Director of Photography Reel 2016

New reel is done and up, finally. It's taken quite a while to get some of these projects released to show some clips of, and I'm still waiting on a few more [ahem, Adrian Wong-Ken and Chris Reed :)]. Looking back, last year was the busiest I've had as a freelancer since moving to Portland, ME, and I'm really excited about the projects I got to work on and the people I met and worked with. There are some really wonderful, talented folks up here in Maine, and it's been a pleasure getting to know a lot of them. 2017 has already been busy, but I can't wait to see what the second half has in store for us all.

Take a look, and if you need a Director of Photography for your next project, contact me for more info on rates and availability.

Director of Photography Reel_2015

I finally finished my reel for 2015, with all new clips from this past year. It’s a welcomed chance during the slower winter to take a step back and look at all the work done in the hectic spring/summer/fall of the previous year. It’s really helpful for me to see where I’ve grown as a technician and artist, and (more importantly) where I still need to keep honing my craft.

The biggest change I see from comparing last year to the year before, is how most of the work I did was as a Director of Photography, and not just a camera operator or assistant. I’m really proud of this growth, and am really looking forward to more DP opportunities this year, as well as learning from other talented DPs while operating/assisting. Bring it on, 2016- let’s get some great work done!

Tribeca Film Festival

Wow, what a weekend. Two films that I have had the pleasure of working on, "Requiem For The American Dream" and "Tumbledown", had their premieres at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. My wife and I went down to NYC and got to go to both of the premieres, which was a really special moment for me. I even got to get a few photos taken on the red carpet at the Requiem premiere. As the Associate Producer on Requiem, it was awesome to see it play on a big screen in front of sold-out crowd (including my wife and also one of my closest friends from growing up). It was also great to see the whole PF Pictures crew again and the directors, Peter Hutchison, Kelly Nyks and Jared P. Scott. They are an incredibly thoughtful and talented group of filmmakers and it was a real pleasure working with them on Requiem and other projects. These guys are going to shake things up and I can't wait to see what they do next.

PF Pictures crew (and family) at Requiem premiere

After the Requiem premiere, we headed over to the Tumbledown premiere, which was a whole other ballgame in terms of press and scale, due to the stars of the film, Rebecca Hall and Jason Sudeikis. I was an assistant camera/tech for some of the establishing shots/scenics that were shot in Maine for this film. The husband and wife directing/screenwriting duo of Sean Mewshaw and Desi Van Til (respectively) are wonderful people and it was a pleasure to get to work on such a great film and story. It took them years to get the film made the way they envisioned it, and to get a bit of Maine in the film (which is set in the mountains of Western Maine) was a real labor of love on their part. Seeing the finished film on screen, you don't see any of the countless hours of work and struggles to get an "indie" film made- just the great writing and directing, the powerful, funny performances of all the actors, and a beautiful film. They make it look easy. I can't wait for this film to get out to a wider audience- it really deserves it!

"Tumbledown" Q&A after the premiere.  From far right: Sean Mewshaw (director), Desi Van Til (screenwriter), Jason Sudeikis and Rebecca Hall. — "Tumbledown" Q&A after the premiere. From far right: Sean Mewshaw (director), Desi Van Til (screenwriter), Jason Sudeikis and Rebecca Hall.

After the screening we went to the premiere party and got to hang with some good friends and meet some new ones (more talented Portlanders), and got to say hello to Mike O'Brien from SNL, who's "7 Minutes In Heaven" sketches Caitlin and I are big fans of. All in all, a pretty amazing weekend.

On Set- Bridgeport CT "Better Every Day" Campaign

Broadcast spot for the city of Bridgeport, CT, part of the "Better Every Day" campaign being produced by ProjectsbyCD2. It was a fun shoot all over Bridgeport with a trusty guide from the Mayor's office giving us access to places we couldn't get to otherwise.

Credit: Second Camera

Produced by: ProjectsbyCD2

Jim Boyle Campaign Ad

This was another Maine State Senator campaign ad I DP'd this Fall for Projects by CD2, this time for Jim Boyle. 3 interviews with supporters and some supporting b-roll, all outdoors which made for simpler setups on a beautiful fall day.

