Industrial – “TSMC Open Innovation Platform”

Filmed this industrial a little while back for the TSMC Open Innovation Platform.

The setup is interesting: a really tall crane that rotates over on top, while a big group of us form intricate geometric shapes and do tightly choreographed movements underneath.

There are three separate segments, all with us cooperating and coming together as a team to: form a silicon platter, create a rotating wheel, build a tower.

Since the camera is overhead, they couldn’t really use a lot of visible marks on the ground. The only way they could tell whether it “looks right” is from the camera monitors. So the hardest part for us is really trying to get the positions right without being able to self-correct. A lot of takes. =)

The full video is here.

mbanner_oip2014

Share

Music Video – Little Cinema – “Birdwatchers of the World – Unite!”

How often do you get to be a bird? =)

Well – our dreams came true when shooting this fun music video for Little Cinema’s “Birdwatchers of the World – Unite!”.

The makeup artists really did a great job. Our colors were so striking, especially when seen against the background of the fall foliage in the park. There were even real birdwatchers there when we were filming!

Share

Short Film – “Salience”

Paul Trillo just released his new experimental short film “Salience”.

From the description: “Invisible figures emerge from a forest to be revealed by bursts of colored powder. Shot on the Phantom Miro at 1500 frames per second.”

I was one of the “invisible figures” – a bunch of the shots, including the “levitating” figure in the title frame, are of me. It was shot earlier this year, in the cold of late winter/early spring. Wearing only thin lycra bodysuits used for chromakey (i.e. green screen, blue screen), we were pelted with colored powder as we moved through the woods and fields. Through the magic of visual effects, our figures were made mostly invisible, with the colored powder showing through. The result is beautiful and mysterious.

Here’s the behind-the-scenes where Paul describes how the short was made:

Share

Behind the Scenes

Recently, I saw three movies that focused on the people behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

“20 Feet from Stardom” is a documentary on the backup singers behind hugely popular music acts.

“Drew: The Man Behind the Poster” is a documentary on Drew Struzan – the movie poster artist who painted(!) the movie posters for such iconic movies as “Star Wars”, “Indiana Jones”, “Back to the Future”, and many more.

“In a World…” is a comedy about voice-over artists.

Each of these movies are wonderful in their own way.  I love how they highlight the artistry and talent of the people who are stars in their own right, even though they don’t get the same bright spotlight.  They are a very real part of the creative collaboration that is necessary to give birth to a musical performance or a movie.  I feel like I can identify somewhat with them – since stunt performers fall into a similar role as supporting members of the team.  I can only hope to be even a liiiiiiittle bit as successful as they are.

20 Feet from Stardom (2013) PosterDrew: The Man Behind the Poster (2013) PosterIn a World... (2013) Poster

Share