Docking Bay 94

Video for Mike Essa

2011-10-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

Few weeks back, Professional Drift Racer Michael Essa contacted me looking for a little video footage.

AutoBlog was doing an article on him.

I had shot a bunch of video footage at All Star Bash this year, including a little of Mike.

Having known Mike a bit over the years,
I had no problem supporting him in what ever way he needed.

The AutoBlog article can be found here.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/16/d...%28Autoblog%29

The Video is one full lap around the "Streets Of Willow" track at Willow Springs Raceway

SkateBoarding : Vans Downtown Showdown 2010

2011-10-06T17:46:00.000-07:00

So yes, It may be a little late for these photos,

.........by about a year.

Just came across them in my hard drive.

Always wondered what happened to them.

Vans used the "NewYork Street" area of Paramount Studios for a Skateboard Contest.

They built their own ramps during the week prior.

Since I was working on United States Of Tara on stage 5/6/7, I saw them setting up.

I showed up on the Saturday, used my lot badge to get through the gate, and went in and watched.

Took a couple photos, and forgot about them.

Just came across them a year later and decided to do some photoshoping for kicks and post a couple.

First Time On Rollers

2011-05-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

So I finally bought a set of used Rollers.
It wasn't especially hard to get used to.
I have been working on my balance and skateboarded for 20 years, So I think I had an advantage.

I finally did something with the Canon 7D that I bought months ago.
Self Filmed, shot, edited and was the subject.

Intervalometer testing NIKON D200

2011-04-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

I bought myself a Canon 7D.
So that makes my Nikon D200 my old camera.
But instead of selling it or using it as a paper weight, I started getting in gear with some Intervalometer shooting.

Intervalometer shooting is basically a series of still images, compiled into video/film format.
Movies are shot at 24fps(24 frames per second, bsically 24 images a second)
So you just compile the still images in order.
It just takes practice to get the time between shots down.

These shots were all taken at Griffith Park in Southern California.
Most shots are overlooking the Observatory, Los Angeles, Or Hollywood.

(it also looks like i need to clean the sensor off ;) )

Updated Reel 2011

2011-03-03T11:29:00.001-08:00

So after working on True Blood for a few months, and United States Of Tara before that....
I may loose my mind because there is a lack of creative juices in my head.

The depressed boredom has finally pushed through into motivation to try and get out there shooting again.
So I updated my reel and shortened it in hopes of tracking down some work.
I don't want to plug lights in my whole life.
I want to be more creative.

I also have some things I am stirring around in my head, so the future is looking good.

Cinematography Reel - Eric Castro from ERICCASTRO on Vimeo.

NISMOLISM 2011, car show/meet

2011-02-21T22:56:00.000-08:00

I recently bought a Canon 7D
I recently decided to go to a car show.
So I took the Canon along to Nismolism 2011 in Fullerton.
It was alright, if your into that kind of thing.
I'm not.
Who wants to look at a bunch of $1,200 cars owned by teenagers?
If your not beating the shit out of the cheapest sports car out there, and you are treating it like a treasure, then you probably re-use aluminum foil and zip lock baggies.

Dash of a Datsun 510 through the rear glass. I like the way the clouds reflected in the window. The owner was a guy named John Williams, and he took best in show.
If its the same John Williams that composed Star Wars, I am guessing his Nismolism trophy wont be on the same mantel as his Oscars.

Carburetors on a old Datsun convertible. I like the texture of the honey comb intake filters.

I always like the natural patina that old gauges have. I even wanted to get old aviation or boat gauges for my race car.
But I figured that would end up turning into one of those SteamPunk nerds with a fat goth girlfriend.

Over fenders and bumble fenders. That's is one hell of a tire when it takes that many fender extensions to cover it.

More dash action

And yet again.

Last picture is the old cheesy toy car look.

MakeUp Reel for Stephanie Navarro

2010-08-06T12:22:00.001-07:00

Finished editing together a Make Up Reel for my girlfriend.

Wish I knew how to upload to youtube better.

The black bars on the sides really irritate me.

FINALLY GET TO GO HOME

2010-06-26T20:05:00.001-07:00

So after going to bed for the last time on the skinny, dirty couch, with Pauly curled up on 2 extra sections and a computer chair, I had one more day to go.
I ended up getting about 3 hours sleep.
So I think that put me somewhere in the neighborhood of 17 hours sleep in over 5 days.

