The Turning of the Tide

The rapid growth of technology that was birthed alongside computers has brought forth a new generation: the millenials. Also known as GENERATION Y, this refers to anyone born between 1970 and 2000. A significant increase in birth rates between 1982 and 1995 would suggest that this generation is heavily comprised of the people born between those two years; this generation will have reached their forties and full influence starting in 2030.

Being born into a world with computers has created a large rift between generation y and it's predecessor generation x. Shortsightedness in the face of the future has lead to the climate crisis and no effective way to manage social security and in turn "take care of the elderly". Perhaps the millennials' tendency to embrace technology and leave tradition behind has influenced how often technologies are updated and deepened the desire to truly care about the future.

Guys like Elon Musk (born in 1971) are making sure of it. He is the CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors. Tesla motors, is looking to mass produce a fully electric sporty seven-seater sedan, the Tesla Model S, starting in 2012 priced at $57K. According to Tesla it's equivalent to internal combustion engine vehicles with a retail value of $35K. Revolutionarily, Tesla will offer three levels of batteries: 160 mpc(miles per charge) 230mpc and 300mpc; they can readily be charged at standard 120 and 240 volt outlets. 0-60 in 5.5 seconds- this is no toy electric car.

The thoughts of never experiencing weightlessness are no longer a dream, granted that you have an extra $200K to spare; Virgin Galactic is the first of many commercial sub-orbital spaceflight companies; their "Space Ship Two" uses a hybrid rocket powered engine and feathered re-entry glide system making it a rather green spaceship.

Countries have even begun judging their technological prowess and development based on their ability to create an android with even a glimmer of Artificial Intelligence. The first applications of these android robots have been to interact with humans and understand our world in many very simple ways that we take for granted. In the process, we stand to learn a lot about ourselves and our cognitive abilities. This may force education on the world; robots could "steal" quite a few jobs in the near future, it may also call for increased bureaucracy.

We have started to push the barriers of technology. This is just to say that a generation birthed into a world ramified by computers will give birth to a world fully integrated with them.

We also have the privilege to witness the rebirth of Art as it adapts to the growth of technology. The past decade was numb. Music has never been more generic and Mainstream movies have been mummified. Even what people have dubbed "indie" is no longer really at the soul of the next great movement in film. What happened to the "nouvelle vague" and renaissances that had become common place in the 60s,70s, and 80s?

Look no further, that time seems to have come. The revolutionary artistic intuition that etched the years like 1969, 1982 and 1988 in the minds of so many people across generations is afoot; a maturing "generation y" is using technology to its full potential and to influence the next "New Wave". Be on the look out for Authorized Dealer Films, specializing in making every genre in film feel like intuitively keen art. Just a heads up! The revolution is in session for about 20 or 30 years give or take a few...

Revolution

The Red One is Awesome

With the release of the RED ONE™ digital cinema camera, the possibility of recording stunning, cinematic-quality images with an affordable camera became a reality.
Produced by Red Digital Cinema Camera Company, The Red One captures in 4k; a higher resolution than any other digital camera out there today. In creating RED One, Jannard and company decided to apply the concepts of digital still photographic technology to a moving image camera. The Red One successfully records more data, down to the smallest detail, like a drop of water on a pair of sunglasses or the amber of a cigar. With a high noise to signal ratio, The Red Camera also records great sound.

When the Red Camera was first announced, over 5,000 cameras were on reserve. The anticipation for the technology was high and great expectations were met. RED One proved itself out in the field, providing shots in the action film Wanted and the sci-fi fantasy Jumper, as well as 100% of the acquisition on Steven Soderbergh’s Guerilla, The Argentine and The Informant. In addition, the directing team that brought you the digitally shot Crank is also shooting their upcoming Game as an all-RED feature film production. Not to mention many lower-profile productions ranging from commercials and music videos to small indie film projects.

