Pocket Full
of MemoriesTM is a
video DVD containing a collection of your most precious memories. Photos
will appear and transition into the next photo while carefully selected music plays in the background. Photos are given a life unto
themselves by using editing techniques to create the effect of 'animated'
images. Static images become alive and connected through the creative use of
image and sound.
Absolutely! That is what Zzyzx Works specializes in producing. We have created custom videos
for birthdays, retirement parties, memorials, and many other special occasions
or events.
We invite you to view some of our samples here on our web page or, for the
price of shipping, you can
request a sample DVD to be sent to you for viewing in your home. Custom
work can include quality special effects that including fades, motion blurs, page peels, flips,
tumbles, spins and even puzzles pieces, to name a few.
Every video
that is produced by Zzyzx Works is personalized. No two videos are the same.
We
do not use any preformatted script, transitions, or music. Since this will be a
very personal work of art, we take time to work with you to help you decide the
direction of your video based upon the contents of the photos you provide for
us.
Titles, names and logos can also be added to your video or identify a special
picture, individual, or event. Special closings can be accommodated to list
individuals, time lines or any other aspect you would like to bring to light in
the closing of your video. In addition, the creation of your video also
produces all of your photographs digitally so you can also receive a CD
collection of your photos on an electronic format.
Zzyzx Works produces a wide range of specialized video. One of the most
popular format is the personal theme (Birthday, retirement, memorial, etc.).
Corporate events such as shareholders meetings, company anniversary of
historical documentary, and presentations are a few of the formats available.
Music is at the core of your video. It speaks to the heart and minds of those
watching and must be carefully chosen. You may select your music from our
music library list of thousands of songs or provide your own on CD or
cassette. Each song can require anywhere from 12 to 45 photographs depending
on the length of the song.
There is no additional charge for music when complete songs are selected.
Partial songs, however, require editing and require an additional charge for
editing.
Please note that it has been our experience that titles of songs do not
often accurately reflect the mood or theme of the video. We will make
every attempt to use any song you choose, however since this is an artistic
product, we reserve the right to choose songs that will reflect the overall
theme of your video. All music and photos will be produced with your final
approval.
No. Absolutely not! No photographs will be harmed in any way by Zzyzx Works.
If you are positively terrified to part with your photo, we suggest having a
copy made to send instead of the original. Although, for the best results, we
always recommend using an original over a copy.
We use an
electronic scanning process to input your photographs into the computer, then
all work on your video is done using those electronic photographs. Original
photographs are returned to you in the identical shape we received them from
you (Please
see our policy for original photos).
All
photos received from our clients are scanned to enhance the quality. Unless
otherwise specified, minimal corrections will be preformed at no additional
charge to remove dust, lint and minor imperfections, correct levels and trim frayed edges
from the scanned copy.
Additional
restoration, corrections, enhancements, or other special effects can be applied
for an additional charge. Each photograph is assessed by our professional videographers to determine the best results possible or the desired results requested
for each photo.
By all
means, yes! Often it is the old and forgotten photos that provoke the most
conversation and memories of your video. Zzyzx Works can many times use
your photos as they are or, as many people request, have Zzyzx Works perform a
complete Photo Restoration on those timeless photographs. Additional charges
apply for photo restoration and estimates are given based upon the quality and
needs of each specific photograph.
Any size photo up to a 9 X 12 will work; however, wallet size and smaller
will completely fill the screen and will have an appropriate border. Close-up
photos will look better on your video, but may not fill the need of the theme of
your video. Action photographs, funny faces, even motion or out of focus photos
can be incorporated to make your video a unique timepiece.
Horizontal, or Landscape, oriented images work best for the video screen.
Most
often, Yes! However, this involves custom work. It can most often be
accomplished without effecting the remainder of the photograph. However, each
photograph is unique and Zzyzx Works must evaluate each photograph to determine
what can be enhanced, removed or corrected.
Of course. Simply describe each video event that you would like to
include, making sure to explain what's happening at the starting point and the
ending point of each clip, give us a time code, and exactly where you would like each video clip to
appear on your finished video. Make sure to include the videos when
sending your photos to us.
Yes, but
again, this will depend on the context of your video and will incur additional
charges. Many times it is the sound effects that will lend special meaning to a
particular photo or group of photos. Zzyzx Works will often suggest that sound
clips be added to provide special effects to your special video, but of course,
you will determine the final outcome of your video.
As much as possible! We can not stress this point more clearly.
Anything you can do to reduce the amount of time it takes to produce your
project will cost you less and make the process run smoothly. Electronic files,
pre-scanned images, expectations of the completed work, time-lines, background
information pertinent to the story. Anything like that.
Expectations are VERY important for us to know beforehand.
Do your homework. The less research we have to do, the less the project will
cost you and the quicker it will be done.
DO NOT PIECE-MEAL information or images! When beginning a project, have
everything you want in it, ready for us. If we get content from you and begin a
project, then you come across more images you want to include in the project, we
have to alter the work already begun. That tends to drive up the cost of the
project.
Make no mistake. What you are proposing is a project in every sense of the
word, but well worth the effort!
No,
most often the size of the video data will prevent the video from fitting on a CD. All presentations are produced on either DVD or VHS for final viewing.
You may make an appointment to come into our studio located in Valencia,
California, view small sample clips here on our web
site, or you may request a sample DVD to be sent to you for viewing in
the privacy of your own home by
clicking here and filling out our simple order form. That way you can
see samples of the quality of the work we do. If you have a cable or DSL
internet connection, the same full-length video may be viewed
here.Our regular
office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, (PST)
We accept personal or company checks, money orders, or Credit Card payments
through PayPal. Note:
Credit Card payments may be subject to processing fees above the cost of the
project.
