Through the Lens of Legacy: What the Sheraton Mahwah Implosion Taught Me about the Art of Storytelling and Media Mastery
On a cool morning in northern New Jersey, I stood among a crowd of early risers, camera in hand, as we prepared to witness something extraordinary. The air was heavy with anticipation. And then, in a matter of seconds, the iconic Sheraton Mahwah Towers—once a symbol of luxury and architectural pride—collapsed in an astonishing display of precision demolition.
Virtual sets are revolutionizing media production and they’re changing how TV shows, films, and events are created. This article, explores virtual sets, how they differ from traditional production methods, and why they’re becoming essential for modern broadcasters and filmmakers.
Whether you’re a seasoned video producer and director like myself or just starting, having the right tools is essential for creating high-quality content. I’ve been a long-time fan of both the free and pro versions of DaVinci Resolve, but sometimes, you need to convert video or audio formats quickly and may not have all your professional tools at your fingertips.
John Morley introduces his monthly feature, Tech Trends Unplugged, focusing on Oakland, NJ’s innovative fiber infrastructure project. Spearheaded by Mayor Eric Kulmala, the initiative aims to enhance connectivity and communication for municipal buildings while reducing costs. This strategic foresight highlights the importance of infrastructure planning for sustainable community growth and economic benefits.
TelVue’s partnership with JAG advances technology integration through AI for meeting summaries, enhanced accessibility with SmartCaption, and social media engagement. New cloud storage enables secure archiving, while the CloudCast Paywall and video ads enhance revenue potential. Upcoming features will be showcased at the JAG meeting on February 26, 2025.
Edward Cologna, Station Manager at Newark TV, shares insights on the role of AI in video production. He emphasizes that AI is not replacing video professionals but enhancing efficiency and creativity in content creation, from writing PSAs to budgeting. Human oversight remains essential to ensure accuracy and relevance in their work.
John Morley, an independent producer, emphasizes the transformative power of media in connecting communities and sharing important stories. His involvement with JAG aligns with his mission to promote local media and amplify diverse voices. Through workshops and collaborative efforts, JAG aims to enhance community engagement and empower individuals through accessible, inspiring content.
By Jesse Lerman, President and CEO, TelVue Corporation
It’s about time: one of the most precious commodities you as station managers and volunteers offer to your organizations. We know how difficult it can be to achieve efficiency in your operations: the performance of work in the right way and getting to the desired result, but with minimal effort, time, and cost.
TelVue Corporation has always been focused on the latest innovations to help you, the valued JAG member stations, save not only time and money, but to develop and improve system features that will help expand your viewership and increase accessibility. Cost savings can be achieved by integrating and doing more “all-in-one”. Time savings through enhanced, modern automation. Time to work smarter, not harder; time for ready, set, integrated & automate!
By Dana Healy, VP Sales | Cablecast Community Media
At Cablecast, it is our mission to help our customers quickly and efficiently get their video content across platforms. We will be highlighting the benefits of Asset Management, and introducing Cablecast’s new Smart Asset Manager.
We’ll also talk about security best practices of a CDN, and introduce REFLECT+, Cablecast’s cloud-based content delivery network.
by Paul Distefano, Northeast Regional Sales Manager, I Light USA Corp – DeSisti & Coemar USA
A few years ago, while still with a lighting system integration company, my boss introduced a new term to me….. the “Alternative Media Space”. Basically, this was a place…. an office, a lobby, a conference room, a newsroom, a foyer…… anyplace that could be lit and used to record media. These were rarely permanent installations. Crews could come in, set up a couple of chairs, one or two cameras, shoot an interview or some other content, and leave…. closer to an ENG shoot than a studio production. Given the choice, the one thing that our customers wanted to be somewhat permanent was the lighting. This made sense. If there were no need for stands and cabling, the overhead lighting was clean, efficient, and would allow a crew to come in and shoot on battery power and leave without even unspooling a cable.
Posted: June 17, 2025 by Doug Seidel
What the Sheraton Implosion Teaches Us About Storytelling in Real Time
by John C. Morley, Independent Producer
Through the Lens of Legacy: What the Sheraton Mahwah Implosion Taught Me about the Art of Storytelling and Media Mastery
On a cool morning in northern New Jersey, I stood among a crowd of early risers, camera in hand, as we prepared to witness something extraordinary. The air was heavy with anticipation. And then, in a matter of seconds, the iconic Sheraton Mahwah Towers—once a symbol of luxury and architectural pride—collapsed in an astonishing display of precision demolition.
