Talent By The Dozen
Great commercials are designed to capture and hold our attention with powerful imagery. The cinematographer plays a vital role, producing compelling and memorable images that can convey emotion and a message. Today’s leading commercial DPs have mastered the visual language of cinematography and produce successful work with a combination of talent, skill, creativity and passion. With this in mind, SHOOT set out to help identify and cultivate the next generation of leading cinematographers.
With its annual New Directors’ Showcase firmly established, SHOOT launched its first New Cinematographers’ Showcase this year to identify and showcase up-and-coming talent. The search began in early fall for cinematographers who have been shooting for fewer than three years and lensing commercials for fewer than two. Qualified participants were invited to submit their work for consideration. Submissions arrived from inspired individuals with a variety of backgrounds; some were students, others working professionals or photography enthusiasts.
In its freshman year, SHOOT has selected a dozen aspiring DPs for its 2006 New Cinematographers’ Showcase. The list includes Nelson Cragg, Max Goldman, Paul Good, Adam David Meltzer, Blake McClure, Bryan Newman, Michael Pescasio, Matthew Santo, Jonathan Sela, Jas Shelton, Noah David Smith and Mark Zibert. SHOOT applauds these artisans.
The entries reflect the changing times, as several of these cinematographers have already experimented with new digital cinematography cameras, and some reveal that with new means of distribution and changing viewing habits, the advertising business is going through a significant transformation.
When asked for some perspective, Richard Crudo, past president of the American Society of Cinematographers, says, “We have to be certain that working methods and disciplines endemic to shooting film are not lost in the transition to shooting digital. It’s important for the present generation to imprint the value of this on the upcoming generation, whose responsibility it [will be] to carry it on.”
Submissions consideration in SHOOT’s New Cinematographers’ Showcase included commercials, spec spots, cinema ads, branded content, music videos and features. SHOOT also invited aspiring cinematographers to enter alternate media fare including Webisodes, online spots, mobile content, in-game advertising and virals.
Picture perfect work
Highly prominent in the mix of selections this year were music videos, which displayed their DPs’ creativity and range. Goldman’s application included The Killers’ clip “When You Were Young,”directed by Anthony Mandler of Boxfresh, New York; and Sela was recognized on the strength of clips such as Christina Aguilera’s “Ain’t No Other Man,” directed by Bryan Barber of Santa Monica-based FM Rocks. Santo’s selections included Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity” (Warner Bros. Records) directed by Marc Webb of Hollywood-based DNA. Blake McClure also joined the ranks thanks to music videos, including Jason Aldean’s “Amarillo Sky” for Broken Bow Records, directed by Wes Edwards of Ruckus Films, Toronto. Furthermore, Smith’s collection of work included Kate Spade’s “Moving In On Sunday,” a colorful branding clip helmed by Mary Boss of Washington Square Films, New York.
Commercials of course also were prevalent in the selections. Zibert submitted “Rally Street,” a :30 for Ford GFX via Young & Rubicam, Toronto (which he also directed), and Pescasio’s reel included Ford “Police Chase,” helmed by Brent Jones for Aero Film, Santa Monica. Honoree Jas Shelton was discovered through SHOOT’s “The Best Work You May Never See” gallery for an ESPN spec spot called “Cockfight.” The work was directed by Matt Fischman. Newman’s work included an Apple/Intel spot, helmed by Josh & Xander of Santa Monica-based Tight. And Good’s submission featured a Campari spec spot that he directed and lensed. Rounding out the New Cinematographers’ Showcase reel are Cragg’s entry, a clip from the feature Special, directed by Jeremy Passmore and Hal Baberman via Rival Films; and Meltzer’s trailer for the short film titled Rose, directed by Hiku Uchiyama (which was featured at the Hollywood Film Festival). These selections may be viewed at www.shootonline.com/go/showcase.
Click here to see the New Cinematographers’ Profiles and Spots!
Google Opens Its Defense In Antitrust Case Alleging Monopoly Over Online Ad Technology
Google opened its defense against allegations that it holds an illegal monopoly on online advertising technology Friday with witness testimony saying the industry is vastly more complex and competitive than portrayed by the federal government.
"The industry has been exceptionally fluid over the last 18 years," said Scott Sheffer, a vice president for global partnerships at Google, the company's first witness at its antitrust trial in federal court in Alexandria.
The Justice Department and a coalition of states contend that Google built and maintained an illegal monopoly over the technology that facilitates the buying and selling of online ads seen by consumers.
Google counters that the government's case improperly focuses on a narrow type of online ads — essentially the rectangular ones that appear on the top and on the right-hand side of a webpage. In its opening statement, Google's lawyers said the Supreme Court has warned judges against taking action when dealing with rapidly emerging technology like what Sheffer described because of the risk of error or unintended consequences.
Google says defining the market so narrowly ignores the competition it faces from social media companies, Amazon, streaming TV providers and others who offer advertisers the means to reach online consumers.
Justice Department lawyers called witnesses to testify for two weeks before resting their case Friday afternoon, detailing the ways that automated ad exchanges conduct auctions in a matter of milliseconds to determine which ads are placed in front of which consumers and how much they cost.
The department contends the auctions are finessed in subtle ways that benefit Google to the exclusion of would-be competitors and in ways that prevent... Read More