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Going Back to Cali

It was so good to get back to Los Angeles for a part vacation, part filmmaking education opportunity.

I love LA for its great mix of warm weather, plenty of things to do, and lots of opportunities to submerse oneself in the filmmaking community.

From spending two days on the Paramount Studios backlot for Cine Gear Expo 2014, to spending the afternoon at Mole Richardson Studios listening to Directors of Photography speak about working in the film business as Cinematographers. Inspiration is everywhere in LA, and seeing one of my all-time favourite actors Sidney Poitier sitting in the hotel lobby was definitely a highlight.

Sometimes getting away is the perfect opportunity to hit the reset button, and this trip was definitely that opportunity for me.

#los angeles #Travel Photography

Oregon: Falling in Love Another Time

In one to two days you could easily drive the length of the Oregon Coast, but you could probably spend an entire week doing the same thing, there’s so much to see and do.

As much as I grimaced pulling myself away from the California sunshine, I was grateful to be back in the arms of Oregon. Sand dunes, seals, some of the coolest designed bridges (and longest) you’ve ever seen, never mind the coastline that changes from rocky to sandy with a curve in the road.

It’s almost more exciting spending a night in a waterfront room when you don’t know what view you’ll wake up to the next morning. Lincoln City has some of the best, uninterrupted coastline, with white sand on either side as far as the eye can see (and a Casino for all those who love to gamble at night). This trip, I spent a night in Gold Beach, where my view was grassy, sandy and wind blown: excellent.

Seven hours later I was in one of my favourite places, Cannon Beach, the place they filmed The Goonies (along with Astoria). I checked into a view room, on the second floor, promising unobstructed views from the king size bed. The sky at night was incredible: a sea of stars mimicking the sea below. The view in the morning: mind-blowing.

There are so many great places in Oregon, including the cool town of Astoria. Every time I go back, I fall in love again. It’s so nice to have a neighbour to skip town for.

Down the Coast: California to Oregon

It took every ounce of my body to leave the green grass I was laying in Calistoga, get back in the car, and drive home. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve driven down the West Coast, it’s always a unique experience.

This time, on the edge of California, I dipped down a winding road and came upon a heard of elk. For a minute I thought it was a game reserve or something, but sure enough it was close to 60 wild elk grazing in a field. Talk about surreal. Naturally, I stopped to chat.

It’s hard to drive and not drive off the road when looking at the ever-changing landscape. I timed the drive perfectly, catching not only wildlife but the most incredible sunset. No photo could do it justice, so I didn’t bother trying to capture the big burnt sun sinking into the sea. Oregon is an incredible place and should be experienced with the eyes, like everything else in life worth capturing.

Wine Country: Sonoma and Geyserville

Day three of my Napa Valley vacation was a good mix of mini road trips and soaking up the sunshine. First stop was a castle winery, located on the top of a hill in Calistoga, a castle it is!! Meandering down through the Napa Valley to Sonoma, I was blessed with rolling hills, grape vines in their first bud and gorgeous countryside.

Sonoma is about an hour away from Calistoga, super quaint with more hustle and bustle. After a bite of lunch at one of my favourite places, Girl and the Fig, I toured the square and was back on my way to sit poolside under the 26 degree sunshine.

For dinner I drove North through Santa Rosa and Healdsburg to Coppola Winery. Director Francis Ford Coppola’s estate is set far back off a country road and features incredible wine and a fantastic restaurant, with outdoor seating set up against the back-drop of rolling vineyards. The winery is unique in that it features an excellent collection of movie making memorabilia, including the car from the film Tucker, Coppola’s Academy Awards and the desk from The Godfather.

Napa Valley is a little scoop of heaven and exactly what the doctor ordered. So. Hard. To. Leave.

St. Helena

A trip to St. Helena, California today resulted in some winemaking education, while I partook in some incredibly smooth wine tasting. From learning the process for creating bubbly at Frank’s Family Vineyard, to visiting the first vineyard to be owned by a woman, I now know that clarity of a wine impacts how long it can be aged. In the photo above, the Pinot on the far right should be “drank by 6pm tonight,” the Pinot Reserve in the middle can be consumed within 2-3 years, and the Cab on the far left can age for 5-10 years. There’s so much passion for winemaking and food in the Napa Valley, it’s refreshing being around people who are so passionate about their professions.

#road trip #Calistoga #california

Calistoga, California

In need of some serious rest and relaxation, I skipped town for a sleepy little town I knew could deliver. Wine, sunshine and Spanish influences set the scene, time slows to a standstill in the upper Napa Valley.

#Calistoga #california #road trip

In Conversation with Actor/Director Don McKellar & Bob Martin

I sat in on a great conversation yesterday with Don McKellar and writer Bob Martin for the Victoria Film Festival, speaking about their new 6 part TV series for Movie Central, staring Vancouver Island's own Kim Cattrall (former Sex and the City alumni).

Kim is lead in the series Sensitive Skin, adapted from a UK TV series, and shot in Toronto, the show centres around a woman going through a midlife crisis.

