MAY
2, 2008 NEW 2008 Demo Reels Posted on the SERVICES Page!
We finally updated and posted our NEW 2008 Practical Effects
Reel, located on our Services
page. Make
sure you check it out and CRANK YOUR SPEAKERS...it's got some REALLY nice clips and
eye candy for your viewing! We'll be posting our Visual Effects
Reel by the middle or end of next week, so check back soon
for some more amazing CG footage! Oh, and feel free to contact us via site-mail if you have any comments. You guy's ROCK!
Enjoy! - JC
MAR
12, 2008 NEW Web Site Updates are here!
Take a look at the new Image Gallery's we've just added, located
on our Services
page. Pleanty
of rich imagery that shows what we've been up too for the past
two years or more. We hope to have the 2008 Practical and
VFX reels posted soon too. For those of you that are wondering
when the NEW SYNAPSE website will be posted...well, it's been
a year now, in the making and we have decieded to make some
new updates on this current site first. This should hold you
off till we work out all the kinks of the next version. Enjoy!
JAN
15, 2006
"California Sea Lions-An Unforgettable Encounter" is now fully completed and on tour. Purchase your copy today on the Rio Films "Sea Lions" home page. Rio Films will be using "Sea Lions" as an educational and fundraising tool for schools with our"Oceans to the Classroom" program starting in the Fall of 2005. Audiences nation-wide have been educated and entertained by this amazing film and we look forward to traveling to other locations around the county.
Rio Films is also proud to announce that FilmAid International has deceided to use "Sea Lions" to aid, inspire and entertain refugees world-wide. Such rehabilitation is an integral part of the philosophy ofFilmAid International, a non-profit organization that premieres inspirational and educational films in the refugee camps of East Africa, (and previously in Afghanistan and Kosovo) to relieve the stress and psychological trauma of the residents. See the official press release.
FEB
3, 2005 Sean
Astin from Lord Of The Rings records Narrative for California
Sea Lions-
An Unforgettable Encounter
Once again we're keeping ourselves busy as always and made some
time to post more great news. We are proud to announce that Sean
Astin just finished recording his narrative for the documentary
film California Sea Lions-An Unforgettable Encounter. After four
long years of production, the end is near and the film is scheduled
for release March 1st. It was an amazing experience working with
Sean Astin and being the professional that he is, he really kept
us laughing and had an amazing down to earth personality. We would
like to throw out a big thanks to Sean for believing in our documentary
and giving us the perfect voice to compliment the film.
For
more information about Sean Astin and his projects, logon to www.seanastin.com
Photo1
- Sean Astin in action . Photo2 - Joe Cornell/Sean Astin/Alan
De Herrera
SEP
14 , 2004
California
Sea Lions-An Unforgettable Encounter wins the Audience Choice
Award for best film at The Channel Islands Film Festival
A
nature film doesn't often win a major award at a film festival,
but it happened for Rio Films when its documentary, California
Sea Lions-An Unforgettable Encounter won the Audience Choice Award
at the Channel Islands Film Festival in Ventura.
"This
means a great deal to me," says Alan De Herrera, the producer
and director of the film. "Giving the public something they
can enjoy is the primary reason why I went into film making. Knowing
that the audience, those wonderful people sitting out there in
the dark, think my movie was the best they saw at the festival
is an awesome thrill. It makes me feel humble and proud at the
same time."
The
month of September has thus far been full of pleasant surprises
for Rio Films and its founder. Earlier in the month, Mr. De Herrera
received word that his second project, Channel Islands Adventure
was chosen as a finalist for the Roy W. Dean Grant/Lost Angeles
Film Grant. "The Roy W. Dean Grant is one of the most sought
after awards in the industry with hundreds of applicants in competition
for it," says De Herrera. "Just to be selected as one
of the finalists is a tremendous honor. All of us at Rio Films
are delighted by this consideration."
While
the future currently looks very bright, Mr. De Herrera is not
content to wait for it. "I'm going to make tomorrow happen.
We are currently scheduling viewings of California Sea Lions at
diving clubs, theaters, museums, and anywhere the public can come
and enjoy this film. The response to date has been real positive.
Everyone wants to see those "clowns of the sea" do their
stunts. We are currently seeking distribution and plan to travel
the country so everyone will get the chance to be entertained
by the sea lions. I guarantee you that!"
Mr.
De Herrera is available for interviews and can be reached at (714)
401-8610. For more information about Rio Films and its projects,
please check the company website at http://www.rioflims.com
###
JULY
29, 2004
AERIAL PLANE MOUNT- Aircraft: Cessna 172
Boy have we had some busy times lately, but we were finally able
to post the latest news of our NEW Aerial Mount designed for Rio
Films - "California Sea Lions " Documentary. The Plane
Mount supports the CANON XL-1, XL-1S and hopefully the new XL-2.
More info on the Aerial Mount can be found in SERVICES
along with photos taken from Long Beach Airport. Below is some
footage of the Mount attached to the Cessna, taking off from the
runway of the Long Beach Airport.
JUNE
1, 2004
THE CROSSING - Director: Steve Garcia
We just finished filming THE CROSSING in Barstow, CA. The page
for this awesome masterpiece can be found in SERVICES
along with plenty of photos taken on set. Or, you can check out
the Sneak Preview below taken from the digital camera. Enjoy!
Fullerton
based Synapse Fx uses state-of-the-art engineering to develop
specialized underwater film equipment for the Rio Films documentary
California Sea Lions- An Unforgettable Encounter.
Orange County, CA –
November 3rd, 2003 – Synapse Fx announces completion of
a specially designed Underwater Camera Housing built for the local
environmental film company Rio Films who’s project is sponsored
by the Friends of the Sea Lion in Laguna Beach. “The director
was in need of a one-of-a-kind housing to film underwater shots
of sea lions at “Seal Rock,” a local hang-out for
sea lions in Orange County,” says Joe Cornell – owner
of Synapse Fx and the designer of the underwater equipment.
“The director called
for a uniquely designed housing that would have full mechanical
controls for their Canon XL- 1 Frame-Digital film camera. Working
with nominal financing, we were able to fully design and fabricate
this special piece of equipment using state-of-the-art computer
design methods and machining,” says Joe.
Working on a very tight budget and unable to afford the retail
price of a housing, long-time friend and director Alan De Herrera
commissioned Joe at Synapse Fx to build a custom housing
designed specifically for his digital camera. “The footage
that’s been shot with the housing is phenomenal and we are
both looking forward to screening this project at the local film
festivals in Orange County next year,” says De Herrera.
Synapse Fx is an
emerging special effects company dedicated to providing physical
effects for the entertainment industry. Combining 10 years of
special effects experience, Josh Foster and Joe Cornell established
Synapse Fx in 1999. Synapse Fx has successfully completed
make-up and pyro FX for a action/drama pilot entitled “The
Black Hand”, four mechanical laser-gun props and pyro for
a futuristic action pilot entitled “Central Enforcement”,
pyrotechnics for a California State Fullerton University student
film entitled “Concerning the Body Guard,” along with
other projects in the works.
