Archive | April, 2011

A Polaroid and a Love Note

By on April 29, 2011

Friends. Just wanted to say a huge thanks for tuning into chasejarvisLIVE on Wednesday for our broadcast with We Are Augustines. Those guys showed us the love by opening up their backstory, their creative process, and a truly inspired performance. And you showed the love right back in spades. When I told the band that 30,000 of you tuned into the show on Wednesday–that they were performing to a virtual stadium full of people–they were speechless, blow away, grateful beyond words. The Seattle concert that evening (amazing!) ended up selling out, their social media blew up, the free song download link has been glowing red hot since the show aired. I learned a bunch from those guys, I had a blast, and, the icing on the cake: during the live photoshoot I got some really solid images. Will post those later somewhere.

Most importantly IMHO, is that the momentum you–this community–can create, the “virtuous cycle” kind of support you’ve showed chasejarvisLIVE, the format, and the guests, whether they’re emerging artists or established, will continue to make this show better. We’re doing real work to make this better and when you share it, you write about it, you participate in it, it evolves. And it just makes me want to do more. Huge thank you. Everyone = #winning.

A full audio-only podcast version of the show, downloadable here via free subscription in iTunes (or here via rss feed). A shorted edit of the show will get posted on my YouTube channel next week. Gotta tune in live to get the whole thing/real deal.

[To the few of you who nabbed the signed Polaroid images during the broadcast--like the one above--those should go out on Monday. Hit me on DM.] Continue Reading →

chase jarvis RAW: making pokemon with the presidents [video]

By on April 26, 2011

[note: this is behind the scenes - the finished vid is below...]

Ever since I was a kid I’ve envisioned shooting videos the old way…the “practical” way where the moves and gimmicks, the set changes and the moving walls happen in camera, in real time, and real space, as opposed to the numerous luxuries we have nowadays in post production. In short, the opportunity to live out that vision from when I was a kid is precisely why I was jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with my pals in the triple-platinum band The Presidents of The United States of America (Lump, Kitty, Peaches, Dune Buggy) on a music video for…check this out: Pokemon. It was a complete blast. Loved every minute of it.

And, it’s all practical, baby–and phew is that hard. Learned a ton through the process…not just about the cute little Pokemon characters, but about the amazing challenges working almost entirely in camera. And the choreography? Whoa. That’s HARD too, but it’s a wonderful challenge and something I think every filmmaker should play with at some point.

For the record, we shot it all at 4k on the RED, and had a lean crew of about 20 to pull this off. Huge props to the cast and crew–especially Loren and the art department who stepped up big to make this happen.

So enjoy the latest chase jarvis RAW above. We did our best to share all the moving parts, from concept to wrap. Lemme know how we did. And of course, the final video is below.

[and lastly, BTW...don't forget to join us LIVE tomorrow on Wednesday April 27 - we're shooting LIVE with the band We Are Augustines. Anyone can tune in, details are here ]

Broadcasting LIVE PhotoShoot on Wednesday 4/27 – We Are Augustines

By on April 25, 2011

UPDATE: If you’re reading this now, the live broadcast is TODAY. 11am Seattle Time, 2pm NYC, 7pm London, 8pm Paris and… on it goes. Hoping some of the hardcores from Asia and Down Under can stay up to catch the show! http://www.chasejarvis.com/live

Yep. You read that headline correctly – chasejarvisLIVE is coming at you again this Wednesday 4/27 at 11am Seattle Time (GMT -8) and this episode is a doozie. Live photoshoot + live concert. You are invited – please tune in to www.chasejarvis.com/live.

For starters, my guest on the show is one of my favorite emerging bands, We Are Augustines. This talented & hardworking Brooklyn-based trio is not to be missed. I latched onto them via a good friend of mine John Richards – a tastemaking KEXP DJ from Seattle who was the first to play half of the music on your ipods right now. We Are Augustines have an amazing sound, an incredibly moving story behind the band, and we’re catching these guys as a groundswell brews around them… In short, you can see them first here.

