Lecrae "Just Like You" Experience

Grammy Nominated Christian Hip Hop Artist, Lecrae just dropped his newest music video "Just Like You".  I had the unbelievable privilege of working on this video thanks to my boy and director, TK McKamy.  This guy is going to explode in the music video world and he let me PA for this shoot.

The experience was quite crazy as the shoot began in Nashville on the Monday of finals week (the last of my college career!).   All of my professors approved me going and this was first proof of this experience being under a Divine blessing.  

I met up with TK and the first task was to paint a "jail" like wall in an old abandoned building where multiple scenes were taking place.

We didn't actually film in jail!

The shoot began early Monday morning and we began getting shots of "Young Lecrae" getting into trouble with one of his Uncles (PRo).  Right before I left for Nashville there was some severely bad pain in my neck going on.  I brought some prescribed pain pills with me and during one of the scenes TK needed a "drug canister".  So I ripped the label off my bottle and this was the one used during the video.

They used my drugs (jk)

From there we went to the gas station location and I had the responsibility of holding the clapboard for each take and sitting right under Lecrae (out of frame) holding the iPad/Clapboard that was playing the music so he could rap along.

The final performance location for the day was back at the abandoned warehouse.   Three shots were done there, the jail scene and two performance scenes, including the yellow triangle one.  Once it got dark the warehouse was pretty spooky as there was no power and the only light we had were the ones used for the scenes.   We didn't wrap until about 12:30am with a call time at 8am the next morning.

Plexiglass to simulate a window

Clapboard Duty

Director TK giving Lecrae some instruction

Day 2 was quite stressful to start the morning as it was pouring rain and all the shots were to be outside. For the first hour, the rain was pretty bad but we were able to pick up some shots.  Thankfully by the time Lecrae arrived, the rain died down.  As soon as the rain stopped however, the cops showed up.  We didn't have the correct street permit to block the road and the cops said we were taking too much space. Jesse the producer, talked them into letting us finish the last few takes and we were on our way.

Snapped a pic with Lecrae while doing his car performance scene

The shoot wasn't done before I had to leave for my flight so I wasn't able to see the last few scenes. But overall this was an incredible experience.  I'm still not 100% sure "what I want to do with my life" but music videos definitely could be a niche as they combine two of my loves.   Working with creative personal like Lecrae and TK was such a career building opportunity and one I'll never forget.  I met Lecrae a couple years ago and he was still the same guy he was before all the fame and exposure he's been getting the past few years.  Being humble and in the spotlight is not something easy and Lecrae does it well and makes his boast in the Lord.   I'm really encouraged to see the impact this video will have on young adults across the U.S. and challenge men to ManUp and show Biblical masculinity to the masses.   Through it all my hope is that people will realize that the Maker is who they live for not themselves.  Creator > Creation

BTS - Filmed with an iPhone

Here's the final edit.

TK doing work on this edit!

The Tree of Life

Growing up in Orlando,  I've been able to experience the "magic" from a young age.  But two nights ago I experienced magic unlike I ever had before.  Terrance Malick's The Tree of Life was the hottest ticket of the festival and I was able to get an orchestre one, the primo of all tickets.  Upon arriving you could feel the electricity in the air as there was a lot of hype surrounding the film and the anticipated arrival of Brad Pitt.  Once the cast arrived the buzz created in the building was through the roof.  Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain went down the red carpet together and after arriving at the top of the steps, Brad left them and went back to get his girl, Angelina Jolie.  She was waiting at the beginning of the red carpet all alone and there the two of them were having their shining moment in front of everyone.  The cheers and the yells were unlike anything I'd ever heard and it was one of those moments I'll remember forever.

The cast arrived in the theatre and my seats were only about 20 feet away from them.  After seeing so many magazine and tabloids it was crazy to lay my own eyes on Hollywood's biggest couple.  Despite the tattoos, Angelina was just as stunning as you would think and truly a beautiful woman.

                                           
Tree of Life was a very interesting movie,  it was beautifully composed and the score was very moving.  It was very much and art film, with non traditional story telling.  Malick's work was a terrific piece of art but I don't know how well the film will do with a mainstream audience.

Afterwards I sprinted out the back to watch the cast come out and I was about 5 feet from Brad Pitt as he walked out.  Angelina must have had private escort because she did not exit the traditional way (of which I was bummed).

After the screening I was told to go pick up some afterparty tickets at the restaurant the whole cast was at.  As I walked in I bumped into Gwen Stefani as she was coming out.  You can see the picture below myself in the backround (this is quite comical).

"I can play the backround"

  It was a magical night and one I'll never forget.  Moments like those have me really reflect on how much the Lord as blessed me as such a young age and I'm so excited the plan He will continue to lay out for the rest of my life.    

2011 Cannes Film Festival Week 1

It's hard to believe only a week has passed since graduating from the University Tampa.  Life took complete 180 and now I'm "celebrating" four years of hard work in the south of France at the Cannes Film Festival.  This is my second year attending and it has yet to disappoint.  Work is pretty tough doing twelve hour days and dealing with the language barrier but I've been able to attend two premieres so far. Below are pictures from the opening night of Woody Allen's A Midnight in Paris.  I was able to attend the opening ceremony and see Robert DeNiro, Uma Thurman and Jude Law come in as they are on the festival jury.  Midnight in Paris was a tremendous film and a great selection to kick off the festival.  It was classic Woody Allen with witty jokes and beautiful dialogue.  I'm going to Paris for a few days after Cannes is over and this film got me very excited to get over there.   

Last night I was able to attend the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise for Of Stranger Tides.  Women everywhere were screaming and crying as they laid eyes upon Johnny Depp for his appearance on the red carpet.  It was quite remarkable to be in the same room with him as we all watched him play the savy Jack Sparrow.  The movie was quite entertaining and much better than the third one.  The general complaint from the masses was that it was a bit long.  It did miss Orlando Bloom but Penelope Cruz and Johnny really had quite the on screen chemistry.  Penelope also looked quite stunning on the red carpet last night.  Afterwards I was able to watch Kanye West perform on the beach and it was a great Saturday night in Cannes.  Summit Entertainment (The company I'm working for) has two movies premiering this week.  The much anticipated Tree of Life with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn premieres tomorrow and Tuesday is The Beaver with Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson.  It should be a hectic two days but quite the experience as I will be right in the thick of the action for these two movies.  Time is flying fast but having a great time in Cannes and enjoying every second.  I'll try to keep the posts coming. CHOW