The last day consisted of pulling the car out into the sun to dry.
Cleaning up the mess in the shop, and alot of small little things to finish on the car.
Still couldnt track down why the headlights dont go up and down.
Still need a different/new set of tail lights.
Ended up just putting the battery in the regular spot.
Drove the car over to Adrian at Discount Tire in Santa Ana for an alighnment.
Then, started to put the body back together.
By the time everything was packed, and the car was together,couple hugs, thank yous and daps, And I pulled out at 10PM for the drive home.

Stopped twice to adjust the headlights, and once to fill the gas tank.
Gas tank gauge still doesn't work right, and half my cluster is black.
But its running and everything else is minor issues I can solve myself when I have a minute.
It may not be the best build, best parts, paint, and everything else people usually do.
But I dont see a lot of people building a car in 5 days for an event either.
In the end I am beyond happy with the results and completeing such a large project in such a small amount of time.

WHERE WAS I ?

2010-06-26T11:52:00.000-07:00

So I think I left off with 2 days to go.
So I will try and catch up.
Think this is like day 4
Woke up, and got started again.
Had some metal guys come by and take the old car off in pieces.

After that we continued to put the rest of the wiring harness together.
Tested everything, tracked down some wiring problems and some fuse issues and fired it up.
I then proceeded to take it out into the street to go road warrior status in Santa Ana.

Everything seemed to run alright.
Nothing flew off the car or fell out the bottom.
Everything felt nice and strong.
So no we move on to test fitting the body kit and making sure it all lines up before paint.
This is a very long and boring process. But I am glad I did it the right way. Not one piece actually fit together the way it should. But with a little manipulation, cutting and hammering, it lined up pretty decent and i was able to get the wheels flush.

After several hours, it all lined up and was taken back off the car.
Then came a couple hours of wet sanding the car.
Obviously not going for a perfect paint job, just trying to get it decently clean looking.
Pauly gave me a hand and we banged it out.

Then came the windshield.

After that, came the $26 can of Rustoleum paint I mixed.
I had Spencer spray the car for me.
We ended up finishing about 7am.

DAY 3/4......THERE WILL BE BLOOD

2010-06-22T04:06:00.000-07:00

Woke up today to the shop owner Robert coming in at 7ish for work.
Ended up with a couple hours sleep.
The whole day I was in a exhausted haze.
While preparing some areas to weld, I caught my glove in the grinder and it got all bound up.

Some first aid later.

Im so tired right now I am having to look through my photos to remember the day
Eric came and welded on a new/used exhaust line and some other things.

Luckily all the boys really threw in today and helped me out.
Guess the weekend is over.
They chopped up my old car.
Kinda weird to see it finally gone.
This whole thing has been a really odd experience.

I feel like I am caught in pergatory.
My entire body hurts.
My fingertips feel like they are constantly bleeding from turning so many nuts and bolts.
Everyday I wake up on a couch, walk out and start building a car.
Everyday is the same and I am drifting through exhausted conciousness.

But somehow, as long as I put one foot in front of the other and keep putting things on the car, its getting done,.....I think.

We took out alot of wires from the rear of the car that are not needed now that I am not having all the automatic and powered options.

So at this point, its 4:30 in the morning, Im on my 3rd, and the last Corona, and if I plug the battery in the car will start and run.
Tommorow there are a couple small things that need done, the windshield guy comes, and hopefully I can get the body all prepped and painted.
That means in 2 days I can go get an alighnment and go home finally.
To tired to remember a picture of myself today.
So I leave you with the interior almost complete, while I finish this beer, have a smoke, listen to a little more of the Amiele soundtrack and go to bed on the dirty couch.A VERY BIG thankyou to the guys for carrying me today while I zombied through the day.

DAY 2.......The Marathon

2010-06-21T03:52:00.000-07:00

So I woke up several times to a previously stray, 5 week old cat playing with my feet.
Then I woke up to a phone call at 6am.
Apparently one of the shop guy's buddy ran out of gas and needed some help just down the street.
So I got up, took the shop truck and went. (later finding out the trucks tabs are bad)
The dude was standing on the side of a 6 lane road in shorts and a wife beater, no shoes, and pupils the size of pins.
But he did say, "FUCK YEAH BRO,YOU ROCK"
(really, he did.)
Got another hour of sleep, got up and started.

cleaned the engine, had Spencer put the new stage (insert some number here) clutch in and the light weight flywheel in.

The I jacked the car up and pulled the subframe.
At this point i spent about the rest of the day doing it all myself as Mary Jane called everyone to the office to hang and watch old episodes of COPS all day.

Got it out and went to put all the brake and fuel lines in as well as the gas tank.

