"Why Documentary?"

Get a preview of my new VLog which unconventionally answers the question, "Why 

Documentary?" That is....if you can follow it. 

I wanted to do something in an interpretive surrealism which incorporated elements of the city and aspects of my life (the clues are in there).  There is a conveyance of multiple time lines, perspectives, hinting on multiple dimensions, infinite possibilities, dual universes, etc.  The answer to the question is in the two minute film itself, but I gave a little something at the end to help focus the overall idea of the work.

I was actually VERY excited by this project because it allowed me to create something artistic

and produce a piece that is extremely representative of me - how my mind works, my stylistic vision, and how I process the things I see in the world.  It's a glimpse inside my head.

I hate the word "experimental".  I think it's a really weak solution to lop films with no specific  label into a category for everything that does not fit into conventional documentary.

When I screened this for the first time last week at New York Film Academy it got a fantastic response, although I may have heard the "E" word used once or twice. I'll use some Netflix terminology and file it under "Dark Cerebral Mind-Bending Introspective Documentary".  Ok, maybe that's a little much.

CHECK IT OUT ON VIMEO

Click this Link to view:
http://vimeo.com/32051138

Caught on the Work! HHDV

Rick @ NYSkateboarding.com put up a nice recap of Harold Hunter Day 5!  

Check it out here:

http://www.nyskateboarding.com/?p=12863

He also caught me hard at work shooting for my new VLog!

Thanks for the shot and the shout!!

This film short was a project I did back in late September.  The point was to go out into the City and find something worth shooting, take it back to the editing lab and bang it out all within class time.  I wanted to find something uniquely NYC and hoped that the feel of it would translate through the film.  I definitely think i got what I was looking for.  Shot with a Panasonic HMC 150 and edited in final cut in less than two hours.  For some reason my blog isn't allowing me to upload or view video, so please follow the VIMEO link.  Enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/32046056

My very first film,"The Holy Dance" appears on NYSkateboarding.com

My first student film at New York Film Academy, completed in September 2011 and released to the internet just last night, is currently being featured on NYSkateboarding.com and their Vimeo channel, Gnartifact.com, and Entree wordpress!  The premise was to shoot and edit a 2 minute silent observational film on 16mm B+W reversal film with an Arriflex-S camera. Sound was added in post. The film could be based on a person, place or process. I wanted to show the innate beauty of the art of skateboarding through the process of one skater's warm up session. From stretching, to just cruising around, to bonding with homies. It was very well received by my fellow students and teaching staff when it screened last month as an art piece that portrayed a beauty and grace seldom seen by the masses in the modern skate-age of stunts and commercialism. In it's first day online, the film has been posted on NYSkateboarding.com, NYSB Twitter, NYSkateboarding.com's Vimeo channel,  Gnartifact.com, and Entree.  Thanks to Rick Sulz @ NYSB, Entree, and Nick @ Gnartifact for the wonderful support and encouragement!

Starring skaters Pat Hoblin and Jean-Paul Lotz.  

Special appreciation to my crew: DP Gabriela Lozada and my assistant camera Xiaoxiao Chen of Beijing, China who worked very hard on the production of the film.

http://vimeo.com/31823282

Occupy Wall St. Documentary on Musician, FANTUZZI!

This past week, I was fortunate enough to be asked to be director of photography for a documentary shoot by director Gabriela Lozada of Quito, Equador.  The subject of the film was international performer "Fantuzzi"who was in New York in connection with the Occupy Wall Street movement.  I was very lucky to spend time with him, his friends and colleagues, and work with such amazing individuals! It's hard to pick just one highlight from the days of shooting, but I especially enjoyed our tour of west Harlem, where Fantuzzi grew up in the 60s.  Beside meeting an interesting cast of characters and being treated to some very "New York City" stories, an impromptu concert on Central Park West erupted when Fantuzzi pulled out two drum sticks and started pounding on a corner mailbox and singing his heart out.  People flocked and windows were filled with onlookers and listeners taking photos, phone tweeting images and one guy even had his laptop out the window recording it as a web cam video! The neighborhood came ALIVE! When he finished everyone cheered, clapped and yelled positive words down to the sidewalk. Our sound person was Susanne Dollnig of Salzburg, Austria who did an amazing job capturing the experience.  We worked so amazingly well together and as the director informed me via text message last night the footage we got was amazing.  Agreeing to be part of this project was one of the best decisions I could have made, because not only did I have the chance to work closely with a truly international crew, but I became a part of the Occupy Wall Street movement.  It was an incredible experience and completely rewarding in every possible way.  I am looking forward to seeing the final film and hopefully see my new friend Fantuzzi again in the near future!

You can read more about Fantuzzi and visit his website below:

"Fantuzzi is a world-class musical star who is charismatic, funny, sensual, and highly-energized and will definitely get you moving!  Meet the man that Newsweek Magazine featured on its cover to symbolize the gathering of the original 1969 Woodstock Concert. A continuous world traveler to over 50 countries throughout the past 35 years, Fantuzzi has performed on every continent at thousands of events including those at Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit, Los Angeles and Oakland Coliseums as well as at all 3 Woodstocks, 3 Khumba Melas, 29 Rainbow Gatherings, multiple Cannabis Cups, European Festivals, Bali Festivals, Australian Festivals, Harmony Festivals, Bhakti Festivals, Mystic Garden Parties, and Raw Spirit Festivals." (taken from his website biography)

Fantuzzi website: http://fantuzzimusic.com/

My Very First Blog

Greetings friends and fans! Welcome to my very first blog! I plan on using this as a forum to keep you all up to date on my films, music projects, live gigs, DJ gigs, up and coming events, skateboarding related events and news, etc. I'm very excited about this because I am going to start producing vlogs as well so you can get your video fix! Again, welcome and thanks for following! -JRCDb \m/-<(-_-)>-\m/