Borat Storytime! – the PB & J Story Pop-Up Video
December 3rd, 2011
In our brainstorming of interesting ways to reveal the stories behind the production as well as some fun facts, I was reminded of the Pop-Up Video series on VH-1 and thought that would be perfect for the music video-themed concept production. What’s exciting is while planning this out, the series has come back on the air with fun stories about the latest videos out there.
Creating all the pop-ups was a collaborative process with the couple. We dug deep to find interesting fun facts and cherished moments about their whole production. Julia is a gifted designer herself; she created all the Pop-Up graphics and icons.
If you want to learn more about this production and see the original concept video without pop-ups, click here.
Crash the Superbowl – The Final Bite
November 21st, 2011
the gorgeous Amelia in her debut performance!
Before you dive into the blog, you can watch our official entry right here: http://crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery?video=15185
I’ve been meaning to enter this contest for several years, and I’m happy to finally have an entry.
This was a collaborative project with my buddy and aspiring writer, Mike Hedrick. He’s been working on his craft and recently won 2nd place in Cyberspace Open hosted by CreativeScreenwriting.com. As busy as I was with other projects, he really pushed to have his idea produced!
The idea came to him when teasing his chihuahua, Molly, with a treat and saw how hilarious it was when her paws would stretch out to reach for it. He then recruited his buddy Daniel and his beautiful daughter Amelia.
As simple of a production as it seems, a lot of the execution relied on two unpredictable factors, both who happen to be the stars of our commercial: a baby and a chihuahua. Amelia (baby) was actually relatively easy to work with. All she needed was one nap in the afternoon and then she was ready to go (something we could all use some days). And, thanks to Sesame Street on the iPad, that was more than enough motivation for her to crawl away from her toys.
our humble cast and crew
It was Molly that required a few motivators; a can of gravy to slather on a beef bone larger than her whole body, to get her to ‘eat’ it rather than run away from it. And attracting her to the Doritos chip required small pieces of freshly-cooked sausage hidden under the chip (in fact, post-production required a bit of ‘erasing’ of some props that helped us get our shots)!
Our production was pretty simple, but we knew the idea didn’t require anything extravagant. Amelia is super gorgeous and Molly is cute. Throw them into a ‘chase’, and we feel we’ve got a fun and memorable commercial!
If you like it, please feel free to share with your friends and family. We’re crossing our fingers for the finalist selection which will be revealed in January. And we’re particularly excited to be entered into this contest at the chance to work with the ridiculously-hilarious Lonely Island!
Finally, here’s a little behind-the-scenes/gag reel of the production.
Connect with my buddy Mike on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Video of the Week – Cypress
November 14th, 2011
Cypress featured on the blog!
I’ve been shooting videos for TurnHere as part of their filmmaker network for awhile now, and this is the first time one of the videos I both shot and edited was selected as “Video of the Week” (another assignment I shot for Gymboree was also selected). The video was created for the new restaurant Cypress in downtown Walnut Creek.
Dimitri, the marketing director for Cypress, and I answered a few questions and TurnHere featured a little blog about it: http://www.turnhere.com/blog/post/cypress-video-of-the-week/
I approach all of my projects, big and small, with gumption and even though the owners I’ve heard back from have always expressed gratitude and satisfaction, it’s great to also be recognized by the TurnHere staff themselves.
Looking forward to shooting more assignments and meeting the locals!
Borat Storytime! the PB & J Story – Final Cut vs. Storyboards
November 10th, 2011
Julia and Dawn (bridesmaid), gossip folk!
These days, before I pursue any production (particularly narrative), I try not to move forward without locking the “storyboard template” first. It essentially serves as the guide for a shotlist and keeps the production as efficient as possible.
Basically, I create rough sketches (or take still frames/videos from the original we are spoofing) and edit them the way we envision them to play out on screen. This works well because it allows me to not only get a better idea of how a video will play out, but also, helps me refine the production approach itself. It gives me a really good idea of what works and what doesn’t before the first shot of production even takes place.
I took this approach with Crystal and Louie’s “Everything I Do” concept video as well. It’s a fun way to see how much the originals inspired us to re-create the mood and feel of each video.
With Patrick and Julia’s video, being a destination shoot in New Jersey and limited to three production days, it was absolutely essential to create it so that I could get a really good idea of how the final film will play out (and therefore, shoot accordingly). As you’ll see, we did a great job of sticking to our script but also allowed for some fun and improvisation for the talent.
It had been several months between the time I finished the storyboard template and when I finished the final cut. When I first put these two videos together, side by side, I thought to myself, “Wow, we planned this to the T!” It’s rewarding to see how all those hours of meticulous planning and preparing for the shoot paid off.
Much credit to my very talented and hard-working cast and crew; every single person involved (on and off set) worked their butt off to re-create Patrick and Julia’s favorite videos as accurately as possible with the resources available.
