Digital Justice

Let’s start with the small claims courts that deal with civil matters.

Current system of dealing with civil matters:

Where it stands, a complainant or plaintiff has to not only go to his/her local small claims court and file the necessary paperwork and pay the required fees for filing the paperwork with the courts, but the defendant, whoever it is and wherever the defendant is located, has to make a special trip down to the local small claims court in order to defend him/herself in the small claims court. This adds time and expense of having to drive or travel down to the court house where the complaint was filed, and even though the defendant has the option to not make an appearance at the small claims court, the case can and may be ruled in favour of the plaintiff. This is how I understand the process to be in the American small claims court system, and I assume it is a similar scenario with small claims court from around the world.

Also, there is the inconvenient truth that all of the evidence that is required by a small claims court to strengthen a plaintiff’s case so that the ruling will more likely to be in the favour of the plaintiff, is to be presented as hard copies. This means that there is waste of paper that could be better put to use towards something else that is useful.

I do believe that there is a better way to approach this where the option for the defendant to still not make an appearance to defend him/herself in small claims court is offered. There is a way to streamline this process where the plaintiff can simply file a complaint from wherever the plaintiff is located at the time of filing the complaint, and the defendant is located somewhere else. However, this new streamlined process will only work when the plaintiff meets certain requirements for the complaint to be accepted and processed by the courts.

The new streamlined process or system of dealing with civil matters:

The new proposed system of streamlining the process of dealing with civil matters in the small claims court will not only make it easier for a plaintiff or a complainant to file a complaint in their local or national small claims court, but it will utilise existing technologies to make this happen: meaning that there is no need for an infrastructure overhaul of the court system. If this process proves to be successful in the small claims court level, then this can be successfully adapted into the criminal courts process.

• Plaintiff visits a website and selects his/her local small claims court from a list after the website detects their current location.
• Plaintiff then files a complaint using the same process as he/she would when actually in a small claims courthouse.
• Plaintiff submits evidence relevant to the case digitally by uploading all documents in digital format to the website.
• The digitally uploaded documents, along with the plaintiff’s complaint and any relevant contact details that the complainant provides is then forwarded to a randomly selected judge, who will  then go over the evidence and reach out to the defendant named in the complaint.
• The defendant is then given an opportunity to upload their evidence that is relevant to the case on to the same website so that the judge can cross check with the evidence already submitted by the plaintiff.
• The judge then arranges a video conference call with both the plaintiff and the defendant to hear both sides of the argument/story.
• The judge will then deliver a verdict in the same video conference call in the same manner that he or she delivers the verdict in an actual courtroom.
• If the defendant fails to respond to the judges invitation to the video conferencing call, then the judge will rule, based on the evidence submitted by both parties (if the defendant has submitted their evidence already).
• If the defendant is absent and has not submitted any evidence in his/her defence, then the judge will have no choice but to base his verdict on evidence submitted by the plaintiff, which may be circumstantial.
• The defendant is then advised of the verdict, if the defendant was not at the conference call via email or post.

You may have to read the above list more than once to make sense of it, but it does spell out the basic structure of the new streamlined process for dealing with civil matters.

Now on to the requirements of filing the complaint:

• The plaintiff filing the complaint must be a permanent/legal resident of the country where the complaint is filed (assuming this is against a citizen or business in that country), who has resided in the country for more than 90 consecutive days.
• The plaintiff must supply evidence of his/her legal status in the country or the complaint will not be accepted for processing.
• The plaintiff cannot be a visitor or a tourist to the country when filing the complaint against the intended defendant.
• The plaintiff must supply any government issued identification (it’s okay if that identification was not issued by the federal government of the country he/she resides in) to verify their identity. This will be authenticated or verified with the government that issued the identification.
• All documents uploaded digitally to the website must bear the contact information of the plaintiff so that the randomly assigned judge can verify or clarify the details of the complaint.

