Somerville Night Live

Doing my Lorne Michael impression. Red Sox cap maybe not the best choice.

I produced and directed my first show for SCATV Ch.3 in Somerville last night. It was a live hour with some very talented cast members (and crew!). It was a SNL-ish mixture of skits, short films and news updates with a strong local Somerville slant and a seasonal holiday flavor.

It was precarious, as live events often are: Key actors stuck in traffic, crucial video files exporting with only minutes to spare, balky studio equipment and twenty odd cast and crew rushing around mustering costumes, props and script changes. Invigorating to say the least!

I didn't sleep for two days prior as more than half the show content was created in the final 24hrs. In fact 90% of the skits & films were written, and in the case of the short films (excepting Father Pike) were shot and edited, in the space of three days. Rehearsal? HA! We laugh at you and your "rehearsals."

Art Hennessey and Amanda Good Hennessey did the lions share of fleshing out our concepts into workable scripts. Not to mention managing the actor chaos backstage with admirable aplomb.

I was also really happy create some "Lord Somerville" short films out of Art's essays. Lord Somerville is an enigmatic top-hatted anachronism who strolls around observing the Somerville scene. Look for them to pop up online separately, too. Hopefully, we can do more of these!

Jason Reulet, of Oblique Sector fame, came up with a great musical theme for our "Eye on SCATv" news breaks.

Erik Rodenhiser took a break from his North Shore theater endeavors to break out his "Andre" character to host a few segments. Although, I cringe at the thought of seeing Andre do any more yoga. One downward facing dog was enough.

Some other talented performers brought their lightly scripted/improv A-game, including Sheryl Faye, Floyd Richardson, James Saguinetti, plus relative newcomer Sunil Dikshit.

The show will be re-broadcast in Somerville a few more times before moving on to Cambridge (CCTV) and then the Boston Neighborhood Network (BNN). Eventually, it will hit the web and I'll post the link.

I look forward to doing this again, only with a little less hectic creative process next time.

Lord Somerville scans the scene for the subject of another essay.

Kickstarter Success! The Oblique Sector movie festival tour gets fully funded. And Red Rocks Film Market news.

A huge "Thank You" to everyone who contributed to our Oblique Sector Kickstarter campaign and put us over the top!

I shot and edited a short appeal video this summer and we had no idea if we would find enough backers to raise the funds necessary to keep submitting the film to festivals, a surprisingly costly part of the independent filmmaking process. You can see our video below:

We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the kind folks who pitched in and gave us over $3000 (so far)! We're thrilled to keep The Oblique Sector out there on its festival run.

And if you'd like to help you can still get on board train and grab a DVD or other cool awards by donating before midnight tomorrow. We are very grateful!

In other news, we are pleased to report that The Oblique Sector is available at the Red Rocks Film Market in Utah, this weekend.

The Oblique Sector Playing in Two Film Festivals This Weekend

We are proud to announce that we have been accepted to two new festivals.

Both are happening this weekend and if you have some Frequent Flyer miles to burn you could see our film twice!

The Oblique Sector is now an Official Selection of:

Atlanta Underground Film Festival

and the

Pawtucket Film Festival

Here are the details:

Atlanta Underground Film Festival

Saturday, Sept 24th - 11:30pm - COMEDY SHORTS II program

The Goat Farm Arts Center - Goodson Yard 1200 Foster Street NW, Atlanta

For details on tickets and directions: www.auff.org

If you've got any friends in Atlanta, please feel free to spread the word!

Pawtucket Film Festival, RI

Sunday, Sept 25th - at 3:30pm

Blackstone Valley Visitor Center

175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI

For details: www.thepff.com

We will attend the Pawtucket screening. Please let us know if you will be there, too!

FOLLOW US:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/obliquesector

Facebook: http://facebook/obliquesectormovie

www.obliquesector.com - for updates and trailer of our film

As always, thanks for your support!

Albion Park Productions heading to Nantucket with "The Oblique Sector" for the 2011 Nantucket Film Festival

I'm looking forward to getting on the ferry in Hyannis tomorrow for the ride across the sound to Nantucket where our little film, The Oblique Sector, is having it's world premier at the 2011 Nantucket Film Festival!

Sadly, (or not!) both screenings are sold out, but rush tickets are usually reserved for the day of, so if you're on the island, you've still got a shot to get in. We are screening on Thursday and Saturday.

Follow the Albion Park Productions team on twitter for the latest:

Official film twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/obliquesector

Producer/Cinematographer, Brad Kelly (me): https://twitter.com/#!/bradkellyfilms

Director/Lead Actor, Jason Reulet: https://twitter.com/#!/jasonreulet

Writer/Producer, Art Hennessey: https://twitter.com/#!/ArtHennessey

Writer/Lead Actor, Amanda Good Hennessey: https://twitter.com/#!/Amandagh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obliquesectormovie

We're looking forward to meeting others in the filmmaking community as well as enjoying the festival and seeing as many other films as we can. Not to mention, enjoying the impossibly quaint surroundings of the former 18th century whaling capitol that is Nantucket.

