iKlip A/V provides a steady platform and a quality sound to smartphone video

Truth be told, smartphone camera technology is quietly surpassing high-end consumer video cameras in both quality and usability. Why--- because of the sheer number of smartphones in the hands of an overly demanding consumer base. Ease-of-use, light management, focal control and automated post production are all proving to be valuable tools for professional videographers. But still, camera stability continues to be a problem with smartphones when it comes to motion-blur. Tripods can help tremendously with video output even though most smartphone applications have yet to perfect in-process auto-zoom. A stationary smartphone posted within prime target range of the subject, positions smartphone video as a strong rival to even the best cinema cameras on the market. But---and this is a big “but”, video presentations with poor audio will render the final output close to worthless. Enter iKlip A/V by IK multimedia! These gadget makers, who have focused on clever audio and video products for years, continue to get better by the day and this time they have nailed it with their wireless-microphone integration to smartphones. iKlip A/V’s price point is reasonable and the design features are cool. A wireless microphone receiver is stationed upon a broadcast mount via XLR; with a hardwired connection directly to the smartphone by way of a 1/8” TRRS audio cable. The unit also includes volume control and a headphone jack feature for precise audio quality control. Hand-holding the unit still is not foolproof against blur motion, but when mounted on a tripod the iKlip A/V is a complete win. The audio quality is impressive, lending yet another use for those relatively expensive LAV wireless microphones which are normally hiding in the bottom of your camera bags waiting to be uesed. From a cost standpoint, the offering does not include a wireless receiver which can run the gamut of prices.

This review was done using a Sennheiser G3 Ew-100 wireless system and the performance was outstanding. Notes for improvement: might be to include a travel case and a more robust wireless receiver mount, to prevent the wireless receiver from slipping off the mount. Suggestions might be to include a rubber skid pad or adjustable shoe connection. A recommendation to the user: is to remove the plastic attachment when the unit is not in use, to avoid damage from stepping or sitting on the unit. Oh, yeah---it should also be mentioned to make sure to turn the unit off when not in use! Since the iKlip A/V has phantom power, the use of standard microphones broadens the product’s usability even more. The adjustable iKlip can be expanded to hold a variety of smartphone and---“no” (in case you are wondering) a standard video camera cannot receive the audio signal from the A/V unit! You can’t have it all, but you sure can have a lot with this nice product offering! Good job iK Multimedia!
The following video what shot entirely with an iPhone 5 

Story momentum

I continued to be told that Illegitimate Advantage (IA) is intense from the first page to the end. Almost to the point where people need to put it down and take a rest. I didn’t realize it at the time but, I probably subconsciously designed it that way. I wanted a story that had a strong velocity. One of the cardinal rules that I learned about writing is to keep the story line steady and not speed up. But I wanted to do something different with an element of acceleration. IA would always be gaining momentum. And by that I mean that it would subtly speed up all of the time. So I was breaking the number one cardinal rule. It was an extremely inspiring time for me. Eating, sleeping and writing this novel, was all that I did. I believe that the value of IA shows because I was writing it with such conviction and honesty. I look forward to your thoughts.

A perfect choice for the beach!

An author’s inspiration

For the last three years and two months, I have been hard at work on a novel “Illegitimate Advantage”.  I was completely inspired to write this story, mainly because the story line came to me so clearly.  It was a story that spoke to me from the vantage point of ethnic twin sisters who fall victim to selfish evil.

While I was completely motivated to write the book, it was never easy to compose.  I story-boarded the novel on the walls of my condo while living on Folly Beach and channeled almost all of my waking hours towards it.

Since the story was told from the vantage point of twin sisters, for the entire time (while I was writing, of course), I’m quite sure I became a women.  Not only did I feel the dialogue of these lovely characters pass through me, I also reached out to some of my own life challenges and applied them to the project. 

  

I spent countless hours sketching out the contents of each chapter while sitting on a tractor cutting the grassy pastures in the heat of the summer. Never in my life had I ever been so completely involved in a creative process.  I was literally living a dream while at the same time trying to put it on paper for others read.

Every single word was chosen with a sense of purpose, and every chapter had a mission to accomplish.  Each had to capture the attention of the reader and provide a major point to the story line. 

