Well–WE have arrived!  So proud to announce that a film I am so PROUD to be a part of (Still/Publicity Photographer) will be hosting an exclusive panel discussion and trailer screening at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego on FRIDAY JULY 22nd from 7:00 – 8:00 PM in ROOM 25 ABC.

Among the panel will be LEGENDS TONY TODD  MARK HAMILL & SONNY CHIBA–partnered with greats NOAH HATHAWAY, JAMES DUVAL, ANDY MacKENZIE, DAVID DASTALMACHIAN, and CORTNEY PALM (THE Sushi Girl herself!).

This film is nothing short of amazing.  Kern Saxton directing a pure tour de force performance from TONY TODD (one of my all time favorites)…sure to blow your wig back –you’ll never forget it.  Everybody in the cast is just amazing really–and combined?  Be prepared to embrace your new favorite film.

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE WWW.SUSHIGIRLMOVIE.COM FOR MORE INFO–AND THE TRAILER (AFTER JULY 22nd).

Nothing like working with Dan & Dave Buck.  They always have some insane, inventive concept that I cannot wait to dive into.

A while back I got the familiar (by now) call regarding a conceptual exhbition/exploration they cooked up and wanted to realize via my work.

SYBIL is basically a building block maneuver of playing cards created by Chris Kenner that numerous cardists (flourishers)–have grown from.  It is an essential teaching tool for the mind.

Dan and Dave credit Sybil as something to be immortalized as a source of inspiration within the world of playing card arts (Cardistry) and wanted me to break it down into a series of FIVE SINGLE FRAMES shot continuously on one pass of FILM.  YES–REAL LIVE FILM!

The finished product?  A beautiful, gallery print in the size 38 inches wide x 8 inches tall.  And to make this even THAT much more rewarding–this is a VERY limited series of 101 SIGNED (by myself, Dan and Dave Buck).

Here’s your chance to own a slice of history, and a beautiful piece of art at the same time.

SYBIL LIMITED SIGNED PRINT

On a recent work-related fieldtrip I was given the gift of some amazing light…and my little pocket buddy camera.  Nothing fancy–no exotic location filled with sexually repressed mermaids–just MY shadow on a wall.  AND at that–not even an EXOTIC wall made by elves.  Just your average run of the mill cheap o wall.  But you know what?  I love this damn photo and choose to make it the post of the day.  I’m saving my mermaid photos for next time.

Hitchcock did it.

We are all creatures not only of habit–but of vanity.  Yes–I said it.  Not only of vanity but extreme ego driven narcissism.  I am not to be “forgiven.”  I tend to make an appearance in quite a few of my projects.  Whether I have a few moments of downtime and boredome can be to blame–or I happen to catch some light I know I would look great in.  Either way–some of my favorite images are–well………….of me.  And that’s just the way it is.  So I leave you all this Friday with a few recent glances into my high flying, fast paced, uber-exciting life.

(*Hitchcock also wrote many “tongue in cheek” bits of self-promoting dialogue as well……..)

One of the recent projects I REALLY had a lot of fun with was my involvement in the upcoming feature film SUSHI GIRL.  Great cast, excellent crew–and the chance to create an entire gallery of wonderful images to immortalize both the production, and the publicity sides of the film.  After a long day shooting, director Kern Saxton came over and we started to have a nice chat.  He was really into the preview images I would share from my files each day and asked if I was into creating “The Last Supper” for a billboard to be produced upon the film’s release later in the year.  Sounded like fun–and it was.

The great part about crafting these moments is making sure each actor is represented with their character in mind.  You have to think fast on the fly and imagine how each persona should be depicted–using only light (and the absence of) to “paint” the perfect image of WHO these people are.  Combine that with the fact that on a movie set–you better think fast–things move–the director always has to keep going or might lose a moment of precious production time.  (Tip to all photographers who want to do feature film work–if you have a stomach made of anything less than industrial grade iron & steel–this job is NOT for you.)

We set up the scene–made some adjustments–and BAM.  I nailed it within a few seconds.  History made.  Very rewarding.

It is always great to “work” on a project YOU are a “fan” of.  I personally can’t wait to see the finished film–so Mr. Kern Saxton–get back to work and finish post production on this bad boy–I want to see it!!!!!!!!!!!

Over the years you start to take a look back and find some images taken in a similar period of time and find a common thread–maybe it was the atmosphere–maybe the subject–maybe??????????????  Who in the hell knows or much cares.  Well….I must because I’m writing about it.  Anyhow, looking back at a few of my favorite portraits of the month I was in the mood to travel on the diagonal……on the tension.  I’ve been trying for the last few minutes to come to grips with some really deep, profound meaning or theory to share regarding my insight to these portraits.  Not going to happen.  But in any case–I can give a bit of info about the who and what.

This first one is of Film Producer Suren M. Seron.  Known him for years.  Worked with him for eons.  Always interesting to photograph and even more so to speak to.  Quite possibly one of the most brilliant minds I have ever had the opportunity to encounter.  He’s a puzzle.  Put the pieces together for yourself and make the man.

Next we have actor David Dastmalchian who is a blast to work with.  Last month I completed Publicity and Set Photography for the upcoming Super Cult Smash Film (trust me) SUSHI GIRL and David has a great role in it.  Even more entertaining and riveting offscreen than on (if ya can believe it).  A true character who  holds nothing back.  Combine this with a look impossible to duplicate.  Another puzzling and complex type of man……….just the type who keeps you wondering………..

We all love a good mystery………..

FAQ:  What can I DO to make better portraits?  Any hints/tips/tricks?

A:  Yes.  Stop asking and start doing.

