The Wrap Party

4/28/08

This week I'm really happy to present Phenom's performance EPK. This was a little different from a usual EPK because it's more of a music video style. Since I had alot of footage of Phenom performing, it was a matter of going through all of it and seeing what fit the song as well as pulling out the quotes from his interview. We tried various styles but settled on this one because it fit him and his music best and that's what is important in an EPK.

Check out the clip below.

 Check out this video: Phenom Performance EPK



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4/21/08

I have special request for everyone on this entry. Few weeks back I was asked to do an ad for the "Obama in 30 seconds" contest at moveon.org. Well Saturday I was informed that both versions of the ad were accepted for the public voting segment of the competition. So on top of presenting a new wrap party entry I'm also asking (borderline begging) people to come check it out.

Please rate it after you view it because I guess they are going to take the average score (go ahead be honest and rate it however you like).

This was interesting project; we finished it in about a week. The producer, Tony Smith, wanted me to incorporate one of his after school program's students Chris into the project. We used a song he did about Barack Obama as the soundtrack and created some matching visuals.

Check it out, rate it, tell a friend. Thanks.

4/14/08

This was a fun project I did last summer. It was a promotional video for a great Designer named K-Fleye. She does some of the best jewelry I've seen. Basically, we needed to do a video that could be played while her jewelry was being modeled. I had alot of freedom on this project so I structured it like a video art Project. Check out Clip below.

Check out this video: K-Fleye

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4/8/08 

Every once in a while we will be going back in time with the Wrap Party. Meaning, old projects will be highlighted along with the new ones. This week we are "revisiting" The Text Fight. This was a short film we did a few years back. Its actually a short of a short film that came about because I was submitting to a film festival that had a 5 minute running time limit. Thus The Text Fight was born. Its actually the first scene of Life in Quotations, which is the story of a man who can only talk in text quotes. Unfortunately, this includes his every thought which are on display for everyone to see. By the way the film was chosen for the film festival (Chicago Short Comedy Film Festival) and from there was picked up by WTTW 11 for their program Image Union. Check out The Text Fight below.

 Check out this video: the text fight

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This was a short film we di

3/31/08

Chi Town City Life by Tasleem "Jamila" Firdausee

This week we have the new music video for Tasleem"Jamila" Firdausee called "Chi Town City Life." The song is a biographical look at Tasleem’s life growing up in Chicago and how it shaped her past and present.

Pre Production, production and post production was done in a week. After getting a list of the locations that were mentioned in the song and had a significant meaning to Tasleem, it was my job to make sure that the shots flowed with the pace of the song. If I had to give it a name it was more of a narrative montage, meaning there was combination of shots from various locations but they were still in a order that followed the lyrics of the song.

On a side note, This was shot on the COLDEST day of the year. The maximum takes per shot was two. LOL Chicago weather is a great motivator. Check out the video.

Check out this video: Chi Town City Life by Tasleem "Jamila" Firdausee

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3/24/08

Flamethrowers

A While back I was honored enough to do a 9 vignette video for Deana Dean called Natural Progression (There will be specific Wrap Party blog for that one). As a part of the DVD,we did a 6 poet piece called Flamethrowers.

Flamethrowers was amazing, because I was working with what I consider 6 of the best poets in the city. Each poem seemed to build momentum to next poem which gave an abstract yet subtle feel to the poetry.
As a videographer, I was able to focus on using the various locations and blocking as if it were a supporting cast member to the poets. As you see in the video, I took out all color in the video to highlight the straight forward power of each piece. Along with the shot framing I tried to create a contrast between Natural Progression by eliminating the narrative, and creating a "in the moment" video.

Check out the clip and be looking out for the next Wrap Party Blog.

 Check out this video: Flamethrower s

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3/17/08

Yaw's Perfromance Montage

First off, I know I said we would be doing this on Sunday but it looks like Monday will be the day for new entries.

I recently finished doing a performance montage for R&B Singer YAW. If you don’t know about Yaw, you should Google him, myspace search him or just get out more (just messin’ with ya).

I took his hit song "Rockstar" and matched it with some live rehearsal footage I had plus some performance footage. This is part of an EPK so there will be more to come.

The footage was collected over the summer 07 at various Yaw performances such as the Silver Room Block Party, performing with Corey Wilkes at Andy’s and at Double Door opening for Res.

A great talent and a great person. Check out the clip and PLEASE check out Yaw’s music.

Check out this video: Yaw EPK performance montage

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3/10/08

What is "The Wrap Party"

The Wrap Party is the companion blog for the verge documentary series coming this summer. Before I get into explaining the blog, let me back up and talk a little about verge.

Since coming to Chicago, I've been amazed by the amount of local artist of every genre. Not consumed with fame or status but rather expression of the art form itself. Verge is my way of saying thank you to all the artists who have been kind enough to allow me to work with them of their projects. Each episode we will profile a new artist. Through in depth interviews and performance footage we hope to bring you a little closer to the artist you know.

The Wrap Party picks up where the verge leaves off with behind the scenes facts, upcoming performance by the arts and clips of their projects.

Check out the commercial

 Check out this video: verge commercial



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