Our Work
Some Recent Projects
The examples we have selected demonstrate a wide range of production skills and creative abilities under some of the most extreme conditions. If we can bring home the bacon there, we can deliver your visions anywhere.
World Surf League
Project
Description
4pm I get this call … “Surfs UP Bro”! Okay, when and where? On the World Surf tour they react to BIG SURF anywhere on the Globe, usually with about three days notice. Being that I got the call I known it’s on the west coast of North, Central or South America. Lucky for me, it was Mavericks Beach south of San Francisco. When is the surf do, I asked? “Now” you need to be there by sunrise (7 hours away, driving). Did I mention it was 4pm and I still need to go prep gear and pick up my other camera op, lol. So, to say the least 16 hours later we were standing on the cliffs above the shore break and another out on a boat with the surfers.
Aaron and I filmed for two days, turned around and drove the seven hours back to Los Angeles. Two days later, after about 16 hours of editing I turned this in to the client. Let me know what you think on the contact page.
This is why I, we pride ourselves on being the like US Forest Service “HOT SHOT, Smoke Jumpers”. When a client calls you are either ready to react to any and all needs or someone else is cashing your pay check. More important than being fast, you still need to deliver the goods, a quality visual story that is engaging and compelling. If not, no matter how faster you were you’re not getting called back.
Project Details
- CLIENT: Bennett Productions
- DATE: December 12, 2018
- WORK: Field Prod/Dir. Shooter, editor
SONY FS7, S&Q
Project
Description
A lot of Sony professional cameras come with a feature that I think is widely under used. It’s called S and Q. At the push of a button you’re either Over-Crank or Under-crank. What ever you have preset the camera to.
At the most recent Long beach Grand Prix I was able to film some great example of SONY’s picture values and the ability to jump in and out of slow-motion at the push of a button and then back again. Check it out.
Project Details
- CLIENT: SONY PROFESSIONAL, camera demonstration
- DATE: March 2019
- WORK: Shooter editor.
A Military Families Story
Project Description
Operation Patriot Care Package in Afghanistan, 2010
“If you dream of bringing great stories to the big or small screen, first, you have to live it! If you don’t, you’re just like the rest, another opinion amongst millions”.
I approach my work under the teachings of George Plimpton. If your a journalist, documentary producer or actor, director looking for inspiration you need to know who George Plimton is. He was a famous New York Sports and opinion reporter in the sixties. His life and approach to his work changed after being called out by Muhammad Ali. Ali was sick of reporters asking questions without any bases of what he and other fighters faced in the ring. He challenged Plimpton to get in the ring with him. Ali – “you need to know what it feels like to be punched in the face repeatedly so when you right about me, my experiences its with some knowledge. And so George did. He got in the ring with Ali and got his nose broken. After that, George approached every story he wrote with the intention to “Walk a mile in their boots” before offering up his point of view. That is the difference between a point of view or a lonely opinion.
For me, to tell a Hero’s story is an honor. I can’t inform the audience on issues I don’t know firsthand. Things I have not tasted, smelt, touched or seen first hand. I’m trying to see it firsthand from the inside out. As much as possible, I need to be inside their head, understanding, seeing what they are experiencing through THEIR eyes, grounded by their individual emotions. This gives me a knowledge base that I can present an informed POV (point of view) that an audience can grasps emotionally and viscerally pull on the boots of him or her and take that walk with me, “though my lens”. That’s what I was working to achieve when I embedded with front line combat units in Iraq and Afghanistan. In my opinion, the Nation was not getting a clear picture. So, I went to see for myself, plain and simple and these are the experiences I brought back.
Operation Patriot Car Package was a program I created on my own. I though it was important enough to tell the story of military families and their hardships that I gave the show away, three times, 2009, 10 and 2011.
Project Details
- CLIENT: FOX News
- DATE: December, 2010
- WORK: Producer, Director, Editor
Gotta Love A Golden
Project
Description
W.C. Fields said, “Never work with kids or animals. They will always find a way to upstage you every chance they get”.
W.C. Fields never got the chance to work or play with Jeff Franklin’s live-in sidekicks, Woodie and Lolla. Working on this project was the kind you look forward to coming into work. Lolla and Woodie were always great to be around. Creating this music video just kept getting better and better as more people continued to contribute to the effort of raising money for dog shelters all across the country. Good times, thanks for thinking of me Jeff.
