Carts of darkness nominated for best cinematography
Among the list of nominations including Best Director (Murray Siple) and Best Picture Editing (Michael Brockington), Carts of Darkness has received a nomination for Best Cinematography as well. As the second unit cinematographer on the film, I feel honored to be recognized along side of 1st unit cinematographer Kevin Shepit, and of course a huge congratulations goes to DOP Christian Begin for his dedication to the visual style of the film. A special thanks should also go to Christian for trusting me to shoot some of the crucial cutaways throughout the production. Thanks Christian - amazing work.
I feel privileged once again to have had the opportunity to help shoot such a special piece of work.
On June 21st 2009, Timebomb Trading Inc. decided to once again hire me on for the third year in a row to document WILD IN THE STREETS in it's entirety. Put on by international shoe brand "EMERICA" the event takes place downtown Vancouver and it's objective is to celebrate skate culture all around the world. Fortunately for Vancouver this year, the entire Emerica shoe team from California chose our city specifically to charge through the streets and join the thousands of other local Vancouver skateboarders. The event was a huge success and the turn out did not dissappoint. Special thanks to Judah Oakes and Garrett Louie for getting me on board once again.
Please check out the Timebomb site at:
http://www.timebombtrading.com/
As well as check out the Emerica U.S. site for full details on the video:
McKinlay's Wild in the Streets 2009 clip!
Between Waters (working title) from johnny darrell on Vimeo.
Epic landscapes and nature that surrounds Gold River, B.C. - Our latest location for interviews and narration with local Chief, Michael Maquinna.
DOcumentary work for the Chinese Canadian Historical society
Produced by the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC, I had the opportunity to shoot in its entirety a film that focuses on the relationships between Chinese Canadians and First Nations people of the province. This Vancouver based film was produced by Jennifer Lau and Gemini Award winning filmmaker Karin Lee, directed by Kamala Todd and Diana Leung, and edited by Johnny Darrell. On the 150th anniversary of British Columbia, the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC believes that it is timely to commence a closer look at these inter-community histories to promote understanding of the shared experiences between Chinese Canadians and First Nations peoples. The film will be broadcast on television in the coming months as well as make its way to film festivals throughout Canada and abroad.
A special thanks to Kamala Todd for getting me on board to help document these stories.
On set with Ve Neill - professional Makeup Artist
Ve Neill: academy award winning makeup artist
Following the successful shoot of the 2009 Blanche Macdonald Fashion Show Collective, the Blanche Center contracted me to document the on site work of makeup artist, Ve Neill. Ve is an Academy Award winning artist from Los Angeles and has worked on some of the biggest blockbuster films in Hollywood. With titles such as Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Sweeney Todd and all three Pirates of the Caribbean productions in her resume, Ve has been a major force in the Hollywood makeup world. It was a pleasure interviewing her and documenting some of her most recognized and acclaimed work to date. In collaboration with Breakfree Productions, the video will be completed for Spring of ‘09. It will include exclusive interview footage with Ve, as well as a detailed visual look at her makeup techniques, demos and insightful personal stories. The footage looks awesome!
Special thanks to Kelly Schmitt and the rest of the Blanche Macdonald School for making this happen.
I felt privileged to play the role as second unit cinematographer for Murray Siple's recently completed feature film for the National Film Board.
So far the film has been getting a great response from events such as the Victoria Film Festival, Hot Docs in Toronto, as well as a full week of showings at the Vancity Theater downtown Vancouver.
Check below for the most recent festival dates:
Kimberly Film Festival - Oct. 11th
Halifax Atlantic Film Fest - Sept. 14th
Calgary Film Fest Sept. 24th
Shortlisted:
Rossland Mountain Film Fest
Cork, Ireland
Sheffield, England
Melbourne, Australia
Whistler Film Festival
Vancouver:
UBC Oct. 7th
West Van Library TBD
North Van Library TBD
As of 2009, Carts of Darkness has officially been released on DVD. Check this link for details...
For the past three years I have been steadily shooting Theater rehearsal performances and promotional vignettes for the Vancouver Playhouse Theater Company. The quality web videos produced in collaboration with Digi Harvest Post Productions in 2007, and currently Bombshelter Productions (editor/shooter Sean Sullivan) and myself have gone on to catch the interest of several other Theater companies in town. Bard on the Beach, Touchstone Theater Company, and the Vancouver Opera are now also steady clients and we're looking forward to consistently delivering to them quality footage for web as well as television b-roll.
November '08 has been another huge month for camera work, and a commercial shoot for the MIKU Japanese restaurant downtown Vancouver was definitely an important one for my day book. Van Eyk Olivier Directed and Produced the commercial, and I was fortunate enough to get on as the jib arm cam operator. It's been amazing experimenting with dynamic moving cameras in a large space such as the MIKU venue. Preceding the MIKU shoot was another jib arm experience working on a full length promo as well for the VAN ARTS film school in Gas Town. The footage looks spectacular.