The camera is not only ingenious but also very practical. You can do creative editing using a laptop, even though you’re linked to 4k media. RED Digital Cinema recommends Apple Final Cut Pro 6.0.2 if you intend to cut a project today. With the Redcode codec installed, you can import the QuickTime reference files and immediately start editing, although Apple isn’t actually promoting this workflow. If you intend to do a lot of RED editing, then an octo-core Mac Pro is in your future. It is definitely possible on a fast machine to place the bigger proxies (2048 x 1024) on a ProRes HD timeline, render and master to tape – all without leaving Final Cut Pro.


[SOURCE]

New Authorized Dealer Films logo

Check out the new logo for ADF films. What do you think?

Inception and Donald Duck

Inception's auteur, Christopher Nolan, might have been inspired by a Donald Duck comic. If this is true, I think its awesome!

In "Uncle Scrooge: The Dream of a Lifetime," the thieving Beagle Boys gang use a special machine to enter Scrooge McDuck's dreams and steal the combination to his safe. Donald Duck and his nephews find Scrooge and the thieves sleeping, and Donald must enter the dream to foil the plot. When someone falls in the dream, they immediately wake up. And if Scrooge is awakened before the Beagle Boys, both parties will be "doomed."

In "Inception," Leonardo DiCaprio is the leader of a team that enters other people's dreams to steal information. The dream thieves can only be snapped awake by a dramatic fall, called a "kick," to their body. On its most dangerous assignment, the team has to penetrate deeper into the dream world -- and risks being trapped in it.

[SOURCE]

To read the comic book [CLICK HERE]

Spirit Animal "Makin it Work" Video Shoot

Last week, the Authorized Dealer Films' team were working diligently on a music video for Spirit Animal's single "Makin' It Work." Geoffrey Jean-Baptiste (ADF's founder) oversaw the project as Assistant Director and Production Manager, while Kareem Rogers (partner) flawlessly captured Director Jonas Elrod's vision. The shoot is wrapped up and we are very excited about the outcome.

I went to go see Spirit Animal perform at Don Hill's in Soho, and fell in love instantly. The band is best described as a cross between electro funk and rock n' roll. Steve Cooper is the lead singer and this guy's energy on stage is insane! He really connected with his audience and delivered every song he performed with enthusiasm. You can tell that he is passionate about what he does.
His resume includes opening for M.I.A, holding a few spots on NBC and, most recently, being featured in Nike Stadium's World Cup Promos [view here].
Spirit Animal has a very particular, innovative sound, and we are thrilled to have been able to work with them.

You can listen to "Makin' it Work" here:

Please stay tuned for the Video Premier. In the meantime you can check out our reel (shot with the amazing red camera) which features excerpts from the project [click here]

Meta and The Cornerstones

Last night I attended Meta and The Cornerstones' performance at Sullivan Hall. The Brooklyn, NY band is comprised of:

Meta Dia - Lead Singer
Raja Kassis - Guitar
Adrian Djoman - Bass
Shahar Mintz - Guitar
Daniel Serrato -Drums
Aya Kato - Keyboard
Sierra Carrère- Vocals

I was so excited to see them play, I got there early! *shock* Only to have to wait an hour before the show could start, and approximately two hours before
Meta and The Cornerstones' performed. BUT... it was absolutely worth the wait. This group is the truth! The entire night I did not dance, until they were on stage (even the waitress noticed).
The band successfully combines lyricism, sound, and "good times" *insert Jamaican accent*.
Meta's voice is intoxicating. The young Senegalese artist, does not miss a note and has an energy about him that is warm and hypnotizing. It is to no surprise that even on a rainy Sunday night, they were able to bring in a full house.
Among the eleven songs played, my favorite were: "Bahia" "Somewhere in Africa" "Buffalo-Tijani" "Silence of the Moon" and "Loneliest People."

I am really excited at the thought that Authorized Dealer Films could collaborate with the artist for a music video project. We'll keep you posted on any updates.

In a nutshell Meta and The Cornerstones : Peace, Love, and absolute wonderful Harmony.

