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ABOUT

CASE STUDY 

2020 ALL-STAR OPEN • SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

Drew Watkins’ concept of building a model of the city of Chicago for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game Open caught me completely by surprise. The theater in the round structure. The detail of the model showing every street and building. The super clean white finish. It was an amazing conversation piece to stimulate the minds of all the stars appearing to speak. The production producer Sarah Meneely and the DP Jordan McMonagal had a tough job; Taking the model to each city where the stars where located. And in Obama’s case, the Secret Service wanted no part of approving a model of Chicago with a 20 foot diameter! That meant our Nuke artist, Sean McPhearson, was given the task of seamlessly placing the model in front of Obama and a few others. 

 

For me the project started when I walked by the studio where it was set up and freaked out! Immediately I begged Drew to edit the piece. And grabbed any camera I could to start shooting the model from every angle. 

Jordan Shorthouse, the on-air graphics CD projected NBA artwork, and graphic animations on the model. The pristine whiteness was just begging for it. Production set up a 10k on a lift to emulate a sunrise. And of course, a giant screen to show player action in the background. Jordan and Evan used a Jib arm, snorkel lens, dolly track and every other trick. Ever seen an iPhone mounted to a 200 thousand dollar camera rig. We did that too. 

 

Then the choir, three songs shot with two cameras in the snow! Only to use two shots. Damn that’s cool. Bono would approve.

When it was time to edit, Drew was still shooting. So I would FaceTime him with my phone on a tabletop tripod so he could watch the edit from his hotel room. Then we cut in my suite for a week or so until it was time to leave for Chicago. A snow storm in Chicago delayed flight after flight forcing us to go back to the edit suite in Atlanta. We cut all night and took a morning flight, landed and started cutting on site. 

 

My thanks to everyone in FX, editorial, post management and Turner Sports who supported us on this project. It was a beast!

PRESS

 

"Ahead of Sunday's exhibition at the United Center, TNT broadcasted a goosebump-inducing video to kick off the action. The tribute featured numerous Chicago icons, who discussed growing up/living in the city and what it means to them personally. Jordan spoke for all Chicagoans when describing the impact the city has on its citizens: "It's like a tattoo — it's not removable," the Bulls legend said. Best All-Star game intro ever? No doubt." -Tim Stibbens-NBCsports.com

 

"NBA All-Star Game opens with epic tributes to Chicago!" -WGNtv

THE TEAM:

Client: Turner Sports

Executive Producer: Craig Barry

Executive Creative Director: Drew Watkins

Production Producer: Sarah Meneely

Director: Drew Watkins

Director of Photography: Jordan McMonagal

Edit/Sound Design/Color: Brett Langefels

Compositing: Sean McPhearson

Color: Jason Druss

Sound Design & Mixing: Daniel Cahil

APPEARANCES BY:

Barack Obama

Michael Jordan

Common

Chance the Rapper

Dwyane Wade

Candace Parker

Isiah Thomas

Buddy Guy

Keke Palmer

Jesse Williams

Hebru Brantley

soomething beautiful case study2.jpg
BadMan.jpg

THE TEAM:

Production: Sedna Films

Executive Producer: Dirk Detweiler 

Producer: Heather Weinstock

DP: Jordan McMonagal

Camera: Evan McIntosh

Editor/Music editor: Brett Langefels

 

PERFORMANCES BY:

Pitbull 

Robin Thick

Joe Perry

Travis Barker

We all know the story of the son of God that walked on water. He was a very good man; Even the best of all. And sadly in this project, the satire escaped me. The concept, four bad men appearing to walk on water while performing the song “Bad Man.” In Sin City no less! No wonder the world applauded by giving it a golden idol. The coveted Promax Gold for editing.

 

At the time, I just wanted to meet Joe Perry! Hang out on set, eat the food and hit the tables. But then the production producer, Dirk Detweiler had a problem. The Bellagio fountain operator couldn’t or wouldn’t set up the fountains to do the same sequence for every take. Unfortunately for me, I happened to be standing next to Drew when he was informed of the situation. Realizing it would be a huge continuity problem, I jumped on it. Next thing I know, I’m on the cat walks above the tables where they spot people cheating, making our way to the fountain control room overlooking the Bellagio lake. Pretty fucking cool.

 

The fountain control system looked like something from a Moonraker. Huge racks

of outdated equipment connected to a control panel in a crows nest accessible only by latter.

 

It took some doing but an hour later I had a repeatable sequence set up on the fountain. All I had to do was hit the giant red button and 20 seconds later, the lake came to life!

 

Sadly I never got to meet Joe. I never get to meet anybody.

CASE STUDY 

BAD MAN • PITBULL / ROBIN THICK / JOE PERRY

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