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Last night was extremely magical when we shot Gwen Stefani on the first night of her This is What the Truth Feels Like Tour. Gwen put on a once in a lifetime performance like the true fucking rockstar she is and we captured every second of it. The show streamed live to fans around the world on Yahoo.com.

I want to thank LMG, Yahoo, and Live Nation for having me on as a Cam Op for the past 2 years. I got to witness so many amazing musicians and be part of a crew that worked tirelessly behind the scenes of every show. We pulled off many miracles. We worked through several blizzards. We elbowed our way through drunken crowds. We wrapped at 2 am. We ran miles of cable through city streets, ice, snow, torrential rain and hail, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. After all, this is what we live for. This is why we do what we do.

MLWQ

One last reminder – Most Likely is playing at the Brattle tonight!

Posted by Bang Films on Saturday, April 2, 2016

For more event info check out
http://www.wickedqueer.org/events/event/most-likely/

Can’t make it?
The film is also screening at Sage Inn in Provincetown on Sunday April 3 at 6pm.

In addition to our screening at the Brattle on 4/2, Most Likely is also playing on Sunday, April 3rd at 6:00pm at the…

Posted by Bang Films on Monday, March 28, 2016

Make sure to follow Bang Films for future screenings.

Over the past 2 months I underwent a transformation. I became part of “the Press”. As a Camera Operator for the HuffPost Originals Series “New Hampshire” I filmed 2 months of political chaos leading up to the first in the nation New Hampshire Primary.

Step One – After just a few days of filming GOP candidates I was glued to every news article posted about the election. At the gym I couldn’t take my eyes off of the screens playing MSNBC and CNN. Not only did I recognize everyone and know their names but I also knew their wives’ names, how many kids and grandkids they had, what political office they had held, and a good portion of their stump speeches.

Step Two – I was listening to the debates …as entertainment? Due to the hectic schedule I had to listen to them in the car. I knew everyone by voice alone. I could predict how they would answer (or NOT answer) the questions before the moderators finished. When they floundered I felt kind of… bad for them. Seeing them in real life and filming them up close I began to feel like I knew them.

Step Three – I woke up thinking about them. Stump speeches played over and over in my mind as I got out of bed and ready for another day. The primary was getting close. What would happen? How would it affect the general election? I scrolled through my facebook feed in search of a dank meme or bad lip-reading that would remind me of the absurdity of the media frenzy to which I was contributing. After work we hit the bar. “Excuse me, bartender, would it be possible to maybe, turn off sports and change the channel to CNN for us?” My transformation was complete.

Bernie Sanders demonstrates the epic point.

Bernie Sanders demonstrates the epic point.

I spent most of my time with the GOP but I did get a chance to see the Dems as well.

I spent most of my time with the GOP but I did get a chance to see the Dems as well.

After the NH Primary I found that I am much more interested in this election than I ever imagined. I’m slowly recovering from my experience, but there are many lessons I will take with me. One thing I was reminded of is our power as media makers. What we choose to show or not show has incredible influence over the public. If you want to be an informed voter please do whatever you can to see as many candidates as you can. See them multiple times. See them with your own eyes.

Aequainimatas is a word of which I will eventually conquer the spelling (hopefully by the end of this blog post) and the title of the recent short film from Director Denis Kirkman-Moriarty. If that name sounds familiar it’s because Denis and I have worked together a lot in the past 2 years. He was 1st AC on The Gathering Storm, Chainsaw Maidens from Hell, and Most Likely. Denis was determined to shoot this film on 35mm film and I was more than happy to support that choice. He also envisioned the film mostly in black and white. We discussed various methods of achieving a b&w look. When we looked at various films that finished in b&w we both thought those shot on b&w film stock looked superior. Kodak had one 35mm b&w film stock available- 5222 Eastman Double-X Negative. I remembered shooting the 16mmm version (7222) in film school and that the stock needed a lot of light. Fortunately we were able to shoot the majority of the film on the soundstage at Emerson College and achieve the necessary exposure. For the scenes shot on location we decided on 5219 because those scenes will have a special color correction process that mixes color and desaturation. It was a pleasure to shoot on the Arri 535 provided by Rule Boston Camera. The film should be finished by December 2015.

 

 

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Director Denis-Kirkman Moriarty discusses the scene with April (Maya Starr)

 

 

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35mm Negative was developed, scanned at 2k resolution, and sent back for archival purposes.

 

 

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A screen shot from the film “Aequainimatas” featuring John (William Galatis) and Randy (Noah Tully Sanderson).

 

 

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Denis and I moments before shooting the film’s final shot- a one take jib move.

 

 

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Gaffer Jack Garrett pauses for a photo op.

 

 

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Key Grip Dean Covert explains the Fisher Jib to BBE Luca Vaccani and 1st AD Alex Monto.