Two weeks ago Zombie in a Penguin Suit was released on YouTube. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and I thank all of those who have contacted my directly with kind words. I had been working ZIAPS since March. It was the idea of my friend Chris Russell do a little short film where the journey of a Zombie is explored. Typically, these kinds of films/shows follow the survivors of such an apocalypse, not the plight of a zombie. He played me the music he wanted to use, explain some of the scenes, and asked me if I wanted to help out. I had been itching to some narrative work so it was an easy “yes” from me. I was brought in as the Director of Photography, but also had a role as a producer and editor. Some details you may find interesting:
Software: Final Cut Pro 6, Adobe After Effects CS4
Shooting Dates: April 2011-October 2011 (7 shooting days total)
Locations: Shot chiefly in the Boston, MA area (New England Aquarium, Wonderland Dog track, Mount Auburn Cemetery, etc), shoots also held in southeast CT and Brooklyn, New York.
Budget: Approx. $1500 (one gun and lots of gas, blood and pizza)
I hope you all enjoyed it. We hope to have another one for you sometime soon. I’ll post updates as soon as I can. Thanks for your support!
Well, Boston Pixel is officially open for business now and with it comes a new video. Well, more like a rehashing of old videos into a cool new video. This showreel basically encompasses everything I’ve shot with my own gear and posted here at jimmeegan.com since the Fall of 2009. I’ve got a bunch more footage I’ve shot for different production companies/employers, but it’s too tough to track down, so I made due with what I had on my own hard drives. This is my first reel since 2006, just a few months after graduating from Emerson College. It’s really nice to see how far both the technology and myself have come.
The edit is meant to be modern and cool with attitude. I want it to personify the local vibe my new production company is trying to put out. That is, present the culture and environment in New England with the awesomeness it deserves. It’s a great place to live, even for those in media production.
The track is called “Living in America” by an awesome band from Worcester, Massachusetts named Dom. Check them out!
Sunday, June 19th 2011 – four days after winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in 39 years, the Boston Bruins continued their celebration at Fenway Park. This was my perspective.
On the morning of June 2 I traveled to a farm in Stratham, NH where later that day, Mitt Romney was going to announce his run for president. I have a friend who works with the campaign and he had seen a couple of my other time-lapses. He thought it would be really neat to see the setup of a political event unfold as a time-lapse. He was right. Next time I’ll be there a day early to get the chairs, tables, and tents going up. Music by Kevin MacLeod.
This is a timelapse I shot from my camera position above third base for the 2011 Red Sox home opener. Wish my lens was a bit wider for the flag drop, but oh well…
Audio is Bob Dylan from a 2006 XM Radio show on Baseball. Don’t really have any more info than that. I just kind of stumbled upon it and it was a simple 28 seconds- perfect.
This is a short promo I shot and edited for the MetroWest ESL Fund. They have a big fundraising event coming up on May 19th and had an open house and “surprise announcement” to generate some buzz about it. This video is part of that buzz.
If you happen to be looking for something to do on May 19th please visit www.mwesl.org to support this great cause!
First time out with my new toys, the Tokina 11-16mm and FlyCam Nano. Now, the Tokina 11-16mm really needs no further sharing of how awesome it is. There’s plenty of information on it out there. But the FlyCam Nano is something I took a flyer on. It is basically a cheap, small knockoff Glidecam from India that cost $150 after shipping. This was my very first time using it or any other type of similar stabilizer.
I will say this about the FlyCam Nano: it’s a GIANT pain to balance. In fact, you really get what you pay for because it is soooo sensitive to the weight of a DSLR. The truth is that it’s probably a little too small for a camera like the Canon 7D and Tokina 11-16… I don’t know. I’ve seen some video from people who seem to have hit the balance perfect and can rock it without the slightest wobble. This video is obviously not so perfect, but again; first time out here. I’ve made some notes on the sweet spot for next time.
I will give myself some credit though. I didn’t exactly put it through an easy maiden voyage. I decided to try this sucker out on rollerblades in a city that is trying to put a rough winter in the rear view mirror. March in Boston is a strange time. If it hits 50 degrees out, dust off the bike, board, blades, whatever! But the streets are still a wreck, so you’ve gotta watch out for those potholes.
Music: “City With No Children” by Arcade Fire.
Not for profit video. Just love the song.
I’ll be the first to admit: I’ve become a bit obsessed with making time-lapses. I think there are a couple reasons for this. The first is that they are just so cool to watch, especially ones involving nature/science. Snow storms, sunsets, stars, etc., get put into a new context once the element of time is altered. I love it. The other reason why I’ve been doing them a lot lately is because I think of them as making me twice as productive. I can shoot a time-lapse while I’m working another camera on a shoot, while I’m editing at the office, while I’m skiing with friends, while on vacation with my wife. I can have it set up in 5 minutes and have it run without requiring any of my attention for hours (i check up on batteries maybe ever 6 hours depending on interval time).
My point is that they are a fun way to making interesting videos without the need for a lot of man-hours and help. That is perfect for someone like me who loves making videos (even outside of work), but has his free time stretched thin.
Enjoy this latest one I made with the Canon 7D of Lake Sunapee, NH. Shot while on a weekend getaway with my wife and her cousins. Lens: Tamron 17-55mm 2.8, Interval: 1.25 minutes, Time Shot: 12AM-8AM (8 hours).
Strange result here with the two part snow/sleet/rain storm. Kind of cool seeing the snow get washed away even faster than it builds up.
Ugh, listen to me. Making these time-lapses is the only way I can keep myself going this winter. It is worth it though. Channel 7 news here in Boston picked it up and gave me a nice plug.
Medford, Massachusetts.
Street view: 2/1/11 7:30am – 2/2/11 1:30pm
Icicle view: 2/2/11 1:30pm – 9:30pm
One photo every 5 minutes. Played back at 24fps.
RAW color corrected version to follow if motivated.
(Icicle time-lapse #2: 1:30pm-5:30pm. One photo every 2.5 minutes)
Today I got the new Bower 35mm f1.4 lens for my Canon 7D. It’s like the generic brand cereal at the grocery store. I mean, you can get the exact same lens under the Samyang and Rokinon brand names. I’ve never had a problem with store brand anything. That is, except for Fruit Loops. Could always tell the difference… Read more at bostonpixel.com