Interestingly, I learned something about my writing process.   I realized that I did my best writing in distracting environments.  Coffee houses served as my favorite venues where I could center myself and fight for every word.  It seemed the louder the conversations were around me or the more diverting a person’s perfume was, the more I was able to reach deeper in to my imagination.

Many of my friends and acquaintances saw me during this insane time of my life, sitting among the fray typing.  On one occasion I was so inspired to complete a chapter, after Openroad Coffee closed for the day, I completed a chapter with my laptop perched on the passenger seat of my truck while the rain soaked my back.  Now that was an inspirational moment!

As each chapter came and went, I never became overconfident that I would successfully finish it.   I always feared the time would come when I hit a brick wall.

 

A writer’s mind might be compared to a baseball player, standing in a batting cage warming up, when suddenly his swing goes bad.  As soon as a slugger takes his stance, he knows when he’s either got it or lost it. 

I’ve imagined inspiration as being described as a writer’s best friend whom he plays Hide-and-Seek with.  When he searches for his friend and finds him, it’s a wonderful thing. But, when he can’t find him, it’s horrible. 

Luckily my inspirational friend never abandoned me but stayed with me until the very end, at which point I wept.   I was finally done with the story and was confident that nothing more was needed to be said.

 

An Open Letter to Lady Gaga from Homayra Sellier

Homayra Sellier

Innocence In danger

66 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, France

www.innocenceendanger.org 

Born on 1999 at headquarters of UNESCO

An international non for profit as of 2000

Email : homayrasellier@innocenceendanger.org

Date: February 3, 2016 

Dear Lady Gaga,

I am motivated to write you for a few reasons; your courage to speak out; "Spotlight"; the movie which won the Oscars, reflects my/our daily work since 16 years ago (within the organization I founded on 1999, called Innocence in Danger); your wonderful song, which I would love to turn into an anthem for this topic, with your help and last but not least; a powerful novel that has just been published and my organization’s desire to get the story’s message out to the masses.

Our hope is that this novel may become a movie; a movie as powerful as your song. A story that invites people on an adventure and gently injects a message of love---but also awakens people to the presence of powerful danger that exists almost everywhere. I know that most books and movies about human trade and sexual abuse never make it off the shelves and opened by a reader.

This story is very exciting and most of all inviting. Unbelievably, it is a story that fictionally portrays my life. It was written by a journalist in the U.S. whom I’ve never met in person; with whom we have had hours of conversations by email and phone; who showed care, concern and commitment to this cause; who also seems to  know  more me than anyone else. How this can happen is a mystery to both of us.

(My twin sister Golareh (L) and myself – are each portrayed in Illegitimate-Advantage)

About me: I work very hard---every single waking moment for the protection of the innocent souls in the pathway of sexual predators. Please review my websites for more information about Innocence in Danger. We are in many nations of the world.

The name of the novel is “Illegitimate-Advantage (Novel 2016) – By Kirk Gollwitzer

I’m hoping and praying for a boost from you; because, quite frankly, you have the power we need to connect to the masses.

I’m contacting you not for money---but simply your voice and your courage.

Also because of the following:

You have been victimized and still have the courage to speak out.

You are a living example of one who survived; and has the world's attention; your talent and your voice move across oceans. 

Lady Gaga, so many victims suffer in silence as days turn into years; shattered lives which sometimes shatter other lives or harm themselves.

The world is a scary place when one's road crosses the path of a vicious predator. Survivors need to find someone/something to hold on to---because so often; everyone else has abandoned them including God in heaven.

I have been that someone for them since 1999---but I (desperately) need your help. I am completely outnumbered and overrun by the enemy and the code of silence.

Lady Gaga, if you considered helping us boost our movie project and offer your powerful song to Innocence in Danger, our message will be heard across oceans. In my wish list, we will meet one day, and organize concerts for you in Geneva, Montreux; Paris, London, New York - our next event is in Paris on April 11 and an event during the Cannes  film festival.

In France alone, we know there are four million victims of incest and close to 600 attempted rapes per day. 

This is just the tip of the iceberg---especially when the perpetrators trust that most will never talk about what happened to them. Further, those they speak to --- DO NOTHING or are silenced.

Lady Gaga, I want them to know that they are not alone!

I want their hearts to know they have found a home with our organization: Innocence in Danger, which includes me and our devoted teams.

I want the survivors to believe that they can let down their guard and allow our arms, voices and love shelter them.

