March 08, 2010 | Music Video - Freeway Artist: Freeway Color Company: Three21 Films Song: "She Makes Me Feel Alright" Producer: Brendan Cochrane Director: Rik Cordero   RED, three 1x1 litepanels, and a steadicam... Quick shoot today with director Rik Cordero of Three21 Films for artist Freeway. We were shooting in a really nice loft in lower Manhattan and that has further motivated me to make a ton of money. The video was basically 4 or 5 forty second takes with some inserts and performances. Should be interesting to see how Rik cuts it all together. First time working with steadicam operator Sergei Franklin and 1st AC Robert Lau, great guys. The whole crew kept things moving as fast as we could and I believe we finished in 10 hours. Sergei was telling me about the new Red sensor and once he upgrades I'd love to try it out on a night shoot. Matt March 06, 2010 | Music Video - Phar-City feat. Range Artist: Phar-City feat. Range Color Company: Sucio Society Song: "Part-Time Lover" Producer: Sophia Leang Director: James Clark   AKA 7D... Just wrapped a video for director James Clark for artist Phar-City feat. Range. Effecient day with two Canon 7D's. One built up studio style with a monitor, followfocus, mattebox, AJA splitter, 17" Monitor, etc. and another on a zoom lens for quick inserts. We shot at Hotel AKA in a couple penthouse suites and turned each room into a different setup. Some clever prelighting and teamwork allowed us to finish the video on time today. My favorite setup was in the kitchen, lit to be early morning (shown in the photo above). We used every light, diff frame, and stand to light this scene for two directions at once. The results were "Romantic-Comedy-Feature" quality IMHO :) Great working with James and Sophia again, looking forward to the next one. Matt March 04, 2010 | Color Session - MTV "Census 2010 " Client: MTV Color Company: IKA Collective Program: "Census 2010" Producer: Dan O'Hare Director: E.J. McLeavey-Fisher Colorist: Gary Scarpulla Scratch and eggs ... Today we finished coloring the Census spot with colorist Gary Scarpulla. Gary has 25 year resume and experience which made this one of the easiest sessions I've ever worked on. We used an Assimilate Scratch system that allowed us to work of the Red raw files natively. We didn't need to do any major color correction but we used the featered power windows a good amount and working on a color callibrated monitor we set our black/whites and gamma with out any doubts. The interface was new to me but it reminded me of the Autodesk/Discreet line of software which I was familiar with from Shake/Combustion. The splines and masking/keying also reminded me of a Discreet control point system, which was nice. A day before this I was coloring another spot on a Apple Color / Mac Pro system and the workflow is much smoother on the Scratch, no surprise. However, the Color system does allow for silmilar controls of the Primary/Secondary and basic power windows, just not at the resolution or speed of the Scratch. The real value was working with a knowledgable colorist like Gary, not the system, but comparisons are inevitable in a market where low cost is the key word. Great seeing EJ and Dan again in a plush couch setting over breakfast and meeting and working with Gary. I'm definitely becoming more confident in the RED and or F35/Genesis becoming my camera of choice if we can finish on a Scratch(RED RAW) system everytime. Otherwise its basically Canon 7D/RED and a 1080p Quicktime into Apple Color. Matt March 02, 2010 | TV - HBO "Asians Aloud" Client: HBO Production Company : HBO Program: "Asians Aloud" Producer: Cliff Song Director/DP: Jonathan Yi Camera Operator: Matt Workman Two Red cameras .... 100 Asian-Americans ... Just wrapped one of my favorite projects to date. Today we shot a program for HBO called "Asians Aloud" that will air during Asian History Month (May) on HBO and online, I believe. This was my first time working with HBO and director/dp Jonathan Yi. Jon did a really great job of casting the actors, lighting the talent, and directing the camera crew. We shot on two RED cameras. The first was low and on a wide zoom and I was on a higher shot on an 12x Agnenieux zoom doing MCU to CU and inserts. There were some very funny, touching, and insightful speakers today and I'm really proud to have been part of this project. I'm having fun getting deeper into the commercial/TV world