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required
before commencement of a project. The balance is due in full before
receipt of your completed video and return of original articles.
Completion of
your video can sometimes be as little as a week or as long as necessary to complete your
final project. Once all materials have been received; photos, home video,
patches, remembrances, original art, etc. Zzyzx Works will be able to determine the amount of
time necessary to complete your unique Pocket Full of Memories VideoTM. Many times
rush orders can be accommodated if all materials can be provided in a timely
manner.
Simply fill out the Order Form as completely as possible and return it to
us along with your photos, music, videos, a brief description of your vision of
the video and mail or deliver to the following address:
ZZYZX
WORKS
23128 Conde Drive
Valencia, CA 91354
661 263-8218 PH
661 263-8219 FX
sales@zzyzxworks.com
All payments can be made on credit through
paypal, by cash, money order,
personal or company check
Once
we receive your contents, photos, home video, patches, remembrances, etc we will
review the material and contact you regarding your personal Pocket Full of
MemoriesTM video. Based upon your requests and our professional opinions we will
be able to determine the cost of your video. At that time we will request
a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the estimated cost of your video to begin working on your
project. Full payment will be required upon completion prior to Zzyzx Works
releasing your video and return of your original articles.
Absolutely. That is a big cost savings to you since we do charge for each
scanned image we make.
Electronic images should be at LEAST 300dpi (dots per inch)
resolution and in TIF format. JPG format is
acceptable, however using JPG sometimes results in a jagged or rough image,
depending on the size, and if it has been re-sized or re-saved many times.
Most images directly out of a 2 mega-pixel camera will suffice as a JPG. Send
those types of images directly without altering or re-saving the file. Re-saving
tends to cause JPG images to loose clarity each time they are saved due to the
compression algorithm used. If you need to compress or otherwise reduce the size
of a transmission, we recommend that you Zip the file(s) using
WinZip or other file
compression utility.
When you initially contact us to do a project, and upon receipt of your deposit,
we will provide you with a user name and password and instructions for you to
securely upload your files to our FTP site using an FTP
program such as
WS_FTP.
Your images are secure this way and only accessible to you and Zzyzx Works.
We do NOT recommend emailing images since file sizes tend to be large and most
email servers will not allow large transmissions. FTP does not have such size
restrictions.
We recommend a cable or DSL connection to do this however. It can take a long
time with a dial-up connection!
If you only have access to a dial up connction or simply do not want to take the
time to upload to our FTP site, write the files to CD-ROM and mail them using
the methods describes below.
How should I identify my images?
Please use the following method to identify your images:
Hard Copies; DO NOT WRITE ON THE BACK of your photo(s). Writing
implements tend to score photos and the ridges caused by the writing tend to
show up on the front of the photo, and on the scanned image.
Write down on a post-it contextual information about the image before
applying it to the back of the image.
Give us some context about the image. Generally the
five W's work.
Who What When Where Why
(You may need to write this on a separate paper. It may not fit on a
post-it!)
- Who is in the image. Correctly spelled names of people
- What are we looking at (if not obvious)
- When, dates, ages, etc.
- Where is the location
- Why. Context. Why is this image important enough to use? What are the
pertinent relationships of the people in it
Identify the image. Assign some unique,
identifying name to each image so we can refer to it intelligently and to assign
file names. This will also help you to return photos to photo albums! For
instance, If you
take two post-it's. Assign a unique name to an image and the album. Write the names on the
two post-it's. Place one in the space in the album as a place holder and the other
on the back of the photo. You will be able to return the photo to it's proper
place.
Zzyzx
Works will assume no responsibility for loss or damage to the contents of your package while it is
not in our control. We do however, strongly recommend that you follow some
simple guidelines when shipping your items to us to protect
them from loss and damage:
-
Use
a reputable shipper that can offer you, and us, the ability to track your package during
shipment. Federal Express, UPS, and the U.S. Post Office provide for
package tracking. We suggest you contact them for current rates and delivery
schedules.
-
Since
all shippers will only pay for the value of the lost item, and not any sentimentality
associated with the item, we strongly advise that any monies you would spend on
insurance be directed instead to upgrading to an overnight delivery or making a
copy to send instead of the original. Remember
the longer it stays in their system the more chance for damage or loss.
-
When
shipping photos, remove the photos from any frames, especially those with glass
fronts. Unfortunately we have seen photos become damaged during shipping when
the glass breaks and cuts or scratches the photo. Also, the extra weight
associated with a framed photo will result in more money spent on shipping costs
and the time it takes for us to deal with the framing!
-
If
removal of the photo from it's frame is impossible, package the item properly to
prevent breakage during shipping. Placing the item between cardboard and then
wrapping in bubble-wrap secured with shipping tape will usually decrease the
possibility of unwanted damage. We will make every attempt to clearly reproduce
framed or otherwise non-flat articles, but unfortunately can not guarantee the
results.
-
Take a head count! Record how many photos, videos, or other articles you are
sending so we can be sure to return the same amount
Are there any other benefits to a Pocket Full of
MemoriesTM video?
Certainly. Besides the emotional and sentimental benefits, Zzyzx Works can*;
-
Provide you with a CD-ROM of the scanned and re-touched images for permanent
archival
-
Create a custom Collagι themed from your video project as an added memento
-
Repair old or damaged photos
-
Create custom version of photos, manipulated to your requirements
-
Produce family genealogy trees photographically
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