We’ll kick off the show with our tell-all Q&A/interview fused with an intimate 3 or 4 song set. From there, we’ll break right into a LIVE photoshoot. I’ll be shooting promotional materials for the band–multiple sets, natural and studio lighting, casual, informal, and experimental. There is no “client”. Just me and the band. Watch the set building, the styling, the shooting, the digital asset management, the gear, all of it. And you’ll be able to ask questions of anybody and everybody on set-–all 20 of us–-via my twitter handle (@chasejarvis) and using hashtag #cjlive. UPDATE: BTW, assuming the band are cool with it, I’ll be giving away some signed Polaroid prints that I shoot that day. Have to watch live to pick up one of those.

Who: You, Me, & We Are Augustines
What: An intimate concert + LIVE photoshoot. And taking your questions the whole time via twitter
When: this coming Wednesday, April 27th at 11:00am Seattle time (2pm NYC or GMT -8)
Where: visit www.chasejarvis.com/live. It’s free.

Wanna see more about the band I’ll be photographing? Watch the video trailer after the jump… Continue Reading →

10 Things You Want To Know From an Art Director

By on April 22, 2011

Want a better chance of getting hired? Read this:

There are raging debates online all over the place about how to approach Art Directors and Creative Directors to show work. Email them, or don’t. Do backflips for them, send them a carrier pigeon, only send a book, etc. Frankly, it’s all over the damned map. As it turns out, some of those folks are my friends and they want to help us help them. And they aren’t afraid to share their opinion. So here’s 10 questions (pulled from yours and updated with a few of mine) that needed answering following my chasejarvisLIVE a couple weeks back with AD/Brand Manager Jason Sutherland. Here, Jason goes deeper.

Thanks for spending some time with us here, Jason. Give us the truth, how do you prefer to be approached by new photographers?

Ideally, with a drink in their hand. Second to that, I like to be approached by photographers gently. In that they know me, they know what I’m trying to do, and they show me a carefully selected range of images that blinds me with their brilliance. Then they wow me with their genuine niceness and my vision is magically repaired.  This can be accomplished online, or via the old school mail, or… Continue Reading →

Show Me Yours [Results]

By on April 21, 2011

A couple weeks ago, I made a call out to y’all: “Show me yours, and I’ll show you mine“. I was kissing winter goodbye and –as we patted on the ass on the way out the door–I wanted to see any winter photos you were interested in sharing. Well I finally made it through the couple thousand or more that came in. And whoa. Some great stuff – thanks so much for sharing the inspiration. In an attempt to pay it forward and as a tribute to your work we whipped up a little “must see” gallery of some of our favs.

Click on this link, or the image below. All photos copyright their respective owners, and you can click on the names at the bottom of the images to follow off to the original links you forwarded.

Winter Photos Gallery

CLICK HERE FOR THE GALLERY

Continue Reading →

The Only Things That Really Matter Are…

By on April 20, 2011

WHO you are matters less now than ever before. Pedigrees no longer matter. You can go from nobody to famous, or rich, or happy, or successful without anyone else’s permission.

WHAT you are matters less now than ever before. Movie stars and wine experts, academics and ultimate wrestlers are all on the same playing field.

WHERE you are matters less now than ever before. You can be sharing photos from your basement apartment in Brooklyn, building a semi-conductor in your garage in Palo Alto, or leading a revolution in the streets of Egypt.

HOW you do what you do, matters less now than ever before. Doesn’t matter if you shoot it on a Panavision 35 or a HdSLR. It only matters that you did it.

What DOES matter is…. Continue Reading →

That DAM Travel Gear for Photo & Video

By on April 19, 2011

Travelling MacBookPro Kit

Howdy Y’all, Dartanyon again responding to an important gear question we get asked all the time. We spend a great deal of time out on location, and as Chase’s last series of blog posts clearly shows that it’s not all hotel rooms and poolside locations. Sometimes we’re at 12,000 feet above sea level snowshoeing to location, and carrying “extra” stuff is not practical. Over the last 4 years I have refined my traveling gear considerably, and it is not very often that I find myself wishing I had something I didn’t bring, or carrying stuff I didn’t use [or have a very good reason for carrying]. I’m going to take you through my traveling kit of DAM (Digital Asset Management) goodies and explain why I do certain things, but as I have said before this is MY way and certainly not the only or best way.