I then put the rear subframe in and moved to putting the front subframe and engine in.
I grabbed one of the guys to help.
I must say, I have never seen a old as piece of seat belt hold up and engine on a hoist before.
Mounted the engine and front suspention and put the whole driveline in.

That about wrapped up my night.
After everyone left at sometime in the A.M, I swept the garage, moved my old car to the side, swept and clean outside and then took a bath in the sink.
The sink was so dirty I had to wash it out first, and was a little hesitant to use the bar soap that I had left there after I had bought it this morning.
Is there a point that soap is so dirty it then becomes bad to use and needs to be soaped itself?
I also was so dirty, I looked like Derek Zoolanders after his hard day in the mine.
And the trash looked like the one in the movie too, but instead of cotton balls, it was Wet Wipes.
4 AM and time for bed.

THE WIRE...... DAY 1

2010-06-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Drove the car down to SIDEWAYS PERFORMANCE in Santa Ana this morning.
They are my sponsor for drifting, and the spot I am building the new car for ASB.
While getting coffee at the 7-11, a African American drinking a beer on the street told me he had been to a couple of the 626 DRIFT meets in the past, and that he liked my car.
The cars last compliment it will ever get before it turns into scrap and joins the cycle of life.

It was a little odd thinking that I was taking the cars last drive ever as I left Hollywood at 8am.

So as I pulled into the shop I was playing Public Enemy's "Fight The Power".
Robert the shop owner and I attacked the interior first thing.

Along with the interior, we started yanking everything that we could easily unbolt off the car.

As alot of smaller items came out, I would put them back into the new car.
Got all the pedals in and some of the hard lines, seats, belts, wiper motor, but thats about it for day 1 as far as building.

By the end of exhausting 16 hour day, Myself, Robert, Spencer and Alex had the entire engine pulled out on the front subframe, all the wiring out of the car and were completely exhausted.
I ended up sleeping on the skinny, dirty couch at the shop after a couple Tecate's Spencer had stashed away for me.

A few more pics and back to DAY 2.

DOWN TO THE WIRE

2010-06-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to drift All Star Bash.
All Star Bash, or ASB, is a annual drift event that happens once a year.
Typically ASB has really nice looking cars,
a couple professional drivers mixed in,
and it's a long weekend party at the track.

Since I haven't been drifting this year, I decided this is the one event I'm gonna do.

So when I started looking into what I needed to do in preperation for the event.
I realized my car needed some SERIOUS work.

Then someone said they had a free shell.
A shell is basically the most bare a car can get.
No engine, no wires, no nothing but maybe a windshield.
But when I called the guys and told them I came to a decision, and wanted it, it had already gone to someone else.
I mentioned something on Zilvia.net, a car forum that I a, on a lot.
And I ended up getting another shell offered to me With a roll cage.
So i picked up a completely stitch welded shell and cage.

Then i got a call for work, and more work, and more work.

So now I got the cage welded in, thanks to a generous friend, and am all ready to transfer all my parts into the new chasis,

And I got about 10 days to do it.
Got a start today on some light painting on the interior, and started the first coat on the door jams.

Also started trying to take the Vinyl off the parts I will need to transfer off my old car.
The sticky stuff stays and its REALLY a pain to get the vinyl and the sticky off.

So tomorrow starts the project.
Bringing my tooth brush, a pair of socks, a extra shirt and some dedication
I need to start to dismantle my old car and build the new one.
IN ABOUT 10 DAYS !!

So I am down to the wire...........

626 DRIFT, March Madness.........

2010-03-19T14:44:00.000-07:00

I took about a 45 minutes worth of crappy quality video at the last 626 Drift event.
It was a crazy day.
Unorganized.
Bad Driving.
And just a little scary.

After about 3 or 4 years,
I think I may have to separate myself from being a staff member with these guys.
I may come back when they get more professional and have someone in charge.
But right now, no one is steering the ship.

March Madness from ERICCASTRO on Vimeo.

626 DRIFT VIDEO FEBRUARY

2010-02-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

I am currently not drifting, or driving my car.
So I took my mothers old DV video camera and shot some footage at the last drift event.
15 hours of editing and fighting with formats and uploads and..............
anyways, here is the final product.

626 Drift February from ERICCASTRO on Vimeo.

A little over dramatic and cheese.
But I was just working on getting my work flow down.
As well as some other things.
I have a large video/documentary to produce this summer.

MOSAIC STEAM BOAT WILLIE

2010-02-17T01:03:00.000-08:00

So after building that 8'x5' painting canvas.
It was time to use it.
I wanted to do something a little different.
Although, I now regret that decision a little bit.