THEOPHILUS LONDON - I WANT YOU

I like this video... It reminds me a little of "Un Homme et Une Femme" (A Man and A Woman, 1966)

Its all about the visual

THEOPHILUS LONDON "I WANT YOU" (OFFICIAL VIDEO) dir. VASHTIE from va$htie on Vimeo.

MORTAL KOMBAT REBIRTH 2010

I HOPE SOMEONE PICKS THIS UP! The concept revolves around realism, although Director Kevin Tancharoen would oblige to supernatural elements if "done in a tasteful way"

Please say it is so...

AUTHORIZED DEALER FILMS VIDEO REEL

CHECK OUT THE WORLD THROUGH THE LENS OF THE RED CAMERA



http://www.authorizeddealerfilms.com/4k.html

Day 3 of Wembe Commercial

Shooting began at 4:30AM in order to catch the first rays of sunrise needed for the opening scene. Most of the crew wasn’t required for that particular shot, so many of us
arrived at a more decent hour, save for our feline friends who had to show up bright and early to “get into character” at Wembé HQ in trendy DUMBO. To see the look on their
faces when the coffee arrived was absolutely priceless!
After a bit of a slow start, we crossed the bridge and set up near the South Street
Seaport. Our actresses got a few touch ups, but setup was quick and we got great footage with very few takes.
At this point, the crew had had ample downtime to chat and become more familiar
with one another, so the atmosphere had improved considerably on Thursday- in one
corner, you would find a circle of people talking shop, making jokes, while in another,
some contemplated the origin of personality archetypes. We all felt relaxed, but anxious to get shooting…
After the seaport we headed a few blocks down to the historic Battery Park to
shoot some scenes. The sun had finally emerged from behind the clouds, and so the
bright light made for few retakes. All the while, random people walking around the set
were meowing and calling out to the tigers and cheetahs. If they were lucky, they got to take their picture with them!
Towards the end of the day, we were a bit more pressed for time, since one
of the actresses had a time constraint. In order to move from Battery Park to our final
destination as efficiently as possible, every crewmember carried whatever they could
throw over their shoulders or hold in their hands to move to Broadway, right by the
Wall Street bull. The final scene was just as effortless to film as the rest of the day.
Surprisingly, we finished on time! We took a final picture all together and ultimately
parted ways after packing up.

Day 2 of Wembe Commercial

After a difficult first day we knew that Day 2 had to be flawless. 8:00 A.M. alarm goes off. This time we meet in BROOKLYN! That definitely means the day will be a lot better. I arrive at the Wembe office and am welcomed with the rich smell of soap. All kinds of soaps, labeled with exotic names and resembling cubic works of art. The office is humble, and the energy is positive and calm. Wembe’s logo is painted on the white wall. I look at it the whole time I’m there. Its clean, effortless, and really cool. Tiger arrives the same time I do. She looks so different without her make-up on, it took me awhile to realize who she was. At this point we are a little behind schedule because of the immense work that has to go into prep. But everything else is running smoothly. After five hours of prep and lunch, the team heads out to 12th street and University place for the first scene of the day. Today my role is: BEHIND-THE-SCENES footage (insert chair here.) I follow the team as we walk the busy streets of New York and the on-lookers who are in awe with Tiger and Leopard. Pictures are being taken, which will ultimately be uploaded unto some social networking. Did I mention that the body-painter did an amazing job? “Hey! What are you guys shooting?” “Is this for a movie?” “Guess what?! I’m going to be in a movie!” A few exclamations from the pedestrians.

Finally at our destination, we didn’t waste any time to start shooting. Daylight was slipping through our fingers. “CAMERA ROLLING… and ACTION!” The scene goes off without a hitch. Red Camera active and working, Steady-Cam set-up to perfection, and ice cold bottles of water and towelettes to cool us off. The energy was positive and the emotion: Happy! And I was having so much fun holding an ultra expensive and super technologically advanced camera. Yeah, I definitely felt cool (so official). The actors were so on point in depicting the Director’s (who is smiling) vision, and the scene is so funny! Dancing, ridiculous movements, equate to a perfect scene 2. I can’t wait for Day 3….

