ParkingCarma

ParkingCarma Goes to Hollywood

ParkingCarma and the American Film Institute have partnered together to offer a seamless movie going experience for people attending the AFIFEST 2007.  The film festival runs from November 1st – November 11th and is held at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood, CA.

 
Each year parking rapidly fills up on nights and weekends, leaving people scrambling at the last minute for a parking place.  This year patrons can conveniently purchase guaranteed parking online through ParkingCarma.

Film patrons who buy a full festival pass can also purchase an 11 day parking pass through ParkingCarma at a savings of $15 off the individual daily rate, which guarantees worry-free parking for the entire film festival.   For patrons buying individual movie tickets, ParkingCarma is also offering daily parking reservations.

As an added incentive for planning ahead and reducing congestion during the film festival, AFI is providing the following benefits:

For every single day parking ticket you bring to the Box Office from our official parking partners, receive one regular screening voucher to AFI FEST. Purchase the 11-day parking pass and receive four (4) free screening vouchers. Details at www.AFI.com/AFIFEST.

AFI FEST presented by Audi is the longest-running film festival in Los Angeles and one of the most influential film festivals in North America. Each year the Festival presents one of the world's most anticipated showcases of international film, demonstrating AFI's commitment to celebrating the art form.

Please click here for more information and to make advanced parking reservations for AFIFEST 2007.

10 Tips on being Filmed for Good Morning America

  Last week, I had the great opportunity to represent ParkingCarma on national television when our company was the subject of a piece for Good Morning America called “Finding the Perfect Spot.”  I was very naïve to the behind-the-scenes logistics of getting this all together before this happened.  I thought I would share some of the highlights of the process below. 

1. They will put makeup on you; remember to wash it off before going out to lunch before someone asks, “Are you wearing makeup?”

2. The camera(s) and lights will make you lose about 25 IQ points and gain 10 lbs – Usually not the best combination of trends.  Stick with simple answers to questions

3. You will be out of your comfort zone.  Have your friend stand about one foot away from you while another shines a spotlight in your eyes on a busy city sidewalk.  Ignore the gathering crowd and try to answer such challenging questions as, “what’s your name, etc?”

4. Control the verbal diarrhea.  It’s amazing how a short answer can turn into a 300 word ramble with no clear end in sight.

5. Be amazed that over five hours of filming turns into a 90 second segment and that you will appear for about 10 seconds.

6. Be prepared that the 10 seconds they show you for is not the ten seconds you would have liked to have been shown.

7. Bring props.  People can relate to them and it’s easier to talk when the camera is pointed at something else.

8. Try to appear natural when being filmed in a car crammed with 5 people, three cameras (one outside the car), and a driver who is reading a cell-phone while driving down a busy street and interviewing you.

9. If you are going to demo your technology you must understand that the reporter’s cell phone will be something that you have never tested your service with and it is either wildly bleeding edge or it’s so old it comes with a handset.

10. Be very appreciative of the producers and reporters.  Doing a live Good Morning America shot on the west coast means they have to start setting up at 1:00 am.  The post-production turn-around time is also amazing.  It took me nine months to get my wedding video, these guys did it in about six hours – complete with Seinfeld clip. 

Bonus: Expect congratulations from distant family members and friends on your national TV debut.  Also expect fantastic and constructive criticism from all the same people whom you never thought were closet Screen Actor Guild Members.

 
I want to thank Miguel Marquez of ABC for taking a camera newbie like myself and getting me through the shoot.  I also would like to thank Herran Bekele, also of ABC, for producing the piece and the camera crew for taking the shot from “just one more angle.”

For those interested you can view the Good Morning America segment here, "Finding the Perfect Spot."