We'll also be rubbing shoulders with other festival participants such as Ben Stiller, Jerry Seinfeld, Vera Farmiga, Seth Meyers, and special 2011 NFF honoree, Academy award winning screenwriter Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby). Good company!

See you on the island!

My Judgment Day May 21 Billboard Photo On Slate.com

My "Judgement Day May 21 Billboard Over Budget Copy in Cambridge, MA" photo makes the Slate.com website.

Slate calls it "clearly photoshopped." It isn't, but it is post-processed (with the Camera+ iPhone app) heightening the contrast on the clouds. It's a cellphone photo, so it obviously won't stand for much post-processing, but those clouds were really there. That's pretty much been our weather around here for as long as I can remember. It's photo #2 in the slideshow. I'm also credited with the next image, too, but I've never been to Lebanon, so obviously that's a mistake.

I guess we'll find out this weekend if Mr. Camping's math and biblical scholarship skills have improved any since 1994.

"Thumbosis" Our 48 Hour Mockumentary Now Available Online

Is today's younger generation all thumbs?

A short mockumetary.

"Best of Boston" winner at the 2011 48 Go Green Film Competition. It was a Top 16 Finalist and screened at NAB on April 13, 2011 in Las Vegas.

I blogged about this earlier.

"Thumbosis"

A mockumentary with the assigned theme of "Save the Next Generation."

Required character: Morgana Johnson, Ph.D.

Assigned prop: keys

Required line of dialogue: "When does she arrive?"

Thumbosis Extremis is what happens to young people who, perhaps already debilitated by Nature Deficit Disorder, overindulge in typing, texting and endless video game playing, rendering the digits of their fingers virtually useless from overuse.

You can also watch the film on 48 Go Green's official site: http://www.48gogreen.com/video/742/thumbosis

www.48gogreen.com/

Our comedy short "The Oblique Sector" an Official Selection in the 2011 Nantucket Film Festival

Albion Park Productions (a new production company that I started last year with some very talented and creative collaborators) is pleased to announce that our very first project, a short romantic comedy by way of the Twilight Zone called, "The Oblique Sector," is now an Official Selection at the 2011 Nantucket Film Festival!

"Those dating sites never worked out for me."

We've set up a website for the short and you can check out the credits, trailer, and other news as it makes the festival circuit:

http://www.obliquesector.com/

Check the updates as there are several local screenings to be announced shortly.

Preview: Here's a peak inside the world we like to call, The Oblique Sector!

The Trailer

I had a great time creating this along with some very talented folks, including Director Jason Reulet, who pulled double duty as the Oblique Narrator, himself!

Amanda Hennessey not only co-wrote and produced, she turned in a great performance as our heroine.

My thanks as well to video-maven Sam Sacks, who broke in his new Canon HDSLR so we could shoot two camera coverage to get the restaurant scene finished in the limited time we had before the real diners came pouring in to Chianti in Beverly, MA.

We've got many good things brewing and I'm looking forward to our continuing collaboration!

Chemistry is filled with complicated equations, and romantic chemistry is no different.

Like us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obliquesectormovie

Or follow us on twitter, if your prefer: http://twitter.com/#!/obliquesector

P.S.-Nantucket Film Festival...that's a great logo you have there.

"Thumbosis" Wins Best of Boston, Screens at NAB Show.

Over the last several years I've participated in a good number of 48 Hour Film competitions, usually with team Playomatic (and my frequent collaborator Steve Stuart) here in Boston (and in Providence, RI) and while we've won our share of awards, we've never won the the Big Kahuna--the "Best of Boston" designation awarded by the panel of film critic judges to the overall top film...Until now!

Video Drone

Our short mockumentary, "Thumbosis," was declared "Best of Boston" following the 48 Go Green Premier Screening on February 24th, 2011 at Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge, MA.

"Thumbosis"

A mockumentary with the assigned theme of "Save the Next Generation."

Required character: Morgana Johnson, Ph.D.

Assigned prop: keychain.

Required line of dialogue: "When does she arrive?"

The Heartbreak of Thumbosis

Taking a cue from Nature Deficit Disorder, a somewhat real, if controversial behavioral disorder postulated by Richard Louv in his 2005 book, "Last Child in the Woods:"

The young are the most vulnerable.

Our film spins a mockumentary around our own made-up disorder, Thumbosis Extremis.

Thumbosis Extremis is what happens to young people who, perhaps already debilitated by NDD, overindulge in typing, texting and endless video game playing, rendering the digits of their fingers nearly useless from overuse.