I played with different pictures from classic movies like Pinocchio to Wizard Of Oz.
In the end I felt like a Black and White would work best.

Using photoshop, I cropped the picture to the exact size of my canvas.
Then I went to the FILTERs menu.
PIXELATE
MOSAIC
adjust the settings so each square represents one inch.
I put red lines every 10th line, to help divide it for me.

Next, I marked around the edge of my canvas, every inch
I then went to home depot and picked up a couple rolls of masking tape.
The 1" tape was the blue kind and was $4 something.
So i got the oldschool beige for about $2 a roll.
It measures just under a inch wide.
Like .95 inch, so close enough
I taped the whole frame off, then drew lines with a pencil on both sides of the tape.
Giving me a line every inch.
And every tenth line, i used a colored pencil.
So It now matched up to the SteamBoat Willie grid I had made.
So I started putting some of the black in the areas it needed to go.
Partially so I could find where I was faster,
and partially so i could see something actually on the canvas.

After just some quick black dots, i started in on it.
And I recruited the girlfriend for help.

And after a few hours of work, it is just starting to take shape.

By my estimates.
There are over 6000 squares that need painted.
And I estimate this is going to take over 50 hour easily.
So you see,
I now regret the decision to do something a little different.

DIFFERENT LITTLE MEALS

2010-02-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

I enjoy making food look nice.
So I usually put a little effort into the presentation.
And we usually eat in front of the television while watching a movie.
So these are some random photos of food.

BUILDING YOUR OWN CANVAS

2010-02-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

So we needed something on the giant living room walls.
And I have been sitting around unemployed.
I have tools
And Muslin that I got from CBS studios when I was working on United States Of Tara.

So for about $20 at Home depot, I got the wood I needed.
I bought 5 pieces of the thin stuff (bout 1"x2")
And 4 Pieces of the wider stuff (bout 1"x4")
You just need to look and try and get wood that isnt bent or warped in any way.
Also be prepared to get rushed in the parking lot if you have wood sticking out the sunroof of your mini during "day labor" hours.

When using this thin and shitty wood I usually drill think holes where the screws will be going.
This way I can avoid having the wood crack and break.Once the frame was built.
I took the muslin and laid it out, put the frame on top of it and trimmed it up.
I made sure to leave my self enough room to wrap it around the back of the frame.
You will need one of these.
So you want to start in the middle and work your way out
Here I put numbers on the picture so you can see my pattern.
This is a really effective way to get your muslin tight.
I put about 3 staples in each section, about 2" apart.
So put 3 staples in a little row at #1
Then go to the other side and stretch that thing, and put in 3 staples at #2
Then to the side, stretch, staple, to #4, stretch..........
and so on till its all done.

Be careful on the corners though.
No need to go too tight.
Muslin is thinner than usual canvas, as I found out.
So out come the staples.
At this point I was pretty tired and over it.
So
and
and another piece of Muslin.
Was more careful with the corners this time.
A 5'x8' canvas looking noir.The plan is for a Black and White mosaic on it.
But I needed to put a coat of paint on first.
And I am hoping that the color barely comes through.

ANCHORAGE ALASKA..........Enter a horror movie

2010-01-22T10:07:00.000-08:00

So on thanksgiving of 2009 I went to Anchorage AK
My friends Jill and Derek Adolf flew me up to their house.

Me and Jill both share a love of Photography.
So we went on a photography trip to a town called Whittier.

When the town is described, it sounds perfect for a horror movie.
To get to Whittier, you need to drive through a 2.5 mile long, one lane train tunnel.
Besides the freezing ocean, this is the only way to enter the town.

The ANTON ANDERSON MEMORIAL TUNNEL was built in 1943 and was used for trains.
There was no land passage for cars into Whittier until the train offered a train shuttle service in the mid 60's.
Now you can drive through the one lane tunnel, schedule depending.
But it still remains the only way into the town of Whittier besides the water route.

WHITTIER AK
Population of 182 people.
In a town that once housed over 1,200 souls.
Talk about Ghost town.
There are two large buildings there.
Both were once the largest buildings in Alaska.
One is the Hodge Building, (now Begich Towers).
It Currently houses almost everyone in the entire city.

The BUCKNER BUILDING has silently sat abandoned since the 1964 earthquake.

Once called the "City Under One Roof".
The building was used for only 11 years after completion.
Supposedly there is a Bowling alley, Pool, Theater and a Jail.
From reading online, there might also be a Morgue.
In the middle of the wilderness, the abandoned pieces of 1950's civilization add to the haunted and unsettling feel of the place.
The town is as desolate as you can get.

