Musket Teaser Shoot

House of Leo Productions brought me on board again to provide the Cinematography for another project: "MUSKET" a Canadian independent feature film.

It is written and directed by Shane Monahan, and will be produced by House of Leo Productions.

The following are some screen captures from the ungraded unedited footage from the teaser trailer shoot.

The actual teasers will be released at some time later.

Technical notes below.

Prosthetics and Body Paint: Lizard Girl

This was a creative shoot with one of my favourite make up artists.  Lisa Bradley does a lot of cool independent projects in body paint and prosthetics.  I heard about the concept, and this was a portfolio shoot, it sounded really cool so I agreed to shoot it.

Model Emily was done up to look like a lizard, and put in a sexy dress.

Find the photos at my flickr!

2011 Vancouver Men's Fashion Week

All of these images are screen caps from the video I captured.

I got an invitation to shoot at the Vancouver Men's Fashion Week (v.MFW), held at the Post Modern.

See the full set at my Flickr! All of the photos seen here are screen caps from the video footage I took for House of Leo Productions for coverage of this event.

The main event took place on October 1st, 2011.  This event was formulated by Ramos & Fortier as the first fashion show of its kind in Vancouver, in an effort to give up & coming men's wear designers a venue where they can be recognized and brought together.

This was an excellent show featuring many local and international designers and brought many talents together.

Here's a list of Designers:
Dodjie Batu
Brittany-Anne Fisher
Frederick Fung
Nico Agustin
Anthony McRae
Steve Samson
Franz Patrick Albana
Desiree Mark
Ashli Soto
Sweat Collection
Theresa Chen
Bia Boro Apparel
Teodora Wong
Tomita Fenton Yasuhiro

 She was hosting, wasn't actually one of the models.

 Owen Chau performing Wu Shu

See the full set at my Flickr!




Technical Information Below:


Turn back if you have no interest in photography.

2011 Vancouver Pride Parade

Every year at the end of July (on the civic holiday long weekend), the Vancouver Pride Parade occurs.  Hundreds of thousands of spectators stream in to the downtown of Vancouver, and many community groups and flamboyant floats parade about in the rainbow patterned streets.

Even old people. 

And dogs. 

And... uhh... police bear.

I was in an area where there were missing fences, and people kept getting in the way of the floats, crossing the street.  There were tons of security people yelling at the mob to stop getting in the way of the giant mechanical floats... because... you know, they'll get run over.  But people kept doing it anyways literally running back and forth while laughing, because parade spectators are annoying and belligerent, that's just how it is.  The security guys were quite frustrated, yelling the whole time.  Should have got more fences boys.

See more photos at my flickr!

San Diego Comic-con: Black Cat Cosplay Photoshoot

 Meet Black Cat

I wasn't actually at Comi-Con.  This was a photoshoot I did for Black Cat, she requested I take some nice photos of her before she headed out to San Diego.

This is basically a portrait shoot, a zone I'm very comfortable with.  It just happened that the client was dressed in a costume.  I guess it wasn't so strange, I seem to do a lot of these weird kind of photoshoots.  I should just rebrand my self as a cosplay photographer.

 Outdoor Garden.  We got a couple looks.

And this type of portrait shoot, I can jump pump out the photos, since I don't need to do any post-processing.  The make up and costume pretty much does all the work for me, and I'm here to document the work (the cosplay) anyways, not create my own painting in faux-shop.

 A few shots for green screen.

Black Cat leads Frodo out of Moria

But... I did take some photos in green screen so I can make some weird comps. 


You can find a few of the photos at my flickr!

She was popular enough to be interviewed by NBC Here

Bboy Jam: Filthee Feet 10 year Anniversary 2011

I came out to this one because a friend I haven't seen in years was competing in it.

Now, I shoot in night clubs a lot, and I've shot performance dance before, so I thought I would know what to expect.  This was totally different though.  People communicated to eachother through the power of dance.  Everyone was a bboy (bgirl?), and they were all dancers.  I was pretty much the only spectator, an outsider entering their world to document the unfolding events.

Seriously, it was weird.  No rules (that I could understand anyhow), people got right up to the dancers, forming a circle.  Now, I've seen this when I went to some clubs and parties where they had breakdance performers, but I thought that was just because it gets pretty cramped at a club.  No, this was a big gym with plenty of space.  It's just how things are.

Some details:
Apparently this was for something called the IBE Qualifier.  Some sort of international breakdance competition, and the top 8 bboys in Canada will go to Holland for a convention called "Notorious IBE".

See the full photo set at: Flickr

Nerd Stuff Below

Lisa's Night Out

This is a short film being produced by House of Leo Productions. It is a young woman's journey of discovery of her sexuality, and promises to be sexy and funny. It will be submitted to several niche film festivals, with the focus bring the LGBT-oritented festivals.