This is only the start and I cannot stress enough the beauty of this system: the use of existing technologies, infrastructures and the processes already in place. It will also save a considerable amount of time and money in commuting for both the plaintiff and the defendant.

The system is not fool proof as there is potential for fraud to occur, but I am confident that there are technologies already in place that will detect this form of deceit, resulting in fewer cases of evidence fraud, and the sooner this new system is implemented and widely accepted and used, the better.

Setup for filmmakers wanting to film using an iPhone or iPad

Most of us have a smartphone or tablet these days that are on par with a camcorder, that have virtually negating the need for purchasing one. Despite having image sensors the size of a human finger tip from your pointing finger, techniques of filmmaking can be applied to successfully make a film. In fact, there are accessories and apps for your preferred OS platform that enable you to make a film with better sound and capturing a better image using your iPhone or iPad's 8 or 12MP cameras.

Let's start with the hardware for your iPhone or iPad.

For a better image, you will need:

1. Specifically designed lenses for your iPhone or iPad like the moment lenses (you will also need to purchase a case to attach these lenses to your iPhone,
2. DJI osmo mobile gimbals for iPad and iPhone (for moving shots)
3. A professional grade tripod (for static shots),
4. A Drone (for Aerial shots if your project calls for it).

For better sound, you will need:

1. The RODE Videomic Me-L or the RODE NTG4+ (Shotgun microphone),
2. The RODE iXLR adaptor (to connect the Shotgun microphone).

In terms of software:

1. Filmic Pro (Paid app and a filmmaker's choice for filming),
2. ProMovie (Free app with an option to pay to remove watermark)
3. LumaFusion (If you plan on editing on your iPhone or iPad).

This setup will work for you if you are on a shoestring budget and cannot afford to fork out the cash for a dedicated, professional grade video cameras and accessories for the camera.

If you have an iPhone model earlier than the iPhone 7, then a few other options include the Schneider Optics iProLens for the iPhone or the Zeiss ExoLens system for the iPhone.

On that note, keep in mind that since the size of the image sensor that is included with the iPhones and the iPad fits on the tip of your pointer finger, you will need to supply more light to the iPhone or iPad or have one that has a wider aperture like an f1.8 or lower, or adjust the ISO to the point where it doesn't introduce noise or grain to the image. Filmic Pro will let you adjust these options and this is why filmmakers and cinematographers alike love it.

It is imperative that you have good or great sound, because your audience:

1. will forgive you if you have good or great sound with terrible image quality but,
2. will not forgive you for if you have good or great image quality with terrible sound quality.

To end this list, I will say that filmmakers typically have dual system recording: meaning one system for recording moving images like a camera and accessories, and another for recording sound such as a field mixer.

Here are some options.

The cheaper option:

1. The ZOOM H4N Pro,
2. The Tascam DR40,
3. The Tascam DR100 Mark 2.

The advanced more expensive option (if money isn't an object):

1. The Roland Edirol R-44 Portable Field Recorder (I have this),
2. The Sound Devices 552 Field Recorder

With this information, you should be able to make a decent film that doesn't suck and contribute to the trend of using mobile devices for filmmaking.

Good luck with this venture.

Making an iFilm

With apps increasingly flooding the App store of both iOS and Android, one would have to wonder whether you could technically make a film just by using a smartphone and or your tablet such as the iPad. The answer is yes. Considering the fact that the camera modules installed in the various smartphones and tablets since their conception, it is increasingly becoming common place to shoot videos alongside taking the holiday pics on your smartphone or tablet, virtually killing off the camcorder and the point and shoot cameras that were prevalent some 10 to 15 years ago.

Why am I such an expert on the subject, you ask? This blog is about my analysis and opinion on the subject and I answer the question, given the advice that a lot of beginner filmmakers get: “Use what you’ve got”, I would assume that since most of the civilized population now carries a smartphone that is capable of shooting moving pictures using one resolution or the other, any one who is anyone can shoot a video and upload it to a streaming site like YouTube.