Since visiting, I have learned some of the dangers.
The building has Asbestos and Lead paint.

The building was closed because of structural damage almost 50 years ago.
There has been at least one cave in on one of the 2 basement levels.
I say 2, but only one is verified.
Just like the Morgue, Basement Pool and Bowling Alley.
I have found no pictures of any of these, just talk.
There is massive weakening of the cement structure.
The Calcium deposited stalactites help to verify this.

There is also danger of bear hanging out in the spring time.
And bears have been known to hibernate in the basement during winter.
Which brings me to the last danger.

General safety.
All six top floors are covered in a thin layer of water.
In the winter this is frozen solid and creates a sheet of ice.
So be careful passing the crashed out elevator shaft that just sits open.
Or in my case, the stairs.

On our way to the basement, i slipped on the first stair on the way down.
I had one of Jill's expensive lenses on my Camera, and the camera on the tripod.
So I naturally just held the tripod and camera in the air and slammed onto my back.
My camera backpack saved my tailbone and back.
But Ice covered stairs with 200lbs of momentum sent me bouncing down painfully.
And as if the cement wasn't enough, the stairs had metal edges.
And my left elbow hit everyone of these on the way down.

I had enough momentum to send me into the center of the floor before i stopped.
I told Jill to hold my camera while struggling to get my wind back.
Then I rolled over onto my knees, curled into a fetal position and tried not to puke for a good 5 minutes.
So that, with the creepy ping pong sound the water was making in the basement was enough to let us know that the haunted feeling building didn't want us downstairs.
With the cave ins,Bears and what i hear is knee high standing water in the basement, I think we made the right choice.
So after about 6 month, my elbow stopped hurting.
I'm ready again,
and next time I will be much better prepared.

Collection Of Cameras I Use

2010-01-21T18:31:00.001-08:00

Most of the Cameras have been randomly acquired or given to me.
I end up figuring out a way to use them.
I enjoy the randomness of them and the different looks they all give.

CANON POWERSHOT A620
This one was given to me by the GF.
Its her old Camera she used for continuity stills for work, parties, family and Myspace pics.
Its pretty much a piece of crap, takes 4 double A batteries and is huge.
But some how it works better then the other 10 pixel point and shoot we have.
and it takes video.

NIKON D200
It is currently broken and has been for about a year now.
I was cleaning the chip and the shutter came down and bent.
So it sits.
About $600 to fix.
So hopefully soon, but i got bills

NIKON FG
All manual film camera.
There is an automatic mode, but i never use it.
Bought off ebay.
This is one of 2 I have.
If I am shooting 35mm film, its probably on this.

KODAK AUTOGRAPHIC MODEL C
This camera was given to me by my mother.
She found it in a antique shop in Spokane WA.
the date on it is 1914.....
and it works!
I will post about all the challenges of trying to shoot and make film work in this later.

OREGON SCIENTIFIC
Some sort of crap digi cam.
found it in my girlfriends old electronics crap.
It will be good for something interesting I'm sure.

CANON QL17
This Camera is also from my mother.
She gave me this somewhere around 2000ish.
She doesn't take photos.
She works as a drug and alcohol, and family counselor.
She has always helped to support my creativity and art though.
This Camera was supposedly in Vietnam.
It works, but the battery is dead.
The USMC number on the inside is,
SS97 D.L. York 1929710 USMC
any info on this would be appreciated.

NIKON FG
This is my other Nikon FG.
A lot of times I will load this one with Black and White film,
and leave the other one loaded with color,
or load different film speeds into these cameras.
That way i don't have to burn through a whole roll or pull it out early.

CANON T50
I got this camera when my girlfriend and her room mate moved.
Her room mate left all kinds of stuff and trash.
So i took this camera.
It has film in it.
And I have been shooting what I think is the Auto mode.
So we will see soon enough.

POLOROID PROPACK/EE100
I have 2 of these.
Both were taken from a aeronautic type junkyard close to Edwards Air Force Base.
Both appear to be in working order, but are filled with sand from the desert.
After a good cleaning I will be loading some film into them to test.
One of them still has a Number on it, A707AA5

IntoCable .....the Video

2009-12-09T09:46:00.001-08:00

I was hired to shoot a music video for the famous group Intocable.
The Video was for Sony Latin America and was with the director Joe Hendrix, whom I have worked with before.