Most of them have an immense wish to survive, but many do not. They have lost their will live. Why should they fight any longer when they believe that it will rain for the remainder of their existence; and the world appears deaf?  With your help we will show them that the world around them, in fact hears them, and even more, will amplify their voice and help them.

I want to send a wave of love to all survivals who have difficulty accepting to be loved -

Their shame has to change camps/sides.

Their trust and self-confidence have been severely damaged - but we know it can all be restored if our societies learn to have a healing eye towards them - Lady Gaga; you can make this happen.

I am fully aware that it takes only a few words of support, caring and love from you for something so magical to happen. The dim light in their soul will soon become  a flame so bright that they may find their way home.

As an NGO, I am doing everything I can….but I desperately need your voice of power, passion and beauty---such as you possess. Time is ticking, it cannot wait.

I humbly ask that you read this novel.  I ask that you to hold the book in your hands and receive it into your heart—because there you might find me.

Perpetrators, collaborators, bystanders and victims: we can be clear about three of these categories.

The bystander, however, is the fulcrum. If there are enough notable exceptions, then protest reaches a critical mass. We don’t usually think of history as being shaped by silence, but, as English philosopher Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing; please help us.

I leave my hopes in your hands and  thank you for your time. 

Sincerely yours,

Homayra Sellier 

Founder and President of Innocence in Danger.

Kirk Gollwitzer publishes techno-thriller

Kirk Gollwitzer has launched his debut novel “Illegitimate Advantage” and presents a shocking theory regarding personal privacy. Gollwitzer, a Tryon, North Carolina resident and past business owner, drastically changed his career targets from computer technology to documentary filmmaker, photojournalist and author. Once known for operating one of the most highly successful software development companies in South Carolina, Gollwitzer made a switch from general business development to the film industry. Since 2009, Gollwitzer has been a contributing writer/photographer a Google News Affiliate and a host of national magazines. Gollwitzer is one of three founders of the PCFI, a non-profit organization that offers support to those in the motion picture and television industries with limited resources. Gollwitzer co-founded the Tryon International Film Festival and actively promotes independent films from around the world. Gollwitzer began writing “Illegitimate Advantage” in November of 2012 while taking a hiatus at a condo on Folly Beach, S.C. “The framework for this novel came to me over a three week period. It was quite amazing and I doubt that it will ever happen again. Through the help of my family, friends and the assistance from Bonnie Braendlin, my story consultant, the project finally came to a completion point,” said Gollwitzer.

“Illegitimate Advantage” is a work of fiction under the genre: mystery, suspense and techno-thriller. Gollwitzer, a fan of authors like Michael Crichton (The Andromeda Strain) and Stieg Larsson (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), likes to go beyond simple plot development and dig deeper into the subject matter; thereby explaining how a story points might actually happen. The story follows the lives of twin sisters who are moved from Iran to Paris during the height of the Iranian revolution and placed in the care of a powerful government official. The sisters discover the dark side of their safe house, after they are traumatized and separated for more than three decades. The story exploits the possibility of an ever building security hole within the communication industry. A flaw so large that even the largest wireless communications service providers will never admit. The novel presents a theory that closely parallels Alvin Toffler’s “Future Shock” concepts suggesting an ever building level of digital impotence. Gollwitzer, however, pushes the envelope further into the subject matter while proposing a scenario where everyone (both good and bad) is vulnerable. Settings include: France, United Kingdom, Iran and Mexico

Equestrian themed novel highlight lessons learned

Kirk Gollwitzer has launched his debut novel “Illegitimate Advantage”. Gollwitzer began writing Illegitimate-Advantage in November of 2012 while living in a condo on Folly Beach, S.C. “The framework for this novel came to me over a three week period. It was quite amazing and I doubt that it will ever happen again. Through the help of my family, friends and the assistance from Bonnie Braendlin, my story consultant, the project finally came to a completion point.” “Illegitimate Advantage” is a work of fiction under the genre: mystery, thriller suspense and equestrian. The story follows the lives of twin sisters who are moved from Iran to Paris during the height of the Iranian revolution and placed in the care of a powerful government official. The sisters discover the dark side of their safe house, after they are traumatized and separated for more than three decades. The lessons learned from their equestrian trainer at an early age help guide the twins through a most difficult adventure. Settings include: France, United Kingdom, Iran and Mexico.