Where do I start? I’ll try and avoid writing a book about my experience this past weekend….It was an event I had been stressing over and excited over for quite sometime. Months in the planning had finally become a reality and the time was now. Shooting a “commercial” for Scooter Ray and his amazing pieces. Not your standard commercial, more of a fictional abstract story, that really hits home with Scooter’s personal family life. Dreamy and out of the world. From the beginning I wanted to do something a bit different with this, something that would really make a mark and be a staple for Scooter Ray Designs.

It all came down to the wire. I was still answering emails and making phone calls less than 48 hours to shoot time. In the end things panned out, the locations had been setup, calls had been made and the shots lined up.

I was extremely stoked to work with Katie Justis, a beautiful person inside and out. I loved her work with Scooter in the past and I’m glad I was given the opportunity. Scooter and Katie we’re set to play the “on screen duo” and play out this entire story of love and life.

The first shoot was set for the Peterson Dumesnil house thanks to my dear friend Emilie! Gear had been setup and lights we’re ready to go and we started knocking out shots on our treatment(shot outline). Things we’re running smooth, even with a couple of mishaps here and there(like me tripping over a LED light and it exploding everywhere).

We asked a family friend Melinda who had access to a flat black 67’ Pontiac GTO, to bring it out for the weekend. She was gracious enough to agree and be available for an hour or two each day. Spending some time in the car, out in the cold and back in the house we grabbed all the right shots and wrapped up right on schedule. There was a reason to celebrate and celebrate we did, VIP style. Day #2 would come early…

It was pretty overcast and dreary that Sunday afternoon, but it didn’t stop anything, the energy remained at a good level throughout the day and into the night. We were able to get access to a diesel truck mechanic shop for the “CORE” shots, thanks to close friends Corey Heim and Patrick Wesley. The shoot was a quick one and we grabbed all the clips needed, packed up our gear and his the road to The Grand Theater where we would close the weekend up with nearly 25 extras, 6 photogs, 4 assistants and one badass car.

It started off fairly slow. Things we’re running a bit behind and I was slightly stressed, directing a group of 30 people isn’t easy. Our generator was acting up and some of the extras that signed up didn’t show up. I had to do some re-working of the shots and direct the extras in more of a mob scene then red carpet scene. I scanned through a few of the clips and a feeling of relief cave over me, it was really good stuff. It wasn't cheesy or un-realistic and on the other hand it wasn't flat or subtle. From that point on, I was confident that this thing could really be killer. The raw footage came out above and beyond my original vision. The energy was through the roof and everyone rocked it, onlookers I’m sure thought we had some real celebs in our presence.

After Josh Eskridge grabbed a few quick shots with the car and talent, we packed up and headed off to the local pizza pub down the road for a beer to close out one of the most fun weekends I’ve had in quite sometime. I came home imported the footage and went directly to bed!

Scooter is an amazing person and I can’t think him enough for all the doors he has opened for me.

I owe this to an amazing crew of people and the results should surely show that…

On Screen Talent: Scooter Ray, Katie Justis

Car: Melinda Allen

Locations: Emilie Heim Pfeiffer @ Peterson Dumesnil House, Corey Heim and Patrick Wesley @ Wesley Trucking, Tena @ The Grand

Assistant to Katie and Scooter: Joanna Baptiste, Jeanette Moore, Tammy Wiseman, Greg Justis

Assistants: Chris Miske, Alex Ruidiaz

Photographer Extras: Joey Goldsmith, Missy Brown, Josh Eskridge and more!

All the extras!

THANK YOU!

Here are a few un-color corrected screen-shots from the upcoming feature for Scooter Ray Designs…