The video was supposed to be a Comedy with a "Dusk Till Dawn", classic 70's western feel. The band was going to be taking a big chance. This kind of comedy isn't done in this genre of music.
So we really had to make sure to get it right.
As the Cinematographer, there is a lot riding on me.

After a rush passport and all that stress.
I flew into Monterrey Mexico. I was there a couple days before we started shooting to get our lighting package sorted out and to have a look at the location as well as go over shots and the look with the Director and Production Design.
Most of my time was spent in the hotel, sitting in the bar and restaurant. Sounds great, but it actually doesn't involve alcohol. I spent the time looking over the Directors plans. I also met with my AC's and discussed how I liked to work, what our work flow was, and the fact that the film we were using was older and would be over exposed a stop and a half. I also met with the Design and Art people and even took a trip to the Wardrobe's house.
All this ended up giving our video its look and making everything go faster on set.

We ended up loosing our first location before I even had a chance to look at it. The Mafia and Police had a shootout the night before next door to the bar. There were several casualties and it was front page news. The owner of the bar decided he was going to take a little trip out of town till things settled down.
I was a little worried heading down to Mexico because of this reason. Unfortunately there has been problems like this, but I just stayed with our local crew members, Producer and at the Hotel.

And within 36 hours, the production team found a location in an area called Barrio Antigua.

We shot the stage part downstairs and the bar part upstairs. I worked with the different departments to make it appear as if it was all the same room.
This is a picture from the stage downstairs. The rooms are very narrow in Mexico. Luckily this place had wooden ceiling beams we could hang our lights off of.

We rented the lights through a company called "WASP". The equipment wasn't up to our usual OSHA safety standards. The Ground and Neutral lines on the generator were tied in together! But besides the differences in gear, the rental house was excellent and worked with our budget. I was very pleased with them and the great gear we got.
Heading down to Mexico,I was a little concerned about the language barrier between me and the lighting crew.

But once the guys got onto set, it was like any other movie or shoot I have worked on. The names of lights and equipment are the same, and just like movies, working on set is a universal language all its own. I just had to say a light name and where I wanted it. The Gaffer knew exactly what i was looking for with the placement and had his guys put it together accordingly.
The lighting crew was excellent.

As was the rest of the crew.

The Group ended up showing up 6 hours late the first day. They had flown in from doing a show in the states the night before. We were still able to get the performance pieces we needed for the day and everyone seemed to leave very happy. This group is extremely busy and is non stop working, doing interviews, traveling to the next show and performing.

The second day of the shoot was the bar scenes, the cock fight, the girls and the establishing shot outside that starts the video.
Jumping inside the ring with the camera and the fighting Roosters was a bit exciting and probably a once in a lifetime experience. We had padded leather gloves on the feet of the birds and they were pulled out before they could actually hurt each other.
We also had a lot of famous Mexican actors in the video. It was a little difficult to work around the schedules, but we managed.
Not to mention the band trying to get done so they could catch a plane to Illinois or something for a show the next day.

We made it outside with time to spare to get the establishing shot as the sun was starting to set.
The Grip and Electric guys setting up the dolly track while the Director Joe watches.

Watching the sun and how much light I have before it gets to dark to shoot.
The Director and I having a little discussion about the shot.
Action

The Grips in Mexico are pretty much the same as here in Hollywood. Middle of a dolly move and the Dolly Grip is smoking a cigarette. At least he didn't answer a phone call. And just like Hollywood, It didn't effect his work, the shot turned out very nice.

Camera tech and one of my American AC's Curtis.
That was the last shot of the video. We were able to get the second day finished in around 7 hours or so. Everyone was very excited and happy with the whole experience. Myself included.
I finally took a moment to smile and have a fun picture taken. One for the guys back home.

All in all, I had an excellent time shooting this video. The crew in Mexico was excellent, the gear worked great, my two American AC's were great, and the Band and their people were extremely nice and easy to work with. I loved Monterrey and would love to go back to visit or work.

Gaffer Reel

2009-07-05T21:02:00.000-07:00

So i compiled a Gaffer Reel.
What is a GAFFER ??

A gaffer in the motion picture industry is the head of the electrical department, responsible for the execution of the lighting plan for a production.

Experienced gaffers can coordinate the entire job of lighting, given knowledge of the time of day and conditions to be portrayed, managing resources as broad as electrical generators, lights, cables, and manpower.

Usually, the gaffer works for and reports to the director of photography. The DP is responsible for the overall lighting design, but he or she may give a little or a lot of latitude to the gaffer on these matters, depending on their working relationship.

Yes, Thankyou Wikipedia.

