Wednesday, December 30, 2009

How to make those veins POP!

Since releasing my bodybuilding documentary Raising the Bar 3 I've been getting some requests for a few clips from the previous installments.

Here's a short clip from RTB 2 that shows Dave Pulcinella's method for really bringing out the veins just before he steps on stage. I think what makes the clip work is his friend Jimmy's energetic description of Dave's method. Makes me laugh every time!

(Can you tell Jimmy's Italian from the still image?? LOL!)

Friday, December 18, 2009

"Kai Greene: OVERKILL" exclusive preview!

As I near the end of editing my first Kai Greene documentary, those of you who have subscribed to my blog with be the first to see preview clips! I always post here before anywhere else.

The plan is to create three DVDs with the overall title of "Kai Greene: A New Breed". This first one will be called OVERKILL for reasons I think will become obvious when you see it!

This clip is the introduction to the doc, exactly as it will appear on the DVD (minus the logo and website at the bottom). Later, I will create a more comprehensive trailer that will give more of an overview of the story.

As always, comments and feedback are welcome!



The DVD will eventually be available on the MuscleMeds website. If you'd like to support my work AND make great gains in the gym, please check out their line of supplements.

mm site

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Holiday Special and a New Clip from RTB3!

Now through December 31st, save money on all the Raising the Bar DVDs during the RTB holiday special! I've reduced prices and am giving away the last few t-shirts I have. When they are gone there ain't gonna be no more!!

Order now! Click here to go to the DVD sales page of my website!

Thanks to everyone for your support of independent filmmaking!

In this clip from Raising the Bar 3 we see Dave Pulcinella, days away from the most important contest of his career, in his final hardcore arm workout before the show, exercising alongside and getting inspiration from, the strongmen and strongwomen at his cousin Steve's Iron Sport Gym.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The Kai Greene Project - Part 1

I have been very lucky recently to have been asked by the bodybuilding supplement company MuscleMeds to create a short documentary on one of the most promising young bodybuilders in the sport today, Kai Greene.

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Kai and his trainer Oscar Arden travelled to Las Vegas seven weeks before the Mr. Olympia competition to train and prepare. MuscleMeds sent me there for three days during that time to get a rare peek into the mindset of this amazing athlete.

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And it was an intense three days!

Kai and Oscar were shut off from the rest of the world. Existing in their own little bubble, in the middle of one of the most decadent cities in the world, they lived like monks concentrating only on their one goal.

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Kai placed fourth at the Olympia, a very respectable showing for his first time there! My documentary will explore the preparation that went into his attempt as well as his thoughts about competing against some of the greatest bodybuilders in the world and his plans for the future.

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This coming weekend I'm traveling to Brooklyn to spend some time with Kai and Oscar and as they bask in their post Olympia glow!

Stay tuned!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

They're going nuts!

Can I take a moment and toot my own horn?

After a year and a half of shooting and editing for RTB3 it's finally out there and the fans of bodybuilding are loving it! Here are a few review excerpts...

"Raising the Bar 3 captures the emotional and psychological battles every bodybuilder wages within themselves."
Layne Norton

"This is, by far, the best of the trilogy. Mike has really come into his own as a film-maker and DAVE has really opened up and let his vulnerabilities hang out there for the viewers to embrace."
Dave Palumbo

"RTB is this generation's Pumping Iron."
Curt James

"Thank you SO much for sharing an incredible story and filming it in the way you do. It's so different and refreshing from other bodybuilding dvds that mostly revolve around training various body parts."
Lyle, UK

"An absolute winner from start-to-finish."
Tre Scott - Fem Flex

"RTB 1 and 2 were terrific but 3 is sensational! RTB3 had me glued to the TV monitor and what a truthful refreshing bodybuilding reality, real-time DVD it is. I can’t wait for RTB4 and that’s the truth."
Dennis
www.dennisbweis.com
Author of Mass! Raw Muscle!
& Anabolic Muscle Mass
MuscleMag International Columnist



I'd like to end this blog post with a big thank you to everyone who supported me through this project, everyone who participated in the documentary, and everyone who supported independent filmmaking by purchasing RTB3!

Here's the latest Youtube release from RTB3, our first full clip. This is one of the extras from the deleted scenes. A young bodybuilder does her best to explain why she wants to be big.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Raising the Bar 3 has arrived!