DP: Theron Powell

Produced and Edited: projectsbycd2.com

Theriault Campaign Ad

This was a really fun spot to DP, way up in Allagash, Maine (as far north as you can go, ~5 hours driving north of Portland). Louis is the main character in the spot, whom we spent the day with watching him at work cutting wood. He's been a lumberjack for over 60 years. I feel like he should be in every LL Bean ad. I got to put my Red Epic's slo-mo to good use on this shoot and I'm glad everything turned out as nice as it looked in camera.

DP: Theron Powell
Produced and Edited by: projectsbycd2.com

Interview setup inside Louis' work shop.

On Set-"Ready for Hillary" in Iowa

One of the highlights of my summer work-wise was getting to film for the "Ready For Hillary" PAC in Iowa a few weeks ago for the guys at Chi/Donahoe + Cole/Duffey.

The shoot was a whirlwind, coming on the heels of being on a different shoot in NYC the full week previous, I wrapped that shoot at 2pm Friday, taxied to LaGuardia and hopped on a 4pm flight to Des Moines, cutting it pretty close. Didn't get to the hotel till after midnight, then out the door Saturday morning for a full day of shooting/prep for the main event on Sunday.

The reason for all the hubbub.  Hillary speaking at the (last) annual Harkin Steak Fry outside Des Moines, Iowa. — The reason for all the hubbub. Hillary speaking at the (last) annual Harkin Steak Fry outside Des Moines, Iowa.

The video was for Ready For Hillary, a PAC that has been traveling around the country in conjunction with Hillary's recent book tour, drumming up support for a "possible" run in 2016. We followed the bus around Des Moines for a bit Saturday, getting some beauty shots of the tour in motion.

Jim and I framing our shot of the tour bus driving near the capital building in Des Moines.

The main event was Senator Harkin's annual Steak Fry, which he's been doing for the last 30+ years. This was the last as he is stepping down. There was a crowd of over 10,000 people that showed up Sunday in a farm field, a lot of them there to see Hillary and Bill speak (and many hoping, in vain, for a special announcement from Hillary). Over 300 press were also there (CNN, C-SPAN, MSNBC, etc). It was quite a zoo.

Later on at the Steak Fry, on top of the bus getting a few crowd shots.  I was happy to see they made it into the final cut. — Later on at the Steak Fry, on top of the bus getting a few crowd shots. I was happy to see they made it into the final cut.

Getting ready for one of many quick interviews for the video with some of the people attending.

From the staff photographer (and also Producer-extraordinaire), Aaron.  Lots of Hillary fans lining up to get in. — From the staff photographer (and also Producer-extraordinaire), Aaron. Lots of Hillary fans lining up to get in.

The whole "Steak Fry" thing was a little confusing- no steaks were fried. I guess that's just how Iowans say "cookout." The real media-frenzy moment came when Hillary and Bill arrived and went to the main grill to "fry" some steaks. It was quite a spectacle. 300+ media people cramming around an L-shaped fence, all jockeying for a shot of the Clintons at the grill. Once there, they just poked at the meat for 10 seconds and then held it up on two spatulas for the media to get their shots, then walked off to the stage. Such a coordinated, complicit publicity stunt, which is par for the course, I'm sure, but seemed pretty silly at the time.

Jim getting his shot.  The camera man to his right fell off his stool just after this was taken, to which none of the other media offered to help.  Bunch of cut-throats. — Jim getting his shot. The camera man to his right fell off his stool just after this was taken, to which none of the other media offered to help. Bunch of cut-throats.

I'm somewhere in there, all the way around to the left corner, one row back.  Managed to squeeze in and get a few decent shots of the steak frying which also made it into the final cut. — I'm somewhere in there, all the way around to the left corner, one row back. Managed to squeeze in and get a few decent shots of the steak frying which also made it into the final cut.

The main event, Hillary, Senator Harkin, Bill, and Mrs. Harkin.  Everyone wanted Hillary to announce, but she didn't.  In fact, her speech really didn't say anything.  Bill was as funny and charming as ever.  The man's got people… — The main event, Hillary, Senator Harkin, Bill, and Mrs. Harkin. Everyone wanted Hillary to announce, but she didn't. In fact, her speech really didn't say anything. Bill was as funny and charming as ever. The man's got people skills.

I will post the video once it's live, but saw the final cut and it looks great! These guys do awesome work.