Happy Holidays 2019!

2019 is already coming to a close while 2020 creeps up in the horizon. When I was a kid, a measly school week felt like an eternity. Now, years zip by at mach speeds. This is why old people keep telling you to stop and smell the roses.

Recently, I've been working with Tatiana Krokar, a friend of mine from film school, on comedic shorts for her improv group. One of the videos is currently featured on WHOHAHA.com, a website co-founded by Elizabeth Banks that showcases female comedy creators.

Anyway, Happy Holidays! Seasons Greetings! Etc.!

Let's all do a little bit better and give just a little more thought when getting gifts for the ladies in our lives (although if bath sets are your thing, more power to you).

(WHOHAHA LINK HERE.)

Stay Cool

It's great being outside on a nice, sunny day, but remember to stay cool and hydrated during hotter weather.

Here's a little something I worked on earlier this year with A*light Picture and Wanderlust Hollywood. Enjoy!

Levity in Brevity

Friend and former film school classmate Terry Wesley and I have been collaborating on some web content during our downtime. The first few installments of Terry's comedy series, "20 Questions" (a parody of the Liam Neeson vehicle Taken), have just gone live on his YouTube channel. The videos are quick and fun to watch whenever you have a little lull in your day. If you've got a minute, check them out!

Help a Sister Out! Fund "Post" by Wallaine Sarao!

Over the summer, we shot act one of the spec pilot for "Post," a comedy about life in the reality world.

This is what we made over one weekend with a handful of people, a bunch of favors, and the kindness of Wallaine's employers (who let us shoot in their building).  Imagine what we can do with enough money to do it properly!

'Midnight Rider' Director Randall Miller, Producers Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter, Criminal Trespass

From the Hollywood Reporter:

Midnight Rider director Randall Miller and producers Jody Savin and Jay Sedrish have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass in Wayne County, Georgia superior court following the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones, it was announced on Thursday.

It's important to make human lives a priority.

"4 Redrum in the Dark" Official Music Video

byrdsol's music video for "4 Redrum in the Dark" has just gone live.  Check it out!


Directed/produced by Elsa Valdez and Original Tomboy Productions.

‘Midnight Rider’ Victim’s Family Files Massive Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Everyone wants to get the shot, but no one wants to spend the extra time or money to do it right (or, at the very least, to consider the well-being of the cast and crew). Hopefully, unlike so many before it, this lesson won't go forgotten.

The family of Sarah Jones, the camera assistant killed during filming of the film “Midnight Rider,” has filed a lawsuit against the film’s director, producers, some of its crew, Gregg Allman, distributor Open Road Films and the companies that own the railroad tracks and surrounding land.

The suit, which also includes charges of negligence, asks for unspecified damages for Jones’s death and pain and suffering, plus punitive damages.

The suit alleges that director Randall Miller and the defendants, including location manager Charles Baxter, executive producer Jay Sedrish, first assistant director Hillary Schwartz and cinematographer Mike Ozier,  failed to obtain permission for the production to be on the railroad bridge where the fatal accident occurred, and that they concealed that fact and the danger of their shooting plans from the rest of the crew by leading them to think they would be working on the tracks with the permission of the railroad.

"Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it."

SXSW Interactive Keynote: Tina Roth Eisenberg




* EDITED TO ADD (December 2014): The main focus of this blog post is to highlight Tina Roth Eisenberg's keynote at SXSW Interactive 2013. The quote (which is attributed to Bill Cosby) is something that was used in her speech for only a moment but was something that I, as a creative freelancer, found to be inspiring at the time. The quote has obviously become tainted due to the sexual assault allegations. While I still find inspiration in the spirit of those words, I have removed his name from the quote in the title of this post due to the sensitive nature surrounding recent events.

why i love my work...

i am able to learn something new with each job...

working on promotional videos can be boring, but many of them are able to open my mind to new experiences and ways of thinking.

here are some videos i worked on for an author who is coming out with a very interesting book on eating disorders later this summer, entitled Healing Your Hungry Heart.



hope you find her message as intriguing and insightful as i have!

a little TOO close to home...

"dumbass filmmakers," a web series i worked on last year, is finally nearing the finish line and will be live this summer!

what happens when a passionately inspired auteur wants to make his dreams come true on the big screen... but doesn't necessarily have the resources to make it happen? join harrison dewinter and his motley crew of friends on their journey through the world of low budget, independent filmmaking.

a "gung hay fat choy" to us all!

hope both 2011 AND 4708 (or -9, or 4648, depending on what you believe) are treating everyone well!

new projects are underway as older ones are nearing completion. here is one that was finished recently. it's the first in a series of "vinégrettes" that will be released this year. keep your eyes peeled!

summer already?!

i can't believe it!!! time flies so fast these days...

updated the reel section. check it out!

updates...

a few things going on. amber sharp's "don't go" is getting major play all over the world. please go to the website and check out its screening schedule.

chain (dir. hyunmi park), a short i worked on last year (but was finished earlier this year), has gotten into its first film festival. it will be playing this thursday, the 15th, at the international student film festival hollywood. no website for this movie yet, so i'll keep you posted with any new updates.

and last, but not least, i've updated my reel... well, sorta. finally got some footage in for things i shot recently, so i uploaded 2 whole clips! yay!!! one is an ad for graham goddard's kisskadee pendants, and the other is a little scene from christopher blake's feature film, wide awake.