and I can see getting used to the hours and general conditions compared to music videos. I have a couple videos coming up to throw into the mix but I feel lucky to be expanding into new types of media. Big thanks to Jon Yi for bringing me onto the project and the whole crew, from G/E who helped grip our broken Panther to the camera crew who kept me honest for the whole shoot. GOT RICE?! Matt February 20, 2010 | Commercial - 2010 Census Client: MTV Production Company : MTV Spot: 2010 Census - Portraits of Caring Producer: Dan O'Hare Director: E.J. McLeavey-Fisher   Big shoot.. Yesterday I shot a commercial for director E.J. McLeavey-Fisher for the 2010 Census. We shot in Carrol Gardens, Brooklyn and took over about 3 blocks with trailers, mobile homes, trucks, and our generator. The shoot went very well and I felt good about how the production, art, camera, and grip/electric teams worked together. We shot with the RED with a Optimo 17-80mm on a 4' Slider and a Jimmy Jib ala Adam from Black Dog Jibs. The Optimo has since become my favorite lens to date. The 12x 29-290mm is really nice but its very heavy and 29mm at 3k on the RED isn't very wide. Most of the spot was at 3k @ 36fps/50fps so having the 17mm really helped in the smaller locations. Having G/E setup the slider to provide on the fly adjustments, plus the microforce/Optimo zoom allowed for some very dynamic shots. Definitely a good combo. . The lighting on this ranged from 12k Par-> UltraBounce/Hampshire book lights for key to small JokerBugLeko -> FoamCore/Opal book lights for fill and eyelights. Using the 7D on smaller shoots with smaller book lights has really helped me refine how to use booklights on a bigger level and how to mix them. The JokerBugLekos are really great to for making quick cuts for the background or sniping someone for a quick backlight on a menace arm. We had a funny shot in the gym, which was our first location. We setup the 12k inside with some 4ks filling in and a couple JokerBugLekos. The gym had a wall of windows that weren't doing much because the morning started off completely overcast. So we put a couple Pars outside coming and eventually found an angle that looked natural. As soon as we blocked the scene and had it ready to go the sun came out and lit up the entire gym. At first we were a little panicked but we quickely realized that the sun had made the exact same pattern our HMIs had been making but about 10x hotter. We had hazed the gym and the real sun created some pretty intense light rays. We readjusted our fill and bounced some of the real daylight back into the scene and the wide crane shot came out really well. After the sun left, we just recreated the look in close ups with our HMIs. Good times. Matt February 13, 2010 | Music Video - Angel y Krhiz "Ayer La Vi" Artist: Angel y Khriz Production Company : Diamante Pictures Song: Ayer La Vi Producer: Jill Krikorian & Melissa Ruiz Director: Ben DeJesus   7D, Ikan, Redrock, Cinevate, IndieSlider, Gitzo.. Spent the day with director Ben DeJesus and the Diamante Pictures team shooting a video for Angel y Khriz. I haven't had this happen in a long time but I hadn't worked with anyone previously on this huge crew. After getting to know everyone however, we discovered we knew the same directors, producers, crew, etc. from NYC. I've been doing a lot with the 7D lately but this job had my favorite rig so far. The 1st AD Power put together a kit with a Redrock baseplate system, which I really love, and a swing away mattebox with a rotating 138mm/4x5.6 tray and two static trays. That system worked well and allowed for quick adjustments for the 70-200 and the shorter 16-35mm. We used an Ikan 8" LCD which made everything easier from sharing it with the director to focus and espeically low angles. Finally we used my new four pound Gitzo levelling tripod which allowed for incredibly fast lens height changes from the floor to 6'. The tripod is so light that I could basically go handheld with it attached. . We had something like 5 company moves on this job but we pulled it off. AyK had a really nice mobile home/RV that we used for shorter moves and for the big move to Brooklyn we did the usually caravan. I'm really thinking about buying a 7D and a whole Redrock/Ikan/Mattebox setup for shoots like this as A CAM and BCAM for bigger RED shoots or multi 7D shoots. Using a 138mm polorizer, ND grad, streakfilter, IRND's yesterday