Max blends technology with media to tell stories. With degrees from both Purdue University’s Management program and Columbia Collage film school he embarked on a journey to blend digital cinema with modest budgets to explore compelling stories.
He’s best known for his transitional work in the 1990’s when Sony recruited the Sarasota,
Florida Director/film maker to join it’s once legendary video think tank –
The Sony Video Institute , Los Angeles.
The Sony Video Institute was located on the campus of the American Film Institute (The AFI).
And over it’s 20-year existence; it provided both Sony and the production industry the path
from low-resolution analog video to High Definition analog to HD digital Cinema.
It was CiVon’s experimental film and Television production techniques which attracted Sony’s attention. While in Sarasota, Florida (during the late 80’s) Max pushed the envelope of analog video with his creative productions. He wrote, shot and created (with the writing and producing support of Ms. J.C.) some of the most creative TV shows and commercial spots found anywhere at the time.
But it was his Film, Saturday Night Sarasota, (A micro budget film in an
age before the term had been invented) which got Sony’s attention.
(SNS was produced by Ms. J.C. with Music by TechMasterPEB).
Shot on Sony’s first CCD camera the movie excided all expectation for the time (1989).
And directly lead to CiVon’s change of address to Los Angeles (January 1, 1990).
CiVon spent his first year in L.A. learning about all things Sony (professional products).
In his second year he joined the Sony Video Institute and began developing camera and production techniques.
As part of the Sony team CiVon contributed substantially to what is known today as DIGITAL CINEMA.
Max wrote books and taught and spoke to industry groups about Digital
Cinema and it’s production techniques through the 1990’s representing Sony.
And with Sony’s successful dominance of the digital cinema industry assured (1999)
The Sony Video Institute became less important (code for budget cuts).
Today SVI is just a fond memory. But CiVon was there at it’s peak and WOW, it was something.
In 2000, Max CiVon Teamed up with Writer/Director Del Shores and Max shot, produced and post produced the Indie SMASH hit film Sordid Lives, (Olivia Newton-John, Beau Bridges and a dozen other well known actors). Sordid Lives was one of the first films which originated on High Definition Video and was then transferred at Sony Studio to film for distributed as a film print. It’s theatrical release was in the year 2000.
FOX transferred and distributed the Sordid Lives DVD from film to video. When Sordid Lives was shot, most of the digital cinema tools used today were not available or even invented. Considering available technology, the resulting film print was exceptionally good. FOX transferred and distributed the Sordid Lives DVD from film back to video in 2001, without seeking the Director of Photography's notes (CiVon).
For Max CiVon, Sordid Lives represented the successful end of a technology journey he never expected to make. In film school he began shooting his own projects to save time and money. Once he started writing and directing for pay, he continued to direct from behind the camera. A hundred TV shows and commercials later, He had developed his own style. People started calling Max an expert at digital cinema and the rest was history.
But Max went to film school to tell stories. One summer, between film school semesters Max worked as a production assistant on the original BLUES BROTHERS movie (1981, Chicago). And Max, on several occasions sat with the film’s director, John Landis who often ate at the crew tables. Landis was all about making movies fun (he had just finished Animal House). He inspired a desire in CiVon to entertain.
And telling entertaining stories became CiVon's focus for the next decade. He with writing partner/wife Luisa Leschin found a nice balance between raising their children and writing Family TV. Leschin became the face of their Company, TORTUGA PRODUCTIONS while Max ran the back end. Their TV development Company, Tortuga Productions Inc. has just finished it's 11th successful year of creating and selling TV episodes and Film scripts. And they have sold TV pilot's to NBC, Nickelodeon, FOX, Disney and three to CBS. Features to Universal Studios, Showtime and a TV pilot deal with Paramount Studio's CW. Leschin has been on the staff of four TV series, all of which have gone into syndication.
CiVon sees opportunity in the chaos as Traditional Studio Production Techniques clash with New Media. It reminds me of the late 90's when it became clear that Digital Technology was going to over take Film as a record format. Using the technology advantages we have today, and soon will have tomorrow. CiVon has been re-engineering a new vision for TV and Movies production and distribution with an eye towards re-entering the production game once again.
Over the years, Max CiVon has had the opportunity to work with, meet and get to know a large number of celebrities as well as a variety of talented writers, directors and producers behind the camera. Currently CiVon is Re-merging with a slate of highly entertaining, completely developed Projects.