blog.captivatethem.ca

Remember Ko?  A few months back we did an interview and shot a show for this rising star.  Then he had just gotten off a tour with Snoop, was promoting his first album, and preparing for a tour with Swollen Members.  Four months later our paths have connected again, and we hatched some cunning plans.  In between all the scheming, we squeezed in a shoot before his most recent show in Ottawa.  Here’s a couple of early offerings:

All photographs ©2010 Alexander Vlad & Captivate Creative Studios | Captivatethem.ca

And last but not least… SUPPORT NEW CANADIAN MUSIC!

I’ve only been dabbling in video since April, but I have to admin, HD DSLR’s are moving me in a big way.  I especially love their promise in documentary and guerilla film making.  Over the last several months, I’ve been working hard on ramping up my editing chops, technique and finding workarounds for the obstacles (of which there are many).  As a result, I’ve been cranking out as much video as I can manage, and this is the first in a series of venue-specific promo flicks for UMM Entertainment Group.  Essentially, its a spiffy combination of images (shot on Canon 5D & 5DmkII) and movie (shot on Canon 5DmkII & 7D) to showcase some of the various clubs in a way that is both unique to the venue, but unified with the corporate identity and the other videos.

I think Cheech & Chong said it best: “It’s gotta be like different…but the same!”

So, hot off the presses, here’s the first of UMM’s new promos:

Over the next week I will be completing another 4 of these babies for UMM venues in Toronto & Ottawa (Lobby Yorkville, Brunswick House, Tila Tequila, Lobby Ottawa).  Coming up on Friday, I have a second day of shooting to add a narative for a more cinematic promo concept for another (unrelated to UMM) nightclub & martini lounge in Ottawa called Sotto.  In a coming post I’ll go into more detail about that project and the ways I’m trying to merge my photography and video work to create a stylized and cohesive aesthetic.  Till then, enjoy!

…and happy New Year as well, btw…  busy busy busy!

Captivatethem.ca presents: UMMtv Ep 1 – LMFAO from Alexander Vlad on Vimeo.

Shot & cut by Alexander Vlad on the Canon EOS 5Dmk2 and 7D dslr systems. Additional camerawork by Greg Bamber & Pistol Pete. Interview and treatment by Remi L Roy.

All music produced & performed by LMFAO.

©2009 Alexander Vlad | Captivate Creative Studios

Triple B Records: Cashtrofication – Episode 1 from Alexander Vlad on Vimeo.

A quickie web series episode for our friends at Triple B Records, and a big sign of the fun to come!  Also, check out the other blogs that have been pushing this video days before it ever made it here.  On point!

I’m Flashy Magazine

The DMV’s Front Desk

Thoughts of 100k

ABM New York City

Triple B Records

Hit those quality sites up and leave some commentary.

Iconoclast – Nothing But Hell (music video dailies 1) from Alexander Vlad on Vimeo.

Here is a quick 1:14 of some of my favourite clips from our first day shooting the music video for Nothing But Hell from our favourite hard rock band, Iconoclast!

Shot on location at Ritual Nightclub, Ottawa’s premier nightspot by Alexander Vlad using the Canon EOS 7D.

There will be more dailies to come as we shoot and edit the narrative/story line and start to develop a treatment for the project.

All music used with permission from artist.

©2009 Captivate Creative Studios | Captivatethem.ca

Captivate Creative Studios – R.A. The Rugged Man Interview from Alexander Vlad on Vimeo.

Kapacity Entertainment & Ritual Nightclub bring you an exclusive interview with hip-hop legend RA the Rugged Man at Ottawa’s newest menswear boutique, Reap & Sew.

Interview by Remi L Roy. Shot on Canon 7D & edited by Alexander Vlad. Arrangement by Paul Kennedy.

Music used with permission from R.A. The Rugged Man.

Just a quick update!  Captivate just wrapped principle photography on the set of a music video, aptly entitled SHOOTOUT.  It was a fully packed two day shoot, featuring a large cast, tons of props, special effects and some serious stunts.  Police commandos jumping roof-to-roof, true to form FX, and a femme fatale to-die-for made for a blood-pumping great time.  The end result should be violent, visceral and a helluva lot of fun!  Footage soon!

(All photographs © Alexander Vlad 2009.  Very special thanks to Nick Liboiron, Meredith Lyman, The RCA Centre, and the City of Montréal)

Beautiful people, here’s just a quick update!  Friday I photographed the lovely Anne and Renée on the beach in Aylmer, Québéc.  While it was a fridgid afternoon, the shots worked out better than expected.  I love mixing wide skies, beaming sun, and lots of strobes all cranked up.  I find the final result is challenging and rewarding for photographer and for viewer.  Enjoy!

Captivate is off to shoot an exclusive interview and concert with Die Mannequin, the brilliant, hard rockin’ opening act for the master of shock himself.  If anybody needs me I’ll be backstage at the Marilyn Manson concert.  Have a great Sunday you headbangers!

After two revisions, the latest incarnation of Smokin’, Drinkin’, Fuckin’ is complete and online.  For the uninitiated, this is the first music video I’ve shot.  It was completely unorganized, last-minute, tiring…and the most fun I’ve had all summer.  There is much camera jitter due to laughter in some cases, but as far as run and gun productions go, I’m very pleased with the outcome.

I’ll follow this post with set photos and production notes.

Just a note:  Our rentals didn’t come through for the shoot day, so we bought a Canon Rebel T1i to shoot this video on because it was available, only $900 for the body, and records 720p @ 30fps.  Combined with some good lenses I managed to wrangle something good-looking out of a budget rig.