No, I’m not being rude–quite the opposite–and let me explain.  There is NOTHING I can share to make you a “better” photographer.  The physical act of photography is this and ONLY this–press a button.  Click.  Presto–you have now successfully completed your task at hand and may consider yourself a “photographer” (I guess).  BUT–let me warn you–your image may be worthless.  Yes–totally worthless.  Why?  Why you ask…………SIMPLE.  You concentrated solely on the PHYSICAL and TECHNICAL implications of photography.

Now–I’m not going to levitate and start to chant.  No incense burning or flying carpets (dragons).  But let’s get real.  To be a great portrait ARTIST you must posess something very special and quite rare if I do say so myself.  You have to have an uncanny ability to relate to people COMBINED with the spiritual understanding/genius to transcend the physical world and transport a piece of the subject from within.

A great portrait is something intangible–even in its tangible form.  Sound like a rhyme to make confucius confused? It might just be.  In short–stop worrying about what kind of camera you have.  The aperture.  Shutter speed.  Throw all of that stuff out the window for now.  Concentrate on humanity and emotion.  And if you have to be reminded to do so–may I suggest another hobby/line of work from you? ; as this should be without question.

Here are two very, very different portraits–as they should be.  The subjects are VERY different individuals who live quite different lives and have very different interests.  I won’t say a word further.  THEY can tell you all about WHO they are………….

JAMES DUVAL.  MARCH, 2011.

DOUG SCHAPER.  MARCH 2011.

Long overdue.  My close friends know my appreciation for Tony Todd.  I’ve been a fan of his work since I was in fifth grade and just mesmerized by his performance and overall presence in Tom Savini’s remake of George Romero’s classic zombie flick NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.  My mother signed me out of school in fifth grade to take me to the first showing (true story).  I was just in awe of the film;  and for some reason–the young, tall actor who whipped ass using his 6’5″ frame and mighty brain to save the day versus those pesky flesh eating zombies.  He had a heroic and noble presence–a true grace that really registered with me.

Some things just stick with you–and we have no real way of explaining the “why” of it all…but such is life.  A few years later Todd would complete a role so defining that even today–it is his most well known work (despite bringing it in COUNTLESS other film and stage plays over the years) called THE CANDYMAN.  Sometimes an actor just nails something that registers with a global audience in such a way that they are forever blessed/cursed with the identification factor (typecast). Candyman made him an international icon of the horror genre.

In any case–let me cut to the chase.  Tony and I became friends by pure luck (fate?)–and just recently I had the opportunity to photograph his recent work (the best of his amazing career?) on the film SUSHI GIRL (which he also executive produced).  Now–at first it was a bit distracting to watch him perform live–his presence and performance are SO intense–that I often found my brain absolutely plucked from my being and thrust into a fantasy world Tony clearly controlled.  He is an amazing talent…..to say the very least.

Life is strange.  Sometimes the old saying (Never meet your heroes) is absolute truth.  9/10 times you WILL be disappointed.  But in some cases…you are rewarded with an experience that may change your life.  I know I was.

“You never know” (as my dear grandmother Caroline Fulton R.I.P. quoted)…….life takes you on various journeys for reasons unknown.  Sit back, enjoy the ride–and live without questioning.

Because in the end……you really “NEVER KNOW…………..”

KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR *MY* TONY TODD AND SUSHI GIRL PORTRAITS COMING SOON……….YOU REALLY DON’T WANT TO MISS THESE…………………

Sorry for the delay in updating my “Daily Report” that has been ……well….far from “Daily” for quite some time.  Between my usual hectic schedule  I found the time to complete publicity and set photography for a new movie I am SUPER EXCITED about.

SUSHI GIRL was an adventure to say the least.  Coming to work each day and having the opportunity to dream alongside fantastic actors such as Tony Todd, Mark Hamill, Jeff Fahey, Noah Hathaway, James Duval, Danny Trejo, Sonny Chiba………..and the list goes on and on.  Some of my images will be shared here in the VERY near future–so hold tight…………..you’re in for a ride.

I am always moving on to the next project and continuously aiming for the stars–but the images I created for this film are special.  Each one a tiny masterpiece of its own–and as seen as a whole……………..

From another dimension to say the least.

Sometimes in life we get rare glimpses into TRUE genius.  Now–that word is absurdly abused now–but please understand that I am talking about that “drop your jaw I never thought of that kinda genius.”  And YES–this world is often entrenched in madness, frustration, and misunderstood motives and misguided  decisions.  But nevertheless–it is a world few of us have the chance to exist in.

Years and years ago I had a chance meeting.  We all do–nothing notable or special about that.  But in hindsight it was one that severely impacted my work for years to come.  Hell–even today.  I met Dan.  Dan the Animator is what I’ll call him.

At the beginning of this century (2001–sounds so far away….) I was working on so many projects.  So many short films–as writer/director/producer/cinematographer–doing my little stint as Orson Welles.  I was studying CINEMA at USC.  Life was full of ideas and opportunity.  Dan and I would sit for hours on end in dimly lit parking lots talking about past/present/future all in one breath.  We were the only ones to really “get” what the other was trying to express in their own mediums (Dan is a painter/illustrator/video game designer/dirt bike racer).  He ended up starring and animating key sequences in my films.  It was a time of unpaved and unpounded trails leading to who knows where.  A lot of our projects were abandoned.  Never completed. Or just live as dreams to need no physical realization.

ENTER 2011.  We’re both still here.  Working.  And now–working together again.  Dan making his *magnum opus* “ghostTown.”  An amazing new video game completely illustrated, coded, written & directed by HIM.

And here is my recent portrait of the man.  Looking into a tomorrow only he can see…………….