Right now I am currently sitting in the Media booth for the HURLEY US OPEN. This has been such an intense and fun experience and It hasnt even full kicked off yet. I am here with Esteban Rodriguez http://www.esterod.com taking images and video for The Waterman League http://www.watermanleague.com . Im going to post the official Images I take here as the week progress’s on. Below is one from day 2.

[vimeo vimeo.com/5519497]

WWW.WATERMANLEAGUE.COM

This is the newest Stand Up Paddle Surfing Video I made for The Waterman League. Its an intense video showcasing some of the best in the sport. You have the talents of Ikaika and Ekolu Kalama, Bonga Perkins, Leeleo Kinimaka, Kainoa Mcgee and Beaupre. Also is The Waterman Leagues own Tristan Boxford and industry leader Robby Naish.

I decided to go with a Wild West Opening just because thats who these characters are, they are the Outlaws right now of the surfing world. SUP right now is growing fast and its breaking the stigma of what is surfings mainstream appeal and these characters are making their presence known.

We will be in the future working on more International Videos as The Waterman League grows. So if your a SUP surfer from over seas, get ready we are going to have a contest for you.

*As an editor. I had to really make the 2nd part of this video just as any other surfing video to showcase the talents in a manor that the public is used to.  I threw in a couple of my editing tricks, but the montage over 1 track is what some people dig in the action sports realm. As a Graphic Designer, the opening was very simple using Final Cut and Photoshop. I will have my next blog explaining some of the steps and my thoughts on making exteme sports videos interesting.

Thanks to all of the people that provided footage of these athletes.

FOR MORE GO TO HTTP://WWW.WATERMANLEAGUE.COM

I heard that people have questioned whether or not B.Manley, the YouTube Trick shot phenom that accepted Shaqs challenge to play HORSE, can really do what is in his videos.  I have personally shot footage of B.Manley for Left Lane 6 and let me tell you, he is legitimate.  I dont know what Shaq thinks he is gonna prove, but he might as well be handing over this kid 1,000 dollars. Though, Im pretty sure that I can beat Shaq in a game of HORSE as well.

We all know what Shaq can do… below is what B.Manley can do.

[youtube youtube.com/watch?v=vCtZOlGLL5s]

[vimeo vimeo.com/5368423]

[vimeo vimeo.com/5347157]

Video 1 was made just to showcase how amazing a sunset looks like in the pacific ocean. I am currently out here in Oahu Hawaii on the North Shore working for The Waterman League. This is what I get to see all the time, and felt it was a crime not to share. For the First shot I tried some video HDR effects and it came out pretty well. The rest is just… you see

Video 2 was just more of a wanting to kick back and watch the sunset. There was a lovable neighboorhood dog that just loved having sand thrown on him… so I figured why not make the video more fun.

April’s Show

[vimeo vimeo.com/4519014]

March’s Show

[vimeo vimeo.com/4197495]

February’s Show

[vimeo vimeo.com/3745095]

As some of you know, I am part of the team at Outloudthinking.com.  We have had a good time providing people with entertainment Via our podcasts and we asked to become a part of the ORLANDO LIVE family.  So far it has been nothing but amazing and will keep bringing it to you as long as you want it… and maybe even after, but feel free to watch the episodes above. You can even go to the www.orlandolivestreaming.com site for me.

design by JCONN24

I know I wont be the first person to say this, and I surely will not be the last, but Michael Jackson was my childhood.  To being born around “We are the World” to growing up listening to the Thriller Album on vinyl. There is not an early childhood memory that I have that you could not directly attach a Michael Jackson record too.

To this day, I love to be on camera, I love to hear my own voice, I love to entertain. All of that stems from my enjoyment of wishing I was a performer like Michael.  I remember sitting back and taking in the music video bad and just wanting to be as cool. The feeling I got every time I watched Michael Live from Budapest was nothing short of electric. Doing the “Wanna Be Startin Somethin Dance” to trying to figure out how the hell he bent that way in Smooth Criminal.  Many hours leaning on walls and shelves hoping to figure it out. Learning how to moonwalk, socks first, then shoes later.  Getting the snap kick down JUST right.  The Tracks of his I would play during the good times, and the tracks he had that helped me through the bad, all intertwined to just become music I could live on. Loving and Fearing the video for “Thriller”, Digging “Leave me alone”, Getting excited to see “Moonwalker” Remembering Heal the World at the Superbowl and thinking NO ONE CAN TOP THIS, and they never have. Hearing “Man in the Mirror” and being old enough to understand it, thus making listening to it all the more meaningful. Listening to the Dangerous album given to me for my birthday NONSTOP.  He always found a way to get my soul calm and my spirit high.

As with most 80s children ( though some like to pretend they didnt) I was expressive about my adoration.  So much so, that when the tragic news hit, members of my family and close friends called me just to see if I knew, knowing the impact he had on me as a child.  This is the same with most around the world, and together we all collectively show our love. For the most part, we all sigh, finally now… there is nothing to hate him for, nothing to think negatively on.  From here on out, Michael will always be how we remembered him.

I am not going to go into how I felt about the negativity surrounding him, nor my stance on the situation.  This is going to be only me saying,”Thank You” for being the kick start to the personality I have today and you will always be remembered around the world as such.

Rest In Peace

Michael Jackson

Every Now and then a film comes along that just makes you excited that there are still creative people left in the world.  I saw the trailer for this before it got to Sundance and right away claimed it would be a hit.  It is a perfect adaption and satire to Blaxploitation films such as Sweet Sweetbacks bad ass song and all others in the genre.  Every piece of dialogue seems to just have humor behind it. Directed to era perfection by Scott Sanders, and bringing back Micheal Jai White as both the Jive Talkin star and co-writer.  I suggest anyone that has the opportunity to see this Hot item do so.

AND your just in luck, it is playing at the LA Film Fesitval this week on June 25th. So if your in the area go check it out before it hits theaters in December. You can head over to http://www.blackdynamitemovie.com/ for more information, downloads and clips from the film.

More Info on LA FILM FESTIVAL

http://www.lafilmfest.com/tixSYS/2009/xslguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=5298

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jEREGNZTXg]

design by jconn24

My 1 hope, is that this show does not become a chronicle of Kimbo trying to get popular again. I mean after getting beat by a nobody and crushing a campaign single hand-idly, you would think no one would take a chance on him again. Now yes it is true, this will be a big media draw, because you are atleast semi familliar with his rise and fall.  Saying that, I would really like to see top talent like Rashad mold Kimbo into a wrecking machine, I just hope thats not what the whole show is about. All I know is, that the rest of the contestants better come correct, because you know that Kimbo is hungry.

This a screen shot of the DVD menu for The Watermen League. The Owner of Ku Hoe, a manufacture of revolutionary short SUP boards and Longboards, is releasing a film they shot and The Watermen League will be showing some promo stuff there. We are going to be in Honolulu.

It is a beautiful montage of SUP clips desaturated and tinted blue to give a free feeling. A inspirational song plays as the clips shot at 60fps just mesmerize you. All while the Waterman League logo shines.

For Up and Coming designers. I used DVD studio pro, After effects and photoshop. Actual Menu Itself was made in Photoshop. The shining waterman logo in after effects and the menu buttons are simple DVD Studio Pro buttons. Its a very sleek design and only took 2 hours.