This past week, Rosey Media was pleased to participate in the creation of not one, but two sketches for the Saturday Feb 27th episode of Saturday Night Live! Check out "Undercover Celebrity Boss," directed by John Solomon, with John Rosenblatt serving as Director of Photography:
And "Flags Of The World," directed by Johnathan Krisel, with Rosey Media DP John Belinski.
As always, thanks to SNL for having us along!
Upon precious few occasions in a lifetime, a man gets an unintended brush with greatness. On a day like any other, a dream is suddenly realized, a destiny fulfilled, an existence validated. On Friday, January 15th, 2010, Rosey Media shooter/camera tech/ interweb geek and all around great guy Don Downie had just such an experience.
The Rosey Media crew was into the second day of shooting "Laser Cats 5" . . .which goes a little somethin' like this:
As gigs go, Don had actually gotten the short end of the stick on this one. Thursday, during the first night of shooting, John Rosenblatt, Sound Guru Dan Walter, and Brian Townes had filmed sequences with the one and only director James Cameron and Saturday Night Live EP Lorne Michaels for the week's Short. Come Friday morning, however, the producing and directing deities had left the building, the crew had flipped, and Don had been called in for a 7:30am start with "Soundman Rich" Ahlert and the rest of the SNL gang.
Don spent the day providing AC and technical support to Digital Short Director Johnathan Krisel. Any day spent working with Sigourney Weaver is kind of red letter- but the shoot became truly memorable when, in a pivotal moment, Don took up the camera himself to effectively and yet tenderly shoot. . . Sigourney blowing chunks on Bill Hader.
Remember the first time you saw Alien? Aliens? That Prison Planet One??!? The one where Winona Ryder played a really lame android??!!?
Sigourney. Blowing chunks. Like in Alien. And Don got to shoot it.
If you don't get it- well, you probably had some kind of social life in high school. We thought it was pretty cool,though.
From Thursday night into the wee hours of Friday morning, January 7th-8th, Rosey Media helped SNL kick off the Spring 2010 half of their 35th season by shooting the latest installment of the ever-popular MacGruber series.
The three skits were directed by Jorma Taccone, with the creative help of John Solomon. John Rosenblatt acted as Director of Photography. Spearheading the crew were camera aces John Belinski and Don Downie, as well as audio savant Dan Walter. DP Aaron Phillips was also on hand to lend his support and usher in this latest incarnation of the increasingly complex social enigma that is. . .MacGruber.
Check it out:
We at Rosey Media are never adverse to an all-nighter, and we look forward to seeing the newly racially-sensitive MacGruber on a slightly larger screen later this year.
In order to wish you a very blessed and special holiday season, we decided to make a touching and inspirational Christmas video.
Then we thought. . .who are we kidding?
And we made this instead. . .
Rosey Media's Holiday Video for 2009 from John Rosenblatt on Vimeo.
Finally, while you dwell on the meaning of this holy season, we'd like to remind you that, while both Christmas and Channukah start with "Ch," you only pronounce the "C" in one, and the "H" in the other.
Think about it.
All the best to you and yours in 2010!
Back on September 29th, 2009, Rosey Media took a road trip to the quaint little hamlet of Wilkes-Barre, PA, to produce a live concert film and recording session for Hollywood Records multi-platinum recording artist Breaking Benjamin. The band played an acoustic show to an invited crowd of approximately 200 at the River Street Jazz Cafe. Rosey Media audio recording engineer Greg Tobler recorded and mixed the entire set, while DP John Rosenblatt and shooters Justin Newman, Evan Kay, and Scott Herriott nimbly negotiated the packed house and filmed the band's performance. The camera department's efforts were enhanced by Rafael Vallejo's lighting, which visually captured the intimate and surprisingly warm mood of the hard rocking band's homecoming show.
The fruits of Rosey Media's labors have just been released by Hollywood Records, and can currently be seen on Havoc.tv. There is also talk of an official album release of the session.
Grit your teeth, raise your lighter, and enjoy:
On Thursday and Friday, November 19th and 20th, Rosey Media supported SNL and the Lonely Island in shooting the SNL Digital Short "Two Worlds Collide ft. Reba McIntyre."
