Daniel Larsh | Blog & Portfolio

"Faber - Holiday Music Video"

2011-12-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

This was the first time I was asked to do a music video (well, a serious one...). I was approached by NBC10's Artie Tefft who asked me to come to a recording session where his band, Faber, was working on producing a CD. I shot some stuff at the session and then we expanded and created this music video with a loose story. It's pretty simple and straight forward. It was so much fun to complete and I can't wait to work with Faber band again!

December 2011 Photo Excursion

2011-12-28T19:40:00.000-08:00

"Black Christmas"

2011-12-28T19:36:00.000-08:00

This video project was created by Anna Salatto and I for the FLM 110 class at the University of Rhode Island. It's a film that looks into the mind and potential of a crowd, and of the solitary person - how they are different, how they are the same, and how they intersect.

Spirituality meets materialism every year during the holiday season. From Black Friday to Christmas itself, these two forces are at war. They are opposites, though each has a ritualistic aspect and a personal one. But a crowd has positive function as well, in that it can unify the ideas of each individual to allow for change.

This is a visual exploration of the holiday season, the spirituality and materialism that comes along with it, and how a crowd might both suppress and express the individual! I hope you get something out of this and enjoy it!

"The Evolution of NBC10"

2011-08-09T15:29:00.000-07:00

Well, what can I say? I'm absolutely devastated that my amazing time at NBC10 in Cranston, RI is coming to an end. The internship was a wonderful experience, and is truly something I will never forget.

Lauren and I basically created this improvisus. We intended to have this documentary be presented in our portfolios (required of us interns by our school) which was going to shed light on the process of the news day. It took a little bit of a different approach, but I think it has more of a deeper meaning now which everyone in our day and age can relate to. The world is rapidly changing, and everyone and everything around us is forced to conform. It's definitely interesting to see how much of an impact this change has had on news. I hope you enjoy this! It's NOT perfect, for we only shot this in a day, but regardless, I hope you get the message and walk away with a deeper appreciation for your local news!

BLOG - "RISCA and RAKU!"

2011-08-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

I was just informed by Kerry Murphy (Johnston High Art Department) that the Raku documentary I created in the Spring has been embedded on both Rhode Island State Council on the Arts' website and Facebook page! So exciting to see it being showcased. RISCA, you have my continued thanks and appreciation!

BLOG - "RIC Radio WXIN 90.7"

2011-07-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to be on the radio! Although this was only the prestigious RIC Radio WXIN 90.7, it was still a LOT of fun! We were being goofs the entire time! But I can't wait to go back!

And I JUST GOT BACK!

"Head Games" 48-Hour Film Project, RI 2011

2011-07-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

The URI Film Collaborative participated in this year's Providence 48-hour Film Project, 2011! It was definitely a crazy experience, and we cannot wait to do it again next year.

As President of the group, a lot of the responsibility to organize this was on me, but I couldn't have done it without the help of my amazing family, Katie (sister, Actor) and Diane (mom, Producer), who went above and beyond to assist in making this possible.

The group got off to a VERY rocky start. First and foremost, we were assigned "Horror" as our genre; the ONE genre I personally did not want. Our writing process was basically a disaster which presented me with the challenge to direct without a script. So, I won't glorify this film in any way, shape, or form, because I KNOW we can do better. There are many loose ends in terms of story, but quality-wise, I think we did an exceptional job. My congrats to the other teams who were able to produce something on time! I know the stress of the situation is overwhelming. We submitted our film with only 3 minutes to spare, so even though there is room for improvement, this was a great feat! Enjoy.

BLOG - WJAR NBC10 Internship

2011-06-03T20:23:00.000-07:00

Growing up, it was common to see reporters from the local news stations around town or at my schools, and I remember being starstruck whenever I saw them. To me, they were famous; they *were* on television after all. .....OKAY, so they aren't NATIONAL celebrities, but nevertheless, being a local celebrity was still something worthy of being starstruck over.

Some of my encounters with the news team included being interviewed by NBC10's Patrice Wood when I was in Elementary School for a "Tuesday's Child" report. I wasn't the child highlighted, obviously, but my elementary school had been putting baskets together for children in need. Freshman year of High School, I had written to the then education reporter at NBC10, Kelley McGee, about a possible cut to the music program at the middle school in my town. My mother, sister and I were interviewed (see it here). Most recently, the "Wheels for the Angelones" project was covered by NBC10 from its conception. NBC10 has been the news channel I have turned to and loved since I was a child.