On the lower level of film making, you may get asked for a "Gaffers Reel" when applying for a job. I have no idea who even thought a Gaffers Reel up. There is no definitive way to tell if the Gaffer or the DP decided the lighting. So its a pretty film school thing to have/ask for.

But since my DP reel does not currently have any real "name" actors in it. This Gaffer Reel is a way for me to be able to show that I work with recognizable talent and can light a scene.

Anyways, here is the Reel.
Only took me a couple hours to make.

EVA Magazine, POLAND

2009-07-03T12:29:00.000-07:00

I havent posted in a long time.
Im not gonna bore you and fill in the details though.

Today in the mail I got a copy of "EVA" magazine from "Warszawa", which is Warsaw Poland.
Awhile back I was asked to have a picture used that I had posted on my Flickr account.
Its a picture I had taken of the TeaCups one evening.
It was just a fast snap and I have been meaning to actually go back and shoot a "real" version.

I told them I didnt mind as long as it was for the magazine and they could send me a copy.

So am I now officially published as a photographer?

Flying A Kite

2009-02-18T20:47:00.000-08:00

Me and a girl made an attempt to fly a Kite last week at the beach.
Her father back in Chicago is apparently really into flying kites.....
yeah, weird, I know.
I like random shit too though, so I can't really talk.
The Kite was missing one of the pieces when we opened it up. So we couldn't fly it. Ended up walking around the Santa Monica Pier instead.

So I took my last $20 on Valentines day and bought her a Kite.
A 2 pack actually. One traditional, and one square.
We flew the kite in Burbank on the hillside just the other day.
I had to do the running since her boots had heels.
I look gay running around with a kite.
So you don't get that picture. you just get this,
The box Kite didn't have enough wind to stay afloat.
But the traditional one did!! Shit went really high!
Then someone landed it in a tree.
Did I get a Valentines?.....

She "borrowed" me some cones.
It was out of the blue and I loved it.
Why did I love her getting me road cones?.......
I like to paint cones,
like these,

Then swap them out with existing cones around the city.
She saw this picture and asked me about it a couple weeks ago.
She remembered......

Bored, Painting a Coffee table

2009-02-17T13:01:00.000-08:00

So I am out of work as the SAG strike/standoff thing is still going on.
Worked 4 days last month. None this month so far.

Bored.
Built this coffee table awhile ago.
So I am trying to finish painting it.

It should somewhat have similar colors to the painting I did awhile back, that now hangs in the living room.

Took a photo of myself looking oh so hip.
Notice the trendy Scarf I borrowed to make sure I was really cool!

Hipster Fucktards

2009-02-16T18:59:00.000-08:00

So the makeup artist I am seeing had a photo shoot thing to do this weekend for free.
Couple makeup and hair ladies, couple models, couple photographers.
She invited me to tag along and shoot some pics, so I went.
The idea was inspired by the artist Sylvia Ji.
http://www.sylviaji.com/

So the makeup took a bit of time.

Anyways, the Model the girl Im dating worked on.

I wasn't to big on the other photographers.
There was one girl shooting for awhile, and I shot with her.
She was very cool and nice.
She was comfortable working as a photography team.

Then a bunch of retarded hipster dudes showed up.
Someone had a medium format camera and a D70, another had some Canon shit.
Looking really cool, acting like they had amazing talent.
They couldn't figure out how to get there flash setting,
then they couldn't figure out how to get it to slave.
fucking idiots.
But they were soooooo cool and trendy.
So cool they were able to make the female photographer uncomfortable enough she kind of disappeared.
fucking
arrogant
untalented
pricks!

I made sure to shake her hand and told her I had a nice time shooting with her. She was very kind,
Didn't say shit to the idiot possie, thanked the models and makeup, and the homeowners and left early.

Not too bad for the day after V-Day.

then I had nightmares, ALL NIGHT.............of hipster fucktards.

China Town, Sparklers, Dates, Cameras

2009-02-14T10:55:00.000-08:00

So i figure i would post these up quik.
Last week me and the Girl I have been seeing went to China Town to walk around and have some fun. We are both poor since the SAG(screen actors guild) is still in a strike standoff with the studios. She does makeup. She is also moving out of the house she is in, where she still lives with her X.
Yes, i have a tendency to end up in really odd predicaments.

Anyways, we bought incents and sparklers and rice candy. I also bought a jacket with some Asian/Chinese pattern.

We came back later that night to shoot some long exposure photos. We found an area that was open and we would be able to avoid attention while we lit sparklers.

