Renee and Susan Highlight Reel from Ken Carlson on Vimeo.

Last January Matty came to me with this short little goofy script for a video about some guy in a space ship running low on cookies. The whole video would be a delivery system for one joke about a dead shipmate’s wife making the best cookies. The story evolved during the video production, which we shot in Olympia, and we added a second character, the shipmate, Morris. Then we killed him. The joke for which the whole piece was intended didn’t make the final cut.

I enjoyed the piece so much I decided to write a 14 issue web-series based on this one short film. This blog will follow behind the scenes and document construction of sets. One year later we’re in full pre-production building sets, constructing miniatures, treating scripts and casting additional actors. It’s looking like Olympia’s own video production of the sci-fi/comedy web series “Dead Drift” is shaping up to be a lot of fun!

Setting up a light at a video shoot in Olympia.

Welcome to Kinetic Vision Media, I’m Ken Carlson, the owner and operator. Like most of us, I have a great love of cinema and the movies. Even more than that, I love stories. When I was but a wee lad I can remember finding a cheap VHS camera and using it to make my own movies with my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures. As much as I enjoy experiencing the stories created by others, I found that I had a passion for storytelling, and I realized what I wanted to do with my life.

I would be a storyteller.

In 2006 I decided to turn my passion into a business. Kinetic Vision Media is the culmination of more than 2 decades behind the camera. An enthusiast with a dream for many years, I started a public access TV show after high school. “Dammit This is Stupid” was just that – a stupid sketch comedy show that ended up winning 3 Northwest Media Alliance Awards for Excellence and Innovation. Sometimes those old skits are pretty embarrassing, but I try to remember that DTIS was my education. The 8 years I spent producing, writing, directing, and editing the show honed my craft and helped me to refine my dream; this is what I wanted to do.

Since 2006 Kinetic Vision Media has been my way of helping others share their stories. These stories are sometimes familiar, like weddings and live music events. Some stories are new, like those of local businesses sharing their message through broadcast TV commercials, training or informational presentations. One of the greatest privileges of my craft is helping our honored elders share their stories through video biographies and memoirs. I have the opportunity to preserve the wisdom and experiences of some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. Along with independent films and many more, I’d love to help tell your story.

If you’ve found your way to this website, it’s because you’ve got a story that needs telling.

Let’s tell your story.

Give me a call at 360-570-0512 or email ken@kineticvisionmedia.com.

On location shooting the award-winning “Senator Feelgood” in Winlock, WA.

One year ago to the day a few team members from Mutually Assured Productions and myself embarked on The Grand Cinema of Tacoma’s 72 Hour Film Challenge. At 7pm 30 teams were given a list of lines, props, critera and a time limit of 5 minutes. We had 72 hours to write, cast, shoot, edit, and turn in a 5 minute movie. We created Senator Feelgood, and ended up taking home a Runner Up award a few weeks later.
In about 2 hours, with 2 friends, I’m about to embark on my second 72 Hour Film Challenge. How will we do this year? Only time can tell. The memory I hold strongest about last years competition is that for 72 hours, I didn’t sleep very much. Given the results of my last 2 team-ups with the guys helping on this project, Dead Drift, and Runner, I’d say we have more than a fair shot of topping Senator Feelgood. We’ll see what happens!

Rachel and Danny’s wedding in Orting, WA.

Kinetic Vision Media has been creating video of beautiful weddings in Seattle and the Puget Sound area since 2006. Our wedding videos are creative and focus on unobtrusively capturing the events of the day. Video is everywhere now, there is no escaping it. It’s in our pockets, on our phones, ready to be shot and uploaded to a multitude of social networking platforms. Video is so prevalent in our culture that sometimes the hiring of a professional can be an afterthought.

Q: Why hire a professional videographer?

Sure, a lot of us have friends and relatives who took some video or photography classes in school. With a cellular phone or DSLR shooting HD video, a wedding guest these days can make a decent video.

A: Kinetic Vision Media is dedicated to crafting a professional and memorable video.

