fig blog

(photo by Brian Carey, fig photographer)

By Melissa Martens, Artistic Manager and Cinematographer

5. Have a visual reference of what you want your video to look and feel like.

Bring in a photograph, web-site, movie clip that you love and talk about why you enjoy them. If you have picked your photographer already, I like to look at their work, it helps me get ideas of what you like. I often ask couples what movies they like to watch to get a sense of their personalities and visual styles.

*click links to see you-tub clips.

For example: I once met with a couple who loved, Sex and the City (Bride) and Reservoir Dogs (Groom). In the meeting, I pulled up the Sex and the City Intro and the opening for Reservoir dogs on You-Tube and after talking about what we liked about them, we decided to shoot our own version for their wedding video.  It turned out so cool!
See, Marianna & Mark .  In our wedding portfolio to see the final video.

4. Have photos of important family members and friends that you want captured.

(photo by Brian Carey and Tim Musho)

It is so helpful to me to see faces before a wedding. I am a visual person by profession. I am also not a super human mind reader. With over 100 guests, even the best videographer can not guarantee that EVERYONE at your wedding make it to your video or get the same amount of attention that your key players will. I always try to cover all my bases as best I can, getting grandparents, kids and siblings outside the obvious key players that stand up in your ceremony.  SO if you have someone who is special to you, that I may not know is that special, bring me a photograph.

3. The brighter the Better.

(photo by James Gustin)

If you choose an alternative space for your ceremony, take your videographer with you to design the lighting in the space. Dark spaces spell bad news for your video. Video needs lots of light, otherwise you get grainy, dark footage with little color range and depth. Alternative spaces and hotel ballrooms with no windows and ceremonies with chupahs need more attention paid to the lighting.  I always try and make contact with the banquet manager at hotels, or your designer to work on the lighting.

My philosophy: mood lighting is romantic for an evening, your video is forever.

Take the extra step and work with your videographer, designer and manager of the space you choose on lighting your space for your video.

(if you are concerned about having a spotlight, stage like feeling…I assure you, there are tasteful ways of lighting that can still get you the feeling you want and have enough light for your video)

2. Talk to the camera and describe what you are going through as the day goes on.

(photo by Brian Carey)

This makes a great story that your editor can use to make something sweet and tailored to the both of you. One of my couples talked to the camera right before she walked down the aisle, later in the edit we used it to tell the story…and the groom had no idea. When they saw it for the first time, it was a very touching moment.

1.  (Ok, so this is really 2 things.) Write your own vows and whisper to each other during your ceremony.

I have noticed that couples who write their own vows have a deeper connection with each other, more engaged faces  during their ceremony and allow their emotions to flow. Which makes me shed some tears and tells a great story. I will use that audio later in an edit to make something that will pull the both of you closer to each other on the couch when you watch it.

Whispering to each other during the ceremony keeps the both of you alive and focused on the task at hand…even if you are whispering about how hot the room is, it makes a big difference in how you appear on film.
It is so easy to zone out at the alter. Brides often comment later while watching their ceremony video that they never realized how their faces looked.

February 6, 2009 marks the third year in a row fig media has been involved with PAWS Chicago’s annual fundraiser, Animal Magnetism. I’ve been involved with PAWS Chicago for the last 2 years and lead the fig event team, which provided the music and photography for the evening. Fig photographers, Brian Carey and Melissa Martens, created a scene where guests had their pictures taken with their pets. With fig’s unique artistic edge, the photos are guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind keepers that will be hanging on guests’ walls for years. Myself and Brent C. Rolland, were on the wheels of steel, getting the crowd dancing with an eclectic mix ranging from classic rock to hip-hop and pop. The last two years, we’ve also provided projection services, showing photography taken during the night while incorporating a logo reel and live auction items. This year, I decided to do things a little different. Instead of projecting the photography, I mixed in music videos and subtle effects behind the PAWS logo during dancing. This added a more club-like feel for dancing, which fit in nicely with young crowd.

When I heard about how this no-kill animal shelter was making a huge difference in the Chicago area, and I wanted to know what I could do to contribute. At first, it was just playing music at their events. As my relationship with PAWS grew, I became more involved in the organization as a whole. I’ve volunteered at their shelter, ran with their 2008 Chicago Marathon team, participate in their professional board, and coordinate with them on their events. It’s really hard for me to tell them “no.” They have an amazing program and are making a big impact in the number of animals killed due to homelessness. I feel honored to be part of their organization and for fig to have had such a strong relationship with them.

–Jonathan Hood, operations manager, resident artist

fig media’s film maker/ intern team lead by Emily Hard, was at Ora Dental this week with D. Graham Kostic.

www.glossedandfound.com

This week, we picked up Real Simple Weddings and enjoyed reading the articles on “questions to ask your, videographer and photographer.” Its fun and informative. Click on the article below to check out the site and get your own check list.

Fig Media’s Internship Program was mentioned on One Day Internship.

“Are you always the guy or girl in charge of the music whenever your fraternity/sorority/house/dorm throws a party? Or are you always responsible for editing the video or doing the designs in our group projects? If you’re either of these two and always the life of the party, then a part-time internship with Fig Media Incorporated might be a great way to spend some of your time this or next semester.” Posted by Willy Franzen on Friday, October 3, 2008

This past January  I (Joseph Martinez), of fig Independent Films, was fortunate  to attend the 2009 Sundance Film festival.

