My First Documentary

Can a father really tell his son the truth about his past? I bet a lot of you ask that question, but this is something that had bothered me for years. When I was seventeen I started looking into my father's history. Something I didn't know, but desired to. I start documenting things about his life. He was resistant as well as most of my family to talk about it. This only made me more persistent however.

For five years up until I was twenty one I finally finished the documentary. However what was so interesting about this project was that the direction of it completely changed. Not because of the shoot or editing, but in me. I never thought I would be a part of this film, but I was sucked in during the making of it. I couldn't believe the effect my father's story was having on me. By the end of it all, I was a changed person or should I say a healed person.

The project went on to have a small run with two showings for the Filmmaker's Symposium in two AMC theaters in New Jersey. It later went on to raise thirteen thousand dollars for Food Bank and raved about by filmmaker's such as Raymond De Felitta, director of "City Island" & David Gordon Green, director of "All the Real Girls" & "Pineapple Express."

The funny thing is I never intended on the film getting to where it is. It was a student project for my junior year at School of Visual Arts and just took on a journey of it's own, healing many along its way.

For a limited time, the film is on Culture Unplugged, an online film festival through out the world.
Click HERE to view.

A Music Video with Michale Graves

Sometimes I find myself flicking through my iPhone and land upon the Misfits on my playlist. Trying to relive the fun memories ten years ago when I was fourteen and pissed off for no reason what so ever, but I guess it was the cool thing to do back then, ha!

I've always liked punk and the energy and vibe it gave off. I guess I mostly picked up the liking from my mother oddly. She was into the alternative sound since the late 70s in her rebellious teenage years.

Anyway that's beside the point, because I recently made a music video with my friend and fellow director Craig Singer with once the Misfit front man of the 90s and early 2000s, Michale Graves. It was a cover of Blind Melon's "No Rain."

The interesting thing about this video was the fact that we didn't have a shotlist or general idea of how we wanted to shoot it. The only thing I knew was Craig wanted to shoot in Seaside Heights and Asbury Park, both in New Jersey. We just took my Panasonic AF-100 with Nikon glass and shot any thing with Michale that seemed prospectively awesome to us. It was the middle of winter and no one was on either boardwalk. It was perfect for the song. I would say the best part about this experience was working with Michale, and seeing how he got his skull make up on just right!

Take a look and enjoy. Click HERE to video.

MAY 2012 Photography

Have been taking more band photos of my brother, but also starting to embark on photo essays of people who have impacted my life by some shape or form. Take a look! And remember, its all shot on FILM!!!

T-shirts for SALE!!

So I mentioned it a while ago, but I am currently back to one of the many art forms that I love, which is SILKSCREENING!!

I have been designing some and making prototypes for different shirts already. I have decided to fuse with my brother Quincy and his company Lifted Enterprises. Quincy has already made shirts and clothing that goes along with his music career. I thought it was quite brilliant that he would combined the style and culture of his music with a clothing line of his own.

So I decided to do the same thing, but this time make it a little edgier. Taking that rock & roll persona to a different level.

More designs are underway, but for now take a look at what has been created so far.

They are for sale. $10 a shirt! If there is a type of style you are looking for I can order it and make it for you.

Over all the cool thing about this is every where my brother and I go with it on, someone stops interested by it! Asking, "Where did you get that shirt?!"