Who's Your Daddy? Paternity Test Show.

The Concept is simple.

A paternity testing show, without the over dramatized, and outlandish conflict. To finally hear the uncensored, un-scripted, thoughts of real people, on a very real, and serious issue. The hard part was getting past the stigma that current media had created of filming the paternity test process. Who would want to do the test, on camera, when they know the goal of this generation is to create a DNA test spectacle of all those involved? In my search for a subject I feared that one of my greatest ideas would not be realized because I couldn't find a subject. Thankfully, Michael Ash found us. Michael understood immediately what we were trying to do, was very vocal in protecting, and advocating for his son, and most importantly he wanted to share his thoughts, because he needed the test.

July 15th 2012, We met at the Health Street office, and I shot hours of something I hadn't seen broadcast anywhere. We saw a father who genuinely loved his son, but was not afraid to admit that he had doubt. Michael knew that this very doubt would have an impact on his future relationship with his son if it wasn't put to rest. This was not me attempting to make a funny YouTube video in the hopes of going viral. This was me shooting the next phase of my career. I'm sure that as simple as this video is, it's a turning point for me both as a professional, and as a creative.

It's almost a full year later and I finally have the means to edit, and release, what I've been calling the most important footage I've ever shot....for now. If you know me personally you would know that I come up with a "million dollar idea" on a daily basis, but I feel that this by far has to be one of the greatest ideas I've had an executed in such an elegant way. I finally see that my concepts can be as big, in reality as they are in my mind. It's very exciting.

Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion to the Michael Ash case.


Cheers, and Accomplished Teddy Bears!

Location Scouting. Just Do It.

Still image from my storyboard

I know inquiring minds want to know exactly why I've been absent from the creative scene for so long, and you most definitely deserve answer. Unfortunately you won't find that answer within this post.

Today I want to highlight the importance of location scouting, despite how small your production may be. I'm working on a new short film, and I'm deep into pre-production. I've found 90 percent of the cast, and I'm certain I'll be doing a one man run, and gun because of the simplicity of the project. That said I'm using some of New York City's more iconic locations, (no permit) and although I've been to these places a million times I still decided to go location scouting, and this is the exact reason why that decision was the right one.

These are recent photo's of Battery Park. It looks like it was hit by a bomb, and that bomb's name is probably hurricane Sandy, but because I hadn't been to the park since the storm I expected it to be in it's pristine business as usual form. In your creative endeavors no matter what you're doing the last thing you really want to do is leave anything up to chance, so go location scouting. Make sure what you see in your minds eye can be translated with the setting available to you hell, while you're out you may find a new location suitable for your current project or a future project down the line. 

If you've never gone location scouting before here's my technique.

• I storyboard every project, and instead of using hand drawn stick figures (how I learned to storyboard), I go out take a still frame of the scene, It's a great way to get your composition just right, and it forces you to physically go see your location.

• After I head to the locations I know, I tend to wander around the neighborhood aimlessly. Snapping photos on the fly of spots that would make a suitable substitute for my shots.

• Use  Google maps. Enter keywords, and see what's nearby while you're pounding the pavement.  

• In NYC there are many studios for rent. Some offer living room and kitchen setups, and some are bare. 

• There is also businesses that are committed to providing you with film locations. The first location that comes to mind here in NYC is ProductionParadise. The problem with this route is that it's gonna cost you, so be prepared to have a location budget (a few thousand dollars is a good start). 

• Ask people you know if you can shoot at there Homes/Business for free (aim for times when it will inconvenience them the least).

• Rent a room for the day, motels, hotels, apartments on craigslist. Sometimes all you need is a room, and some imagination.

The setting is a major part of storytelling, and the right location can make or break your project. The very least you can do is go see what you have to work with, you never know when you'll find that perfect shot.

Cheers and Hot Set Teddy Bears

New Show (Paternity Test NYC)

I have new exciting news for lovers of reality content, and Paternity tests alike. I'm in the process of executive producing the webs first Paternity testing based reality series. The cost of a paternity test can be quite high, but  I may be able to offset the cost by about $100. So if you need a Paternity Test, you're in NY, and you're willing to be part of the initial shooting of this project you can net yourself a nice little discount.

This is a very exciting project to be working on, because like I said earlier it's the first of it's kind on the web. Just to give you a look behind the curtain, I'm soon to be in talks with the CookiBox Network to discuss how we can have shorts distributed domestically, and globally on the cable networks on which CBX content appears. 

If you need a paternity test, you are in the greater New York area, and you're willing to let the cameras into your life for a brief moment, fill out the contact page. This is an opportunity to both net yourself, a discount, and to take part in a greater discussion about the reality of paternity testing. Now if you don't care about the discount, and you just want to be famous, contact me! You never know where your big break will come from, after all this is NY.

Who's your Daddy? is going to hit the web in a big way, stay tuned.

Cheers and 99.99% chance of Paternity Teddy Bears!

PostMan by Yuliya Daurova (The explanation)

You always remember your first.

To all the people who watched that russian film on my channel, I finally have an explanation for why I made it.

I often shoot and edit for others, but there's nothing like providing a learning experience for someone else. I met Yuliya Daurova while working at HB Studios shooting there acting for camera class and she approached me with both a challenge and opportunity. She wanted to produce a short film, for a Russian film festival, in a very short amount of time. This would be her first film and she was completely new to the situation.

To this I said challenge accepted.

Yuliya had an idea, and I facilitated putting it into motion. Now with the final product we had to be brutally honest with ourselves, while it looked beautiful, and was nicely shot, and edited,(Pats self on back) the plot wasn't clear enough to translate well with the audience. 

With that said, my first film was nowhere near as elegant, but the first provide you with an origin point from which you can grow and become better in this industry. Despite the hard work, and all the obstacles involved with the creation of this piece, I enjoyed the process and it was an honor to work so closely with Yuliya.

Despite all that I've said the film is doing well with the Russian audience. You can vote for it online at http://www.youtube.com/user/RussiaMartini/ArtLove currently it's on page 60 click the red button beneath the video, that is the vote button!

Cheers and Film Festival Teddy Bears!

Against All Odds; Create.

I learned a lot from making this picture. I think the most important thing I learned is that 3D imaging is fun, and only a tad bit scary.

I don't want this post to turn into me complaining about my limited technology, and all the things I want to accomplish, but can't because of "insert semi valid reason" XYZ. Instead I have this picture that I finally got to render out of Cinema 4D. I spent a few days trying to learn the program, and although this render is far from perfect, I'm proud of what I created. I also did a small animation but my laptop just can't render it without dying so sadly it is not destined to see the light of day. Not from this workstation at least.

In other news I've decided to focus my efforts on my project focusing around sex appeal. I want to go deep into that raw sexual place, and stop short of giving the viewer an orgasm. Seriously though, I want to harness sexual energy on video without creating a porno, or a world star hip hop honey video. Wish me luck.

In other news......

I shot the clip below for the weekend hashtag project on vimeo, but like my C4D project my laptop wasn't up to the task of making that particular vid. I will definitely re-purpose it and incorporate it with something in the future but for now it's the only piece of eye candy I can offer. Despite all this I move forward. I've been connecting to some very sexy people, and I'm excited. In a non creepy way.......mostly.

In the end, and against all odds I must create. It all boils down to I either I make cool shit, or I'm just full of shit.

Cheers and 3D Teddy Bears!