composer T Bone Burnett, and directors Eastwood (“Invictus”), Rob Marshall (“Nine”), Jason Reitman (“Up in the Air”) and Lee Daniels (“Precious” Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.”

The Solana crews used Sony XDHD cameras to shoot the celebrity interviews and footage.

Also backstage, a video technician from Solana Productions, Inc., recorded the three-hour-long ceremony in high-definition with a Sony HD player/recorder.

Other celebrities attending included Sean Penn, Diablo Cody, Shoreh Aghdashloo, Eva La Rue, directors Norman Jewison and Scott Cooper and producer Jerry Weintraub.

Solana Productions was tapped by “Entertainment Tonight” and its sister show, “The Insider,” for the high-profile assignment – as they have been for the past 11 years.

One Solana HD crew recorded “ET” host Mary Hart’s exclusive backstage celebrity interviews, which involved a complicated lighting arrangement. Solana has worked with Hart every year at the film festival since she became involved in 2003. The other Solana HD crew rolled on the red carpet as the stars arrived and shot exclusive backstage as the honorees and presenters posed for official photographs.

Bridges (“Crazy Heart”) received the Desert Palm Achievement actor award, presented by Pfeiffer, his co-star in “The Fabulous Baker Boys.” Mirren’s (“The Last Station”) Career Achievement Actress Award was presented by Freeman, who also received the Career Achievement Actor Award, presented by his “Invictus” director Eastwood. Director Marshall presented his “Nine” star Cotillard with the Desert Palm Achievement Actress Award. Tarantino (“Inglorious Basterds”) received the Sonny Bono Visionary Award, presented by Cody. Director Ivan Reitman presented Kendrick with the Rising Star Award for “Up in the Air,” while Reitman’s son, Jason, who directed “Up in the Air,” received the Director of the Year Award, presented by director Norman Jewison. Carey received the Breakthrough Actress Performance Award for “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” presented by its director, Daniels. Renner (“The Hurt Locker”) was presented with the Breakthrough Actor Performance Award from Aghdashloo. Penn presented Burnett with the Frederick Loewe Award for Film Composing for “Crazy Heart.”

Solana Productions, Inc., is a San Diego video production company specializing in HD broadcast, cable, corporate and internet productions. More information is available at solanaproductions.com.

Palm Springs Film Festival

Kicking off the New Year with coverage of Tuesday's A-list gala at the Palm Springs International Film Festival! Jeff Bridges, Mariah Carey, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Jeremy Renner, Anna Kendrick and directors Jason Reitman and Quentin Tarantino headed for the red carpet. See it all on Wednesday's "ET" and "The Insider."

This high definition video production will be shot with our Sony XDHD cameras. It's the 10th year we've covered the event and it's always a feast of fashion, fun and backstage surprises!