Even though the smartphones and tablets people buy come standard with their own dedicated photo and video apps, they seriously lack the ability to allow the user to control certain variables like the ISO (how sensitive is the image sensor to incoming light), shutter speed (motion blur) and the codecs (the file format) of the video used to shoot the video. There are apps like Camera+ or Filmic Pro, that allow the user or filmmaker to have complete, if not partial control over the image, like a professional or semi professional cameras offer. We are also seeing third party manufacturers like Zeiss and Schneider Optics, two of the most popular German manufacturers of camera lenses make lenses specifically for smartphones like the iPhone and custom cases to accommodate those lenses.

Back in the old days, when smartphones were still emerging and in their infancy stages, processing power was seriously lacking for it to play complex games like Grand Theft Auto or other graphics intensive games. Processors and graphics have improved since and so have the codecs used to record the videos captured. The images that the cameras were able to capture were also inferior to what can be produced today compared to back then. This means that videos can be recorded in 4K and stored (provided you have the required space on your phone’s storage drive) for retrieval later and editing is now also possible without the use of an uber powerful computer and the expense that goes along with it.

So, the question is: With the limitations of the smartphone and or the tablet’s camera’s image sensor and the size of the sensor, are you able to make a professional quality film considering the fact that content is king? I say yes. This is because there are quite a few films that I have come across that were filmed using a camera from a smartphone or tablet, and the professional apps that allow you to control all or some of the variables of the image like ISO and shutter speed. However, you have to consider the fact that because you are using a camera sensor that can potentially fit on the tip of your pointing finger, you will need to supply it with more light than a professional or semi professional video camera sensor needs. On top of this, sound is also another important factor in making a watchable film. They say that sound is as important as your visuals you show the audience who are watching a film.

To sum it all up, if you are on a shoe string budget and want to make a film, then this is definitely an option for you rather than spending a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars on a professional camera that degrades over time. This method of filmmaking is an option if money is an object and you do not have the means to afford a dedicated professional or semi professional camera to make your film. Just make sure that the techniques that you picked up in film school or from wherever you learnt basic filmmaking from are applied in making your film.

Good luck with your current and any of your future film projects that you will be engaging in.

Respect: To fake or not to fake, that is the franktion

There are two kinds of respect that are given to an individual: The genuine kind of respect, and then there is the fake kind of respect. The genuine kind of respect comes naturally from an individual, provided, the individual receiving the respect, has earned it. The fake kind of respect, on the other hand, is the kind of respect that comes with extra luggage that weighs a gazillion pounds or maybe even more. The reason why it would weigh so much, is because it adds a lot of psychological weight to an individual's life, and that gazillion pound weight consists of a plethora of various different kinds of Crowley ass demons who play all sorts of neuro operation games on the individual's mind - primarily using fear as their currency of choice. Furthermore, the fake kind of respect is in actuality: fear, envy, resentment, and xenophobia - all bundled and packaged as respect and presented to the individual receiving it.


In fact, anyone who receives this type of disingenuous respect has not earned it, and has the propensity to demand it time and time again either through intimidation and bullying, or believes the individual is entitled to be respected while demanding it from others. When you start demanding respect from other people and not giving them the respect they have so rightfully earned, that says a lot about the individual doing the disrespecting. There is an old saying that goes something like this:

 "First deserve, then desire."

When individual forces another to give him or her the respect that has not yet earned, then that in itself qualifies as non-genuine respect, because it is not genuine and the person is faking it.

Below is an example of genuine people and fake people with the element of respect being mentioned (Click the link):

Genuine vs fake people with an element of respect thrown in

Also, if you respect people who are only 'credible' (which by the way can be tossed around in the air without caution or consequence of using the word all too willy-nilly), you are missing out on genuine people who you may consider 'not credible' or ' not reputable', who are genuinely and respectfully looking out for your cottage cheese butt.

