Anyone who really knows me knows that I loves films (well, the good ones, at least) and I've always had a fascination with film making. In fact, back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper (or perhaps a little taller), I thought I was going to be a successful "practical special FX artist"... (This was back before the computer based visual FX revolution changed everything in case my height description isn't enough of a clue!).

And when computer graphics strutted onto the scene with their sheer coolness, I simply did what all the cool kids who were just like me did, I tweaked my goal. Screw practical special FX! I wanted to be a "computer special FX artist". Oh yeah.

Problem was, I was in Maine at the time. And the northeastern part of the United States aint exactly a hotspot for the special FX industry. So again, I did what all the cool kids who where just like me, living exactly where I was living did...

I started in "multimedia" and then transitioning into creating art for video games. And that's the career ("computer graphics artist") I eventually settled into...for several years. It's what the cool kids were doing. Or at least the ones named Zero. ;)

And now, several years after I picked my jaw off the floor after watching some amazingly cool, computer-related thingamajig that made me want to be a computer graphics artist, I'm a photographer.

In Hollywood!

I know, that one kinda threw me for a loop, too! It's not exactly the sort of thing I would have predicted for myself. And I'm still adapting to it. The world works in mysterious ways.

In any case, I may be a photographer now, but I still love films. I love how the various pieces of a film production come together and how really good films are much greater than the sum or their parts. And none of this actually has anything to do with computer graphics.

Anyway, now that I'm working in the entertainment capital of the world, my connection to "the biz" is getting stronger the longer I live here. Which makes sense because I now mostly work with actors, entertainers, and models.

Well, about 10 minutes ago I got a call from a filmmaker interested in having me shoot some promotional photos of him for his film (he's also the main actor in it). Low budget, as you may expect.

The phone call got me thinking about working with filmmakers... and then I had this selfish thought that I could somehow get involved with the filmmaking process at a more intimate (or at least more direct level).

But how does one do that? Well, if you're me, you write about it in your blog and hope some of the "powers that be" and people of influence notice. No rush. ;)

Soooo... I just wanted it to be known to any filmmakers out there (and I'm mostly directing that at the really low budget folks out there, since the bigger budget guys already have their "unit photographers" who do this professionally) that if you have any interest in having a photographer shoot some behind-the-scenes still images and/or some promotional-related photos for your production, I'm available.

In fact, I think I'd be thrilled to be a part of something like that, especially small independent films. Heck, I might even take some decent photos (ok, ok, I will!). ;)

And I've also heard from a pretty good source that my rate for such a thing will often accomodate a practically non-existent budget (at least for now as it's something I get introduced to and get more experience with).

So if you're a filmmaker or know a filmmaker who might be interested, let's talk! :)

Zero Dean

If you like my blog and want to be notified when I post something new, subscribe to it.