It was a very nice night, and alot of fun. The girl is so much fun to hang out with and always
game for anything.

the pink one is the only one that made it through any photoshop. CS2 broke :(

LONG EXPOSURES

2009-02-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

So my Best friend from back home got a camera for Christmas.
Last night we finally went and got a tripod at Best Buy.

Since he got laid off from his job at Christian Audiger, he has decided to take a photography class.
And sit around on the unemployment like myself.

We just went to the freeway overpass on Santa Monica and the 101.
I showed him how Long Exposure works.
My photoshop CS2 stopped importing my RAW files. So i removed it.
And my computer doesnt have the RAM for all the ADOBE CS3 programs i wanna put on.
Photos are right out of the camera.

626 DRIFT EVENT BANNER

2009-01-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

We needed a flier for our next DRIFT event.

So I went to youtube, figured out how to make "BLING" letters.
And made that shit baller!!
My picture too!!

SABYN at the Whiskey, Hollywood,

2009-01-18T18:46:00.000-08:00

January 13th, 2009.
My friend of mine named Sabyn played at the Whiskey on Tuesday.
We used to work in the film industry together. He's a smart and driven guy. Went from a independent film PA to a Union Key Grip in a matter of 3 years.
Then he decided he wanted to quit and start rapping.
Yes, another white rapper.
With all kinds of southern tattoo's
Sabyn is originally from Tennesee and grew up in Malibu CA. He appaerently spent some time with drugs and alcohol, cause he has been clean and sober since i met him.
The show at the Whiskey was pretty cool. I got there in the middle of his set unfortunatly. But the sound quality there seemed way better than the Knitting Factory. Plus I had never been to that landmark before, so i was stoked.
Sabyn did really well, sounded good, had everything really tightened up since the last show I had seen him in. He was loosing his voice a little bit. But he did good, because you could only tell when he talked on the mic between songs.
I shot some photos, just for kicks. but he asked me to do a shoot with him after I had sent them to him.
So that should be pretty fun if it happenes.
Here is his MYSPACE page.
www.myspace.com/cashvillainmusic

626 Drift Event

2009-01-04T23:50:00.000-08:00

So this weekend I was going to just attend the Drift Event that my Drift team/Crew/Posse,...whatever,......puts on.
We hold monthly events at WSIR(Willow Springs International Raceway).
I was just going to go, shoot photos and instruct.
But a girl I met on New Years talked me into driving it. (so I don't sound like a total push over, it doesnt take alot to get me into the drivers seat).

We put together a new course layout and it was awsome!! Super fast in comparison to what we had been running. Much better for tandem. (Tandem is multiple cars sliding together in a group).

Picture of me in my Blue car.

The weather was freezing though. Highs around 50*. But My New, NewYears friend showed up and kept me warm too.
Some pictures I took of the other drivers.

Mike Essa, Pro Driver For Formula D

Triple Car Tandem at 60mph.

Sunset over the cold track

Catching up on one week

2008-12-22T22:39:00.000-08:00

So here we go.
My first post and an interesting and typical week.
MONDAY,
Working on shooting my first feature film. An independent film shot on 2 red camera's with minimal crew and working for a crappy $100. Tried to keep everything looking its best and tried to keep the work appearing like we had a budget.

Ate something that was obviously bad at Craft services and had a stomach ache the entire day.

TUESDAY,
Finished the movie with a short day ending at "The Draft". A sports bar in the Valley. Had a couple with the crew and went home. Ended up going to a real club that night called "Apple". Paparazzi, Paris Hilton,..the whole deal. Followed it with After hours till 5am, followed by a trip to the porcelain god. Hmmmm, my bathroom, or Roomates?.....
Roomates!
WEDNESDAY.
Hung over, lunch with a racing friend.
THURSDAY.
The Club by my house has an awsome hip hop night.
FRIDAY
Went and saw "Wicked" the musical finally. Cried 3 times, loved it, been waiting forever to see it! Went by myself, got my Ticket for $45. Chickened out on getting a nice Woman's number in line. Even after a 5 minute conversation and her asking if i was seeing it alone.

Went over to a Christmas party at the Director and Producers house of the movie I shot. Played Beer Pong for the first time.
After hours bar till 4am.
Girl I have been talking to came over, still trying to forget that.
SATURDAY.
SUNDAY.
Hungout with the Xgirlfreind and caught up on things. went to Ameba
MONDAY.
Went to get on my plane at the Burbank Airport. Flights to SeaTac are cancelled. Earliest confirmed flight would be Christmas afternoon. Pretty Pointless. So I returned the ticket and Decided to stay by myself in LA for the week.