A couple of weeks ago, I took a business trip to Atlanta to work on a production with Barry Gray, one of AP’s videographers, on location in the offices of a Wealth Management client (Russell E. Holcombe) who wrote a book on the process of staying wealthy entitled, “You Should Only Have To Get Rich Once”.
When our project was wrapped, the producer, Dennis Ross (who is also a highly successful writer and music producer), handed me a few notes to reference while editing.
As I was sifting through these bullet points earlier in the week, i suddenly discovered a monologue of writing that he had left binded in the pages of production notes…
Here’s a transcription of what he said:
How do you see yourself
Recently, a videographer visited our offices to film interviews on wealth management. He had one camera. I’m not a director, but I guess from all the movie sets i’ve seen, I was expecting this set to have heavy lighting and someone holding a boom-mic over my head that looks like a racoon. So I asked, “Where’s your camera”? He said, “this is it”, and pulled out a small photo taking professional camera. He then said, “It’s all about the lens!”.
Jon had an expensive lens, but a simple camera. He explained how movies are made now and that the glass determines the quality, it’s how you see yourself, it’s your filter.
What do you need to produce what you need to produce? Many wealth clients believe they need “wealthy stuff” when they really only need “quality stuff”. A bond can be like that simple camera, bonds just aren’t set like stocks, but they work, they lower risk and help you stay wealthy.
The trappings of wealth can be just that… trappings. I’m frequently advising clients to concentrate on what really matters. Put a $100,000 camera in the hands of an amateur filmmaker and a $1,000 camera in the hands of Steven Spielberg and the amateur doesn’t even have a shot. Experience makes much out of little.
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Very cool to know that I provoked some sense of metaphorical thought by my simplistic production nature.
I believe all things should be simple… and at the end of the day, it’s not about the tools you have anyway… it’s about the story you’re trying to convey, and the approach that you’re using in order to convey that story.
I’ve been slacking a bit in regards to my social media presence. I apologize. This move has got me going out of my mind.
Just to backtrack for two seconds… last weekend, myself and my production team (Drew Gibadlo, Barry Gary, & Kamran Habashi) shot a series of interviews for former “Miss America” and “The Apprentice” contestant, Marshawn Evans, at the super swank hotel in Downtown Atlanta, The Renaissance. Much more production will be coming from this new business relationship, as Marshawn has a lot of great things planned in the near future. We’re all very excited about what’s to come!
The last 4 days have been an absolute madhouse as I’ve finished gathering all of my valuables into a small, condensed pile of things worth traveling across the country with me and selling, donating, burning, or throwing away the rest. Tomorrow, myself, Drew, and two gorgeous pups begin our journey to a new life on the golden coast.
Finally. Time to go…
Last Saturday, myself (Jon Acosta), Barry Gray (director), and Anastasia Simakova (production assistant) set out to Gold Room in Atlanta, GA to shoot our talent, Brittany Susko, for the 3rd night of production in an upcoming original web series entitled, “My Nights”.
Originally, this project began as an idea for a travel series to multiple cities in the U.S, following the crazy evenings experienced between myself, Barry Gray, and Kamran Habashi. However, the show quickly evolved into something more structured and scripted as Barry approached us in late June of 2011 with a different concept…
The new synopsis is quite simple: a 4-8 minute montage of an evening with a specific character. Each episode will explore a new character and once deep enough into the season, these characters will begin to overlap and a story will begin to form and reveal itself.
Our initial pilot has an interesting perspective that is toggled between 3rd and 1st person in a seamless and fun manner. And, of course, there is a twist to the end that will leave the viewer having to watch at least two more times to understand exactly what went down.
“My Nights” (pilot) will launch in the coming month as we only have one more night of production. As executive producer of the show, I can tell you that we already have big plans for the series as well as a list of potential sponsors that we’ll be shopping.
“MyNights” - Original Series Pilot Credentials
Writer / Director: Barry Gray
Executive Producer: Jonathan Acosta
Producers: Barry Gray, Kamran Habashi
Casting Director: Myles Grier
Sound Design: Drew Gibadlo
Production Assistance: Anastasia Simakova
Talent: Brittany Susko, Chrissy Chambers
“MyNights (series pilot)”:
STATUS - filming
Writer / Director: Barry Gray
Executive Producer: Jonathan Acosta
Producers: Barry Gray, Kamran Habashi
Casting Director: Myles Grier
Sound Design: Drew Gibadlo
Talent: Brittany Susko, Chrissy Chambers
“THE FAREWELL DRUNKUMENTARY”
STATUS - post production
Director: Jonathan Acosta
Executive Producers: Jonathan Acosta, Drew Gibadlo
Talent: Jonathan Acosta, Drew Gibadlo, Barry Gray, Kamran Habashi, Kate Gervais, William McCanless, Taryn Shumaker, Lauryn Moore, Nick Smith, Bryan Acosta, Amanda McGee, and more…
“BANANAS AND PORN: THE HOYT CHRONICLES - REUNION EPISODE (ep 7)”:
STATUS - pre-production
Writer / Director: Jonathan Acosta
Executive Producers: Jonathan Acosta, Michael Hoyt
Producer: Ian Draper
Sound Design: Drew Gibadlo
Talent: Michael Hoyt, Dane Alves, Ian Draper, Jonathan Acosta, Brent Smith, Chelsea Edens, Amanda McGee, and more…
Over the past few months, I’ve been developing an animation concept to use as an intro for all of my upcoming productions. The idea was originally to create a company avatar/mascot, kind of like Pixar’s lamp character, Luxo.