Project Details
- CLIENT: Moose Productions
- DATE: September 22, 2020
- WORK: Camera Op, story-teller, editor.
Foo Fighters Station Promo
Project
Description
It had long been rumored that Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighter were going to add a date to the end of their tour. there was a chance that the govermment of Greece would let them, the first rock band play on the Acropolis in the Herodus Theater.
My luck would have it, that my long time friend Casey Bennett would land the rights to the Behind the Scene documentary of a concert that was nearly two years in the making and the band would only have 23 hours to load in a stage, lighting, build a back stage air conditioned green rooms, sound system and check it all by 5pm for Dave and his boys to go one by 7pm. Finish the show by 10:30pm and clear the Horodus theater by midnight. Witnessing the three days preparing for the rush and the ability of hundreds of people giving a 110% was an exhilarating experience. To witness it first hand through my lens, responsible for my crew while trying to catch every key element of this event. Not to mention it was one of the greatest rock shows I have ever seen.
Project Details
- CLIENT: EDGETV.com
- DATE: June 10, 2017
- WORK: Prod. Dir, D.P. Writer and Editor
TARDEC
Project
Description
The SCMM (Squad Centric Mounted Maneuver) is a new concept in military combat vehicle. TARDEC (Tank Automotive Research Development Engineering Center) was given seed money to take a concept from around a planning table and turn it into a working prototype so Soldiers could go hands on. Twenty-eight days prior to the test at Ft. Hood, we were contacted, Could we cover the event? Four days of filming on site, shoot and edit, to have a fifteen minute video presentation at 8am on the morning of the fifth day for DoD decision makers. A presentation that would explain what started a year and a half ago. A program, that if successful would be a quantum leap in military technology and infantry doctrine. A new product that would become part of every military vehicle in our nations inventory. Our story telling ability was a key element to a $25 million dollar award, for phase Two of the SCMM program. With very little pre-production time our experience and commitment to excellence was invaluable to the success of the SCMM program, hands down. Read the attached, Ltr. of recomdation.
Project Details
- CLIENT: DoD, TARDEC (Tracked Automotive Research, Develp, Engen, Center
- DATE: Nov. 22, 2018
- WORK: Producer, Director.
Sony FS5 MkII Demo
Project
Description
My friend Shahpour Nosrati at SONY Professional saw fit to putting the new Sony FS5 MKII in my hands before its release. Along with some super lenses. Take a look. Can’t wait to do the same with the new FX6 & 9. A great day of doing my favorite things. Hanging out with my son plane spotting at LAX and testing out a new piece of gear.
I tell me son, “Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life”.
Project Details
- CLIENT: Sony Professional
- DATE: March, 22, 2018
- WORK: D.P. camera op.
Best Ranger Promo
Project
Description
Most people are impressed by long distance, Marathon runners. Covering twenty-six miles in just over two hours. The Best Ranger Competition fields fifty, two-man Ranger “Buddy Teams”. The course is sixty-eight miles long. They will have sixty two hours to complete the competition. Along the way each team will be engaged at more than 45 Ranger skill test, first-aid, firearms, navigation, air-assault, multiple obstacle courses and many others. They will cover the course while carrying the standard combat load out, more than seventy pounds.
This event isn’t your run of the mile, Sunday morning marathon. Like is says on the sign at the entrance gate, “Not for the faint or weak of heart”.
Project Details
- CLIENT: US Army, Ranger Training Brigade. Ft. Benning, GA.
- DATE: April 8, 2018
- WORK: Producer, Director.
Harley Davidson
Project
Description
I tell my to son’s and everyone who is entering the workforce to dig deep “Find what interest you. Try everything, some of things twice. In this new industry of messaging through short stories on social media platforms the limits are boundless. Look inward, find what wakes you in the morning and gets you out of bed. We work in a business, an industry that allows creative people to express themselves while providing an income to support your family. For me, I get excited to learn about others. We live in an exceptional country where so many people are doing extraordinary things and others are wining even though they are faced with amazing challenges. It is the human condition to over come the odds and provide for each other that excites me. I can’t wait to tell the amazing stories of great people that we all stand next to in the check out line at the grocery store. Not so much those who have their name and a big number on their backs. I’ll leave that for the network sports channels to handle.
“Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life”.
Project Details
- CLIENT: Harley-Davidson Mfg.
- DATE: April, 2018
- WORK: Producer, Director, story by.
Chuck Norris in Iraq
Project
Description
Years ago, I made my first feature film with Michael Norris, Chucks oldest of two sons. Mr. Norris liked my work and asked me to work with him in negotiating the terms of a script that had evaded him for years. We were successful and the movie “Side Kicks” was made. Afterwards I was able to stay in touch with Chuck. When I heard from Mike that his Dad had been invited by the Commandant of the Marine Corp to visit his Marines in the Anbar Province of Iraq I contacted Chuck… Chuck, if it’s not on tape, its a print or radio story. No one will ever know you were there. LOL, the rest is history. An excellent Adventure in the shadow of Chuck Norris in the presents of greatness, US Fighting men and woman on the front lines of the War on Terror.
Project Details
- CLIENT: Loan Wolf Productions
- DATE: September 11th, 2007
- WORK: Cinematographer, story-teller, editor.
Best Ranger Webisode Series
Project
Description
In 2008 on a chance I filmed the Best Ranger Competition (BRC). I created a sizzle reel and pitched McCann Erickson a syndicated three hour program and a 12 part webisode series. They agreed to purchase a webisode series of the 2009 BRC. Our series was the first ever to take over the ESPN homepage, the landing page on Crackel and the first ever game box takeover of X-box and Playstation. In the first two weeks we had 5.8 million views. The response surpassed expectations. They recorder more than a 30% increase in response in the three key tracking matrix.
McCann was so pleased we were hired to do it again in 2010. This time the marketing was cut by half. The two week viewer result was 7.2 million views and again a 30% increase in respondents. Not to shabby.
The video attached is a combination of the webisodes cut into a One-hour TV program format. Enjoy.
Project Details
- CLIENT: McCann Erickson, c/o US Army Recruiting
- DATE: September 01, 2010
- WORK: E.P. Producer, Director.
BAE SYSTEMS product reel
Project
Description
I was contacted by the Personal Protection, Product Manager (body armor) at BAE Systems Thursday evening. A mutual friend suggested I could help him. The video production company BAE contracted to create their new product line video has just called and bowed out. He asked if I could present a concept by morning the following day that he could present to his boss? And oh yah, we have to have the finished product Back in Phoenix the following week, Friday.
By end of business the following day we had a deal. I posted an ad for a model, hired him on Sunday. Monday we did a costume fitting. Tuesday the client arrived in LA. Approved the background images for compositing, built up the green screen, picked up all the uniforms and props. By end of day Tuesday everything was in place. We started filming 7am Wednesday morning. By 5pm we had covered every item and background and started the secret sauces of animation and composting the images together. Thank you Wayne Stovall (creative artist, tech compsitor/editor) without you this never would have come together by the next morning for the client to come in and sign off. They had allotted enough time to make changes/edits all day. Flying back to Phoenix Thursday night to be able to present Friday at 11am the next day. Instead, they were back in Phoenix AZ by noon.
Project Details
- CLIENT: BAE Systems, manufacture
- DATE: September 22, 2016
- WORK: Producer, Director.
511, always be ready
Project
Description
The annual Long Beach Grand Prix. What a great location to brand a male oriented action sport line of clothing.
Project Details
- PRODUCT: 511 LOGO & SONY CAMERA Demonstration
- DATE: March 2019
- WORK: Shooter editor.
LIVE Stream SUSA
Project
Description
Working for EDGETV.com, we covered all of the social events throughout the week. With the content we immediately turned around social media sizzle content to attract an audience to the live stream of the pageant finals.
Project Details
- PRODUCT: Bennett Productions, Inc. For EdgeTV.com
- DATE: September, 2019
- WORK: D.P. Feature Director, Editor.