Day 1 of Wembe Commercial

9:30 A.M. I arrive on set in Queens. To no surprise, Jean-Emmanuel, the director for this project, is giving direction and coaching the actors. Authorized Dealer Film’s production manager is present as expected; our own Geoffrey Jean-Baptiste but we call him G. He is coordinating organization with the assistant director making sure everyone is in place and executing their tasks (lights, set decoration, etc…)The location for today’s shoot is a studio apartment. Once through the door you find yourself in the living room: two sofas sit against their own walls and a big wooden bureau is placed only a few feet away from the entrance. You walk another ten feet and you reach the small kitchen, with its wooden cupboards and crimson tile floors. Two French doors determine the kitchen’s end, into the beautifully decorated bathroom: a vintage four-leg tub, large leaves to decorate and set the Amazonian atmosphere, and a table piled with the lovely smelling Wembe soaps. Actress A is sitting on the couch and is rocking the tiger body paint. For the rest of the shoot I call her Tiger. Actress B is being painted, she’s Leopard. Seeing those two painted so perfectly as the roles they were to play made me anxious and excited about how the rest of the day would unfold. The atmosphere was pleasant and everyone seemed in good spirits despite the heat.
However, Jean-Emmanuel forgot to mention the chaos that can ensue onset: so I will give you the juicy details of Day 1 on Wembe Commercial.

My role today is: STYLIST (insert chair here), which means I chose Tiger and Leopard’s wardrobe and accessories. Unfortunately, day-of, the Director was not too happy with the looks anymore. So I have to spend a very hot 3 hours roaming the streets of midtown in order to accommodate his vision. Once back onset, I settle in front of the fan to cool off, and notice G huffing and puffing on the phone. He is dealing with permit issues. Misinformed and upset about his wasted trip to the Mayor’s office, he thinks of ways to resolve the problem. But the clock is ticking and time is of the essence here.
So, as they deal with the permit issue, we begin to get the room ready for the shoot, moving furniture around and cleaning the area a bit: “The couch should go there.” “Yeah and lets move the desk this way.” “Can we get rid of those heaters?” The point was to make the studio look like it was being lived in.
We are finally ready for scene 1. Well, almost ready. G is still on the phone dealing with the mayor’s office regarding permit issues. The clock is ticking and time is of the essence here.
Kareem Rogers, director of photography for Authorized Dealer Films, is prepping the Red cam. This requires some explanation for those of you that are unfamiliar with the device. You see; the Red Camera is a device that comes with a whole bunch of gadgets and wires and plugs. Then there is the Steady-Cam that requires a whole team of set-up all on its own: balancing the weight of the camera, to the weight of the cameraman, so the shifting and movement can be facilitated, etc. a bunch of technical stuff. But we manage to quickly put the camera together and get some great shots with it. I had lots of laughs from watching the scenes! The actors were really into character and did a great job in portraying their roles. The cats were stalking and feverishly sniffing for the Wembe soaps as the King of the Cats was leading them to the apartment. The naked girl in the bathtub scene was my favorite of the day. “CUT!”
When we declared “WRAP-UP!” everyone was all too happy to go home and shower. As the day comes to a close, I remember what Jean-Emmanuel said in the interview: “We are all links in a chain and each individual contribution is necessary and important.” (see Jean-Emmanuel Interview Post for more information).

Quaterly Art Soiree

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Love Lost featured at Webster Hall’s Quaterly Art Soiree

07/08/2010

The Quaterly Art Soiree is an event dedicated to exposing, exhibiting, and promoting the talents in the creative industries. They showcase the art forms at Webster Hall – a venue that embodies NYC’s dynamic East Village and also portrays its rich cultural history. The Quaterly Art Soiree’s (QAS) main mission it to remain true and “organic” to NYC’s art form and give it a natural, communal environment in which it can be explored. All participants in the QAS have been selected and juried by the founding curators- Gerard McNamee and Jenny Mushkin.

