Lang Lang Music Video/Vignette
Deutsche Grammophon. Berlin, Germany
Final Cut Pro Editor / Post-Producer
Hired by German Oscar-winning filmmaker Richard Lehun to accompany him to Berlin (with my computer equipment) to cut a short film about famous pianist Lang Lang for German record label Deutsche Grammophon. Performed all post-production on the project in about two weeks using Final Cut Studio on an imac. Project was shot on Super-8 film in Switzerland and Russia which was transferred to 10-bit uncompressed digital files by Pro8 Digital in Los Angeles. I handled all conversions, DVD’s, web encoding, graphics, and all video posting in both HD and 10-bit uncompressed.
Entire Project completed for less than $40,000 despite extensive overseas travel, film transfers, and uncompressed video delivery in PAL and NTSC.
All post production completed for less than $8,000 including my fee, and all performed on a three-year-old, non-pro computer (imac).
The client (Deutsche Grammophon) was elated with the project. I’m scheduled to cut another film for them about pianist Alice Ott in early 2010.
The video has gotten thousands of hits on Youtube and been distributed in EPK’s to media all over the world.
Vote and Die! Liszt for President – Feature film
Owner, End It All Productions. New York, NY and Atlanta, Ga.
Writer / Director / Producer / Videographer / Avid Editor
Wrote, directed, and edited a full-length feature film which won two awards and is available on Amazon distributed by Tribecca Films/Reframe.org. It’s a ‘mocumentary’ political satire and features many well known actors. Over the course of almost three years, I shot and edited this film as very nearly a “one-man-band” doing everything from acting to catering. The film features a mostly SAG cast and was produced under the Ultra Low-Budget SAG contract through SAG/Indie in New York.
This project was intended to show that a real movie could be made very cheaply with great acting and decent production value,
and did so with a budget of less than $75,000.
Researched and became well versed in HDV formats and HD workflow. It was shot with the Sony Z-1U and mastered on HD CAM.
Cast, rehearsed, and directed over fifty actors including Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, Yancy Butler, Larry Pine, Marisa Berenson, Holt McCallany,
and Richard Masur.
Wrote screenplay and handled all production requirements including locations, SAG contracts, rentals, special effects, graphics, and post production.
Edited entire movie on Avid Xpress Pro in my home and finished on Avid Media Composer systems at post houses in New York
Cut all trailers for the film and wrote any and all released promotional materials.
Designed, created, and still maintain all websites associated with this film. Http://Voteanddie.net.
Designed and created many of the graphics for the film and all of the DVD labels, posters, and other corresponding promo materials.
The film won Best Non-European Feature Film at the European Independent Film festival in Paris 2008, and an Accolade Award for Excellence in Film.
Various Freelance TV and Corporate Work
The Montel Show, ESPN, KPI/Nat Geo, and others. New York, NY.
Editor / Producer
Staying freelance allowed me the freedom to make the above film. However, I did have a very steady assignment working for The Montel Show cutting 2-3 minute packages on the overnight shift: 2 AM-10 AM. In this time I also cut sports montages for ESPN, and cut live video presentation videos for live awards shows including a ceremony honoring actress Patricia Neal, and two occasions of the Astaire Awards for excellence in dance. Some other projects from the last few years:
NFAA Presidential Scholars Program.
Also built official show website.
Produced and edited biographical video for PBS (with Red Sky Productions) for the presentation of an award at NAPTE convention in Los Vegas 2006
KPI and The National Geographic Channel. New York, NY
Editor
Also while making “Vote and Die”, I edited part of a documentary for the Nat Geo Channel about Bricks. Brought in with four other editors and producers and we each re-cut one act of the show in one week.
Coordinated the activities of all editors and producers to create seamless storytelling flow and reported to supervising producer Kevin Fitzpatrick.
Extensive use of Saphire and Boris effects made a show about something mundane into interesting TV
Stayed two additional weeks to do final color corrections, shot changes, and music fixes along with the KPI staff editor
Show aired in 2007 and was considered a success.