Never in a million years did I think I would be an NBC10 intern.

The "Wheels for the Angelones" project really sparked my interest to get involved there. Obviously, being in college and actively seeking school credit wherever possible were also motivating factors, but closely associating with the news team was a real attention grabber. Before the project even started, I was chosen as NBC10s "Facebook Friend of the Day" where I won an NBC10 umbrella; (I won due to a comment; nothing to do with the Angelone story, which is funny!) That was REALLY awesome, and foreshadowed even many more great things to come. An hour after I won the umbrella, NBC10 & Mario Hilario confirmed with us that he would follow the Angelone story! They actually used some of MY documentary footage in their broadcast! To me, that was an exciting moment. The Angelone story progressed, we held the fundraiser (NBC10 covered that, too), and raised enough money to buy the family a wheelchair accessible van, where NBC10 once again showed up for the give-away presentation.

It was shortly after the presentation when I applied to be an intern. I was never sure, and I'm still unsure, as to whether or not the Angelone story had an impact on my acceptance. Logic says it did, but I applied a few months after the conclusion of the Angelone story, and was accepted into the intern program by a woman who has nothing to do with the assignment desk. So, I remain uncertain.

My first day at NBC10 was amazing. Once again, I was starstruck; anchors and reporters alike wandered around the newsroom. Editors, cameramen, producers, directors etc. etc. all mingled around. The room buzzed with activity. At first, it was overwhelming, but I was given some direction by NBC10's Assignment Editor, Artie Tefft. I met other interns from my college, learned some of the ins and outs of the job, and basically dug up a lot of information. The biggest thing I'll remember is personally meeting the anchors and reporters; Frank Coletta, Gary Ley, Barbara Morse Silva, Alison Bologna, Mark Searles, and so on. As I introduced myself to them, many of them already knew my name. It was shocking, yet gratifying! I understand that they too are just regular people, but to me, just being in their presence was an honor; having them know my NAME..... HUGE honor. Most noteworthy, Alison Bologna; "Oh, you're Danny Larsh..... someone told me to look for you! It's a pleasure to meet you!!" ......... woah. To me, this is big. In this day and age, if someone knows your name, that's HUGE.

I've been interning at the station for about 2 weeks now. I've have the privilege of experiencing so many things. Just today, I went out in the truck with NBC10's Parker Gavigan to investigate a story on a guy who was charged with 2 accounts of child molestation; sick shit, right? Well, try being there, holding the microphone, and going to knock on the suspect's door. I was SO nervous, I'll admit...... or perhaps it was excitement? Combination? I don't know, but each day has been so unpredictable. I've had the honor of going out with Conrad the Cameraman twice. We had interviewed the Attorney General, a man entering the Senior Olympics (we were accompanied by Barbara Morse Silva on that one), and watching trees get cut down (accompanied by Mark Searles).

As I left the newsroom today, in the middle of all of the ruckus, everyone made an effort to say "goodbye Danny!" to me.... that touched my heart. I truly feel at home, and I've become less starstruck as I have gotten to know everyone; they're all human, I can assure you! Something you may not have known?? EVERYONE there SWEARS like crazy... and I mean EVERYONE... anchors included. Everyone has a sense of humor, too. I guess you have to in that type of stressful environment. One thing I'm really getting a sense of is how much everyone loves their job. No one is miserable there. That really enforces the point of how important it is to love what you do, and so far, that's the biggest life lesson I have gained. It's been an amazing adventure, and I cannot wait to see what else is in store.

"Metanoia"

2011-05-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

As part of a class my friend Anna and I took, we were required to complete a final project using 16mm film. This is what we came up with. I won't give away too much, but to better understand it, look up the word "metanoia" if you don't know what it means in terms of the psyche. It's a very profound film in terms of what's actually going on under the obvious surface. Our goal was to make it evocative, and by the reactions we have received so far, I think we achieved that. Thank you everyone for your support on this!! It was so much fun to make! A special thanks must go out to Mecca Smith for your help behind the scenes and for being our on-set photographer, Lexy Halpen and Kevin Cruz for letting us employ your amazing acting abilities and for dealing with Anna and I, and to my partner Anna Salatto for just being an amazing partner. She brought up this idea and we sat down and wrote everything out, detail by detail, and we basically had the same vision for this the whole time. I'm so happy with the product. Anna, there's no one else I would have preferred to work with on this!!

