Little shoot I did for my friend Eric for an augmented reality game for kids. Sheeps on iPads--who'd have thunk it?
An AR (Augmented Reality) virtual pet sim for iOS and Android. Coming this winter.
Lambstock on a sheep farm in Virginia--It's Woodstock for Chefs
Sometimes, documentary shoots are gritty, political and there's not a good meal to be had. This was not one of them. Chefs from all over the south gathered at Border Springs Farms in Patrick Springs, VA, and cooked and ate and drank and danced. It wasn't really work.
Saving elephants and destroying illegal ivory
A network of NGO's got together and helped bring awareness about the dangers of the illegal ivory trade, with the Ivory Crush. Two tons of confiscated ivory was crushed in Central Park on August 3rd. Sad to see how the death of these majestic animals can be reduced to dust in a matter of hours. Support conservation efforts and remember World Elephant Day is August 12th.
Tastemade web series and juicing hip hop style
Spent a few days profiling some outstanding chefs and their signature plates for DISH, a web series for Tastemade. Also, got to see Styles P and Jadakiss give back to their community by creating a healthy alternative in The Bronx and Brooklyn, with Juices for Life.
Searching for 50 year old documents
Second shoot for a documentary on a French legal case about America's involvement in Vietnam. More than fifty years later, people are still hiding behind legal and bureaucratic defenses. Crazy world. I did get to drive up to northern Vermont, which is beautiful, tranquil and without cell coverage!
A last interview for Bei Bei Shuai documentary
Working for my friends Rose and Marion, shot one last interview for their documentary on the case of Bei Bei Shuai vs The State of Indiana. Then helped them make a Kickstarter video. Someone needed a little fortification before appearing on camera!
Shooting a Pilot for Food Network
Had the pleasure of being DP on a cooking show pilot featuring Helen G., who runs Citarella, her family's chain of gourmet groceries. Fun and sassy, Helen gives tips on making some great dishes. Bonus, we filmed in beautiful Eastern Long Island.
Treat Yourself with KK Glick for BravoTV.com
Got an education in Upper East Side lifestyle with KK from Bravo's comedy series, Odd Mom Out. Who knew that haircuts and beauty treatments could cost so much! This web series is rolling in support of the new season of Odd Mom Out in July.
Terry Crews: actor...athlete...designer?
Got big points from the Brooklyn Nine Nine fan in my house when I interviewed Terry Crews about his work as a furniture designer for Bernhardt Interiors. Great guy, funny, sharp dresser, and a talented designer. For Interior Design Magazine.
Comedy and politics in the Lone Star State
Busy month for women in entrepreneurship for The Story Exchange with two more inspiring women. Amanda Austin founded the Dallas Comedy House, one of a very women-owned comedy clubs in the country. And Amy Hagstrom Miller was the plaintiff in the pivotal Supreme Court case that overturned Texas law, HB2, restricting abortion providers. She runs Whole Women's Health, and we interviewed her at their Fort Worth location.
Brit comic Russell Howard and his new TV show
Flew up to Toronto for a quick shoot with Russell Howard, as he preps his new talk show for Sky TV. Always nice to visit our neighbors up north--and scout an escape route. Making Canada great again!
2 Virginia women entrepreneurs creating programs for kids
Another round for The Story Exchange and their focus on social entrepreneurs. Julia Warren, at age 16, started Celebrate RVA to throw birthday parties for kids in homeless shelters and women's shelter in and around Richmond, VA. And an Army veteran who started a leadership program for middle school girls.
Marja Vongerichten Pilot
Spent a week in Asia working on a pilot with the Restauranteur/Food Entrepreneur/Chef. It's always great to go back to my home continent and eat delicious food. Chopsticks and sake make for a good day.
Another season of Beach Bites with Katie Lee
So lucky to have spent six weeks in Hawaii, Florida, San Diego and other great beach towns across the country filming Season 2 with Katie Lee. Couldn't have asked for a better way to spend the winter of 2017--missed some chilly New York weather, or so I was told. Look for it on the Cooking Channel starting in May or June. Beach food tastes better because of the view!
Louisville, KY--Bourbon and Entrepreneurs
After nearly a year, arrived in Louisville Wednesday morning and filmed with some amazing restauranteurs to finish off the last of the production shoots for the Entrepreneurs project. Couldn't have picked a better spot for after work drinks! It was a great run. Thanks Tats and Joe. What a great crew to hang out with.
Colorado Entrepreneurs
A super cool robotic ball and geospatial intelligence are the products of a couple of cool entrepreneurs we met in Grand Junction and Boulder. The governor sat for an interview and we drove over the Rockies during a snow storm. Plus pool and cards with my favorite crew (missing one Brodee).
Texas Entrepreneurs
Back in Texas to start off 2017, this time to profile entrepreneurs and their businesses helping women and kids. Ernie and Debbie run a play gym that also provides pediatric therapy, helping kids and their parents in Austin. Bianca and Lauren are researching a process to help women who have undergone breast cancer with surgical reconstruction. These entrepreneurs really typify the ways people can use their business to not only make a living, but help other people. More power to them in 2017!
Wrapping Up 2016 in Tejas
Houston, Dallas, Ector and El Paso, Texas. Now that's my idea of exciting. Over 6 days, 3 sizzle reels to be pitched in January by the best name in show business, Zoran Zgonc. Can't disclose too much, but it was funny, tasty, tasteful (well, maybe not) and always great to hang out with my buddy Joe Maggio. Great way to end the year and looking forward to 2017. It's going to be a wildly unusual year, I think.
More Entrepreneurs
Back at it, profiling entrepreneurs around the country, this time in Lincoln & Omaha, NE. Suji Park is delivering delicious Korean ribs to Cosco and Target. Always love to see Korean-Americans getting the word out about our food. It's delicious and pretty healthy too. More entrepreneurs to come as this project will continue into 2017. Photo credit, Tatjana Smith.
Foster Kids and Fresh Produce
Danielle Gletow and her organization One Simple Wish does what everyone of us should be doing--helping out. I was moved by her genuine love and sense of responsibility for Foster Kids. And Tatiana Garcia-Granados is bringing farm fresh ingredients into food desserts, aka lower income communities. She's countering the mass manufactured nutritionally deficient diet common to those neighborhoods with a state of the art warehouse with the largest walk in fridge I've ever filmed in. Both inspiring women. Check out their stories on TheStoryExchange.org.