Screenplay by Mauri Bernstein
Directed by Lauren Holmes
Produced by Stephen Sawchuk
Cinematography by James Choi

Portion of the profits will be donted to Vancouver-based LGBT Charity! Click the link to find out how you can contribute to this project.

http://www.indiegogo.com/Lisas-Night-Out

Vancouver Stanley Cup Hockey Playoffs 2011 Riot

Everything was on fire. Mobs looting stores and setting them on fire. Few individuals tried to stop them, the rest cheered at the destruction.

The stores are smashed open, and are quickly looted.  There is large lineups trying to get in to loot the stores.  The pillagers flaunt their spoils.  Handful of people step in to stop the crowd.  The mob is displeased that the show is interrupted.  These select individuals take it upon themselves to discourage the rioters.  The rest cavort about in reckless abandon.

Police took back the streets step by step, behind shields and backed up by loud speakers.  The crowd has numbers, and brave few throws garbage as the officers.  The cops sit there and take it.  One member of the mob steps forward to show off to his audience.  The officer takes a single step forward, and The crowd turns in to a sea of cowards running past me in fear of retribution.  There is no strength in this gathering, no unity.  It is a amorphous conglomeration of chaos.

 

 

Cars are smashed, flipped, and set ablaze.  It took a few to start, but many join in, and those who don't are quick to cheer and give shouts of encouragement.  Riot tourists step in to pose for photos beside the burning wreckage.  This incites the rioters to further acts of destruction, they are eager to please the crowd.

Another fire, more glass breaks, a man stand upon a bench, plunder in hand.  The crowd cheers in encouragement, and more breaks in to loot.  They are united in purpose of destruction and lawlessness.  There is too few willing to step in to stop this madness.  At this point almost everyone has taken sides as active participants: those very few who will stand against it, and the vast majority who cheer and yell in the exultation of mayhem.  They are outnumbered at least one to a hundred.  Rest watch in silence.

*I don't know anything about hockey, and I'm not a fan in any way.  I would never have entered the streets but I was forced out by a fire set to my building.  All of this is within the block of where I live.

New Projects coming up

Just a status update letting you know I'm working on a few projects at the moments.  Expect to see some green screen lighting guides soon.

The Goblin Market. And New Webpage.

I'm in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada right now making this update.  I'm the cinematographer for the film "The Goblin Market"

A young woman's journey to the under belly, to confront those who claimed her sister's innocence, risks her own seduction.


Sounds sexy.  I will be providing the cinematography and editing for this film.  And some equipment.  I will list my equipment soon.

And check out my new webpage at:

http://jchoi.ca

Nightclub Photography

Between a two day long lingerie shoot and filming the last day of Vancouver's Top Gay Model, I've been quite busy with work.  And wasting time with some street photography, most money I made from that these days was finding a $5 bill on the ground.  But I'll finally do an update about some more nightclub gear and techniques.


Go here to see the photos from the VFW after party from Aubar, Republic and Fortune.

After Party and Conclusion

See more photos from AuBAR, Fortune, and Republic here!

What I was doing there:

I was commissioned by Stephen Sawchuk from House of Leo Productions to film(video) the fashion shows.  You can contact House of Leo here!  They are the official video production company for Vancouver Fashion Week.

You can find some of the videos I took at VFW 2010 for Blackout Productions last year here (again with Stephen Sawchuk, the modelesque Producer of House of Leo Productions).

Photos from the opening party are in this flickr page.

Miscellaneous photos not runway are found here. (i.e. group photos, press room stuff, interviews, Elysia Rotaru, etc)

Notes on Photos from the Fashion Shows:

Look in my flickr collection for photos from the shows I wasn't filming.

Something Awkward?  You'll notice most of my photos are closeups of the face.  It's for the makeup artists.  All the official photographers down the center can get a million body shots of each, showing off the dress.

*I try not to talk to the models.  The makeup artists will beat me up because I always make them laugh and ruin their makeup.  I'm going to guess it's my haircut or accent or something.

Notes on the After Party Photos:

After party photos are here.

Nightclub photos.  It's what I do.  Well, when I'm not off filming in the jungles somewhere.  Your chance of getting good photos increases when you come to the after party and hang out.  Well, with me anyways.

Vancouver Fashion Week 2011 April Night 6

 Fashion by Helen Lee

Vancouver Fashion Week came to an end last night.  The last set of shows was more international designers, including: Helen Lee, Foor by Lei Zhang, La Vie by Jenny Ji, Pauline Van Dongen.

As usual, I only have photos for designers who didn't want video.  I just happened to get photos of Pauline's style because she lined them up down the runway at the end. You can find the set for Helen Lee and Pauline Van Dongen on my FLICKR.

Fashion by Pauline Van Dongen

Vancouver Fashion Week 2011 April Night 5

Hi, I'm just here to increase his viewer count!

Last night at Vancouver Fashion Week was the international designers.  Particularly Ha Sang Beg.  He's my favorite (because he's... Korean?).  Other than the Korean crowd, there was Autobiographie from Paris (and their shoes), and Dawn Sharp from California.