Combining all of the letters from our current logo, I developed a camera looking icon and am now in the 3D animation phases to develop this intro.
We took this sketch and developed a 3D model of the unnamed avatar in Maya:
as well as a 3D rendition of our original Acosta Productions (AP) logo…
And at this point, we’re in the storyboarding process.
Here’s a quick look of what’s in the works:
I’ll keep you posted on the final outcome and look out for the new avatar intro in all upcoming productions in 2012!
I can’t even believe it’s already Thanksgiving 2011. Where did this year go!?
There’s definitely no complaints here. It’s been a hell of a rollercoaster ride of emotions, financial decisions, and business transitions that have truly helped me grow as an individual throughout this year. Add in the fact that I’ve traveled more than 16,000 miles in less than 9 months, met more new intriguing people than I ever thought existed, and jumped out of a perfectly good airplane… I’d say 2011 is one of those years in my life that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Our production schedule for this week has been changed recently. We were originally set to shoot an upcoming original series pilot, directed by our very own, Barry Gray, however, this weekend’s production has left us a bit in the weeds with the amount of post and short deadline of a few days to churn out 2 TV commercials before Turkey Day.
I will say that the working-title for this piece is called “MyNights”. This show will be a mini episodic visually appealing treat that’s fun, sexy, and clever. Production notes will be up once we reschedule and begin shooting within the next two weeks.
Aside from that, tomorrow i’ll be posting a behind the scenes video of a few clips we captured on set this weekend on our commercial shoot using our golden Canon 7D.
catching up on my lack of tumblr postings, let’s just rewind and start with the last thing that’s been pivotal in this industry of digital awesome… for those of you who aren’t video editors, let me just bring you up to speed on why there’s been one hell of a crazy shift in the realm of post-production:
back in june of this year (2011), Apple released what was “supposed to be” their idea of a progressively new editing suite update which they named “Final Cut X”! this was a follow-up to their earlier editing software that they had been successfully updating for the last decade. without getting into too much detail and bore you, i’ll just cut to the chase and tell you that Apple’s new idea of “editing” became the most controversial piece of software that this industry has seen since the creation of non-linear (aka-digital) editing.
the backlash was incredible, and even i couldn’t believe what had been done. as a former Apple employee for three years, religious user of Final Cut Studio for the last 6 years, and TEACHING the software to their customers… i was absolutely appalled by the shift to this new “magnetic timeline” situation.
now, don’t get me wrong… Apple sees 5 years ahead of all of us and may have a damn good reason for doing what they’ve done… most notably for the sake of iOS integration in the near future (think moving information like in the movie “Minority Report”), but JESUS MAN! give us a little freakin’ heads up, will ya? instead of surprising the editing community into a rock-hard post production stiffy, this new release caused the biggest shit show Apple’s seen in quit some time.
ANYWAY! with all of that being said, i just wanted to share why Acosta Productions is now going the Adobe Creative Suite route instead of Final Cut X… it’s just not there yet. it’s not ready. it’s too soon.
there. i said it. whew…
what helped our decision of going with Adobe vs. the other editing tycoons (Avid’s Media Composer or Autodesk’s Smoke) is the mere fact that Adobe just does it right. after spending a fantastic evening at the Atlanta Cutters Meeting last month, hosted at Turner Studios by my very own former mentor, Mr. Walter Biscardi, we were presented with reps from each company… all whom had great presentations to show us that life DOES exist after Final Cut Pro and why their software was the proverbial “jam”.
Avid’s Media Composer had a pretty sweet “script to timeline” feature that i had heard about for a few years now but never saw a demo until the Atlanta Cutters meeting. Autodesk’s Smoke was an app that my team at POINT.CLICK.SHOOT and myself were exploring back in October at 3D World, held in NYC, since they had the best stereoscopic (3D video) solution. only downside is that it’s a $15,000 piece of software. that’s a lot of money to spend on cutting 2D video…
then there was Adobe’s Creative Suite. the ease and seamlessness of its roundtripping from premiere to after effects gave me a metaphorical hard-on, mostly due to the fact that in a previous project that I directed and edited for up-and-coming pop group, The Coedz and their music video, Runway, i could have saved myself about 40 hours of work (and sanity) by the ease that Adobe offers going back and forth into AE.
at the end of the day, it’s not about the tools but rather, the editor, that can make magic out of said project… the software just makes it a faster (or slower) process. trust me, i’ve done far more with much less. the point of this entry is to enlighten those who are just now taking the plunge into editing or are having a hard time deciding which post suite to work with now that FCP is in an awkward coma. in my own opinion, the Adobe Creative Suite is where it’s at. try it out yourself for free and tell me i’m wrong…
Adobe CS 5.5 free 30 day trial.
p.s. no, that’s not a plug for Adobe (although i wish it were…they should be paying me for my preaching!).
no, i don’t work for Adobe.
but yes, i do love their products and want to make sure everyone knows it.
-j. acosta
Released yesterday, my new music video (also co-directed by the brilliant Kevin Terrell) hit the youtube wifi-waves:
we shot this production in 1 day! still in post with The Coedz’ “Runway” single and a stifling deadline, it was rather hard to balance both videos out, but i survived and managed to keep
on March 27th & 30th, i teamed up with creative genius, Kevin Terrell, to co-direct and produce a music video for three ridiculously talented girls that go by the name of The Coedz. they insisted that we work together to create some sort of a spectacular fantasy world for their upcoming single, “Runway”, which is a track that talks about