Authorized Dealer Films is humbled and excited to have been invited this Sunday July 11th, 2010 to the QAS event, The production company’s film will be in the same circle as – Built 2 Burn Fashion Show, Dillion Porter’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Caterina Ogar’s Dance Company.

Authorized Dealer Films is top bill at the venue, and will be showing Love Lost- The Director’s Cut.
Love Lost is a film about love’s progression- the ecstasy, joy, pain, and betrayal. It is the raw depiction of a man falling in love and then falling into heartbreak. As the protagonist is confronted with his pain, he questions the concept and relevance of Love, something we can all relate to. The director’s cut features scenes that were neglected in the original, as well as special effects, and original music composed by David Martinez.

This will not be Authorized Dealer Films’ first time appearing at Webster Hall. With a turnout of 100 + people during the original Love Lost’s screening, we are eager to see what we can expect this time around.

#####


Maude Delice
press@authorizeddealerfilms.com
646.263.4520

Director Jean-Emmanuelle Godart Interview

It’s a Sunday summer night in New York City. It’s hot, it’s humid, and the traffic’s thick air just adds to the discomfort. The only reason I am not home in front of the AC is because I am headed to a Brooklyn BBQ, the perfect way to celebrate the summer. The stop is Flushing Ave. off the G line, Williamsburg; the hipster and artsy Mecca of New York, arguably the center for the “Brooklyn Renaissance.” How appropriate of a setting then, for interviewing Paris-born director Jean-Emmanuelle Godart. The 22 year old is set to direct the Wembe commercial, and will ultimately help realize its eccentric feline concept (see Wembe Commercial post for more information.)

The destination: an open concept apartment with high ceilings and wooden floors, I’m in love. I say hello to the shirtless DJ spinning Eric B and Rakim, pass the Christmas lights decorated living room and kitchen and head towards the window: as in the window that leads out to a rooftop BBQ! Well more like a bonfire at this point, its 9:20 p.m.

Small talk with the colleagues, and a couple of beers later I am finally introduced to Jean-Emmanuelle Godart. The case study: golden locks, an easy t-shirt/shirt combination, a slim fitted pair of jeans, and of course a deep articulate French accent.

- How would you describe a typical day on set?

Exciting with a large sense of community. I love that excited feeling when preparing to shoot and knowing that I have a great team, a great support system. We are all links in a chain and each individual contribution is necessary and important.

- Why did you get into this line of work?

I always had a love for the visual. In my opinion, the image, especially in our current day and age, is very powerful. Not only is it very powerful, but it also gives power. I think it’s an amazing tool. I appreciate the different layers provided by the image and how one can utilize this or how we choose to interpret it.

- Who is your favorite director? Why?

The first one would be Bertolucci. He’s an Italian director. Have you heard of him? I remember watching his movie Les Dreamers and that movie just made me want to become a director. I felt inspired by some of the scenes and the passion that was evoked in them. Next, Tim Burton. He’s a man that allows the spectator to change environments, worlds. His movie Big Fish is a testimant to this. The way the real and the dream are so related, it makes you think. And finally Klapisch. He’s a French director. He’s known for Les Poupees Russes and L’Auberge Espanol. I like him because of the small connotations that he makes in his films.

- Describe the perfect day.

I wake up early in the morning, with my wife by my side. Then, I head out to my production house. Afterwards, I’ll spend the rest of the day on different sets during shoots. And later on I’ll take a plane to screen foreign sets that are shooting some television series.

- What else interests you aside from the visual?

Current Events. Anything that has to do with what’s going on in the world today. Things like how we are affected by globalization and how it came to be.

- If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be?

Napoleon [a smile]. I respect him because he came from nothing, but he still managed to conquer the world. He succeeded in creating his Empire and continuously building, always wanting more.

- Who would you love to be able to work with?

Obama - a documentary about him. Because I believe that he is the pioneer of the New World, the Modern World, and he is one of the main sources for how our word is changing. He is definitely the pinnacle that defines the 21^st century.