This time I actually made it to the after party.  Well, I had to go to club 560 first to take some photos of their show, but afterwards, I made it to auBAR.  Again, I have an appointment (my weekends, sigh).  But I'll post these party pictures.  Sometime.

And for other people that ran in to me while I was there... well, keep watching, photos will come up soon.

 

Let's party!  Diet cola and water for everyone!

Vancouver Fashion Week 2011 April Night 4

Exams are over!

Another night at Vancouver Fashion Week.  Featured designers were: Hawks Ave., Papillon Eastern, Eva Chen, Fever London, Boutique Show - The TRUE'S Fashion Couture Hats by Sova Design.

Hosting the event tonight was Elysia Rotaru and Stephen Sawchuk (from House of Leo who commissioned me for this project).

No big update with photos though, I got called up last minute to film the fashion seminar, so I'll put up the rest of the pictures later.  I don't have much photos anyways, I spent all day filming.  BUT I did go to the after party!  I thought it was at AuBAR but I was clearly wrong.  I was Elysia Rotaru's personal photographer for the night, and I just followed her along.  Well, things did eventually get sorted out, and I went over to fortune after taking pictures of random people (keep watching random peoples, I'll put up your party photos soon...).

I did get to fortune.  I saw more fashion girls (models/designers) here than I expected: that means some of them finally hit drinking age.  And they don't got shows tomorrow (alcohol ruins makeup next day I heard from a makeup artist).  Maybe they do.  See, no drinks in their hands, they're responsible.

Anyways... the rest of the after party photos will come up after Fashion week.  They know where I sit.  They'll send their agent/boyfriend/dad after me if I post embarrassing photos of them.  (which there are none of, they were drinking diet cola or glass of water w/ lemon slice).

Hopefully they'll forget about me by next season.

Vancouver Fashion Week 2011 April Night 3

This was a long day at Vancouver Fashion Week.  Doors opened late- probably some logistics issue, there were a dozen designers to be featured that day:
Andrea Hilbrecht, Wilber Tellez, Brittany Wacher, Liuba Palanciuc, Melissa Squire, Queenie Luo, Sarah Runnalls, Pouneh Askarian, Tanya Min Jee Ellis, Mackenzie Sam, Elen Danielle, Story of a Girl + Blushing Designs - Shelley Klassen

Anyways, by the time the footage was offloaded, I was too tired to go to the after party.  It's okay, I'll go to one later.  I very much enjoy nightclub photography... probably because I get to walk around instead of getting stuck in one spot all day.

Looking forward to another awesome show today.

See more photos at my FLICKR! (I'm filming video most of the shows, but I'll be taking photos on the ones I'm not commissioned to do videos)

Vancouver Fashion Week 2011 April Night 2

It was Vancouver Fashion Week's (VFW) first runway show of 2011.  Up for the first night was Patricia Fieldwalker, Rosalita McGee, Valerio Moda and Lace Embrace Atelier showing off their designs for the Fall/Winter 2011 Collections.

Some highlights included the men's fashion in Valerio Moda Collection (for me anyways...), and a burlesque-esque show put on by Lace Embrace.

Any of the shows I wasn't commissioned to do videos for, I took photos (since I was already there, why not).  You can find the photoset for Rosalita McGee at my Flickr.

Vancouver Fashion Week 2011 April Opening Gala

I was invited down to the Vancouver Fashion Week 2011 Opening Gala yesterday as a videographer for House of Leo Productions.  They are endorsed directly by VFW and contracted me in to take footage for the entire week.

I'll be in the media section at the end of the runway taking footage for the whole week.  See if you can spot me.

*See the full set of photos at my FLICKR!

Kiwi adventures

This is a photo of a valley up a river somewhere in Taranaki in New Zealand.

I am out here taking photos and doing some filming.

Equipment list below:

Entry to DigitalRev TV Contest

This is my entry in to DigitalRev TV's fan contest.

Emma describes the contents of my camera bag.  Then she walk around the streets of Vancouver and does some street photography.

This was a fun short side project that didn't take long to make.  There was no script, and it was a run and gun shoot project with limited time and no crew.  Which is part of the appeal, and contributes to the look of the video.  Taking an afternoon off to do small projects like this really mixes things up.
Watch the followup instructional video, How to Clean your Camera Lens: HERE!

Mexican Adventures Part V: Calakmul, and Preview of the Film

Preview video for the film

This is the last entry in the Mexican Adventures series.  See the previous entries here:

First Episode: Mexican Adventures Part I: Introduction
Second Episode: Mexican Adventures Part II: Road Travel
Third Episode: Mexican Adventures Part III: Pazahol
Fourth Episode: Mexican Adventures Part IV: Sorgal

See the other pictures from this trip at my Flickr site!

This is day 15.

For this day, we visited Calakmul, a site of mayan ruins and a tourist attraction.  Afterwards, we headed out to Balam-ku.  We stopped along the way to capture footage and photos of Animals.