And of course, special thanks to the ORIGINAL artists who served as the inspiration for this video. Your music and comedy have become a huge part of Patrick and Julia’s love story and life.
You can read more about this project and see the full concept video here.
My latest concept video won a CEA “Finalist Award” at WEVA Expo 2011!
October 27th, 2011
the spotlight on PB & J extends beyond the wedding!
My latest concept video won a “Finalist Award” in the Concept Production Category at the WEVA Expo 2011 in the Creative Excellence Awards. I’m excited and humbled to be mentioned amongst the industry heavyweights. Borat Storytime – the PB & J story was a long labor of love and it’s great to be recognized for all the hours of hard work we put into it.
Thank you WEVA for this opportunity and to my talented cast and crew for making this happen!
Borat Storytime! the PB & J story – Patrick and Julia’s Concept Video
October 25th, 2011
Mr. and Mrs. Bellomo
Where can I start in the story of Patrick and Julia’s (PB&J’s) Concept Video? This is my most ambitious concept production to date, not just simply in terms of a big production, but the fact that it was planned and coordinated from across the country. It was also to be my first “destination” shoot and one that would push the boundaries of my own projects.
The Discovery:
Julia had emailed me back in September of 2010 with a complement on one of my concept videos and one simple question: “Would you be open to working in New Jersey?” She told me how she was up late browsing wedding videos on YouTube and came across “Everything I Do”, and knew that this was the kind of video she wanted for her own wedding.
A couple of weeks later, we set up a dinner meeting in Hoboken, New Jersey while I was traveling through New York City. We hit it off instantly! Patrick and Julia are such a fun-loving, kickback couple and my memories of that night are of us sharing stories, trading jokes and just laughing together. We were totally in sync and from there we made the deal. We were going to shoot a little over three months from that date and it was time to get planning!
Julia and her girls express their passion for the 80s
Pre-Production:
Pre-production was a true collaboration (actually, the entire production was, really). First of all, I would not be in the area to scout locations, rehearse with the entourage, or do any kind of planning that required my presence. Second of all, there would be NO PICKUP SHOOTS! Here in the SF Bay Area, I have the luxury of knowing that if for some reason we aren’t able to shoot all of the scenes during the production, it’s not going to be too hard to plan for an extra day or night of shooting to complete the film. With PBJ, it took some serious coordination and meticulous planning to make sure we would be able to shoot all of the footage necessary (and more) to avoid the need of a pick-up shoot.
Patrick and Julia were gung-ho in all aspects of planning the production. First, they set up a meeting with their whole entourage and screened “Everything I Do” for them. She let them know that they were going to do the same type of video and each of them were going to be stars in their favorite music videos as well! The invitation to their entourage was a success. Julia was excited to tell me how they all responded with enthusiasm to the whole idea and they left that night jubilantly saying, “we’re all gonna be rock stars”!
Patrick and the fellas rockin' the Hammer pants!
While I was finalizing the storyboards and beginning to layout the shotlist for the video, Julia was busy gathering intel on locations and prepping the entourage for the shoot. This included getting sizes for their wardrobes, asking to see what props were available that people already had, and even beginning to learn choreography on their own! She even took the initiative to create “info packets” specifically designed for each member of her entourage that included a breakdown of what to expect in each video.
Production:
Before I knew it, the weekend of production was upon us. I brought my cousin and aspiring photographer/cinematographer Ricky Afuang with me and he was second camera, behind-the-scenes photographer and overall camera assistant.
It truly felt like I was in the middle of another 48 hour film project… only this one being 72 hours! We shot over two dozen setups in three separate locations. And as we progressed through each scene, it was a rewarding feeling knowing how every tiny detail we planned out was being carried out. Patrick and Julia are such troopers; they were up as early and stayed up as late as the crew did, just to make sure everything was all in place. Not to mention, all of their entourage were super helpful throughout the shoot, whether it be to help move equipment, set up lights, or even just to remain on standby to make sure we had everything we needed.
PB & J workin the stage!
As you can imagine, production weekend went by in a flash. When you’re that busy, you don’t have much time to think; it’s all about execution. And when I’m not thinking about the next shot, I’m laughing out loud with the rest of the cast and crew and just enjoying the company. Except for a few slight schedule changes, we nailed every scene down as originally intended, and included some room for spur-of-the-moment takes and improvisations that provided me with PLENTY of strong footage to work with.
After the rush of the weekend, we headed out together in New York City for a celebratory dinner and Times Square visit. It was a beautiful night and a bittersweet end to the production weekend. And just when we thought we were completely wrapped with shoot, Patrick and Julia confessed their one regret: that the crew didn’t get to make a cameo appearance in the film as we half-joked about between takes. Well, I had my camera, all the songs on my iPhone, and we were all there in Times Square. One more take? DONE.
ahhh yeah, we did WORK, yeah!!
