Work
Experience

Outline

This is a brief outline and synopsis of my work and roles I've filled in my brief tenure working inside of the filming industry, along with some media and my personal insight along the way.

JANE HANECOCK - It's Me, Not You

HO-HUM

The Interview

THE LAST ENCORE

Destin Conrad- Baddies

This music video/ short film was just an enjoyable experience overall, while not too complicated with the setups, this shoot happened not too long after the Pasadena Fires where I'm from and where a majority of the crew happened to come was from. So it was great to be apart of a crew that was from the same area as me after such a major tragedy, still be very professional, and be very cohesive.

This was a dark comedy promo material I volunteered my time to shoot in order to possibly gain more funding for a fuller feature, but I had some interesting setups and effects that really made it enjoyable.

This was a an action film we shot downtown in this partial subterranean building where we ended did a bit of rigging so they could get their one shot and bunch of their action scenes. It turned out fantastic and this is the first feature I've worked on that has won any award so that was pretty exicted.

This was a music video I helped shoot at a strip club with a few interesting gags and rigs on a G&E crew I'm fairly familar with and had a great time working with. The most challenging parts of this shoot were some or the rigs, because we were filming in such a tight area in a few of the shots we had to be real mindful of the light and its placement.

Other Production Work

Definition

Production Assistant

As a production assistant I am one of the first people to show up to set, so I can help set up the production area, trash cans, tables and chairs or anything that might be handy for the day. I also am responsible for running errands, relaying orders handed down by the assistant director, the occasional firewatch making sure our equipment is unperturbed while the crew is on lunch, and being one the last people to leave set insuring the area we filmed in is clear of any residual evidence of our precense.

Grip

If a set lighting technician is the right hand of a Director of Photograghy a grip is the left. A grip works hand in hand with the DP and the lighting department to make sure any rigs that built are safe, and they help to shape, mold, and warp any lighting use on set to achieve the desired look for a scene.

G&E Swing

This is a position on set that is used where you are trying to fill two roles in one, a G&E Swing is a role where you are supposed be a grip and a set lighting technician on the same set helping out both departments. Setting up lights, placing and directing them in their proper position, running power to the places needed; and then shaping, and molding the light as needed, along with assisting with any rigs or rigging.

Quote

"Q: How many directors does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A: One; no, two ... no, no one. Q: How many gaffers does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A: How many do we have on the truck? Q: How many electricians does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A: It's not a bulb, it's a globe."

BTS

Goals & Aspirations

I am working my way to join the 728 set lighting department union, with a half a decade of experience I have done everything from large commercials to volunteering my time to small passion projects as a set lighting technician. I feel like I'm slowly encroaching on what my ceiling is in the non-union world and find myself looking for more opportunities for growth. I love the space I'm apart of, being a black creative, contributing to media and art because it's not widely avaliable opportunity to people of a similar background as mine, which makes me exicted to see how far I can push the envelope as far as my creativity goes and my career. I still have a lot to learn, and I still have concepts that I have yet to be introduced to. While I'm not at the level of a Roger Deacons or a Francis Ford Coppla they inspire me to master my craft.

There's a video of Roger Deacons talks about his inspirations and how when his career started he used every light A to Z, but with age he's taken a minimalist approach and wants to get his lighting down to just a handful of lights. Hearing him speak about his approach has me wondering if I can do the same if ever afforded the opportunity. Learning from people who have exponentailly more experience, more talent than me, and who still have a voracious appettite to learn more is a blessing recieved by few, but wanted by many. Me joining 728 is just placing me one step closer to my dreams and goals, by decreasing the distance between me and these professionals I'll be afforded the advantage of gaining insight that it might of taken years to gain. This truly is an amazing job to have and it's and experience that is seldom seen.

Afterword