Though Ms. McIntyre was not on set in person, her spirit was certainly captured by SNL cast member Kenan Thompson. He and Andy Samberg co-starred in the video for a slammin' track "The Dudes" laid down about the lovestruck Samberg and a wily, wigged Thompson. . . slammin'.
Sound tricky? It is:
The Short was directed by Akiva Schaffer, once again teaming with Director of Photography Aaron Phillips. To achieve true hip-hop grandeur, Schaffer and Phillips opted to shoot on the Red One camera. Rosey Media reunited Red Cam aces Jason Vandermer and Nate Slevin, backing this busy duo with additional AC services from Gordon Arkenberg. George "Steadi G" Bianchini provided steadicam work, as well as a layered and nuanced thesis (delivered sometime around hour 9 on the second day of the shoot) on how "Two Worlds Collide" shrewdly captures the contemporary American adult's potential to perpetuate illusions and denial in order to preserve relationships. Over-thinking it? Maybe, but he's a deep guy. . . and he's got a point. You can't judge a book by its dirty red wig. Or something like that.
At any rate, Rosey Media is, as always, glad to have been of service. We're also glad that as of the end of the Saturday November 21st episode of SNL, we're no longer the only ones walking around singing "Hanging like my nuts!" under our breaths. Made for a couple of awkward moments, that did.
Anyone who is familiar with the Lonely Island's homemade video origins has to acknowledge they've come a long way. While the genius was always there, the production value and look of their work continually improves, thanks to a hand from Saturday Night Live and, a dash of Rosey Media and friends. With epic hits like 'Dick in a Box',"Iran so Far,""On A Boat," and "MotherLover" under their belts, one might even wonder if "The Dudes" have lost touch with their backyard video roots. The last two Digital Shorts, however, have proven that Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, and Jorma Taccone can still play- and deliver the funny- in any format.
Thursday and Friday, November the 5th and 6th, the Lonely Island were in full-on filmmaking form. Over a nearly continuous two-day shoot, the guys turned out "Firelight," a spoof on the popular teen-sexy vampire book/movie series "Twilight." Not satisfied to simply toss out a parody, director Akiva Schaffer and director of photography Aaron Phillips insisted on recreating the upcoming film's trailer shot by shot. "Firelight" stars the wonderfully charming and talented Taylor Swift, as well as SNL cast members Bill Hader,Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson and Andy Samberg. Also appearing are SNL featured players BobbyMoynihan, Abby Elliott, Nasir Pedrad and Jenny Slate. The result:
To match the trailer's dynamic, cinematic look, the piece was shot entirely on the Red One camera. Rosey Media assembled a stalwart Red crew to deliver movie magic at a TV pace, shooting everywhere from 30 Rock to the gloomy, gothic woods of the Van Cortland Park golf course in the Bronx (which is lovely- really!) Thanks to AC Jason Vandermer and Red Tech Nate Slevin for making this state-of-the-art camera sing, Dolly crew Stian Nilsen and Brad for providing the muscle in a graceful way, Sergei Franklin for the Steadicam stylings, sound wizard Dan Walter for the ear candy, and Brian Townes for keeping it all moving. Thanks also to Dina Moles, Rachael Lynn, and Kim Smelter.
Just when you'd think they'd gone all Hollywood, the following week found the Digital Short team back to their run n' gun roots. Director Akiva Schaffer, cast members Andy Samberg and Fred Armisen, director of photography John Rosenblatt, and a rested-up Dan Walter and Brian Townes were joined by our favorite prop goddess Jeannine Jones. This crew, once again under the watchful eyes and helpful hands of Dina, Rachael, and Kim ran a late-night sprint around 30 Rock, and into the apartment of a couple of only slightly suspecting acquaintances off of Madison Ave. Again, funny was made, but this time with a very mobile camera, streamlined sound gear and. . . a can.
Dig:
Once again, the Lonely Island proves that, large or small scale, they can still bring it. And we at Rosey Media are proud to be a part of what's been broughten.
