Everyone here at Crystal Pyramid Productions wants to wish all our friends, family and acquaintances a Happy Holiday season. This is a great time to remember to be thankful for all the good things in our lives. This is one of the most amazing and challenging times in all of history to be alive. As Jerry Springer says, "Take care of yourselves and each other."
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Everyone here at Crystal Pyramid Productions wants to wish all our friends, family and acquaintances a Happy Holiday season. This is a great time to remember to be thankful for all the good things in our lives. This is one of the most amazing and challenging times in all of history to be alive. As Jerry Springer says, "Take care of yourselves and each other."
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Video Production Services Company Receives Prestigious Awards
Crystal Pyramid Productions CEO, Mark Schulze, was recently honored as a Finalist at San Diego Business Journal's "Most Admired CEOs 2008" award ceremony. Schulze and his partner, Patty Mooney, have been honored with other awards recently, as well.
The San Diego Greater Chamber of Commerce awarded Crystal Pyramid Productions its 2008 Outstanding Community Involvement Micro Business Award for its philanthropic work. (http://crystalpyramid.com/chamber_award_2008.html)
Patty Mooney received a 2008 TWIN (Tribute to Women in Industry) award from YWCA. (http://crystalpyramid.com/patty_twin_award.html)
Crystal Pyramid Productions was honored by the San Diego Business Journal as one of 2007's "Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in San Diego." (http://crystalpyramid.com/sdbj_top_100_fastest.html)
The CPP team was proud to be recognized for their video production prowess. They received a Pegasus Award for the Allied Waste Management "Sycamore Landfill Operations" video (http://crystalpyramid.com/allied_waste_services_pegasus_award.html) and a Gold Ava Award for "Small Acts of Kindness," a short video about San Diego homeless. (http://crystalpyramid.com/small_acts_of_kindness_movie.html)
And Schulze received finalist status as 2007 "Most Admired CEO" and as one of the San Diego Daily Transcript's "Top Influentials of 2007." (http://crystalpyramid.com/mark_schulze_awards_nominee.html)
The San Diego Greater Chamber of Commerce awarded Crystal Pyramid Productions its 2008 Outstanding Community Involvement Micro Business Award for its philanthropic work. (http://crystalpyramid.com/chamber_award_2008.html)
Patty Mooney received a 2008 TWIN (Tribute to Women in Industry) award from YWCA. (http://crystalpyramid.com/patty_twin_award.html)
Crystal Pyramid Productions was honored by the San Diego Business Journal as one of 2007's "Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in San Diego." (http://crystalpyramid.com/sdbj_top_100_fastest.html)
The CPP team was proud to be recognized for their video production prowess. They received a Pegasus Award for the Allied Waste Management "Sycamore Landfill Operations" video (http://crystalpyramid.com/allied_waste_services_pegasus_award.html) and a Gold Ava Award for "Small Acts of Kindness," a short video about San Diego homeless. (http://crystalpyramid.com/small_acts_of_kindness_movie.html)
And Schulze received finalist status as 2007 "Most Admired CEO" and as one of the San Diego Daily Transcript's "Top Influentials of 2007." (http://crystalpyramid.com/mark_schulze_awards_nominee.html)
New Documentary about Homeless Combat Veterans by Patty Mooney
American War Heroes Are Sleeping On Our Streets Tonight
With all the vehicles on the streets of America sporting those little yellow “Support Our Troops,” ribbons, it is truly ironic that we have more than 200,000 veterans who are homeless. But not many Americans realize it.
Mark Schulze and Patty Mooney, of Crystal Pyramid Productions, a San Diego video production company, shot footage at the 20th anniversary of Stand Down in 2007 for the Veterans Administration (VA). Stand Down is a three-day event that allows homeless veterans to come in off the streets for a shower, hot meals and a change of clothing. Additionally, the veterans also receive medical, dental and holistic treatment, as well as counseling and legal advice from caring volunteers. The San Diego Stand Down became the model for dozens of other Stand Downs that have been generated across the country by people who thought it a tragedy to have our war heroes sleeping on our streets.
Schulze and Mooney were shocked to learn of the huge number of homeless veterans in the U.S. After spending two days interviewing and getting to know some of the men and women who had served our country, some without limbs, and all without homes, Mooney broke down in tears. “Three days of reprieve from the streets and now they have to go back out there. We have to do something for them!” she told Schulze. He comforted her, “Why don’t we do what we do best? Let’s make a documentary.”
