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So today is UPDATE DAY!

First things first, I am going to give some insight to some projects that are already done.

As of yesterday, Captain Fin won BEST DRAMA at the Salute Your Shorts Film Festival. This film has been making its way through the festival circuit, and the conclusion of its run will be at this years 2012 Florida Film Festival for where it was selected as a winner of the Enzian Brouhaha Film Festival. It has been a great film that everyone that worked on is proud of, and I am looking forward to seeing it on the screen in April.

Actress is in Audio Post as of right now, as well as the titles and and credits that are being masterfully crafted. I am really excited to get this one out. I have already had the trailer in some film festivals to great response, as well as the internet community. Soon this film will be hitting the ground running in film festivals around the country, and hopefully we have another hit on our hands.

NOW for the projects in the works for this year.

So we are getting into full preproduction swing with FAUXTOGRAPHY. I have been collaborating with Story Producer/Writer Sean Kantrowitz who together, we are going to bring a comedic web series to life that we really think you will enjoy. I have read and reread the script Sean has written, and it makes me laugh every time so I really feel we have something special on our hands. We begin casting February 25th. Below is the info.

I am also working again with upcoming rap artist PlayWryte for a new video early march. We had a great experience last time, and he came to me with another track that I felt I could bring to life. More info and a BTS on this early March.

Now this is a fun one. I great friend of my Rev.Jay Leal – C.E.O of Rebel Rev Industries, wrote a script a while ago that I really enjoyed.  This one has always been a project that I have been wanting to get started but the chips just never fell into place until now. Leal has decided that he is going to Produce this film, because like myself… we really think this is something that people will enjoy.  Its a fantastic script that I will, if all goes according to plan, get to shoot on film. The feel is very southern goth macabre meets 1950′s style… and I believe getting back to the grainy film routes will really bring it to life. Casting information on this to come soon.

There is actually 2 more projects that I am eager to get out involving musicians…both done, but I cant talk to much about it yet. Believe me, when it comes out, you will know! Check back in next week when I give my thoughts on the under use of Canons more affordable T2i.

So I recently was sent to Aspen, Colorado for the 2012 Winter Xgames. I was sent as a team to represent Full Sail University as a sponsor for the Xgames.  My job was to shoot and edit live in the booth, using the same equipment and software that the students of the Digital Cinematography Online Degree would get as a part of their tuition to the program. It was a great experience, even though a very COLD experience. Some days we were waking up and starting our day in 1 degree weather… and for this Florida Boy, that was something else.

SONY NEX FS-100

Working with the FS-100 is a fun experience. If your familiar with the GH2, HPX, HVX cameras and the like… then it wont feel too foreign. The form factor of the camera definitely does take some getting used to.  With it coming bare, and needing to be assemble for the needs (audio mount, Monitor magnifier as an eyepiece, extremely wierd side handle that if your left handed kind of leaves you S.O.L) it made the initial set up a little annoying, as well as the fact of the monitor being on the top of the camera, leaving you to always having to being looking down or at eye level with it. The weight of the camera is less than other cameras in its class, so that made carrying, panning and tilting with the fluid Manfrotto tripod extremely easy. The kit lens of 18-200mm is extremely useful, just wide enough to get that nice angle distortion, and long enough to make most vantage points effective, of course the speed of the lens is to be desired… 3.5-5.6 really doesnt give you much room for light, but its a great lens for multipurpose. The SQ mode to quickly put you into 1080p 60 frames was extremely effective and what I feel is something that really puts this camera above others in its class. My purpose for this was fast paced action sports shooting, and having those options is a must, especially at 1080p… unlike 720p that most cameras drop to when doing 60 frames.  As for the menus, adjustments and what not, there were all easily found and workable. This camera does definitely take some getting used to, but once you do, you see that it is a very effective camera, with great versatility. For a more in-depth review you can vist http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/sony-nex-fs100-review/ and learn more. Below are some still from the video

CONTOUR ROAM HD HELMET CAMERA

Another new piece of equipment I had the chance of working with was the Contour HD helmet camera, a fast delightful competition to the GOPRO series. MODEL  – Shaun Moore