really made the shoot feel more like a RED job. I really liked working with the Diamante crew and Power, who I'll be seeing later this week on another job. I've gotten really comfortable operating and lighting for the 7D and the speed at which we can shoot is very liberating compared to a 35mm/RED workflow. Matt February 9, 2010 | MTV2 Rock the Deuce "Chevelle" Artist: Chevelle Production Company : Nova Entertainment Group Program: MTV2 Rock The Deuce Producer: Lucille Hansen Director: Frankie Nasso   Nova Entertainment Group doesn't play around.. Took the X1 bus to Staten Island today to work with director Frankie Nasso. Very impressed with the Nova compound and hope to be back in the future when we have more time to lounge about. We shot a quick promo for MTV2 and Chevelle with two Canon 5Ds and a Sony Z1U. Apparently the band had just shot a video utilizing a five headed 5D rig, sounded cool. Cool group of guys. . Matt January 30, 2010 | Music Video "Adero" Artist: Adero Production Company : All Area Crew Song: Other Line & Night Crawler Producer: Sophia Leang Director: Berman Fenelus   Coldest shoot EVER!... Just now getting over the coldness of this last video. Director Berman Fenelus for Artist Adero from Chicago. We shot two videos and with the help of two 7Ds and two operators we actually got it done in 12 hours. Crazy I know but I guess we'll let the videos speak for themselves on that front. The first half of the day was day exterior and then mostly inside a nice apartment in Harlem. I prepared for the second half of the shoot the night before by buying super heavy duty North Face gloves and a new North Face down jacket. Both clutch on this one. The second half was night exterior and it was probably like 10 degrees the entire time. We got some pretty creative shots despite the coldness. Next year I might go with the Himalaya North Face super jacket but for this winter I think I'll survive. Matt January 27 - 28, 2010 | Commercial "New York College of Podiatric Medicine" Client: NY College of Podiatric Medicine Production Company : NYLAHD Spot: 2010 Promo Producer: Mark Litwa Director: Brendan Cochrane   Saw my first dead body on this one... Finished principal photography on a commercial for director Brendan Cochrane for The New York College of Podiatric Medicine. It was pretty interesting learning about the school and the faculty. We bumped into Henry Kissinger at one of the succesful private practices started by a doctor who graduated from NYCPM. During his interview we learned that the doctor worked with some A-list celebrities and atheletes in NYC, including the former Secretary of State, who by the way stopped by and posed in a photo with the director. Almost made me think about getting into Podiatry. Brendan did a great job of visualizing, casting, picking locations, and directing the talent. We had a great crew and I met a couple of interesting new people. We shot with NYLAHD's Red camera and we had a tight interview lighting kit everywhere we went. On my next job like this I'm going to push for all battery powered lite panels. Matt January 26, 2010 | Music Video "Vivian Green" Artist: Vivian Green Production Company : Chris Standford Photography Label: E1 Music Producer: Lindsay Lewis Director: Chris Stanford   One Hundred Music Videos... I wasn't sure who this award would go to but Chris Stanford is the offical winner of the director of my 100th music video! I've been shooting for about 5 years now and I consider this one my major landmarks. Today we shot at Daylight Studios in Chelsea and did a wide range of beauty and performance setups. The shoot was actually half photoshoot and half music video. I shot with the Canon 7D with an excellent Red Rock support kit and Chris shot with his Canon 1DS, which I had never heard of until today. We had a great time and the last setup we did is probably one of my all time favorite setups of all time. The visual treatment video was inspirted by a Rich Lee music video, but I won't say which one. Also Cyndi Lauper stopped by toward the end of the shoot and mingled with the director and record label execs. Matt January 24, 2010 | Music Video "La Republika" Artist: La Republika Production Company : Roll Films Song: Que Te Dio El Producer: Veronica Salnias Director: Edgar Marrera & Marlon Pena   Anamorphic LOMO's and the RED are a match made in heaven... Wrapped a music video for co-directors Edgar