Posted: April 22, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Behind the Pixels: The Rise of Virtual Sets in Broadcasting
by John C. Morley, Independent Producer
Virtual sets are revolutionizing media production and they’re changing how TV shows, films, and events are created. This article, explores virtual sets, how they differ from traditional production methods, and why they’re becoming essential for modern broadcasters and filmmakers.
Posted: March 24, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Essential Guide to Video Frame Rates and Conversion Tools
Whether you’re a seasoned video producer and director like myself or just starting, having the right tools is essential for creating high-quality content. I’ve been a long-time fan of both the free and pro versions of DaVinci Resolve, but sometimes, you need to convert video or audio formats quickly and may not have all your professional tools at your fingertips.
Posted: February 25, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Oakland, NJ: Leading the Way in Fiber Infrastructure
John Morley introduces his monthly feature, Tech Trends Unplugged, focusing on Oakland, NJ’s innovative fiber infrastructure project. Spearheaded by Mayor Eric Kulmala, the initiative aims to enhance connectivity and communication for municipal buildings while reducing costs. This strategic foresight highlights the importance of infrastructure planning for sustainable community growth and economic benefits.
Posted: February 25, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Sharing the TelVue 2025 Vision with JAG
TelVue’s partnership with JAG advances technology integration through AI for meeting summaries, enhanced accessibility with SmartCaption, and social media engagement. New cloud storage enables secure archiving, while the CloudCast Paywall and video ads enhance revenue potential. Upcoming features will be showcased at the JAG meeting on February 26, 2025.
Posted: January 29, 2025 by Doug Seidel
How AI is Helping Newark TV Stay Ahead of the Game: A Station Manager’s Perspective
Edward Cologna, Station Manager at Newark TV, shares insights on the role of AI in video production. He emphasizes that AI is not replacing video professionals but enhancing efficiency and creativity in content creation, from writing PSAs to budgeting. Human oversight remains essential to ensure accuracy and relevance in their work.
Posted: December 21, 2024 by Doug Seidel
Why DaVinci Resolve Should Be Your Go-To for Video Editing
John Morley, an independent producer, emphasizes the transformative power of media in connecting communities and sharing important stories. His involvement with JAG aligns with his mission to promote local media and amplify diverse voices. Through workshops and collaborative efforts, JAG aims to enhance community engagement and empower individuals through accessible, inspiring content.
Posted: March 15, 2023 by Doug Seidel
Cost-saving Integrations & Time-saving Automation from TelVue
By Jesse Lerman, President and CEO, TelVue Corporation
It’s about time: one of the most precious commodities you as station managers and volunteers offer to your organizations. We know how difficult it can be to achieve efficiency in your operations: the performance of work in the right way and getting to the desired result, but with minimal effort, time, and cost.
TelVue Corporation has always been focused on the latest innovations to help you, the valued JAG member stations, save not only time and money, but to develop and improve system features that will help expand your viewership and increase accessibility. Cost savings can be achieved by integrating and doing more “all-in-one”. Time savings through enhanced, modern automation. Time to work smarter, not harder; time for ready, set, integrated & automate!
Posted: February 21, 2023 by Doug Seidel
What are the Benefits of an Asset Manager?
By Dana Healy, VP Sales | Cablecast Community Media
At Cablecast, it is our mission to help our customers quickly and efficiently get their video content across platforms. We will be highlighting the benefits of Asset Management, and introducing Cablecast’s new Smart Asset Manager.
We’ll also talk about security best practices of a CDN, and introduce REFLECT+, Cablecast’s cloud-based content delivery network.
Posted: January 24, 2023 by Doug Seidel
Lighting….. The Easiest Part of Creating an Alternative Media Space
by Paul Distefano, Northeast Regional Sales Manager, I Light USA Corp – DeSisti & Coemar USA
A few years ago, while still with a lighting system integration company, my boss introduced a new term to me….. the “Alternative Media Space”. Basically, this was a place…. an office, a lobby, a conference room, a newsroom, a foyer…… anyplace that could be lit and used to record media. These were rarely permanent installations. Crews could come in, set up a couple of chairs, one or two cameras, shoot an interview or some other content, and leave…. closer to an ENG shoot than a studio production. Given the choice, the one thing that our customers wanted to be somewhat permanent was the lighting. This made sense. If there were no need for stands and cabling, the overhead lighting was clean, efficient, and would allow a crew to come in and shoot on battery power and leave without even unspooling a cable.