Stories

Habitat For Humanity got things rolling on McCabe Street in Baltimore last week and b-roll of the effort was dutifully captured by myself for the upcoming M&T Bank spots for the Baltimore market. This marked the 2nd time I’ve been to Baltimore in the past few months and the 2nd time ever for me.

It was HOT there, but not HHHOT, since apparently we missed the 108 degrees the week before we were there. Woah!

I have to say, the Baltimore waterfront area (inner harbor) is amazing.

I got to find out first hand what jet-lag is all about recently having returned from a 10 day trip to London and Paris to shoot “brand architects” there for New Era Cap.

Yep, The Louvre, The London Eye, The Eiffel Tower, and Shannon were all there, and we interviewed excellent French artist Steve Pitocco in his studio in Paris (man, they really like to smoke there!) Some of Steve’s designs adorn New Era Caps and we got to watch (and shoot) him doing a little of his drip-painting and I’d say it was pretty inspiring stuff.

I just got back from a nice little trip with excellent makeup/hair stylist Josselyn Scott and my #1 camera assistant, Shannon Madden. We visited Ann Arbor, Michigan, Akron, Ohio, and Baltimore, THE Baltimore and drove the whole trip (I like to drive.)

The new Hospice Buffalo spot has been completed by dPost and I’d say it looks pretty good for a half day of shooting (on my Red One):

I just got back from the island of kings after a few days of work for NYSERDA, shooting interviews and footage at some of the fine Vornado properties there. The weather was perfect and we got to the natural history museum for a little visit, so it was a good trip despite the fact that the cab drivers all seemed to have been suffering from a case of the Mondays.

(Shannon Madden photo)

I spent a few hours last week with Shannon shooting some stock images. It’s great to have a great looking friend who’s game for some photography every now and then.

I had the good fortune to answer the phone when artist Sarah Baker called and the good sense to say “yes” when she asked me if I’d consider shooting her soap opera “Our Time,” which is a full-on soap opera based in Buffalo, New York featuring some local thematic elements AND of course – local actors.

The premier screening at Hallwalls was standing room only and the response was very, very positive. My good friend Shannon Madden operated camera along with me and it was a real gas to work with actual soap opera veteran actors Frank Rossi and Josie DiVincenzo.

Paul Spitale and Selina Kaye

Post production is almost completed on the new New Era NFL cap web spots. It looks and sounds great and with a little help from Steadicam operator Tom Wills with focus puller Shannon Madden.

Maestro Peter Cumbo conducts pre-pro from his kitchen table after which 4 solid shoot days ensued whereby, despite a few very long days – it all got done. Watch for actor Paul Spitale’s eye tearing scene on the breakwall in the Niagara River on the coldest day of the year.

I picked a nice time to bug out of Buffalo and visit my favorite place, driving out to Arizona and Utah a few weeks ago to shoot some demo and stock footage with the Red One MX digital cinema camera system.

The roads were rough but the skies were amazing and as soon as I get to grading the footage, I think I’ll want to move to Prescott, Arizona, my new favorite town.