It took a year for the couple to make “The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans”. They interviewed Congressman Bob Filner, Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee; Congresswoman Susan Davis, Chair of the Military Personnel Committee; Gary Becks, Director of Rescue Task Force; Dr. Jon Nachison, Co-Founder of San Diego Stand Down; Al Pavich, Former Commander and Retired CEO of VVSD (Veterans Village of San Diego); Darcy Pavich, Chaplain and Stand Down Coordinator; Brigadier General Bob Cardenas; Robert Schmidt, Director of Vince Lombardi Association; Jessica Brian and Michael Kilmer, Veterans Administration Outreach Therapists, and several homeless veterans.
All contributions to this documentary have been pro bono, even down to the music, box cover graphics, website creation and DVD replication. Mooney edited at night and on weekends, grappling with technical difficulties, and whenever she thought of quitting, she remembered, “there are veterans who are homeless tonight and we have to help them.”
The couple delivered the completed DVD to Darcy Pavich, at the 2008 Stand Down. The chaplain’s eyes welled up as she said, “Do you know how many video crews have come and gone over the last 20 years who said they would send us clips? You are the first ones who did what you said you were going to do.”
Churches, veterans associations, philanthropy clubs and others are welcome to request the DVD for free and share it with their members. All revenue generated from sales and showings of the documentary will go to homeless veterans organizations such as VVSD and the National Coalition for the Homeless. A website, www.theinvisibleones.org informs visitors how they may be of assistance to homeless veterans. Money is welcome; volunteering time is priceless.
For further information on “The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans” go to (http://www.theinvisibleones.org/) or call (619) 644-3000.
With all the vehicles on the streets of America sporting those little yellow “Support Our Troops,” ribbons, it is truly ironic that we have more than 200,000 veterans who are homeless. But not many Americans realize it.
Mark Schulze and Patty Mooney, of Crystal Pyramid Productions, a San Diego video production company, shot footage at the 20th anniversary of Stand Down in 2007 for the Veterans Administration (VA). Stand Down is a three-day event that allows homeless veterans to come in off the streets for a shower, hot meals and a change of clothing. Additionally, the veterans also receive medical, dental and holistic treatment, as well as counseling and legal advice from caring volunteers. The San Diego Stand Down became the model for dozens of other Stand Downs that have been generated across the country by people who thought it a tragedy to have our war heroes sleeping on our streets.
Schulze and Mooney were shocked to learn of the huge number of homeless veterans in the U.S. After spending two days interviewing and getting to know some of the men and women who had served our country, some without limbs, and all without homes, Mooney broke down in tears. “Three days of reprieve from the streets and now they have to go back out there. We have to do something for them!” she told Schulze. He comforted her, “Why don’t we do what we do best? Let’s make a documentary.”
It took a year for the couple to make “The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans”. They interviewed Congressman Bob Filner, Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee; Congresswoman Susan Davis, Chair of the Military Personnel Committee; Gary Becks, Director of Rescue Task Force; Dr. Jon Nachison, Co-Founder of San Diego Stand Down; Al Pavich, Former Commander and Retired CEO of VVSD (Veterans Village of San Diego); Darcy Pavich, Chaplain and Stand Down Coordinator; Brigadier General Bob Cardenas; Robert Schmidt, Director of Vince Lombardi Association; Jessica Brian and Michael Kilmer, Veterans Administration Outreach Therapists, and several homeless veterans.
All contributions to this documentary have been pro bono, even down to the music, box cover graphics, website creation and DVD replication. Mooney edited at night and on weekends, grappling with technical difficulties, and whenever she thought of quitting, she remembered, “there are veterans who are homeless tonight and we have to help them.”
The couple delivered the completed DVD to Darcy Pavich, at the 2008 Stand Down. The chaplain’s eyes welled up as she said, “Do you know how many video crews have come and gone over the last 20 years who said they would send us clips? You are the first ones who did what you said you were going to do.”
Churches, veterans associations, philanthropy clubs and others are welcome to request the DVD for free and share it with their members. All revenue generated from sales and showings of the documentary will go to homeless veterans organizations such as VVSD and the National Coalition for the Homeless. A website, www.theinvisibleones.org informs visitors how they may be of assistance to homeless veterans. Money is welcome; volunteering time is priceless.
For further information on “The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans” go to (http://www.theinvisibleones.org/) or call (619) 644-3000.
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