SUPERBOWL FAN ZONE
Project
Description
Nothing excites me more than being in the moment. Working with on camera talent shooting feature segments or the host of the show live gets the adrenaline pumping. This is the pinnacle of catching lighting in a battle for a reality director. During a live event you get one shoot when they call your camera number. As a one-man-band, director-shooter I have complete control of the talent and the story. With that comes all the responsibility. too I prepare my research the best I can but as soon as we step onsite… we are making do with the opportunities that present them selves. For me, I am editing the show I see it through the eyepiece of my camera. I know what I already have in the can and what I need to pick up as we go. I normally edit all of my own shows, at least the first pass so the way I saw it gets on the screen as I envisioned it.
This is an example of 50 minutes on the ground, start to finish before we completely lost the light. With thirty-eight minutes of video in the can we made a five minute feature segment that setup the MAXIM Magazine Super Bowl party of the night at the end of the show. This segment is not the final audio mix and color corrected piece.
Project Details
- PRODUCT: Bennett Productions, for EDGETV.com
- DATE: Feb. 2017
- WORK: Shooter editor.
Ponsse
Project
Description
The ultimate One-Man-Band production crew. Today known as a “Pre-Ditor” A Field Producer, Director, Shooter and Editor. I’m often hired on shows, usually series as a producer, shooter, editor. Before I fly in I’m usually given a story list. Segments they need for this weeks show. laying out the talent, location, topic, back story and any material, b-roll from prior events. Then it’s all up to me to organize the timing and location. Hit the ground running Friday morning for a Saturday show. Find the talent, get it shot. Drive back to the hotel. Get a rough cut and script edited and approved. Make any changes, then finish that night. Because in the morning I had pre event segment to shoot and get back to the truck before show time where I had to now pick up a live camera to cover down on the pit reporter. Catching lighting in a bottle. Something not everyone can do.
Project Details
- PRODUCT: TORC, “The Off Road Championship”
- DATE: Feb. 2017
- WORK: Shooter editor.
Operation Patriot Care Pkg III
Project
Description
In 2009, after watching holiday after holiday season go by and watching the TV as they did their best to explain the difficulties military families suffer through when one or more loved ones are deployed overseas in a dangerous location.
Our father devoted 20 years of his life to our nations defense as an Air Force fighter and transport pilot. My mother with five boys and one daughter, lived a military families life in varying degrees. But nothing like what these young families facing the demands of GWOT (Global War On Terror). I felt the best thing I could do with my camera was to honor them for all that they are sacrificing for us by shinning a little light on what these military families endure not just year round but especially over the holiday season.
Project Details
- PRODUCT: FOX News & USWarFighters.com
- DATE: December 2011
- WORK: E.P. Dir/Shooter editor.
Through My Lens
Project
Description
Starting in October of 2005 I started making my way to Iraq and then Afghanistan so I could try my best to give an host depiction of what we are asking of our young men and women wearing out nations uniform to do for all of us.
Project Details
- PRODUCT: History Channel & USWarFighters.com
- DATE: Oct 2005 -December 2012
- WORK: E.P. Dir/Shooter editor.
CAN-AM
Project
Description
Stride is a non-profit organization that supports kids, young people and family providers options and support to get out of poverty and educate for the youth and disabled. The Stride fund raiser was hosted by CAN-AM. With the Austin Grand Prix as the back drop CAN-AM brought in the drivers and new products to show off. Along with it they had Snoop Dog drop in for a private show. Good times.
Project Details
- PRODUCT: CAN-AM ad agency
- DATE:
- WORK: Dir/Shooter editor.
Afghan, Pakistan border, T-Day
Project
Description
“I didn’t know what to believe, so I went to see for myself” – me.
It’s how I respond to the question I’m repeatedly asked, like. What in God’s green earth poses you to pick up and go to Iraq or Afghanistan to an active combat zone? Because I know better. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing on the nightly news or reading on the internet. I grew up around the military. I had produced several military projects prior to September 11th. So I had a better than passing knowledge.
Besides, the reporting I was seeing that had any elements of truth wer usually slanted to whom ever was in office and always slim at best of the entire picture.
So, I decided to go see for myself. And this is what I found time and time again.
Project Details
- PRODUCT: Zaragoza Pictures, Inc
- DATE: Thanksgiving Day, 2011 – Afghanistan, Pakistan Border
- WORK: Dir/Shooter editor.
