Scratch Trax

Another grab from Battery Park

MWDirector — Sun, 13 May 2012 08:25:05 +0000

P.I. Tommy has one foot in Gravesend.

Let’s all just take a moment…

MWDirector — Sun, 06 May 2012 22:02:17 +0000

To appreciate Danté Spinotti.

Still from new spotwork

MWDirector — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:20:08 +0000

Here’s a still from our shoot last week. Double full blue on a maxi on the bg, double diffused maxi for the key, 240 fps. Zing.

Battery Park Still

MWDirector — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:58:44 +0000

Here’s a quick taste of our new web pilot “Battery Park” that’s going to premiering at NATPE in Miami… Keep an eye out.
(Red Epic, Lomo 50mm)

Bionaire

MWDirector — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:28:19 +0000

It’s always difficult to make a product that just sits inert look sexy and compelling. In this case creative Director Peter Smaha’s concept of the clean, clear water was the key. I think the atmospheric 3d effects were also very additive in this spot.

To create the soft summer light, we used 3 18k HMIs through 4′x4′ 250 then full grid set about 10′ outside the window. The lighting setup posed an interesting question in prep – when you calculate fall off from the source, do you calculate from the HMI or the full grid? It seems that the intermediates would change the nature of the falloff…

Table Top Showreel

MWDirector — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:05:24 +0000

This is a montage of table top and product demo work that myself, Bruce and DP Jim LeBlanc have made recently. Love of table top work is love of craft at its most granular. At best to the audience, there is a lovely, fetishistic side to it. Personally, I love shooting it.

Mr. Coffee Café Latté

MWDirector — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:54:41 +0000

There are some fun shots in this one that support the father and son storyline. We mounted the top of the Latté maker to the camera for the insert shot – I think it was a 28mm Ultra Prime. The rack focus past the cups and lids was with an Optimo 12×1. Also, check out the bokeh on the flowers in the background of the final shot – very Vincent (also Optimo 12×1). All shot with our RedOne MX.

“Whirring” by The Joy Formidable

MWDirector — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:03:22 +0000

A new high water mark for motion graphics music videos – stunning work by Director Christopher Mills.

And cute kitties, too!

Mr. Coffee “Stanley”

MWDirector — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 22:13:55 +0000

Here’s another favorite from our recent campaign for Mr. Coffee.

Vote in the straw poll: Is Stanley the creepy guy down the hall or the shy guy who has a crush on the girl next door?

Where’s the Pot?

MWDirector — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:01:43 +0000

Here’s a new spot that just hit the airwaves that Bruce and I directed a couple months ago. Very happy with it – I think the comedy really plays (thanks in large part to the cast). Shot on our RedOne MX with Ultra Primes and Optimos. Particularly happy with the choice of the 12mm for the wide angle POVs.

In the funny coincidence department: the morning we shot this, I was sitting at the kitchen table on location, when Marc Sedaka walked into what I was about to learn was his own kitchen. He and I were PAs together on a film called Calendar Girl when we were new in town. Lovely guy, great way to start the day.