This camera is a great comparable device to the GOPRO. I would say the image quality is on par, but I would say GOPRO image stabilization is a tad bit more advanced. That access to the footage, and the one-touch record switch made it much easier to work with then a GOPRO, as well as a laser guide to make calibrate the angle and POV of the camera. All in all, I believe it is a cheaper alternative to the GOPRO for the person wanting to use it for surfing,biking, any sporting and not looking to fork out the extra 100-200 dollars. I know Shaun, who used it while snowboarding, said he would love to have one for his bike-riding, wake board riding purposes. More on this camera here http://contour.com/products/contour-roam

So these were just some of the fun new gadgets I got to work with while out in Aspen. Feel free to contact me on any questions for either. Hopefully soon I will be able to have something that shows the actual video footage from both.

People always ask me ,” Where do I get my ideas from” or “Where do I draw my inspiration for either the projects that I have been a part of or created myself”. As of right now, I have my fingers in some many pies that I needed to remember myself what inspires me to keep the juices flowing. I need to remind myself what is it that drove me to make what I have done so far. I figured if I am going to go down this path, I might as well share the info with you, This is the collection of things that started me to where I am now.

(Bad Boys) poster Above

This is the film that changed it all.  I have watched this movie more than any other movies combined. I would watch it 4 and 5 times a day growing up. The music, the camera movements, the comedy, the action, everything about this film grabbed me. I had shot stupid things growing up on my HandiCam, even a short film called Vanish with my cousins, but this movie really made me love movies in a sense that I wanted to be a part of it.

Good Will Hunting (poster above)

This film has always been a personal favorite. Now as much as I love the film, the writing, and the characters… it was none of this that fueled me. Growing up I loved watching Behind the Scenes featurettes on TV or HBO, but the Commentary track with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck discussing all that they went through writing it, getting it made and finally getting an Oscar for really blew my mind. The amount of passion and the attitude that you can make your future, you just have to persevere and good things will come, changed me. I began watching ALL behind the scenes, listening to every commentary, I became obsessed with making movies.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6kCWNV1bs4]

I found this video online a long time ago. This video started my passion in editing. I have always loved music because it told a story. I always loved video game cut scenes, especially Final Fantasy, because they were so intense and epic. The combination of the two blew me away to the point that I began researching and editing on Windows Movie Maker. I don’t know the person responsible for this video, but whoever they were, inspired me.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxv0VLPy2_o]

I am a trailer fanatic. I live for the creation of them, and am really critical of them. If a film has a horrible trailer, I wont be seeing it. Now note: This movie is not a favorite of most people. This trailer is not the best trailer I have ever seen. In saying that, this is the first trailer that made me love trailers. The pacing, the creative use of scenes that are in and not in the movie to tell a story that doesn’t give too much away, but still leaves you with a good feeling about the movie. The use of the song at the end uddle of Mud “Blurry”  just accentuated what was going on screen, and gave emotionality to the trailer. That emotionality is what I believe should be in ALL trailers, unless it’s a movie like EPIC MOVIE or anything like that. That being said, I believe that the Star Trek Trailer is one of the best examples of what a trailer can do for me. Star Trek released 3 trailers, the first being a great teaser, the 2nd being an expected action trailer and then they released trailer 3, which I believe to be one of the best movie trailers of all time. I believe this trailer made more people want to see this movie than had previously, and the music by Two Steps from Hell <- Probably the best company in the business, takes your emotions to a whole new level. That’s what editing is all about. Here is the trailers just so you can see. The fourth tv spot was good, It just was not as gripping as Trailer 3

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IptbC3p2lCk]

So in saying all this, there is plenty more that has inspired me through out time… but these videos and films are what really have had an impact on me in my path. I leave you now with the question, what inspires you in what you do. What drives you to be the best at what you do in life?

So it is Christmas 2009. I figured I would add a little something Ive been working on.  I am now the Editor at Platinum Creative and this is the new Branding Initiative for Full Sail University.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbJT4Besre0]

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