Marrera and Marlon Pena for the group La Republika. We shot at Michelson's Studio in the Manhattan and took advantage of its large windows and interesting architecture. We shot on the RED in 4K ANA and 3K ANA with a set of Anamorphic LOMO's. I really like doing dolly moves on the 35mm and using the 75mm for close ups. We tried to take advantage of the distinct horizontal blue flares that these lenses create. This was my first anamorphic shoot and I learned a lot and think that everything came out pretty well. Great seeing lots of familiar faces and meeting and working with Marlon Pena for the first time. Matt January 20, 2010 | MTV "My Super Sweet Sixteen - Justin Combs" Show: MTV My Super Sweet Sixteen Director: Parris Episode: Justin Combs Exec Producer: Nigel Talley Company: Goreela / MTV   Maybachs, Escalades, Mansions, and Helicopters ... this is my life lately The night started off at Diddy's mansion in Alpine, NJ. We were tasked with filming the intro to be played at Justin Combs sweet sixteen party for the MTV show "My Sweet Sixteen." We were half actors in the show and half actual crew members that had to film this elaborate intro of Justin's fleet of Escalades and a Maybach driving around Manhattan. Diana and I led the ground crew, each with a Canon 5D and a bunch of lenses. We were each in our own seperate "persuit vehicles" while Parris was in the helicopter getting the aerial shots of the motorcade with a Canon 7D. Nigel did most of the talking on camera but Diana and I both signed releases and offered what we could to the situation. Pretty interesting night. We'll see if we make the edit. I also lost my hat while shooting/driving down the highway. Matt January 9, 2010 | Kulayde "Wabble" Artist: Kulayde Director: Edgar Marrera Song: Wabble Exec Producer: Veronica Salinas Label: Choppa Boy Inc.   7D and Pie Spent last weekend in Toronto, ON shooting a video for director Edgar Marrera and artist Kulayde. After Miami I thought NYC was cold but after Torotono New York is looking good again. We shot at Pie In the Sky Studios and we had a really great crew. We shot at Studio 1 and Tim had pretty much everything we'd ever need. My favorite thing at the studio was their 4x8 frames. They work great to put two 2k/5ks through and they soften kinos in a nice way. I was also happy with the 20x20 white tarp + white silk combo for our top bounce. We flew up Abel Cine Tech's 7D DSLR package and everything worked really well. Having the Canon L Primes geared and the 7D mounted on the Arri baseplate with a follow focus and mattebox made the 7D feel like a real camera. The Zacuto eyecup is a great idea but I think for me to use it all the time I'd need it to be articulating like an extension viewfinder. I have a feeling about half of the projects I shoot this year will be on the 7D, so its nice to put together a kit that feels more like a RED or small s16mm camera. I'm definitely getting used to how the sensor works and new and odd techniques to get the camera to be easier to use. I definitely need an external monitor for doing low angle shots. The talented Diana Levine came with us and there is a great set photo gallery on my facebook and probably on the artists myspace etc. Matt January 1, 2010 | P Diddy, Dirty Money and Rick Ross "Angels Remix" Artist: P Diddy feat. Dirty Money & Rick Ross Director: Parris Song: Angels Remix Exec Producer: Georgina Prentice Label: Bad Boy Exec Producer: Nigel Talley 2010 getting started in a big way! Just got back from Miami where the Goreela team and I spent 4 days shooting a video for Dirty Money, P-Diddy and Rick Ross. The whole Diddy team really pushed us to take this video to the next level and I’ve personally learned a lot about videos, music, money, artists, etc. The video was two days of principal photography and the Canon 7D performed remarkably under some extreme conditions. The first was a jimmy jib on an insert camera car and whipping around Miami at night and sunrise. The second and third were hanging out of a helicopter and a 30’ jib for our master performance. The dailies on this video alone have blown my mind in what I thought was possible with modest resources. Big thanks for Adam at Black Dog Jibs for hooking us up for two days and rocking the jimmy jib on the ground and on the insert car. Happy New Year. Matt Archive 2010 January - March 2009 January - March April - June July - September October - December