"Raku: Traditional Practice Informing Student Work" RISCA Arts Talk Documentary

2011-05-18T09:21:00.001-07:00

I'm so beyond thankful that Kerry Murphy and Bridget McMahon of the Johnston High School Art Department invited me back this year to create a second documentary for this this year's RISCA (Rhode Island State Council on the Arts) Arts Talk program/grant. The GSE that was emphasized this year was also the theme of Arts Talk; Culture. The students at JHS had the privilege to learn about and participate in the Japanese art form of "raku". I learned so much about Japanese culture throughout this entire process, and am lucky to have worked alongside of Kate Champa, Rhody-o coordinator & Professional Raku artist. The experience was amazing! Please enjoy! For more information, read the description on the youtube video.

Read the Johnston Insider Article: CLICK HERE

"Wheels for the Angelones" The Conclusion

2011-04-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

As many of you already know, my mother, sister, and I have been working on a fundraiser for one of her co-workers to raise money for a Wheelchair Accessible van. The fundraiser took place on March 10th at the Twin River Event Center with over 650 people in attendance. Through all of the donations and contributions, we managed to raise $49,000!! On the evening of Wednesday 4/6, we gave them a brand new 2011 Toyota Sienna, equipped with a wheelchair ramp, upgraded locks, DVD player, and more! Here is the conclusion video of the presentation of their van! WE DID IT!!!!

"URIreland" Documentary

2011-03-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Created for URI's Office of International Education and their annual Study Abroad "BIG Event". This year, they highlighted Ireland and asked us, the URI Film Collaborative, to create a film for the event. We immediately decided upon a documentary, and here is our result! I personally served as the Production Supervisor and Editor. I wanted to put this on the URI Film Collaborative's Youtube channel, but we haven't gotten to the point on YouTube where we can upload more than 15 minutes. So, it stays on my channel for now! However, I don't take full credit! See the long list of credits at the end! Enjoy!

"Wheels for the Angelones" - Full Documentary

2011-03-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

This isn't over yet! So, if you would like to donate to this cause for this deserving family, then send your donation to: (checks payable to "Wheels for the Angelones") 30 Harris Ave, Johnston RI, 02919.

Working on this project was such a humbling experience. The feeling that came over me when I realized that I was finished editing this documentary and would no longer need to enter my editing program left me feeling empty; there was a void. This project was close to my heart, and part of me didn't want to leave it behind. I wanted to continue working with the Angelone Family as I have over the past couple of months. The combination of the amount of time invested by myself and the committee, my emotional attachment to the subject, and the outpouring of support by the community makes me tear up. I learned so much about myself during this project, but more than anything, meeting the Angelone family and establishing a relationship with them is something that I will cherish. I cannot think of another family that is more deserving than them. Little Angelina and Abby are gems, Michelle is so courageous and strong, John is terrific and supportive, and their dog Darby is just adorable. They have changed my life and the way I look at things.

If I ever feel like I'm having a bad day or a hard day, I'll think about the Angelones and remember that any challenge or obstacle I face will not be greater than what Michelle goes through every day. I think a lot of people took that same lesson away with them after watching the documentary and attending the event. There wasn't one dry eye in the room. The event took place at Twin River at 7:00 on Thursday, March 10th. OVER 650 people attended this magnificent event. It truly was amazing, and is something I will never forget.

I hope you enjoy this documentary. Without further ado, I present to you, "Wheels for the Angelones".

"Wheels for the Angelones" Trailer

2011-02-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

This is the trailer to the short documentary which is currently in post production!
I'm hard on myself, and this is not perfect, but I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it serves as an effective way to get the message out there! :)
If, by any chance, you would like to DONATE to the cause, or even buy a ticket, please contact
wheelsfortheangelones@hotmail.com

"The Dorm Room Tango"

2011-01-27T20:00:00.001-08:00

FINALLY! The long awaited "DORM ROOM TANGO" is up! It was a blast to create with everyone, and I hope you enjoy it!