Special thanks again to Van Eyk Olivier and Greg Gillespie.
Thanks to Rob Butler of the Pacific Wildlife Research Center, I have had the opportunity to direct and shoot a series of video pieces that showcase eelgrass; a form of plant life that is currently damaged along our coastlines and in need of restoration. The videos are developed to raise awareness for this 'marine life dependent' plant form.
As of November, 2008 I am officially an Associate with the PWLF. Over the past year now, I have been involved in shooting a series of videos for the Wildlife Foundation and I'm looking forward to working with them regularly as we go into 2009.
Working with the scientists involved with these environmental restorations has been nothing short of inspiring. I feel privileged to have to opportunity to give my contribution through the video medium.
Click on the link to see the first of four video installments..
http://www.pwlf.org/videos/eelgrassvideo.htm
the unnatural history of stanley park
On September 25/08 - February 15/09 the Vancouver Museum will be presenting a an exhibition celebrating the 120th birthday of Vancouver's oldest and largest park. Considering the many hours I've dedicated to filming within Stanley Park, I've decided to donate 10 minutes of edited wildlife footage that I feel tells the story of this incredible landmark. My video images are currently showcased in the interactive gallery so please come down and show your support for Canada's most incredible rainforest.
Check out www.vanmuseum.bc.ca for more details.
Also check out the latest article within the pages of BEYOND ROBSON, where writer Sean Orr eloquently describes the importance of this pristine green space. Thanks for posting my video!
Markered camera work for "50 CENT" gaming cinematics.
ghostbusters gaming cinematics
From April to August 2008, I was able to get on board with Rainmaker Entertainment as a Previsual Cinematographer for the newest Ghostbusters video game slated for 09’. Directed by Kody Sabourin and Co-Directed by an old friend and colleague Ben Burden Smith, we all worked closely for approximately 4 months, piecing together specific camera moves and setups for the cinematics that reside throughout the game. With a markered video camera in the motion capture space, we were able to adopt a lot of the same handheld feel and camera angles you would see in non-animated movies. Once pieced together in a CG program called Motion Builder, these roughed out 3D storyboards would eventually make their way to the animators, and worked as a guide to how the cameras and characters would be placed from scene to scene.
With the true voices of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis, we were inspired to stay very true to the original film’s visual style and aesthetic.
COMMERCIAL WORK WITH BREAKFREE PRODUCTIONS
Throughout the summer I was fortunate enough to work with a local Vancouver production house, Breakfree Productions. As jib arm camera operator, I had the awesome experience of working with Van Eyk Olivier (Producer/ Director) and Creative Director Greg Gillespie. One of the projects I was especially excited to work on was a commercial for the Canadian Foster Family Association. I was very excited to be a part of it all, and I look forward to working with Breakfree again in the future.
Check out the Break Free website at: http://www.bfreeproductions.com/
Please also check out the link to editor George Faulkner. George works closely with Breakfree - editing and DVD authoring many local B.C. video productions. Projects we've had a chance to collaborate on include a promo for the Steve Nash Sports Club, as well as the most recent Kwantley University fashion show.
STANLEY PARKS
GREAT BLUE HERON
From year to year I try my best to put out some of my own video work on top of the work that I do for clients. For my most recent project, I have been piecing together a short documentary about the Great Blue Heron of Stanley Park.
I've had a chance to document the life cycle and habits of these birds since March of 2007, and it’s been a really interesting process watching them thrive from season to season. Up until recently I have shot approximately 25 hours of footage at the colony, and I’m just now beginning to piece together the coverage into a rough assembly.
My biggest goal for this project is to create a well thought out, more cinematic portrayal of these birds - paying as much attention as possible to the mood and aesthetic that one feels when visiting the colony. Because it is less scientific and more about the birds themselves, the atmosphere around the colony, and the relationship they have with urban society, this piece focuses upon how this species has managed to thrive and be successful above a canopy of trees just minutes from downtown Vancouver.
The Stanley Park Heronry project is slated for completion in fall of 08’. Please check out the trailer on my demo reel page. I’m really excited about the footage thus so far, and it’s definitely going to be a fun project to piece together in the cutting room.
I will be updating the progress of the project in the months to come!
MAcneil bikes
Travis Collier is one of the top BMX flatland riders in the world. I managed to get a few days of filming in with this guy, and some of the footage has ended up on the following MacNeil Bikes Ad. I've also had the pleasure of shooting more of Travis for a recently completed WE THE PEOPLE video. On shelves at your local bmx shop.