This year was full of all of the essentials; good films, filmmakers,”Sundance” friends, and a social scene like no other.  Some of the big hits this year to look out for are “Push” a narrative directed by Lee Daniels about an overweight, 16 yr.-old girl, Precious, who is put-down and abused by her parents in every way (including a remarkable performance by her mother, played by Mo’nique.) After finally leaving home, Precious begins to believe in herself with the support of a dearing teacher within a New York alternative school for teenage girls.

Within the documentary column (most of the best films at Sundance are documentaries) is a moving, activist film called “The Cove.” Headed by Ric O’ Brian (Flipper’s original trainer) a group of oceanic humanitarians uncover a series of hidden coves in Taiji, Japan where dolphin captivation and slaughter has fueled a cruel but profitable industry. The film grabbed my attention from the beginning, educated me, and has a moving crescendo that inspired me to deliver my appreciation to the filmmakers in front of an entire Q & A audience,  then they gave ME an applause. See this film!

Other favorite hits to look out for are Tyson, Thriller in Manilla, Sin Nombre, We live in Public, Hump Day, and Sergio.

Other than films, I touched base with directors, producers, and I even had an opportunity to pitch my films to various well-known production companies including HBO, POV, Sundance Documentary, and Independent Lens.

The festival is an exciting, and inspiring place for hungry filmmakers and industry movers and shakers. fig Films is looking forward to competing in the festival next year and the following years to come.

-Joseph Martinez, filmmaker, producer

So I just finished printing my new photos from my recent shoot and added it to my new fancy shmancy portfolio book.  Here are some hi-res iphone photos that give them NO justice.  But I’m pretty happy with what I got and couldn’t be more pleased to be working with my whole crew here at fig.  Look for more updates on a cool and slick case study of the recent shoots at the end of this week. 

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

I love these two photos together…my more artistic shots.

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

This is another great series together.  I love how you feel like your there in a moment with her.

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

This is Jason, this was his 2nd shoot.  After this shoot he took my photos to ELITE and was signed.  He’s going to be a supermodel one day.  I worked with Tania from Jenny Yoo on this shoot and she had recently worked with him before.  Very good find.  I call him Jason the accountant.

© 2009 billyrood & © 2009 figmedia

This is Megan from Elite.  She was great.  I felt really connected to her and what I was going for.  Make sure you check your emails by the end of the week to view the photos in their true form and view some kick ass video and testimonials.

Billy Rood

http://billyrood.tumblr.com

Fig returns to Smartbar for a night of great music, fun, dancing, and Nintendo!  That’s right, life-sized Marios on a large screen while listen to five of fig’s crew spinning everything from classic rock to pop, with some J-Pop and mash-ups thrown into the mix as well.  Fig’s connection to Smartbar stems from a long relationship between James Gustin, president of fig media, and  Joe Shannahan, owner of the Metro and Smartbar.  The two of them partnered together back in the day for some really great club nights in their downstairs nightclub, and as the year’s progressed, the two of them maintained their relationship and now James is bringing in his crew.  DJ Erik headlined the evening, with figgies James Gustin, Andrew Ettenhofer, Megan Taylor, and Brent Rolland on the decks as well.  Stay tuned to more club nights!  These nights are NOT to be missed.

365 Sketches

“Fig Senior Writer Writing 365 Comedy Sketches!”

Joe Janes, senior writer at Fig Media, has taken on the challenge of writing a comedy sketch a day for a year. A sketch is a short scene similar to what you might see in a staged sketch revue at Second City or SNL.  The scenes can be read on his blog, biteannsmile.blogpsot.com. He began the venture on Monday, January 19th.

Janes has taken on the project to test his creative abilities and bring to bear his writing skills and talent.  “I will post the first draft of one comedy sketch every evening before going to bed. A sketch is anything you might see in a sketch revue, so that includes scenes, blackouts, songs and the occasional odd “bit,” Six nights a week will be original material generated specifically for this project. On Sundays, I will post a written piece that has never been produced.” says Joe.

As an educational angle, Joe also encourages and invites feedback and questions in the comment section of his blog. Joe Janes is senior writer at Fig Media, Improv Program Coordinator at Columbia College, writing instructor at Second City, artistic director of Robot vs Dinosaur, founding member of WNEP Theater Foundation and a member of The Improvised Shakespeare Company. He also volunteers his time as a tutor at 826-CHI, an educational non-profit organization.

From the minds of James Gustin, Tim Musho and fig films team we are starting a unique documentary about Marc Hauser and other influential artists in the Chicago area. We are calling the project Influences or Hauser (name is still up in the air). The way it works is first we start with Marc and do a short doc and then ask him about other people in Chicago that we should talk to that has made a mark on Marc (no pun intended). An ideal would be we do as many short docs until we get a 90min film. A little info about Marc Hauser is that he is one of Chicago’s finest photographer. His photographs have been seen in Playboy to Rolling Stone and he has shot Woody Allen to Michael Jordan. A couple of weeks ago we started the doc by shooting Marc at his studio. We are now in the process of editing down the footage and going on to the next influence Tony Fitzpatrick. Stay tuned for some more details.