"Connecticut"

2010-11-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

Here is a small montage of some footage I captured in Connecticut in October 2010. The leaves were turning colors, and it was a beautiful time to go out and enjoy the day! This is one of my first LEGIT HD videos... I've been learning a lot at my new job! Before, Premiere wouldn't read my video camera, so I used Windows Image to log and capture. I was ignorant and didn't realize that window's capture wasn't enabled for HD. After messing around with some settings on my camera, I got Premiere to read my camera, and wah-lah! HD at last!

Some Crappy Photo Manipulation

2010-10-12T18:22:00.001-07:00

By no means are these good. These are up primarily for progress purposes. I'm in the process of learning photoshop and the entire adobe suite, and I want to be able to look back on these and see how far I've come!

"Stratego"

2010-09-25T00:16:00.000-07:00

There was a group of people in the library protesting against the university for their complete dismissal of mistreatment and harassment of the GLBT students on campus. I came to support the cause and camped out in the library with a few friends. The night was long, and we did go a little crazy. So, we took out the camera, and played a game of Stratego!

“A Day in the Life of a URI Film Media Major”

2010-09-25T00:14:00.001-07:00

My friends had to create a short film for their Art 215 class. I'm not in that class, but I decided to follow them and document their journey!

"In Passing" 48-Hour Film Project, RI 2010

2010-08-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

My best friend Lindsey and I joined Team Birdtank to create a film for the 2010 48-Hour Film Project in Providence, Rhode Island. We did miscellaneous tasks during the production, from operating the camera, to using a steadicam and dolly, to scrim, and being the boom operator. It was such a pleasure working with a great crew of people who have such a passion for filmmaking. We made some amazing friends in the process, gained a lot of invaluable experience, and created some unforgettable memories. We hope to work with Birdtank Productions on future projects!

Character: Michaela or Mike Maldari
Dialogue: "You need help."
Prop: Pillow
Genre: Drama

Now, it's kind of a difficult concept. The writers are very comedic, so it was tough to get this down to a serious level. Keep in mind, we had Drama as a genre; not comedy. The idea was to have a funeral gathering at the family's house. The writers wanted people to keep on guessing who died; was it the mother? Was it the oldest son? Was it the twin brother? And so on. As it turns out, it was the (SPOILER - Highlight to see) dog that actually died.

"Recycled Fashion Show: Behind the Seams"

2010-08-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

It just occurred to me that I never put up a blog post about my biggest film project!!

In November of 2009, I was approached by my former art teacher (Kerry Murphy) and she asked me to create a documentary to help shed light on the artistic process of my high school's annual Recycled Fashion Show. They had applied for and received a grant from RISCA's (Rhode Island State Council on the Arts) Arts Talk program, whose theme was "Artistic Process". Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. McMahon explained that I would have full creative control, and would even get paid! GOOD DEAL!

Long story short; the filming was flawless, and the documentary was a hit! The show was spectacular, and the buzz afterward was overwhelming!

TRAILER:

Full Documentary:

"Elizabeth Buzzerio Interview"

2010-08-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine asked me to create a small profile of her to submit to the Cake Boss competition on Vimeo / YouTube! This was my first time doing this type of filming, but it was a lot of fun, and I think it turned out pretty well! She's very happy with it and so am I!

"Addicted to Love"

2010-06-16T23:49:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if I should consider this my first legit non-school-related film. It wasn't created for one of MY classes, but for one of my sister's. She wrote it... I just filmed and threw it together. We literally had 2 days to do this. It could've been better, but I'm actually content with it!

Part One:

Part Two:

How I Lost My Marbles

2009-07-29T12:34:00.001-07:00

I found this extremely hilarious!

"Miss Katie's Teaching Strategies"

2009-07-25T15:38:00.001-07:00

This was created for my sister. She needed to complete a project on various teaching strategies. This is what we came up with!

BLOG - Class of 2009 Graduation!

2009-06-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I hope this message finds you well!!! I have such exciting news! I GRADUATED!!!!!!!!! WOOOO!!! I can't believe I ca nsay that I am OFFICIALLY GRADUATED!!!! It sounds so weird!!! High School flew by so fast! Last night was by far one of the most memorable nights ever. I feel so free, and like the world is mine. I cannot wait to start college and really begin life! I'm going to keep this short, and end with a few pictures because I am extremely exhausted!

