As I’m sure a lot of you have noticed, BenjaminGaskell.com has TOTALLY CHANGED.
I’ve been soooo busy with projects that it’s become hard to keep up with blog posting. Deadlines and production schedules are paramount!

In fact I’ve also had some server storage issues which have messed with the photos getting displayed on the blog, so for the next little while.. things will be a little bit defunct on this “old” version of my website! I apologize!

That’s basically why I’ve opted for an uber-minimal website that shows the reel, the resume, and the contact info. I know I’ll get back to blogging, but this season is pretty frantic. MORE TO COME. Eventually!

I think the ratio might’ve been about 1 mile of walking per 5 minutes of video, on average…. and I shot a lot of video. I haven’t been in Austin for very long, and so my exposure of the downtown area was pretty limited. SXSW changed that entirely. When I get a few projects taken care of, I’ll post some of my footage from the festival. Between the celebrities, bands, and explosions… I have quite a bit to show off. MORE TO COME!

Left to right: Isaac Hammons, Dustin Cross, & Jonathan Carbonaro

It started off with this low pitched buzzing sound. I’ve got my index finger resting on the power switch of the Canon 7D I’ve mounted on the rear-most roll-bar of this mid-60′s MG sports car that’s been frankenstiened into an ultra high performance racing machine. The buzzing breaks into a roaring that must’ve been what a pack of WW2 fighter planes sounded like. It’s getting closer.

The plan is to flip the power switch, thumb the 2 cm record button, check to see the red light, pull down the last strand of gaff tape, and give a dorky thumbs up to the driver to go racing off with my $3,200 worth of camera gear into a pack madness. Oh, and my favorite hat was also gaff taped to the camera as well. I have to do this 4 step process at a carefully timed pace so that Jay, the driver, will reach the pace lap pack just as the rest of the crowd hits the finish line. This is carefully thought out plan is to get those most out of the camera’s rigid restrictions.

It all felt a little absurd, to be honest, like.. how detached can I become emotionally to my own little digital paintbrush (the 7D) for the art form that I’m entirely addicted to (Cinematography). The whole reason we had to do this highly coordinated button pushing deal was simply for Canon’s avoidance of paying some stupid Tariff on cam-corder imports to the european market, or something along those lines. All I know is this:

My 7D has 12 minutes to capture 60P footage of Jay doing what he does best. Pushing his MG race car to it’s very limits against some of the most talented drivers in the state of Texas. I do look forward to future camera models to allow for less absurd circumstances, I look forward to bigger budgets, and fancier cameras. I look forward to when I’ll miss these days.

A rough edit: C.V.A.R. from Benjamin Gaskell on Vimeo.

It’s actually quite funny to watch myself become overly consumed by these projects as I draw nearer to the final product. The final render. I love electronica and dirty indie bands that throw much of the assets of musicianship out the window. I enjoy the beating heart of a broken drum sample with 8 bit pads swelling into uncertainty. This is not the band Theory of flight, but I love them for it.

I’m not sure how to maintain the fine line of drawing out a description and simply gushing over the details that I tried to portray in the EPK. To have visually expressed the notion of musical expression…  this takes a near obsession with the project, I think. Does this mean I am obsessed with Theory of Flight?  I would be competing with droves of hot, young females.

Without a doubt, these guys are not only an amazing band, but genuinely nice individuals. Each one brings this different flavor and character to the group that, as a whole, is certainly something extraordinary. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to not only work on this project, but to just be involved with the path of success that I know these guys are on. Plus the music is seriously great.

Theory of Flight, EPK from Benjamin Gaskell on Vimeo.

Look for these guys at SXSW, playing at The Parish. March 19th.

Well, sort of. The editing gig was on MG Studios’ 3 camera production for J. W. Marriott / Southern Wine and Spirits. I spent a week and a half fine tuning the rough cuts for about 42 training segments, Each segment had a duration from 3 to 6 minutes. It was a pretty big project, I had just over 2 terabytes of HD & 2K footage (we had a Red One as a master shot) to process. It wasn’t until the last 2 or 3 days I got to hang out with Francesco Lafranconi while we finished cutting the material together for the client.

There is a certain thrill to putting these pieces together, but I must admit…. and it must be said that 9 straight 12 hour days spent cutting an industry piece is certainly, and mind numbingly, a trial.

So, the point of the post.. FRANCESCO IS A SWEET HEART. The man is the absolute epitome of a good natured Italian. One who is professional and courteous, but insistently attuned to life’s essential small pleasures. Everyone must surely require these things: A light hearted song, a fine execution of culinary skill, a good joke or two told among friends, and a respect for a beautifully constructed cocktail.

The term Ben has had firmly lodged into his brain for the month of January: “Flavor Profile”

As a parting gift, Francesco insisted I take a bottle of 12 year aged Bowmore scotch whiskey. A fine example of what a scotch should be. A beautiful peaty taste with a finely placed bite towards the end.
this is the part where I admit I have spent far to many hours editing the commentary of a skilled mixologist describe the composition of about 50 or so different cocktails. haha.

I’m grateful to MG Studio, Southern Wine & Sprits, and of course Francesco Lafranconi.

The city of New York, without question, is like no other place I have experienced.
This place doesn’t breathe, this city just has asthma. I love it.