If something works and it's not 'credible', then it needs to be 'credible'. Think about that the next time you tell someone or call them not 'credible', 'discredited' or not 'reputable'.

So in conclusion, genuine respect cannot be demanded, it is naturally given to someone who has earned it, whereas fake respect can be demanded and is a nightmare to maintain for the foreseeable future.

The Screenwriter's Wheel

Hollywood and the Film and TV industry is a competitive business. It is tough for a newbie screenwriter to step in and build a career in such a competitive and pen eat pen world environment. 

To add to the stress, there are critics, the good, the bad and the really ugly ones who the producers rely on to figure out whether or not your story makes sense and can be a viable business venture. These critics, also known as the readers, are subjective in most cases and will sometimes apply their own biases when you ask how to better improve your screenplay. However, the ugliest ones in the business, have a reputation for not allowing screenwriters to grow and prosper. Now, granted is the fact that no screenplay is perfect, but these henchmen and women go the distance and will find everything, and I mean everything wrong with your screenplay (and not for entertainment purposes). One sure way to identify a bad critic from a good one is: He or she will barrage the writer with questions that would later be answered by the story in the screenplay itself. They don't look at the story as a whole, but every line or dialogue they find wrong; they scrutinize on that part of screenplay and even after letting you continue, they repeat the process. For the most part, they aren't as knowledgeable as they're perceived to be and are impatient at the same time.

Another major element to add to the competitive nature of the business is this annoying fact: because producers have vested interest in making their investment in a film or any visual medium back with interest, they would most likely want what is trending at that point in time. For example, before the Twilight Saga of films came out, the amount of films and television shows and other content related to vampires and werewolves was low, but since the release of the Twilight Saga of films in gradual succession, the amount of films, television shows and paradies related to werewolves and vampires has exploded. This strategy undermines great filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock and Woody Allen, who during their earlier filmmaking days, had unique and out of the box ideas. Nowadays, it's all up to the producers, the agents and the critics who determine whether or not your story is a money maker or a breaker.

In response to this challenge, writers have the propensity to take the easy way out thinking: "It's what everyone wants" or "I'll just follow the trend". There is a major problem with either of those self defeating statements:

1. "It's what everybody wants": The simple answer is no. If you're a writer who writes romantic novels and screenplays like writer Nicholas Sparks does, the entire population of a given country is not into the romance genre. You will find a percentage of the population who love Sci-fi, Action, Thriller, Horror, Fantasy and other genres on the list. It is not confined to one specific genre. Here, the 'one size fits all' approach doesn't fit the bill. These days, branching out into other genres is a huge benefit - even if you're the strongest at writing in one genre.
2. "I'll just follow the trend": Agree or disagree with me on this one, but when there is a trend, the competition is not so fiercely competitive because every writer who is interested in a trend is just trying to follow it and not trying to identify their own unique voice by starting their own trend. With a plethora or a pantheon of trends in the market competing for a viewer's eye, it should be difficult for a critic or viewer to criticize or choose sides. Now that is serious competition.

On the plus side, independent producing and filmmaking is on the gradual rise. Despite this natural, progressive step, there are very few investors or independent producers who are willing to fork out the cash needed to finance that high budget, blockbuster film you've just written and hoping to sell.There is also the advice from producing mentors or instructors from film school that tell screenwriters and filmmakers to find a producer that believes in them and or their story, which shouldn't be shunned like it is yesterday's trash.

At the end of the day, you the screenwriter, novelist or anyone who produces any form of literary piece of work, you need to challenge yourself and rise above the familiar jack in the box. For all the screenwriters, write all the fiction you want, but write it in such a way that it will be hard for the most ugliest, and the most nastiest of the critics to fault it. Do not give them a chance. You are the creator so create that new trend no one has ever heard of and everyone is excited about.

"Quantity is something you count, Quality is something you count on" - Patrick, a Boeing employee

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