Geoffrey and his crew recently wrapped Magic Castle - After Dark, a live-to-tape variety show shot at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. The show takes the audience on stage and behind the scenes to experience the craft of some of the most talented, up-and-coming magicians performing today. Think “Evening at the Improv” for magicians.

Working with show creator /director (and frequent AOTA collaborator) Jude Prest, Geoffrey served as series D.P., working with his lead team members: Lighting Designer Tarina Reed and cameraman Brad Haskell. This HD pilot for A&E involved extensive pre-lighting of the 100-year-old castle location, multiple steadicam shots, jib and dolly coverage, time-lapse photography, live multi-camera performance coverage, and more. The pilot premiered in December 2006. And while network brass tabulates the Nielson ratings, we’re keeping fingers crossed for a green light on the series.

Collaborating with Director Prema Ball, independent recording artist Josh Green, and My Reel Productions, Geoffrey recently wrapped principal photography on a new HD music video, shot exclusively with the Panasonic HVX-200, utilizing a 35mm lens adapter and Zeiss prime lenses.

This project featured an intricate and demanding night shoot on a very tight budget with several days of pick-ups that placed particularly heavy demands on our Art Department team. “We transformed a practical alley location that was absolutely pristine, into a post-apocalyptic disaster zone. Tarina Reed and her lighting crew went all out, going as far as slinging a maxi-brute light two stories high with a hand crank to give the shot the backlight punch required.

We utilized a full size F/X rutter fan and about 1000 pounds of newspapers, confetti, and trash to simulate the windy, desolate purgatory in which Josh performed the main sequence - a long stedicam master that ran the entire length of the song and the 140 foot alleyway. Steadicam operator Erwin Landau was just incredible, shooting backwards, at times at an all-out run, working over an uneven alley that had just been soaked by a water truck.

We had a hard time picking favorite shots from the 30-plus takes, since each one was amazing and nuanced. Art Director Logan Born and his crew were superb. Hauling in old rusty car pieces, couches, household appliances, and hundreds of feet of audiotape to billow in the wind, they scored cameos as bums in the video.”

The project incorporated extensive post-production visual F/X, green screen compositing, and motion tracking. Post-production will be completed in early 2007 with a world premier to follow. Check back for updates and streaming video soon!

Shooting in the facilities of renowned prop and special effects house Global Effects, Geoffrey and the AOTA team joined forces with Ugo Serrano, one of the entertainment industry’s premier armorers and custom metal fabricators. Ugo’s swords, armor, and unique sculpture have been featured in numerous films, including Tales of Riddick, Witchblade, Planet of the Apes, Mel Gibson’s The Passion, and Joss Whedon’s Firefly.

Frequently engaged as a lecturer on the topic of metallurgy and his unique craft, Ugo wanted to create a promotional piece, an electronic press kit, that captured his work as it was intended to be seen: in motion, dramatically lit, and with a degree of the production values of the films where his creations were featured.

This was a daunting task, due not only to Ugo’s prolific creativity, but also to a tight schedule and equally limited budget. Global Effects provided the studio space, and Geoffrey, Tarina Reed, Brad Haskell, Logan Born, and Brayton Carpenter swung into action. Since Ugo had provided much of the armor for our production of Empire, we had a familiarity, bond, and shorthand that allowed the shoot to progress very smoothly.

The production included simulated motion-control shots, jib and dolly work, vignettes approximating dramatic scenes from feature films, and fight scenes with stunt performers in head to toe steel armor. The resulting piece was extremely rewarding for all involved, and the completed presentation will make its debut in early 2007 on the university lecture circuit, as well as online at www.ugoserrano.com.

Geoffrey and writing partner Greg Derochie have just completed draft revisions on their first feature length writing collaboration, WAKING UP DEAD. This project represents a year’s worth of development and writing effort. They are planning a table read-through in early January before the final draft begins the rounds to agents and producers. This marks Geoffrey and Greg’s second collaboration since Geoffrey starred in First Born, the multi-award winning short that Greg co-wrote and directed in 2003. To learn more about WAKING UP DEAD, visit our “in development” section, as well as a link to Greg’s production company, Formation Films in our “Friends and Allies” section.

Having worked on stage, in television and feature films as an actress, and behind the scenes as a Line Producer and Live Events Coordinator, Nancy made a major career shift in 2006, bringing her many talents to the world of corporate management. She is currently serving as the Executive Manager of Sales and Marketing for a major natural beauty care company, Levlad/Natures Gate.

Artistic endeavors remain at the forefront and she is currently completing the manuscript for her first foray into the world of romance writing, with a supernatural romance novel. Submission to publishers are slated for mid-2007. She also recently co-starred in AOTA’s period trailer for Empire, currently in development as a feature length project.