This past Sunday and Wednesday I helped out on two music videos. First was Them Damned Young Livers and we literally tore down the house, or at least helped it along. The house is to be tore down soon to make parking lot space for get this the Schroeder Bar & Grill in Saint Paul off Dale Street. It was a party / show that we just happen to recored and have the chance to light. Good times, hell yeah! With Wednesday came Muja Messiah and his joint which was all shot in studio at MCAD and was a nice change of tempo and pace. The lighting was mint and the song was bangin'. I can't wait to see both of these videos, and yes for all you to see them too.
Lastly, a little something I put together for my friend and stand-up comedian Jon Sadeh. It's his March 2nd performance at the House of Comedy Mall of America Comedy Club. Peep, and enjoy boys and girls.
Music video for the band Strike Anywhere off their new LP Iron Front. I worked on it last Fall as a Production Assistant and fill-in Grip when needed.
Basically, I made sure all the fans were over the age of eighteen and then made them sign a wavier for the record company. Other than that I helped set up the staging and such, namely putting together the work lights you see on stage with the band. Also, grabbing sub sandwiches for band and crew, and for lead singer Thomas Barnett a much needed toothbrush.
On the production side of things. Director: Justin Staggs, Director of Photoprahy: Randy Smith, additional camera work: Andrew Melby, Gaffing and Gripping: Kristina Harris and Ben Thompson. Special Thanks to El Perdido for the awesome painting in the intro. Kelly and his puppy with Lost Staging, Jennifer Staggs for the craft services, Taylor Sound, Bridge Nine Records, and Gopher Towing for the location.
On the personal viewing habits front. Saw the new DiCaprio and Scorsese flick Shutter Island, and it was a'ight. Black Gestapo, as well as The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, you tell me which one is more exploitive. Jeez. To clean things up a bit watched the Hitchcock classic The Birds, Ong Bak 2: The Beginning, The Wackness, and I've been playing some Final Fantasy XIII as on the side. Today was awesome here in Minneapolis, spring seems to have sprung! Only some forty-two days 'till some Super Street Fighter IV action, and even less to the Twins season/ballpark opener. Twenty-seven days! Can't wait, ok I can, and so will all of you 'till my next post. Stay tuned.
"Looked like sort of a big turtle, in a trench coat."
Ever since I saw Raphael roll over that cab along with the rest of the trailer for the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie way back in 1990 I was hooked on film. Several other films added to this endeavour over the years, but it all started with those heroes in a half shell some twenty years ago. Mutant turtles, a young boy, and a Burger King Kids Club VHS the dream is born.
"Can anyone tell me who or what this is? Don't know, but I bet it never has to look for a can-opener."
At the age of five when I first saw the trailer for the film I was convinced the turtles where not just a cartoon as I previously thought. They were real! Indeed, in a way they were real. Physically they existed outside of a computer tower and monitor. Sure, they were men is suits circa Gojira, but they were on set to interact with the actors in every scene. NO RENDERING NEEDED. Why can't it be done practically on shooting day(s) with the other players? The move away from this has given us some performances that leave much to be desired. Namely, a lack in believability in most cases. Looking at green dots in terror just doesn't come across well most of the time. Sorry, Miss Fox. Hello, Mister, Hamill.
I've said it before, and I'll write it here. My goal as a filmmaker is to due the same to this and future generations of youth. Leave an impression on them to the same effect. Using real effects whenever possible. It's real and thus comes off more so on celluloid or in our case still mini dv tapes. Working on changing that, folks. With the magic of film, and a little ingenuity, pride, effort, and a bit of luck anything is possible. Anything and everything. Ask, James.
Been watching a lot of films as well as working on finalizing the script for Gone to the Undead. Peep the link to read the blog for the film. Spent this last weekend watching the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy. Radical!
Best wishes to Avatar tonight at the Academy Awards. I feel in my heart of hearts it is due the Best Animated Feature award!
"Hey, didn't they use this place in The Grapes of Wrath?"
I have returned from Dallas, Texas, and much was gained from the trip. In the words of the great Dwight D. Eisenhower. "In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.". Knowledge is power. I'm very thankful for the trip and all I saw and learned. Thanks, Fresh Entertainment.