Raising the Bar 3 is officially released to the world!

To celebrate we’ve created our second trailer. This one is called “What is a bodybuilder?”

In this highlights video from RTB3 Dave Pulcinella, Jalaine Ulsh, Hayley McNeff and Mike Strutz talk about what it takes to excel in this extreme sport.



You can get RTB3 by clicking here.

The documentary is 1 hr 40 minutes long with comprehensive easy-to-use menus. There are two deleted scenes adding up to 15 minutes.

It’s only $24.95, plus shipping!!

Thanks,
Mike

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

MD block party video - The importance of promotion

When posting a new video it is very important that is also be promoted or else no one will ever see it.

The complete video of the Muscular Development Block Party held several weeks ago was posted on the MD.com website a few days after. In order to help promote it I created this teaser video hoping that anyone who stumbled across this on Youtube might then be enticed to click over to MD.com and look around.

Note how I make it known right away that you can go to MD to see more and I make it easy to get there by supplying a link to the right of the view screen, as well as pointing out that fact at the end of the video. These are details that are often neglected when most people post their videos.

Why natural bodybuilding? - Highlights video of a bodybuilding contest

Here's a recent highlights video that I made for the promoter of a local natural bodybuilding show.

Instead of the usual high-energy approach usually used for this sort of thing I thought I would try something a bit more low key. Using only soundbites from interviews conducted at the show I put together this promo clip.


Thursday, May 14, 2009

Release date for Raising the Bar 3 is getting closer!

I'm getting close to the end of editing Raising the Bar 3! The release date is still set for July 1st. I see no reason why I won't make it by then.



This week I'll be having a "focus group" meeting. All that means is that I'll gather together Dave and a few close friends to watch the entire DVD and tell me what works, what doesn't, and what I've left out. It's a very important part of the process. I've been so close to this project for so long that it is impossible for me to see it objectively. After that it'll hopefully only be a few tweaks and I can begin the creation of the DVD itself.



Don't forget, if you pre-order your copy of RTB3 before the release date you get FREE shipping!!

Order now by clicking HERE!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Video under pressure!

I had a great experience this week!

Iron Sport Gym was celebrating its 10th anniversary with a four event strongman competition and I offered to videotape it. Iron Sport is owned by my cousin Steve Pulcinella, an accomplished strength athlete in his own right.



My objective with this video was to test myself and see how fast I could produce a tightly edited, exciting tribute to the day. The contest was on Sunday morning May 3rd. I had one camera on a tripod which I often left run by itself while I shot another angle of the action with a hand held camera.



I shot 3 1/2 hours of footage, wrote and recorded the voiceover myself and I had the first draft uploaded by Wednesday morning! Not too shabby!

Steve watched the video and suggested a few changes. I had the new version re-posted by Friday morning. It may not be the most polished thing I've ever done but it's good to know that I can turn around a nice, crisp piece in a TV news style in a reasonable amount of time.

Check it out and don't be afraid to make suggestions if you think it could be better.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

I'm being interviewed for Siouxcountry Radio!

This Friday I'm going to be recording an interview by phone with IFBB Pro Liza Hughes for Siouxcountry Radio.


lizahughes.com

Siouxcountry.com is a website devoted to female bodybuilding, fitness and figure. Liza and I will be talking mostly about my documentary Beyond the Pain: The Vicki Nixon Story as well as some of my current projects.

For anyone that is interested the interview is ready and posted at the link below. It will reside there for some time.

siouxcountryradio.com

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Making a promo video for a posing class in Maryland!

Fitness competitor, bodybuilding competitor and personal trainer Gretchen Krass and Maryland NPC chairman Rich Siegelman (also a currently competing bodybuilder) are conducting a 6 week posing class for bodybuilding and fitness enthusiasts in Maryland.

I know this because I am on Gretchen's emailing list. When I got the email I suggested to her that we do a cool video about this series in order to promote it for the next time. She and Rich thought it was a great idea and we are currently making plans to do just that!

My plan is to go to one of the later classes (there are two a week for 6 weeks) shoot some footage and get a few interviews. I would then combine that with footage of Gretchen winning the Maryland State last year (which I shot), add dynamic music and a voice over (of course!) explaining the course and the benefits to be gained.



