Last call for Flanagan

A few weeks backs I was able to make it up to N.Y. to catch a play that has been lingering in my mind for years. I first saw “Woody Guthrie Dreams” back in Baltimore in 2004 when it was titled “Woody Guthrie Dreams while he sleeps”. Michael Patrick Flanagan Smith, an old friend with two of my favorite names is the relentless playwright behind this magical story of one America’s most complex American’s. I love this play. I loved it in 2004 and I’ve waited patiently for 7 years to be able to see it again. I was Thrilled when my Good friend Caleb told me he’d be joining Mikey onstage. Caleb “Acts” as though he has done this his whole life. The chemistry between Mike and Caleb onstage is nothing short of real life. It makes you wonder if they sit around discussing American politics after the show over a Crif Dog. The Play takes you on a long journey quickly through the life of Woody Guthrie. The Music tells the tales of Woody and his Comrades. The performances by the whole cast are spot on and the complexity of the story will leave you thinking about it for weeks, or years. If you have the opportunity to get to N.Y. this weekend, do it. It’s the closing weekend and I can guarantee you you’ll be entertained. Theater for the New City. Oct 1.

Here’s some of the publicity that’s been floating around with some of the photo’s I shot back in August of the cast.

Caleb and Mike also recorded and album of some of the music you’ll hear at the show so you have something to walk away with. Listen here.

2 Behind the scene’s look’s at "Neon Magazine"

photo: Brook Hall


“What Weekly” featured a Behind the Scene’s look at the Neon Magazine video this week with a bunch of new behind the scenes photo’s that I have never seen. I also stumbled upon a great Article in the Examiner from August 20th titled “Tommy Tucker is Dead.”

photo: Brook Hall

and now…Sharpshooter.


With Neon Magazine in the bag, We’ve begun plans for the next 2 videos. One will be shot over the next 9 months and the other…..Sharpshooter, will be shot this October. Bosley, Matt Riggieri and I put together this little hype video to help raise funds for the video via Kickstarter. Check out his live performance at the Ottobar here during Hurricane Irene. The energy is off the charts and this sounds is so unique these days. I can’t get enough.

“What Weekly” did a review here.

Behind the Scenes of Neon Magazine



When Bosley initially approached me about shooting the Neon Magazine video I was thrilled. I was excited to be working with such an Imaginative talent who also had a very clear idea of what he wanted. My excitement grew as he explained what he had dreamed up and it evolved into one of the most visually creative, technically challenging, and complex creations i’ve been a part of. Every detail was elaborate. Locations, sets, extravagant costumes, lots of talent, dance numbers, dolly track than ran the length of the set, light gags, topless dancers, Bentley limo’s, pink albino elephants, on-the-fly wardrobe changes, a brass band, bears in tutu’s, off speed lip syncing, time lapses and of course it all had to look like one continuous shot. We met several times just flushing out the concept and reworking the choreography to make it more production friendly. Once things started to take shape we enlisted Matt Riggieri from Digital Cave Media to sort through the mess we had made and tell us about all of the things we had forgotten. It was a great collaboration and we’re currently developing 2 more video’s.



We shot the bulk of the video in one day. It comprised of the 2 sets. We shot one before lunch and one after lunch. The two shots were later merged together on post. The only other piece was the the ending that happens before the video starts. We shot this weeks later and seamed it in with the rest of the video.



One of the most interesting parts of filming this video was jumping between the 60 Frames per second off speed lip syncing to the 1 frame every 2 sec time elapse. The 60 frame lip sync was a challenge for Bosley and I think he pulled off pretty well, only missing a beat or two throughout. It was interesting for the crew that was listening to the song at double speed and watching him lip sync at double speed. Most of us had no idea what he was saying or if he nailed the lip sync or not, but luckily Bosley knew when he hit it.

We Used a Canon 7d dslr so that we could easily switch between the 60fps 1080 hd video to stills mode for the time elapse without having to move the camera. The 7D was also light enough that we could mount a kessler cine-slider on the fisher dolly and leave it mounted to roll right into the motion control time elapses seamlessly. Here’s a few of my favorite frames from the time elapses’.




This video was made possible by the generous donations of many talented people’s time and energy. Check the last post for a full crew list
Behind the scenes still images courtesy of Clark Vandergrift

Bosley, neon magazine

Bosley Neon Magazine from Michael Patrick O'Leary on Vimeo.

Ahh, finally put the finishing touches on the Bosley video. “Neon Magazine” ended up being by far one of the most complicated things I’ve shot to date. Bosley has a huge imagination and fortunately with the help of a great, generous crew led by co-director Matt Riggieri we were able to bring his imagination to life. I just love this work. Both Technically challenging as well as super creative. Can’t wait for the follow up. YouTube link here.

Written by Bosley

Directed by Matt Riggieri and Bosley

Director of Photography- Michael Patrick O’Leary

Produced by Digital Cave Media

Ryan Gallo – Gaffer

Scott Perryman – Dolly Grip

Jason Shinsato – Key Grip

Dan Stack – Best Boy Grip

Mathew Yake – Best Boy electric

Leah Sarah Bassett – Makeup

Nick Kovacic – 1st assistant Camera

Julie Bent – Wardrobe Stylist

Kin Ellentuck – production designer

Katherine Fahey – Set painter

Kyle Reinhart – set builder

Daniel Capiro – set builder

Clark Vandergrift – production stills

Paul Kim- Production Assistant

Bryce Oakes- Production Assistant

Paul Kim – Production Assistant

Leah Sarah Bassett — Hair & Makeup

Madison Bell — Hair & Make Up

On vacation this week…

Working on our summer skin.

right here in baltimore city


It was cool to see these fitting birds living right here in baltimore city. They’re not currently exhibited, but they live in the Maryland zoo right in Druid park. Very fitting. Beautiful birds. Their color is stunning.

long necks


penguins


2 of my favorite shots from the time I spent on Rock island with these little nippers.

Lion


Earlier this year the maryland zoo contacted me about making another art donation for an upcoming fundraiser they are hosting. I was happy to help and thrilled to be able to take some more behind the scenes shots some of their animals. This was the first time I got to see the lions up close. It still lingers with me how powerful that roar is. The male lion roared loud enough that I couldn’t hear the zoo keeper standing right next to me. He wasn’t happy about my presence and made sure I knew it with his lingering harmonic growl. The female was the complete opposite. I was able to kneel inches from her and photograph her aindefinitely. She was so peaceful, just laying there staring into the lens. It was a great experience. More shots from the trip coming this week.
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