I've begun post work on the new Kay mixtape viral music video Superstar. Some of which was shot in Dallas and the trip to and from. I'm in the middle of edits and still have some to shots to pick up before I wrap up this bad boy. [ABOVE] The lighting setup is for the lonely and melancholy hotel room scene. With space and weight concerns I took three Lowel Tota-Lights, and thus had to use a little noir foil to turn them into some Omni like setups. With a little grip tape, gels, and a bit of luck I did just that. More details when the video drops, Better Believe It.
Also, with my new Canon T1i camera I took photographs of the trip as well, most of which will be used in the video in some way or another. Clubbin' mostly. When they hit the interwebs I'll be sure to let you all know where you can peep 'em too.
The train is still very much in motion with the Untoten film. Major details and much much more real soon I pinky swear to all of you. The 24 Hour Film Race goes down on March 26th for Minneapolis, Minnesota. Standby once again, I can't wait!
Before I leave you all once again, only to return once again. I must let you all in on some of the flicks I've seen as of late. First, I've got to tell all of you to see Black Dynamite which was a total trip to find on Blu Ray. Thanks, F.Y.E. for once. This means you can stop asking me if I need any help. Best Buy, epic fail. Also, making it's way to the DVD player The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Toy Soldiers, The Last King of Scotland, The Quest, and Gamer which was totally shot on the Red camera. 100% digital. Stay tuned.
A viral music video I put together with Twin Cities Hip-Hop artist, Kay and others from the Fresh Entertainment family. Maybach will be on his newest mixtape Kay's Anatomy. For more check out Clickkay.com
I'd like to thank my awesome crew, without you all I'm nothing.
Thanks a million to Gaffer Joseph Young, Best Boy Brian Hoskins, and Grip Samantha Hanus for all your hard work, smiles, and determination. We done did it again. Soon again I'm sure. We shot the barber shop scenes at Fresh Cuts off Nicollet Avenue back on January 27th, and then shot the hookah scene at my place on January 31st. A special thanks to everybody at Fresh Cuts, Fresh Entertainment, and my housemates Abraham and Lindsey. The video came together real fast and real clean. This I like. A lot.
To contrast the barber shops' clean and flat look I decided to go with the cameras' color extract option and run wild with 738 with the light through the window and lone ground flood light behind the couch. Leaving the key light white and defused on Kay himself. The only thing I really wish we had were some c-stands as to give him just a little hair light. Yes, Ox said they be on the way. We just need to head to Cinequipt to buy those bad boys and a few other things we need. Hello, Wednesday. Let's not even get started with any specular highlights in Kay's eyes. As always, lessons learned.
Check it out and as always feedback is very welcome. The plan now is to head to Dallas, Texas for the NBA All-Star Weekend with Fresh Entertainment family! Got myself a new Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera earlier today to go along with good old Sony HVR-Z5U. Steinberg! Randall! Photography time soon enough. Yes, I'm a five year old once again. Sadly have to wait 'till tomorrow to take any pictures as the battery has got to charge. Tonight, I shall watch Surrogates, not lookin' nearly as mint and stark as the comics. So, to close things out the classic piece of motion picture history Tales From the Crypt: Bordello of Blood with Dennis Miller, Angie Everhart, and the Crypt Keeper. Grin.
Here it is everybody the trailer for our short documentary which won Best Picture for the Filmanthropist Project at the Oak Street Cinema back on December 13th, 2009.
Well, after a few delays and a best in picture award, Media Storm / Standby Productions has five thousands dollars to play with!
After three attempts it was the correct semester and we had enough people to vote at the monthly Student Life Board meeting. As the President of the IDVP student group Media Storm it's up to me to ask for funds for side projects and the like. So I asked for two grand for the 24 Hour Film Race this April in Minneapolis. Another two grand to buy equipment and other such goodies for our upcoming productions including the one I hinted at before. Lastly, a thousand dollars for the SkillsUSA state contest to be held at the Hennepin Technical College campus this spring.
This is the third time in total I've asked for funding for projects and the third time the request has been approved. It's been a great asset since the first time I was at the helm of a film back in 2008 with the 48 Hour Film Project and Alpha Omega Pictures may you rest in peace old boy.
The trailer for A Thank You From The Heart is very much nearing the end of the pipe! Should be online no later than this weekend for everybody to see!