The Premiere:
Three months later, Patrick and Julia’s big day had arrived. As you can imagine, the anticipation in the crowd was evident. Before every screening, I get super nervous and excited… pacing back and forth is my usual thing. I know my background in dance (my other love!) has a lot to do with this. All that work creating a video is the dance practice. And the unveiling of the video is the dance performance. I totally feed off of the energy of the crowd!
This was no different. I even surprised PB&J with a little Same-Day Edit in their already epic concept video. Sure, it was a stressful session of speed editing but that’s what I tend to do: push the potential of projects to their maximum, even if it means piling on more work on the plate. I never want to finish a job thinking, “I could have…” if it would give a little more enjoyment for the couple and the audience.
And so I proudly present to you, my latest wedding concept video: Borat Storytime – the PBJ Story!
Stay tuned in the coming weeks as I will be revealing some awesome behind the scenes videos. This project is just too big to confine into one post!
‘New’ Editing Tool Works Wonders… and is Cheap!
October 22nd, 2011When it comes to editing, I love to keep everything organized. Every element has a place in a folder or sub-folder. Simple as it sounds, it does require a lot of time and forethought, before and during post-production. But it pays off dividends, especially when you’re in the heat of a deadline; it allows you to focus on the task at hand rather than pull your hair out trying to find that one element you need to finish your edit.
I also make thorough use of the Final Cut Pro Bin by completing nearly every field (for bigger projects) and even adding my own fields for such things like: SS Notes, Editor’s Notes, Director’s Notes, and the usual Cam, Scene, Take, Description, etc. And FCP markers, I’m all about it. In fact I can probably write a pretty lengthy blog on how markers in FCP can be greatly improved!
But I wanted to talk about a new tool that doesn’t require any clicking or typing… or even electricity. What I’m talking about of course is Post-Its.
i've found a REAL use for these things!
I started an editing job at Intuit with my good friend Ryan Sarmiento. After piecing together a rough cut, he asked me create a sticky note for each major clip that had the main idea written on it. We would then put them on a whiteboard, which we could then use to move around and essentially ‘edit’ right there.
To be honest I was skeptical at first, but after seeing how convenient it is to read the edit as a whole, it made total sense.
He even showed me some simple techniques, like if a clip is no longer as important and may get cut, it gets tilted at an angle. If there are redundant messages in a clip, those simply get moved to the side in it’s own column. As long as you’re familiar with the cut, it makes it really easy to see how it will play out without having to sit through and listen to it.
I’ve always heard this being done with storyboards during pre-production, but it is just as handy to use in post! In fact, I think this would be an awesome feature to incorporate into an editing program itself. Aside from markers, I haven’t seen anything like this in any of the Final Cut Pro versions. How cool would it be to tag clips in your Timeline with text that pops up visually and “sticks” to the clip as you move it? Those thumbnails displayed on each clip never really give enough info, especially when dialogue editing.
Of course, I wouldn’t use this on every project, but it’s such a useful technique for projects that have a lot of concepts to get across (and a ton of footage) and for projects that require collaboration in post-production (editor and director/producer).
Bulk Post-Its added to my Costco list. 
Thanks Ryan!
Borat Storytime – the PB & J Story – Teaser Release!
October 18th, 2011
poster designed by the bride herself!
I’m excited to announce the teaser release of my latest and personally most ambitious concept production.
Borat Storytime – the PB & J Story stars Patrick Bellomo and Julia Przyhocki, a young and fun couple from Parsippany, New Jersey. There are two facts about this couple that essentially served as the basis for the entire approach to their concept video: 1) MUSIC is a big part of their lives and their story as a couple, and 2) one of Patrick’s all-time favorite movies is Borat. The way to marry these two facts soon became obvious: Borat (played by Andy Fernandez, one of his groomsmen) tells the love story of Patrick and Julia in the style of a children’s TV show, through the music (videos) of their lives.
The short of it: Julia found one of my earlier wedding concept videos, “Everything I Do,” while browsing YouTube late night looking for new ways to tell their story at their upcoming wedding reception using the music that they love. As she started watching the video, she told me “I was so excited I made Patrick stop what he was doing to come and watch!” Not soon after, she emailed me with a simple question, “Are you willing to work in New Jersey?” and thus this journey began.
Meticulously planned from across the country, executed in only three shooting days, and intricately pieced together out of a dozen hours of footage, I’m happy to tease my latest collaboration project with all of you.
Stay tuned for the official release next Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.
Big shout to talented voice-over artist Michael Saunders for offering his skills for this project!
Carmichael Salon – Color Mark and Hair Color Extender
October 16th, 2011Here are some instructional videos I create for Carmichael Salon in San Francisco, CA.
LYFE Kitchen – Soft Opening and Grand Opening
October 13th, 2011I was brought on board again by Aaron Lee Films to edit a series of videos for LYFE Kitchen.
Editing two videos for their events a month ago allowed me to become familiar with the company and their philosophy. But editing the footage that Aaron shot and the moments he captured allowed me to witness more of their passion for this venture and I tried to emphasize that in the edit.