I stop myself from gushing my devotion for a place I spent a mere week in, but I will say this:
I have been changed and simply inspired. My world instantly became much larger and smaller in the time I spent there. I will be back.

Two things of note from my trip to NYC:

My opportunity to camera op for Animal Monday Productions. This really made my first trip to New York much more of a lasting experience.
To be in Union Square park alongside some charming brits shooting secondaries and B-roll for an upcoming advertising piece. The crew, especially on a smaller budget project, worked very efficiently and were very careful to make a concentrated effort to create the kind of environment that lends itself to a creative effort. To a producing very powerful piece of art. I learned a great deal by watching Dom, Kat, and Will. Hopefully I didn’t come off too much like an ignorant American. =D

The production was aimed at producing promotional video content for the non-profit organization “Brains on Bikes,” by telling the remarkable story of a brain cancer survivor that managed to overcome the odds. To understate it, I was moved by her story and inspired by her ability to simply go on. To not give up.

Check out http://www.brainsonbikes.com/ for the details, and eventually the pieces we shot.

And secondly…. Lauren.

It is Thursday, December 17th. 2009. I am in a taxi on the way to Lauren’s mother’s apartment in Chelsey. She is holding my hand. To my left, past the silhouette of her, I see a larger silhouette. It is the city. It is the buildings of Manhattan island. I can feel the taxi shake every 4 seconds as it passes over the seams along the bridge. It gives the moment a pulse. The camera is raised up to my face, and I look into the viewfinder. The pulse slows. I take 8 photos with my hand rolling the focus in between each shot. As I take these photos I can feel the sense of something new stirring in my angsty-artistic self. I believe I have entered a new chapter in my life…

I have entered New York.

More photos of my trip to come. See them on flickr.

The Red and I take TWO sugars, thank you very much.

First, I must say I always jump at the chance to be a part of any production my brother puts together. He’s the kind of creative director who is, and I say this relative to many other creative directors whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with, highly skilled at staying purely focused on the project’s goal. I dunno if that’s sayin’ much, as the guy is my brother, but I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Gosh, I look like such a geek.

So the project was not unlike your typical multi-camera broadcast piece. We had 3 cameras, The Red One as our primary master shot, a Canon 5D mk2, and my 7D (sitting pretty in one of those redrock micro cages, replete with follow focus) used for tighter shots on our subject. Each camera was sending HDMI out, which caused a LOT of hassle for the 5D mk II, and a lot less on the 7D. The subject was drink making. Specifically cocktails, ranging from your standards to your super-ultra-deliciously obscure.

I didn’t think it was possible, but my appreciation for the varieties alcohol has increased. Kidding.

The crew for MG Studio's Marriott production, San Francisco location

Also of note, I lost my voice about halfway through the first day of shooting. As I type this with a fully developed cold on my chest, I find myself revisiting highly amusing memories of impersonating various voices that I couldn’t have possibly been able to without the lost voice. Walking through the streets of San Francisco with the voice of a drunkin’ sailor but the body of a skinny white kid, scratching out various syllables like I’m Leonard Cohen. I had the crew laughing enough.

Photos you see here were shot by the above mentioned Laura Glines, amazing photographer who does some great work in the Las Vegas area. I look forward to being on the MGStudio crew again. =D

Did we pull the look off?

Now, normally I wouldn’t mention what essentially is a collection of high school portraits, but.. these are a bit different:

4 points of light here, with 2 reflection surfaces. Casey did all the post work as well.

8 minutes after crossing the grand canyon

I want to say that I don’t know what I’m doing here, but really, I know exactly why I’m here. I’m here to turn my portfolio into something else. I’m here to perfect my craft. I’m here to learn and grow.

I am intimidated, not really by the city or the people. Just that notion that probably exists in everyone’s mind, the one that makes you wonder if you know what you’re doing. It actually is probably the thing that keeps all of this exciting.

This is where I’ll quit gushing and tell you about the day I left.

The drive was long. insanely long. It was great though, because as some of you might know, Utah was a place I wasn’t sure if I ever fit in. I didn’t know if it was my home, I mean..  I’m not religious. I’m not one of those hippy-hiker dudes. I just kind of.. was.   As the last week of my departure arrived, My perspective changed. Everything was caste in such a different light that I realized how much I robbed myself of friendships and love, all because I was in my own head. All because I was so preoccupied with the study of photography and video production. I neglected friends. I neglected family.

Shot while driving, thus the slight forward motion blur, haha

So, It is 1:14 pm on Tuesday, the 24th of November. I am standing my parents living room crying. I’m looking at the spot where I remember arguing, and laughing, and crying, and loving, and being loved. To visit the parents house before this quasi-romantic journey which isn’t as big as I make it out to be. This is to break my heart again. This is to see what I will miss with all of my heart. My family.

Also of note, before I left I shot some stills for my niece and her room mates. It was fun, and..  something I am really grateful to have experienced. We shot something that might fall between vampiric and psychobilly. Not a lot of variety there, but I did entertain myself by using the much despised burn&dodge technic to really craft the light into something a bit more on the commercial side of interesting. The progression as a professional is slow, but constant. I’m not finished yet.

5 points of light here, 3 hard-ish, 2 diffused

More to come.