A friend or family member is there to enjoy the wedding, spend time with friends and family, eat some food, have some beverages, and celebrate your union. Kinetic Vision Media’s purpose is singular; we are there to create the best wedding video possible. You and your guests should be free to enjoy the day. We bring professional grade equipment, the knowledge to use it, and years of experience filming weddings.

Heather and David’s wedding in Olympia Washington

  View sample wedding videos here.

Q: Can’t a consumer camera or DSLR get the job done just as well?

A: Although consumer camera technology has come very far in

the last few years, there are still a number of things that give the edge to professional grade equipment used by Kinetic Vision Media. HD is a fantastic tool for the professional, capturing stunning images when operated skillfully. The ability to manually adjust a myriad of image control options on the fly is crucial for the wedding videographer.

Wedding Video Packages and Pricing

Q: It’s sometimes difficult to hear the wedding vows. How do you deal with this?

A: We use professional quality audio recording equipment, in addition to

professional cameras. Kinetic Vision Media uses a sophisticated wireless microphone setup during the ceremony. The vows will sound crystal clear, like the bride and groom were standing right next to the camera.

Heather and David’s rings.

We live in an age of multi-media accessability. You can have video documentation made by a professional using broadcast quality equipment.  Skillfully edited, calling on experience honed through time, your wedding can remain preserved as fresh as the day you took your vows.  Family, friends, children, and grandchildren for generations will be able to travel back in time to revisit those moments.

This is your special day. We are here to efficiently and affordably create a cinematic record for you to treasure forever.

SPECIAL OFFER – Mention this article, and book before June 1st to receive $100 off any wedding package.

Call 360-570-0512
or email ken@kineticvisionmedia.com if you have any questions, and we will send you a free sample wedding DVD.

Wedding Video Packages and Pricing

Maddy on the streets of Seattle in Runner

6 am?  I think that’s early.  Maybe you don’t, but for me, that’s the crack of “C’mon Mom, 5 more minutes, please?”  Most of the gigs don’t usually require getting up that early, but when they do they’re always worth it.  Always.  This day, and this shoot were no exception.  To a soundtrack comprised entirely of 3 stellar songs from the Blue Scholars, we crafted a story we call “Runner.”  I dare say it was well worth it, and judge “Runner” to be amongst my best work.  Take a look and judge for yourself -

Saturday May 31st Lyquoc and I headed to Seattle bright and early to shoot our Blue Scholars Cinemetropolis video contest entry.  We dragged a few people with us – Chris Balios, of Vanjob and Dammit This is Stupid notoriety. The famous Matty Softmitts, aka Captain Banks of the USSC J.F. Sebastian rode with us. We met up with our star Maddy Ford, who will be playing the “Runner” in her screen debut. We were also joined by Erik Cornelius of Vanjob and Senator Feelgood fame, Timdogg, who ran second camera on Pacifica: The Biggest Stick, and Mik, the man upstairs from A Bullet Riddled Atheist and the Man Upstairs. Quite the cast and crew. The shoot went well. After starting late and dealing with rain, the sky cleared and we got everything we needed. We wrapped about 8pm.

We put an additional 4 days into the post production, and I have to say it looks like my best work.  We’ll find out at the Blue Scholars show tonight in Olympia if we made it to the top three! If we did, then it’s on to race for the top spot May 1st!

Solstice Sunrise, 2010 – Tumwater Hill

Hello! Welcome to Kinetic Vision Media.

Kinetic Vision Media is dedicated to putting ideas into motion.  From weddings, web videos, corporate presentations, informational videos, commercials, music videos, or any other concept you can think of.  We’ll bring it to life.  Creating dynamic and effective video content in a timely and affordable fashion is our business.  With over 15 years experience in the fields of videography and post-production, Kinetic Vision Media has the skills, equipment, experience and innovation to put your idea in motion. That’s what we do - We put ideas in motion. That’s our passion.  That’s the Kinetic Vision.