COMPUTER_ I bring a 17″ Mac Book Pro to almost all location shoots, it’s sole purpose is digital asset management, it doesn’t get used by a producer or intern back at the studio, it just sits and patiently waits to be needed in the gear closet. It’s loaded up with… Continue Reading →

Finish This Sentence: My Pictures Would Be Better If…

By on April 18, 2011

It’s Monday. Let’s shake out the cobwebs from the weekend. Finish this sentence with your own words, from your own point of view about your own work:

My pictures would be better if _______________.

[feel free to substitute 'pictures' with 'art', 'writing', 'painting', whatever you like. BTW, my answer is first in the comments...]

Everything Is Going To Be Alright

By on April 15, 2011

Whether your pictures look like you want them to or not. Whether you’re getting hired or not. Whether you’re in a creative boom or a bust, everything is going to be alright.

Happy Friday. Here’s a ticket to a great weekend.

Tax Prep for Photographers & Filmmakers

By on April 14, 2011

Kate stepping in here to give you a bit of info from the business side of photography & filmmaking, this time about taxes.

Yes, it is that time of year again. If you’re in the ol’ USA and didn’t already know it, the due date for 2010 US Federal taxes has been extended to April 18, 2011.  That may be really great news to anyone scurrying around to finish up taxes at the last minute.  Now, you’ll have all weekend to wrap them up.

As you finalize your return, make sure that you’ve taken advantage of all possible tax deductible expenses, especially those that are a bit esoteric.  Since I am no tax professional, please do not consider this tax advice and check with a tax professional to learn about specific rules and exceptions that will affect your eligibility. However, this list may be a good way to start that conversation:

Tax deductible expenses specific to photographers and filmmakers:

Some deductions are very standard for all small businesses, including business insurance, office supplies, software costs, and even tax preparation fees.  In the world of photography and filmmaking, there are some expenses that are more specific to the industry.  To name a few…. Continue Reading →

How & Why We Get Hired :: Interview with an Art Director

By on April 13, 2011

In case you missed the last chasejarvisLIVE, we posted the above video excerpt of my interview segment with art director/creative mojo/REI brand manager Jason Sutherland. In this video interview, Jason shares wicked insight on how photographers get selected for jobs, where he and his art director/creative director peers look for new talent, how he judges your work, why, and a whole lot more.

The above vid is only a portion of the full broadcast. Here’s a reminder on how this smorgasbord of chasejarvisLIVE content is shared so that you can get it how you want it going forward…

1. To get the full broadcast, and to be able to ask your questions via chat and twitter, you need to watch them LIVE on the day that they occur, or enjoy the rewatch posted exactly 12 hours later for those on the other side of the planet. For schedule and notice about when/where these are, follow the blog, twitter, Facebook.

2. Just 24 hours after the live broadcast we will post a full audio-only podcast version, downloadable here via free subscription in iTunes (or here via rss feed). I’ve heard from lots of you that… Continue Reading →

Photographer Chris Jordan on his Midway Project

By on April 12, 2011

I’m a huge fan of the work of a friend of mine, photographer Chris Jordan. His work is both subtle and bold, timely and timeless. Among other things, it beautifully (albeit tragically) explores human consumerism/consumption and the resulting detriments to the planet. From his work, we get a sense of freedom to grieve this predicament, but also a motivation toward change and inspired cause-based activism. The above video is a short chronicle of Chris’ midway project–a heavy, but brilliant undertaking.

This interview is the work of a longtime filmmaker buddy, Riley Morton, and is the first step in a collaboration between myself and Riley where we get together and–via my curation of subjects and his interviews–tell short stories about interesting people in Continue Reading →

How To Steal Ideas Like an Artist

By on April 11, 2011

You read the title and thought I was talking smack. But in fact, I’m trying to give advice.

The history of the world is one of shared spaces, shared food, shared water, shared DNA, shared lives. The history of art is the same. It is a history of an evolution of ideas, of appropriation and application. Therefore, if you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than 1. inside you; and then 2. to other art work that fuels your soul. Apply your own story to what you see. Make it relevant, make it yours. Remix it all and you’re underway. Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch says it best:

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent.”

Continue Reading →

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