I’m excited to announce one of the most intriguing and powerful projects I’ve had the chance to work on, 24 After. It’s a mind-bending story set in the 24 hours after death. Our character must choose what he will hold onto as his life’s relationships and memories are purged.

This is my AFI Thesis film. I’ll be shooting it on 35mm Kodak 5212 and 5260—thanks to a generous donation from Kodak. It will go into production in March of 2013. We are currently developing it and raising funds.

This project has incredible personal value to me. Not only is it the cumulation of my time at AFI, but it also has a story that resonates deeply with me. The visuals are going to be an immense task to create, but if we are successful, it will be immensely powerful short film.

In order to make this short with the level of production value and story-telling typical of AFI short films, we’ve set out to raise a lot of money—$50,000 to be exact. And that doesn’t come from some magical place. It comes from friends and family. Visit 24after.com/support to find out how you can help.

My 16mm MOS Project, Dance, was accepted to the 2012 Visual Essay Review. For first year AFI cinematographers, this is an honor as only 4 were chosen, Connor O’Brien, Sara Ross Samko, Eddie Salerno, and myself.

The AFI Visual Essay Review is a screening and reception showcasing the MOS projects of first and second year AFI Cinematography Fellows. The public screening is Wednesday, June 6, 7:00 PM.

Basically, it will be non-stop, mind-blowing, visual storytelling.

If you’d like to attend, RSVP here.

I was honored last night at the 2011 American Society of Cinematographers Awards for my work on Loves Me Not (frame grabs) with the William A. Fraker Undergraduate Cinematography Award. It was an incredible honor, and one that I hope will motivate me to pursue cinematography with renewed tenacity.

All weekend, I was welcomed by award-winning ASC members. Each was incredibly humble and encouraging. I still cannot believe I stood on the same stage as some of these amazing ASC members and received an award named after such a great cinematographer, William A. Fraker. It was one of the greatest blessings I’ve received in my entire life, and will challenge me to better myself both as a cinematographer and as a person.
Links:
Stills from the short
Hollywood Reporter
Full Sail Press Release
IMDB Page
Unfortunately, my acceptance speech was limited to ten seconds so I was unable to thank everyone that deserved honor and credit. I wanted to take that time here to truly thank everyone.

TEACHERS
Katie Brandbo, you are awesome. More teachers should push their students like you do. If they did, this wouldn’t be the first time the ASC would drop an award Full Sail’s way.
James Neihouse, thank you for being as stubborn as you are. You pushed me and challenged me to be better as a cinematographer in every way. You taught me that I can’t compromise the vision of the story. There are no excuses. This is your award as well.
Rob Tuscani, no other department is as challenging as yours. Keep doing what you do. It works.
Grover Austin, this may not be an Academy Award, but you gave me my first chance to light. And you were the first one to teach me I could tell a story with only light.

CREW
Directors – Rebecca Hodges & Ewa Pazera, I love both of you, and you are both incredibly talented. Thank you for asking me to help and listening to the feedback I had. It was unbelievable. And thank you Rebecca for pushing me to shoot it during the day. It worked.
Art Department – Aaron Marinel & Alex Thompson, I wish they gave the award to you guys as well, because, I’m no miracle worker. I lit the set the way it asked to be lit, and the story was told. Job well done.
Camera Crew – Nicholas Kramer, Adam Dorris, Thomas Semple, Johnny Lauderdale, you guys were unshakable. You set the pace of shooting, raised the level of professionalism, and every frame was exactly where it should have been. I couldn’t have asked for a better team. A special thanks to Tom; you were with me on every production I did at Full Sail. And everything was in focus.
Grip and Electric – Jose DeLosAngeles, Wade Carter, Ryan Kindel, John Guillen, you made it happen. I didn’t know what I wanted. It didn’t matter what shot it was, I always changed the entire setup, and you never complained. The vision and execution of the lighting in this film belongs to you guys. Thank you.
Everyone – Many student films crumble when just one department fails. It takes the whole crew working at at their maximum to pull off the illusion of movie making. All of us where well fed, well informed, and working at our best. Thank you to everyone.
Black Castle Production, thank you for your investment in this production to help take it to a new level. Specifically, a high definition level.

MENTORS
Brent Christy, “he who came before”. Thank you for all your advice. When I came to Full Sail, I decided you were the man I wanted to be.I definitely didn’t live up to that.
Scott Kindig, you hired a high school graduate that was hopelessly torn between two seemingly opposed world. You taught me that God’s view of ministry isn’t our view, and that it was ok to follow my passions.
Sean Chapman & Mr. H, I still can’t believe that you made the Dream Team. What an insane idea, but you taught me there is a place in this world for out of the box thinking and creativity. And without you challenging us to make the Carter Martin Video, I don’t know if I would have ever thought of film school to begin with.
Brian Condello, you approach a little nerdy middle schooler and changed his life. You challenged me to live deeply and ask myself tough questions. I felt blessed then and I feel blessed now. Thank you. Not only do I owe this part of my life to you, but I owe almost all of it. Thank you.

PARENTS
Mom and Dad, you always say I pick good friends. And I credit every one of my friend’s amazing character to their parents; yet, of all the parents I know, none have invested in their child the way you have invested in me. I can’t even think of all the gifts you have given me. You keep giving and giving and giving. You have supported me in every whimsical pursuit, and every passion I have had—even when you didn’t fully understand what I was doing. I am who I am, and I have done what I have done, because of who you are and who you raised me to be.