Adventures in Corporate Video 2009

2009 was the first year in recent memory when I did not produce or release a short film. This is a pretty big deal to me, as I’ve completed around 5 in the past three years. However, I definitely had plenty to do as I enjoyed the last leg of a film festival run for Fingers. Here are some of the videos I worked on in the past year.

Please let the videos load for a few moments before playing them. All of these videos were completed at Vision Teleproduction, Inc. in Kansas City, where I work full time as a producer and editor.

“Circus” – Drew Brees

Editor, Graphics, Effects

As a sports fan, this music video was a lot of fun. I tried to marry the spectacular offense of the New Orleans Saints with the carnivalesque atmosphere of their home games. We completed this video for our client Premier Sports for the yearly 101 Awards banquet which honors the best offensive and defensive players in the National Football League. Drew Brees and Peyton Manning received the offensive honors; ironic, since both of their teams are poised for a deep playoff run this year. I have a sneaking suspicion that I’ll need to put together another video for one or both of them… Read the rest of this entry »

Film Briefs #1: L'Enfant, Ace In The Hole, 9

L’Enfant (2005)

I picked this up after finding it on several best-of-decade lists. Very good movie, however not nearly as intellectually complex as critics would breathlessly lead you to believe. Sometimes being in another language and not being so formal gives you a few bonus points. Particularly striking is the scene in which Bruno “buys back” his child. The faceless customer instructs him not to walk over until his car has pulled away. In a Hollywood film, I would have expected the child to not be returned and Bruno to find an empty child seat, leading to a whole new set of priorities and struggles after giving away what money he has left. Ironically, the Dardenne’s show him mercy.

Overall, I thought L’Enfant is an interesting cultural critique of American pop culture. In our movies, man-children are considered funny, endearing, and are typically rewarded for their behavior (Talladega Nights, The Hangover). L’Enfant finds Bruno encountering a series of real, serious grown-up problems because of his behavior. And he suffers because of it.

Ace In The Hole (1951)

Dir. Billy Wilder

“They don’t make movies like this anymore,” a stuffy expert will frequently remind you in books and commentary tracks. But there is some truth to that claim. Here is a film unspoiled by recession-inducing special effects or superstar actors (outside of Kirk Douglas). Instead, it turns its focus to weaving together an absolutely brilliant, complex story from my favorite Austrian filmmaker.

Kirk Douglas plays Chuck Tatum, an alcoholic reporter that had been run out of every significant newsroom in the country. He lands a job in Albequerque, and sees an opportunity to get back on top when a local is trapped in a Native American cave. He orchestrates a plan to keep the man trapped for several days, so that he can build his exposure through a series of features. He encounters an unforeseen by-product of this development, as the cave becomes a tourist destination, a circus that he can no longer control. A biting critique of society at the time, the film’s themes ring true today in an age of TMZ and media-manufactured disasters.

9 (2009)

Dir. Shane Acker

9 (Elijah Wood) is the creation of a skilled scientist. He wakes up to a post-apocalyptic world where the machines fought man… and won. 9 and the other creations (#8, #7, etc.) are the only living things that remain. They spend the movie evading–and working to defeat– the machine that wreaked havoc on mankind.

Shane Acker is an incredibly talented animator. I watched this on Blu-Ray and the sets, textures, character poses and expressions are stunning. I love artists who are immersed in the minutiae of objects– paying close attention to not only their look but their function and character. The mise-en-scene is frequently arresting–sometimes causing my eyes to travel away from the action to soak it all in. Visually, it’s a great-looking film. He has a promising animation career ahead of him and it’s a great personal calling card. Unfortunately, the film suffers from a pedestrian story.

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12 Christmas(ish) Movie Posters

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12 Movie Posters

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Videos on ESPNU!

I recently edited a few videos at my full time job at Vision Teleproduction, Inc. for the College Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City. The 2009 induction ceremony will be broadcasted this Sunday, December 13th at 8:00PM CST, on ESPNU. I did the career recap/highlight videos for college basketball’s all-time leading scorer Travis Grant and legendary coaches Jud Heathcote and Gene Bartow. I’m a huge sports fan and, to be honest, these people flew under my radar. It was interesting to learn about their impressive careers and accomplishments, and I think it’s definitely worth it to tune in and learn more about them yourself! Also being honored are Larry Bird & Magic Johnson.

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In Review

- Last night I watched “My Best Fiend,” a documentary about the rocky, violent, and always effective working relationship between German auteur Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski. I could listen to WH talk about film all day. It is so apparent how passionate (and insightful) he is about the art. I really want to check out Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, but I’m sure its 3 day stint in Kansas City has come and gone already.

- I’ve been hard at work on some new film projects–mostly writing. I’m well into the 2nd draft of a very bleak short film titled “Fly Trap,” and will soon begin writing a short about Baseball that I think will work as an interesting, pseudo-silent comedy (and will probably the next project I produce and direct). Then there’s the feature screenplay I’ve kicked around, which is getting heavier with ideas. Once that story well fills up,  I’ll start pouring it on the page.

- Earlier this week, SPIN Earth published “Electric,” the recent music video currently gracing the front page of this website. I’m so excited for Biarchy; they deserve good things. Download their awesome debut album for free here.

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