Stories

I spent a few hours last week teaching some of the arts and sciences of gripology and electrician skills for film production at EFP in Rochester. Everyone in attendance achieved a heightened degree of knowledge and then we had lunch. Good times!

We shot this in the Ralph Wilson field house in Orchard Park, New York last month with a Red Epic on a portable slider in literally 10 minutes (that’s all they gave us!) Thanks to Tom Wills for pulling focus like a champ (coincidentally, you can’t knock him down either.)

(photos: Kathryn Przybyla)

The Cumbo, Inc. team traveled to Santa Rosa, California recently to interview Gary Leach in his home. Two cameras, one microphone – no waiting:

Some of my bestest friends came out to play yesterday at Canisius College where we spanned time with producer/director John Takacs from DPost.

Special moments were immortalized in 4K resolution on the Red Scarlet for a commercial showcasing some of the best aspects of that world class educational institution, and we even had 2 Canisius alumni on our crew – woah!

Human jib in effect.

Low angle? No problem. My limbs fold nicely.

Aerial shot? There’s always a way!

(Images courtesy Josselyn Scott & Shannon Madden)

Recently completed web spot for Mini of Rochester:

Got back into IMG_INK studio for Blue Cross & Blue Shield with the Red. Good times!

(Shannon Madden photo)

Spent yesterday at the Buffalo News shooting a new commercial for their new Bills Blitz app. Mr. Cumbo was on hand to direct our actor, the epically comedic John Kreuzer of the Eclectic Improv Company, and 4 sports journalists from the newspaper.

The awesomely capable and experienced Josselyn Scott was also with us to oversee makeup artistry with that crazy airbrush thingy of hers, and Shannon Madden, fresh off her 5 week independent film stint, operated B camera.

Back in mid June, after a mere week and a half of prep, Peter Cumbo and I headed up a project for New Era Cap that featured a 30’s era baseball flavor.

Two shoot days with the Red Scarlet-X camera yielded some of what you see here (after a next-day completed rough edit) which features my brother Richie as a vintage baseball cracking young man, and some pretty perfect locations (and weather!) in Rochester and Mumford, NY.

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It might have been a mini day, but it was maxi in other ways, that’s for sure.

Bulldogs, and sexy Minis, and a pair of beautiful twin sisters – oh my!

After spending all of yesterday at the Mini dealership in Rochester shooting their new web commercial, I do believe I’ve got a thing for the Mini Paceman. I wonder if they’d take my Ducati as a trade-in?

(all photos: JR Kraus)

Fly to Chicago, set up – shoot (for 12 minutes).

Drive to the airport.

Fly to Newark, set up – shoot (for 12 minutes).

Drive to the airport.

Fly to Buffalo, set up – shoot (for 12 minutes – twice).

Drive home – pass out.