Don McKellar who directs and also plays Cattrall's husband in the show, gave the audience a sneak peek of the series, that is still in post production (hence the timecode on the clips). Sensitive Skin looks fantastic: witty, raw and just a little bit disturbed. I can't wait to see it when it hits Movie Central later this year.

#victoria film festival #kim cattrall #don mckellar #Bob Martin #Movie Central #Sensitive Skin

A Conversation with Director Atom Egoyan

The 2014 Victoria Film Festival has begun. It was pretty surreal spending the morning listening to Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan in a talk with Joanne Roberts (CBC) about his work--including his latest film Devil's Knot--which screened today.

Atom's work had a major influence on me when I was just getting into filmmaking in the 90s. Canadian feature films were few and far between back then, and the boldness of pieces like Exotica and The Sweet Hereafter left a major imprint. Cool guy, inspiring discussion.

#victoria film festival #atom egoyan

The Year 2013: Personal Highlights

Thinking back on the year 2013, it was a major year of ups and downs. Some of the high points for me included...

Sound Production with Ed Novick

Spending an 1hr 1/2 in Atlanta with Sound Production Guru and Academy Award winner Ed Novick, as he deconstructed scenes from Inception, The Prestige, Spider-man, The Dark Knight, Money Ball and Life of Pi. I've been shooting video for many years, but it wasn't until Ed's talk that I realized how much sound theory goes into the placement of microphones and the type of microphones used on set. I'll never shoot a scene again without thinking about whether the sound captured will match where it's supposed to be resonating from.

RED Camera Training in Hollywood

A major highlight in 2013 for me spawned from a trip to LA for RED camera training in West Hollywood. Not only was it the coolest thing ever–learning about the cameras and post workflow from the people who built them–but being on a studio backlot, in the sound stages where so many great moments were captured on film was 'epic.' It was also a cool moment seeing footage of myself shot in 5K, shown on a 4K projector.

New Girls on the Block

After losing one of my precious girls (chihuahuas) in 2012, joy was injected back into the house when my girls Madison and Maya walked in the door.

Colour Correction 101

When Patrick Inhofer broke down the colour correction workflow, saying he attacks the grade with a sledgehammer first and a scalpel second, it made perfect sense. A few workshops with him and I walked away with a solid understanding of how to use colour wheels, properly use an RGB histogram, work with gamma, contrast, colour temperature and create a succinct DaVinci Resolve workflow. What I learned from Patrick I will be applying to all my grades from here on out, so obviously, I'm thankful.

Just Being There

Some moments in life can't be captured on camera. Driving 13 hours from my home to the heart of a remote valley to breath, create and sit silently, was incredible. Nature is the almighty leveller.

The City Lights

There are places that when encountered, change you for life. Atlanta was that place for me, what an unexpected experience.

To an even better 2014. Happy New Year!

#2013 #RED Cameras #ED Novick #Patrick Inhofer #Filmmaking

Street Art, Atlanta

When you discover a city by foot, you have a chance to stop and see things you might otherwise miss. Throughout my stay in Atlanta I came across some very interesting street art, including an original advertisement for gold dust laundry soap.

Home of Coca Cola, I wasn't surprised to see advertisements for the drink, painted along brick buildings. Beth Malone's piece "Y'all Gotta See This" is one installation of a few throughout Atlanta, highlighting vacant buildings the city has abandoned, but have potential. The neon signs light-up at 7pm every night.

#Atlanta #Street art #Street Photography

Martin Luther King Jr.

To hear his voice over the loud speaker while standing at his gravesite was surreal. Not just his voice, but the speech he delivered the night before he was assassinated. King was a passionate, caring person who left an incredible impact on the world, the national historic site solidified just how much of an impact he had on Atlanta. From partaking in a church service, to wandering by his childhood home, my trip to the Martin Luther King Jr.'s site was a highlight of my trip.

#Atlanta #Street Photography #martin luther kind jr

Atlanta by Day

Hip hop in the park. Neighbourhoods ravaged by poverty. Bullet holes in building placards. Wrap-around porches, with rocking chairs to curl up and drink ice tea in (when can I move in?). People who see me with my camera and ask: "take my picture." Atlanta by foot is a diverse and remarkable.

#Atlanta #Travel #street photography

Good Eats in Atlanta

It was dinner time on the West Coast, but I was still thinking about dinner in Atlanta. Southern food at it's finest, with some tasty Mexican dishes from Alma Cocina enjoyed in the mix. I drank the drink "The Colour Purple" at Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint and had the best collard greens and crispy fried chicken at Mary Mac's Tea Room. Cajun prawns with cornbread, tuna tataki from Ray's in the City. Georgia peach cobbler, a run-in with a tequila bar, plus the BEST customer service around. I wish I was still on the East Coast.

Atlanta at Night

Part 2 of my excursion through the streets of downtown and midtown Atlanta, including a walk past the Federal Reserve and a stop at a bar specializing in all types of tequila. My first flight of tequila was had tonight and it was the good stuff: super smooth.

#Travel Photography #Atlanta