TRAIN OF THOUGHT NYC @DanielGotHits

Daniel Got Hits Full Episode | Train Of Thought NYC

And Since I Made it Here I Can Make it Anywhere

S04.2018

I worked with Daniel Got Hits last year, through a friend of mine, Alexei  when I was in New York back in November a friend of mine, Vince, asked me to produce a segment for Train of Thought. I went to New York because I wanted to collaborate with Vince and some of my friends up in New York to pick their brains and get some creative energy in a different city. One thing I was hoping would align, was an opportunity to get on Sean Dunne's Very Ape podcast. Due to his schedule, he arrived a little later than expected that weekend, and we were not able to meet up. 

I had a chance to reach out to Daniel to get his story for Train of Thought NYC. I slept on Alexei and Vince's couch and I had a great time catching up with friends who have been able to monetize their creative endeavors. 

And since I made it here

I can make it anywhere

Blueprint 3 | 05. Empire State of Mind

Jay Z

1.03.18 - MCMXX

SHAYJTODAY - Val{you}. (JOURNEY TO SELF-IDENTITY).

ShayJToday - Val{you}. (Journey to Self-Identity).

Nobody Built Like You, You Designed Yourself

S03.2017

I was trying to put my spin on an EPK. Under a tough time constraint, but we made it work. Looking to add some additional audio and b-roll clips for perspective to certain tracks on the album. Finally had a chance to use a prime lens for some opening shots for this one. 

Opening scenes, interview, audio - RETRO1920 

Edited by - RETRO1920

London footage - Sam Hilton

Splashfest - Jeff Thames & Courtney "Coco" Coprich

Central Stage Footage - Shot by Miguelle "phee" Millo

Wonderoot footage - Jeff Thames @JayXIIILegion

My mindset 

Hov you gotta remind yourself  Nobody built like you

you've designed yourself

The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse | 01. A Dream Jay Z

11.9.17

- MCMXX

{THIRDY DOCUMENTARY} Experimenting With Perspective | Anamorphic Lens Effect

 Intro scene to Thirdy Documentary.

Nothing Wrong With Your Aim Just Need to Change Your Target

D01.1920

I've been conceptualizing the Thirdy documentary since November, 2016. One of the first locations I shot at was Rio Fontainebleau, Dropz' old hood. There's a lot of tradition in this area. Dropz recalled stories where he would meet up with members of a rap crew he was in, at a green box in the middle of the apartment complex. This was before cell phones, so the green box was a great meet up location. 

I ended up getting a few shots near the green box, a 360 backshot and standard back shot of Dropz'sArt of War back tattoo, and a freestyle verse shot. The green box shots were just bio pic shots. In post, I saw they wouldn't fit the style of the documentary. I originally wanted Dropz to meet up with some of his friends from the crew. 

While we were shooting, kids from the neighborhood were rolling up on us to see what we were doing and they were feeling Dropz' rhymes. When we were getting ready to pack up and shoot at a different location, someone in the neighborhood recognized Dropz as they passed by and was chopping it up with him. This was like a celeb moment. I'm not sure when the last time Dropz had passed by the neighborhood, but dude was happy to see him and showing nothing but love and positivity. 

So in post, I picked my favorite still shot of the freestyle verse. I wanted to give it an anamorphic slash fish eye effect. At that time, I didn't know what effect I was going to use, but I knew I had options with software capabilities to do effects in post. I ended up doing a little bit of digging and I realized I didn't need a fish eye lens or anamorphic lens in order to get a eerie or cinematic look. I came across this post about an anamorphic pack, from Vashi Nedomansk. I want to thank Vashi for his time and effort to help out the filmmaker community with packs such as the anamorphic lens effect. These references caught my eye. There were a few references of Tarantino's work and other big cinematic films that had a similar anamorphic effect.

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I want to thank Vashi Nedomansk for his time and effort to help out the filmmaker community with packs such as the anamorphic lens effect.

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(source: http://vashivisuals.com/vashimorphic40-free-anamorphic-effects-project/)

Click on the source above to download the anamorphic pack and get a feel for the theory and concepts surrounding the effect created by someone in the cinema community. 

So, I gave it a try. I am pleased with the way the effect came out in after effects. My concern is how the freestyle shot will look in context with other non-anamorphic shots. If the sequence is A1 I will definitely use it. 

I chose the angle of the shot, tilted a bit lower than my subject and not completely at eye level, and was open to an anamorphic or fish eye effect because I wanted the audience to feel like they were about to battle Dropz. Something about the angle and being able to see Dropz' profile made it feel gritty. 

I wanted the audience to feel like they were in his opponents shoes, or for the time being they were getting Thirdy'd. Although, these were not battle rap bars, Dropz' gave a high energy performance and replicated the feeling of being in the ring with a battle rapper. 

Below is three different cuts of Dropz' freestyle shot.

Nothin' wrong with ya aim

just gotta change ya target...

American Gangster  |  03. American Dreamin'

Jay Z

7.24.17

- MCMXX