We trot out our expert (and required character) Morgana Johnson, Ph.D. to explain and illuminate the condition, as well as present treatment options, some more effective than others.

As with all our past films, I was cinematographer (as well as co-producer, co-writer and Box-O'-Joe schlepper) for Thumbosis. Filmed entirely on Cape Cod, I'm pretty proud of what we accomplished in only 48 hours with a tiny crew, from concept to finished film.

Is there hope on the horizon for Thumbosis sufferers?

Thumbosis was shot entirely with a Panasonic HVX200, usually utilizing a Brevis 35mm adapter and a selection of SLR lenses. My 24mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4 and 105mm 2.8 Nikon primes were the most useful on this shoot and account for 90% of all shots.

Only the "nature" shots were done without the Brevis and I took advantage of the 60fps capabilities of the HVX (which, on a 24fps timeline, makes for some very pleasant slow-mo) and it's excellent standard 13x Leica lens. The HVX has been around a good five years, but it's still a highly competent workhorse capable of very cinematic HD video.

Compared to the HDSLR's all the rage today, this baby still rocks on a professional level, particularly with the form factor and high quality audio acquisition (balanced XLR's and phantom power, etc.).

Panasonic's own AF100 and Sony's F3 are starting to merge the best of both worlds; the gorgeous depth of field and interchangeable lenses of the DSLRs along with the high quality audio/video connections and rock solid build and workflow that professionals crave. I'm looking forward to maybe retiring the Brevis adapter with my next camera.

Devastated about the RED Scarlet. Pondering her next HD camera purchase. Should she go 4K?

The 2011 48 Go Green Film Competition is an offshoot of the 48 Hour Film Project. As "Best of Boston" winner, Thumbosis went on to compete against other winning films from around the globe and was a Top 16 Finalist.

As one of the Top 16, "Thumbosis" also screens today, April 13th, 2011, at NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters Show) in Las Vegas as part of the "Best of the 48 Go Green" session.

A Thumbosis slideshow:

I'd love to be at NAB this year, but I can't fly for a while due to recent surgery on a ruptured achilles tendon (Ugh!). Ironically, fear of deep vein thrombosis prevents me from seeing "Thumbosis." You can't make this stuff up...

All stills are frames from Thumbosis. Cinematography by Brad Kelly. ©2011

Super Moon Over Boston

The moon passed within 221,567 miles of the earth on March 19th. That's closer than it's been in over 18 yrs. Known as the Perigee Moon when the moon is closest to earth in its orbit, this moon has been dubbed the Super Moon, as perigee also coincided with the full moon. The resulting lunar spectacle was 14% larger and 20% brighter than when at lunar apogee.

NASA has a more complete explanation and video online.

With clear weather forecast I decided to try and get a photo of this once-in-a-blue-moon phenomenon. Not owning any super-telephoto lenses I had to improvise.

My 80-200mm zoom wouldn't really cut it as 221 thousand miles is a long way away. Combining my 2x teleconverter and the 1.5 crop factor of the Nikon D300 yielded an effective 600mm focal length.

The moon is surprisingly bright in the night sky and as it rises higher above the horizon it increases in brightness. I was able to get proper exposure at f5.6 with a shutter speed of 1/200th sec.

A sturdy tripod and some further cropping in post produced the view of the moon above. The incredibly beautiful orb that orbits our terrestrial home.

"Inexhaustibly For Anya," People's Choice Award winner screens again tonight

Thursday, February 17

Marblehead Little Theatre, 12 School Street

Doors open at 7:00 PM, Screening begins at 7:30 PM

Running time: About 90 minutes

Free admission

"Inexhaustibly For Anya," a short doc I shot and produced for the International Documentary Challenge, in one long weekend with Steve Stuart last year, is screening tonight with other shorts at the Winter Film Festival in Marblehead.

Our short won the "People's Choice Award" for best film at the Marblehead Festival of Arts last summer at its premier.

The film tells the story of Marblehead's own Keri Cahill, founder of the Rebel Shakespeare Company and her heartfelt determination to bring Anya, the sister of her adopted Russian daughter, to the United States.

You can follow Keri's continuing quest on her blog, "Creating My Own Little Nirvana."

My Meteor

Sometimes being late and carrying your camera with you everywhere pays off.

On January 29th I walked to Harvard Square to catch a movie at the Brattle Theatre. I brought my camera and tripod figuring to get some snowy nighttime Harvard Square shots after the film.

Well, I underestimated the snow drifts and consequently, the time it would take to get there. I arrived late for the movie. Irritated with myself, I started my solo photo walk earlier than planned.

And then this happened:

Time to make a big wish, I guess.

I posted a little more here on Flickr.