- When you get projects, how important or inspired by the clients’ views are you?

At our age [a second smile] I think one has to be open to everything. It is important to be able to get inspired, but it’s more important to be able to be open to different kinds of projects and to create concepts, something refreshing and innovative, with whatever comes your way. Maybe having to be inspired by the clients will be something I will look for as I get older and more experienced, but not now.

- Do you have a favorite genre in film?

The documentary. The French method of filming, which is very different from the American method. Which almost always depicts the cliché of the hero who falls into some hurdle but then miraculously, and without much surprise, prevails. I don’t want my movies to be like that. I want to reveal what happens in everyday life. The problems that we face on a regular basis and how we deal with them, how real people deal with them.

- What makes a great actor?

To have a mind and expression that can radically change. He can adapt to a multitude of personalities and can easily adapt to every character he plays. He gets involved and develops an emotional connection with his character. He also has to be open. Talent isn’t always everything though. In castings, for example, it’s also about being able to have a feeling and connection with the actor. Johnny Depp is a great actor. In all of his roles he changes expressions, he never looks or acts the same. He is able to play multiple characters because of his ability to mold himself.

The interview lasted a cool twenty minutes. Jean-Emmanuel’s friends approached him about leaving shortly after. We said our goodbyes: French bise. Pleased with the outcome of the interview, I am psyched to see the Wembe commercial. We will be posting continuous updates and the commercial as soon as it’s done. Side note, I am also planning on watching Bertolucci’s Les Dreamers.

Project Balsamo

BALSAMO DOCUMENTARY

06/17/2010

The concept behind Authorized Dealer Films’ first documentary is Visual Art, an appropriate subject matter for a company that is so involved with the genre and its relevance to modern society.

The project will feature renowned artist John Balsamo (www.johnbalsamo.com), a New York native and successful Art Director who decided to dedicate his life to his passion.

John Balsamo has received many awards including:
* 2009----The John Spring Art Founder Award - National Sculpture Society
* 2008----Silver Medal of Honor – The Allied Artists of America

and has been featured in the Brooklyn Museum of Art as well as the following exhibits:
* 2010----Excalibur Bronze Sculpture 2010, Juried Group Sculpture Exhibition, N.Y.
* 2009----National Arts Club, The Allied Artists of America,
----------National Sculpture Society - 76th Annual Awards Exhibition
----------New York – February / May
----------Brookgreen Gardens, South Carolina - June / August

The documentary is dedicated to revealing the art world; showcasing the constant dialogue and exchange that exists between a New Yorker’s art and his environment.

Authorized Dealer Films’ ability to portray and directly relate to this subject matter will make for an especially important aspect of the documentary. Furthermore, this production is distinctive through its dual nature: as they are capturing the artist’s vision and passion, Authorized Dealer Film’s is giving the spectator an intimate portrayal, and ultimately its contribution, of the visual art form.


Maude Delice
press@authorizeddealerfilms.com
646.263.4520

Wembe Commercial

WEMBE COMMERCIAL

06/17/2010

First and foremost, we are proud to announce ownership of the Red Camera, a high performance digital camera allowing us to capture impeccable footage. Our first project is a commercial for Wembé, an organic soap company that prides itself on offering 100% natural luxurious cleansers (www.wembe.com).

The concept of the commercial entails a group of humanoid felines lost in New York City who try to find their way by seeking out “natural” scents. Ultimately, this leads them to the Wembé soaps. The commercial stars Xander Ferreira, a South African musician who was the opening act at the MK Awards 2010: www.yogazelle.com.

Authorized Dealer Films will be working diligently on all production aspects of this commercial. The company is pleased to expand on its skills and visual capabilities. This project will feature their unique and creative marketing/advertisement traits.

Our website and blog will feature behind the scenes footage and the final commercial. Stay tuned for more updates

Authorized Dealer Films

Authorized Dealer Films started with this Film: http://www.vimeo.com/12529779