Red 5 Studios

“How can the weatherman predict the weather, let alone the future.” - Marty McFly, Back To The Future

Well, the forecast for November 28, Desiree and Manny’s wedding day, was rain. But the showers came in the early hours of the morning and the rest of the day was perfect. Though they never had to use one, I used the the love song “Umbrella”, a cool acoustic cover by Boyce Avenue, for their Same Day Edit. Congrats, Desiree and Manny!

Be sure to also check out their concept video, a movie trailer spoof of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”!

So here it is! Our sixth and final concept video of the year! Whew. 2009 was an amazing year for spoofs and I’m excited to share with you Mr. & Mrs. Barrientos. After all, a marriage is worth fighting for.

Keep an eye out for a special cameo by yours truly.

Click on the photo above to view in HD or on your iPhone!

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life

I am in tears.  I just found out that Julian St. Pierre of Studio Vieux Carre, co-founder of In[Focus], passed away last night. It was just a year ago, I met Julian. I was at a conference in New Orleans and I was so excited to be there that I was up very early in the morning. I went down to get breakfast and I was the first attendee in the lobby. As I was pouring my juice, I looked up and noticed there was a man who looked exactly (I mean EXACTLY) like Steven Spielberg. Baseball cap, eyeglasses, scruffy gray beard… except he spoke like he was from New Orleans. It was Julian. He introduced himself. We chatted about the city, the people, the conference, and the world of event video. But what I remember most was smiling… and laughing. Being a “newbie” in the industry, I asked a few questions and Julian gave me some words of encouragement. I don’t remember exactly what we talked about in detail, but what I do remember is how he made me feel and the impression he made on me.

We kept in contact over the past year online and through e-mail. So I was in great shock to hear the news this morning. It was just too hard to believe. I immediately went to watch this video just to see and hear his infectious enthusiasm again.

Julian was a leader in our industry and will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Terry, her son Joe and their family.

Being a Star Wars fan, everyone thought I would name our son Luke. I’m a fan… I’m not crazy. I already named our dog Chewie (he’s a mutt that looks like a walking carpet) and our company name, Red 5, is Luke Skywalker’s pilot call sign in the attack on the first Death Star. We went with Jude Cameron, his first name coming from the Bible and one of my favorite Beatles songs, and his middle name was inspired by two of my favorite directors, Cameron Crowe and James Cameron.

Anyway, for Halloween, I couldn’t resist buying Jude his first Star Wars costumes. Yes, I bought him 2, a cute and cuddly Ewok costume and a Stormtrooper outfit. Guess which one he liked? Well, I guess it’s cooler being a bad guy, huh?

May the Force Be With You.

In an ice cold freezing swimming pool that’s where!!!

On Sunday, we shot our night scenes for Judy and Derek’s concept video, a spoof of Romeo+Juliet (the modern Baz Luhrmann/Leo DiCaprio/Claire Danes version). But before we packed up, we jumped into the swimming pool to shoot an intimate scene with the two starcross’d lovers. But it was cold! REALLY COLD! It felt like we were shooting Titanic! I was was tempted to have Judy recite the lines “I’ll never let go Jack, I’ll never let go.” (Note to self: next time tell the owner of the pool to have it heated before we arrive on set).

The things we’ll do to get the movie just right.

Be sure to tune in for the online premiere later this month.