Public Affairs Television. WNET Ch. 13. New York, NY
Producer / Production Coordinator / Avid Editor
Studio coordinator handling scheduling and logistics of weekly show tapings and all post production, reporting to Sally Roy, NOW senior supervising producer. Producer/editor responsible for producing for NOW weekly show under Tom Cassiato, NOW Senior Producer. Producer/editor for Bill Moyers’ production company, reporting to Judy Doctoroff O’Neil, vice president of Public Affairs Television. Produced and edited show promotion spots Conceived and produced new video distribution products to create new revenue streams.
Researched, became knowledgeable and wrote brief essays on diverse subjects including California healthcare, modern environmental
issues and FCC law to support Bill Moyers with the writing of his personal commentaries and introductions for NOW.
Experience as Avid editor enabled me to conceive a very efficient production methodology, allowing quick turnarounds of studio interviews.
Key role on creative team to produce supplemental video distribution products including cut-down versions of “Moyers on Addiction”,
“Healing and the Mind”, various promotional spots and critic hand-outs.
Wrote and Produced documentary segment on California healthcare which aired on NOW in July 2003.
WNET Ch. 13. New York, NY.
Avid Editor
Hired through Bill Baker at WNET and edited for several months on this documentary about the Puerto Rican community of New York City.
Performed all digitizing, formatting, and screening, as well as editing
Added elaborate effects using Avid Symphony with 3-D package
Aired in 2002 and was considered a great success
Great Lodges of the Park Service
PBS/Oregon Public Broadcasting. Portland, OR
Director / Writer / Producer
Hired by John Lindsay, vice president of Oregon Public Broadcasting, and reported to executive producer John Grant. Directed, wrote, and produced two one-hour segments of four-hour series “Great Lodges of the Park Service” series for PBS. Responsible for final budget creation, all major production decisions, and selecting and utilizing production equipment. Performed research, and oversaw two associate producers during the complete production cycle. Conducted over 50 interviews, wrote all narration copy, and oversaw and directed original music with composer Cal Scott.
Careful manipulation of budgets allowed high quality productions on less money – both shows came in under budget.
This project was shot on digital Beta 16X9, and included extensive use of camera Jibs, helicopters, and dollies creating captivating and innovative
visual style that was mentioned in many reviews.
Prudent choices of crews and equipment saved money but did not compromise quality – use of improvised camera equipment, for example luggage carriers
as dollies when possible, saved thousands of dollars.
Careful attention to interviews allowed even-paced storyline with minimal narration and accomplished the executive producers goal of using character voices to
tell the story.
General awareness of architectural aesthetics, national park history, and individual character histories gained from research ensured an entertaining final
product.
Turner Original Productions, and CNN productions. Atlanta, GA
Director / Writer
Researched, pitched, directed, and wrote one hour special documentary about comets and asteroids airing on WTBS, CNN, CNNI, RAI (Italy), and Channel Five in the UK,. Conceived and oversaw all computer animation and graphics. Directed 35mm film special effects photography, and directed all reenactment footage. Oversaw entire project from inception to post-production, and helped set-up official website.
‘Fire From the Sky’ has had a long life and is extremely popular with educators – it still sells well to schools and colleges.
Structured complicated, scientific story into entertaining, informative show which performed well with rating of 2.5 (cable).
Conceived interview composition to integrate seamlessly with computer generated and special effects content.
Quickly became conversant on comets and asteroids through intense research and reading.
Sundance Institute. Los Angeles, CA
Director / Producer / Editor / Videographer
Worked for Ken Brecher, executive director Sundance Institute, to create a fundraising video for the three Sundance labs. Responsible for entire project production including crew selection, research, direction, interviews, and all post production.
This video is still in use and has raised millions of dollars for the Institute.
Interview with Robert Redford considered one of his best ever, according to a letter from Ken Brecher.
Conversational, in-depth interview style enabled story to be told without narration in the spirit of cinema verite’.
Edited entire project myself using Avid Media Composer, and shot additional footage with DV cameras (Sony DVC 1000 and Cannon XL-1).
CNN Newsstand - Entertainment Weekly
Cable News Network. Atlanta, GA
Producer / Writer / Editor / Videographer
Worked in Atlanta office for Bruce Perlmutter, executive producer CNN, from pre- show launch until its cancellation in the fall of ’99. Designed, produced, and edited movie, book, and website reviews for show. Designed and produced weekly “Shoptalk” segment shot in New York every week at the offices of Entertainment Weekly magazine.