I'm very excited about this project and will keep you up to date as it progresses! If you are interested in attending the classes please contact Gretchen at gretchen@gstfitness.com

Friday, March 20, 2009

Mike Pulcinella Video announces a new service for our bodybuilding, figure and bikini contest contest clients!

Mike Pulcinella Video Productions is now offering a special service. In addition to creating some of the best contest DVDs in the industry, we now can post your routine online so that you can send it to friends and family within DAYS of the show!

Your routine will be...

High resolution - we post on the high quality hosting site VIMEO!

Easily email-able - Just send your friends the link!

Downloadable! - VIMEO allows you to save the Quicktime file to your computer (with a quick and free sign-up) so you can play it there, make copies, burn a DVD, embed in other applications and even re-UPLOAD to Youtube or other video hosting sites!

Here are a few examples from last year.


Kreider, Robert from Mike Pulcinella Video on Vimeo.



Pringle, Shawna from Mike Pulcinella Video on Vimeo.


Tazuli, Tess from Mike Pulcinella Video on Vimeo.

Click here to see more!

This is YOUR routine, YOUR hard work, on the web for all to see! And it's only $10 with the purchase of the DVD, $15 if you want just the upload alone.

This is a really valuable service for anyone competing in bodybuilding, figure or bikini contests!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

First teaser from Raising the Bar 3!

Although I've got a way to go with the editing of Raising the Bar 3, I've created a short teaser to get y'all in the mood!!



Raising the Bar 3 - The First Teaser from mike pulcinella on Vimeo.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Need help shooting or editing video?

Fitness Video University is here!!

Scott York (bodybuildersreality.com and fitnessandfigurereality.com) and I have created a forum for the amateur videographer who wants to learn how to shoot better, edit better and promote their fitness business on the internet.



It's called Fitness Video University and it contains loads of information! You can ask questions, read shooting and editing tips and reviews of equipment, watch tutorials, post your own clips for members and experts to evaluate and learn ways to promote yourself using video.



Here are some recent topics on FVU...

How to be creative!

http://fitnessvideou.com/home/index.php?topic=377.0


Great camera trick! The perfect pan!

http://fitnessvideou.com/home/index.php?topic=388.0


With the help of FVU new member, personal trainer & IFBB pro bodybuilder Clifta Coulter Perez, hits one out of the park with her SECOND video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEmthNeO-Qg


When is a transition “cheesy”?

http://fitnessvideou.com/home/index.php?topic=404.0


I helped one of our members get a #1 ranking in Google IN 1 DAY...

http://fitnessvideou.com/home/index.php?topic=409.0


Times are NOT tough for everyone

http://fitnessvideou.com/home/index.php?topic=403.0


My review of Layne Norton’s “Unleashed!”

http://fitnessvideou.com/home/index.php?topic=417.0


Download FREE music and SFX for your videos!

http://fitnessvideou.com/home/index.php?topic=420.0



I think we have a really unique site that is very cool and quickly growing! Stop by and check it out...it's FREE!

http://www.fitnessvideou.com/

Monday, March 9, 2009

Raising the Bar 3 UPDATE!

Very often, while deep in the editing process, I realize that I don't have enough information to fully explain what is going on. I usually fix that with voiceover but sometimes voiceover just doesn't feel right. Sometimes what is needed is a first person account, especially if we are talking about the internal, emotional thoughts of the subject. It is much stronger to hear the subject say "I was sad..." instead of having the voiceover saying, "Mr. Boodely was sad."

With that in mind I invited Dave over today to watch the parts of RTB3 that I have done and to look at some raw or lightly edited footage.



I would play a sequence for him and then ask him for his reaction. He was VERY excited about what he was seeing! That was encouraging to me. I've been deep into this for over a month now and feel too close to it sometimes.

As usual he was thoughtful, eloquent and funny, the perfect documentary subject! Even though I was shooting video of us working, as you can see, I intend only to use the audio portion of the tape. I'm wearing headphones because I'm monitoring the audio as it's recording, listening for distortion or glitches. That's usually done off-camera. It was a bit of an unusual set-up but it worked for us!



Over the next few weeks I'll be incorporating the audio that we shot today and hopefully will be much closer to completion!!


(Yes, I'm wearing my promotional RTB3 t-shirt!! I know that's dorky but it gets me in the right frame of mind!)