Integrated into complex production team working together in New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
Helped create and implement production methodology for complicated, weekly entertainment show.
Use of DV cameras to shoot alternate angles provided unusual and innovative look for the show.
Cold War: The Making Of History
Turner Original Productions, and CNN productions. Atlanta, GA
Writer / Director / Videographer
Reported to Mike Thomas, Vice President, Turner Original Productions. Conceived, wrote, produced, and directed one-hour special documenting the making of “The Cold War” documentary series. Field produced all location shooting in the US and England, oversaw all post-production, and conducted all interviews. Wrote host copy, and directed Kenneth Branagh in host segments shot in England.
Project aired on TBS, TNT, CNN, CNNI, and other international networks.
Helped set-up special “Cold War” website on CNN.com and integrated with marketing teams to create seamless
and effective marketing strategy for video promotion and distribution.
In-depth, precise interviewing allowed complicated story to be told without narration, creating ‘cinema verite’ feel while still adhering to standards
and high quality set by “Cold War” series.
The Coming Plague
WTBS and Cable News Network, Atlanta, GA
Researcher / Consultant
Hired by Coby Atlas, Executive Producer, as free-lance scientific and archive researcher. Responsible for accumulating, organizing, and interpreting complicated science data for director Sam Hurst. Researched and located archive footage and print media for use in documentary. Acted as chief liaison between production and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Field produced segment in Bio-level 4 containment laboratory at CDC. Oversaw and directed motion control and animation stand photography of historical flat art and documents.
Added key insights into the nature of diseases as portrayed in a documentary format.
Researched, located, and interviewed individuals with drug-resistant bacterial infections and rare infectious diseases.
Assisted in designing computer generated animations of viruses, bacteria, and geographic contagion (maps).
Negotiated access to bio-level 4 containment lab at CDC, only second film crew in history allowed to shoot inside.
WTBS, TNT, and Cartoon Network, Atlanta, GA
Promo Producer / Promo Writer
Worked free-lance for various Turner networks promotion departments writing and producing promotional materials for movies and show packages. Wrote and produced groups of: 15 and: 30 second promos for prime time blocks on WTBS. Directed and produced twenty-five minute ‘behind-the-scenes’ show for WTBS about UFO documentary.
Developed original and very effective movie and show packages that delivered ratings.
Wrote, produced and promoted “Valentoons” Cartoon Network special for Valentines day.
Barbara Boxer for United States Senate
Los Angeles, CA
Producer / Political Advance / Security
Hired by Julie Buckner, Communications Director, Boxer for US Senate to provide travel and security logistical support. Duties expanded to include political advance, computer systems management, and finally media production. Produced several cable access commercials, handout video projects, and fundraising videos. Advanced events all over California and handled vehicle rentals, airplane charters, and equipment procurement.
Developed elaborate computer methodologies for faxing information that dramatically increased efficiency.
Worked with cinematographer Allen Daviau on commercial shoots, live events and speeches.
Production Assistant
Robert Greenwald Production, Ray Katz Productions & others, Los Angeles, CA
Worked as a Production Assistant and/or Assistant Production Coordinator on dozens of films, TV shows, commercials, videos, and TV specials. Performed duties both on sets and in production offices on nearly every type of production possible. Worked as staff PA for the Robert Greenwald Production Company for one year, working on several TV films. Worked as the Art Department Runner on “The Big Picture” (Directed by Christopher Guest and staring Kevin Bacon).
Other Projects:
Produced and edited introduction video for Global Green International in 1999 that is still used to introduce Mikhail Gorbachev at speaking events all over the world.
Wrote and produced a customer service training video for The Travel Channel in 1994.
Computer skills:
Am extremely proficient with all types of computers. I’ve owned a computer since 1986 and have dabbled in programming and coding. I am capable of mastering most computers (Mac’s, PC’s. Unix) and programs quickly. I’ve had an internet account since 1995.
Personal Achievements and interests
Reasonably proficient in web design and internet video streaming of various types.
I’ve designed and edited video for from my home using Final Cut Studio, Adobe CS4, Avid, iWeb, Rapidweaver and others.
Good graphics and Photoshop skills.
Screenplay writer: Have written three feature film scripts, two adaptations and two original.
Click below for information and samples