So, there you have it! (Like my cap? HA.) Anyways, thanks for visiting, and I continue to be appreciative of your support!! Thanks everyone!

Danny

Who Pooped?

2009-06-04T19:11:00.001-07:00

This is possibly the best site ever created in the entire universe.

Who Pooped?

I got a certificate!

"Helen Keller Simulator"

2009-06-02T18:13:00.001-07:00

Helen Keller is probably one of the most recognized figures in history. You know her story, but, have you ever wondered what it was like to be her?

Try this:
THE HELEN KELLER SIMULATOR
(Turn your speakers on for full effect)

Peace Tree

2009-06-02T15:23:00.001-07:00

This is my Peace Tree, created in response to an in school assignment. The task was to create a tree that had symbolism. Mine is pretty obvious, and I think the concept is pretty cool. I'm not a fan of Color Pencil, although it did help bring out my graphic art side. I'd like to try this over in pencil, but for now, here is Peace Tree!

See it on Deviant Art!

BLOG - Jack Reed's Art Competition

2009-05-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone; Hope this message finds you well! I just got back from a ceremony for Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed's annual Art Competition. I was dreading going to this because I didn't place, and didn't want to end up depressed. Well, I am extremely happy that I went.

My mother and my Grandma tagged along. We got to the mall (where the ceremony was held) early, and had lunch. After that, we made our way over to the art exhibit. All I can say is, WOW. Some of the pieces on display put mine to shame. (I'll include the first, second, and third place pieces in this blog; you can see some of the other entries, if you have a facebook, by clicking here.) The exhibit was just a massive showcase of talent. I was in awe walking up and down the rows. I finally made my way over to MY piece... and to my surprise, I got an "Honorable Mention"! Okay, so it's not a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, but HM is still pretty awesome, considering this fact: A piece that won the "Scholastic's Art & Writing" competition did not place or receive an HM. I felt honored, but at the same time disappointed. Jack Reed did not personally choose the winners; a panel of judges did, and I feel like they were a bit subjective with their choosing (not to take anything away from the winners, because they were amazing). And that statement in the parenthesis is absolutely true! Here are the winners in order, 1st, 2nd, 3rd.

Each school in the state is allowed to submit 3 entries; my school only submitted two. Well, we totally represented the town, because the other student, my friend Kristen, took 3rd place!! It was such an amazing feeling! To top off the euphoria we were experiencing, my friend and artist Ruth Dealy (whom I've written about in a previous blog) came by to see me; that just warmed my heart. She provided so many comforting words that really touched me and gave me some amazing advice which I hold dearly. "Always do what you love, and what you feel is right..." she said, also telling me not to worry about my future because I will do well. It feels so nice to have supporters like her, and it just drives me to accomplish the goals I have set for myself.

While we were waiting for the ceremony, my mom went around the exhibit while my grandma and I rested on a bench. My mom kept going over to my piece and listening to the comments that people were saying. For some reason, everyone was attracted to mine. It always had a group of people around it, which also sparked excitement and confidence on my end. One woman even said she would pay good money to have it! I was like, "DANG... want me to draw you a few?" Haha! That was so cool to see. I also gathered a few email addresses to send my films too, because my mom wouldn't stop bragging. Hey, it all begins with networking, so, that's exciting!

I'll leave it at that, and edit this post and include a few pictures. Thanks for reading!

Danny

"QVCatastrophe"

2009-05-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

This project is exactly what it's name entitles. It's a catastrophe. By far the crappiest thing I have ever created, but it was still fun to do! We took a lot of zings are my high school teachers... it's full of crazy stuff. RIP Mr. Smith. He actually died a month after this was made; We killed him in this, so it's freaky.

BLOG - Blog Revamp & Twitter?

2009-05-27T12:41:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! Hope this message finds you well! I just edited by blog, and remodeled it a bit. I've neglected coming here, and need to get back into it. There are new art works I have to add here too, which I am excited about!

Also, I joined Twitter. I never really knew what it was about, but then I heard on the radio that Christina Applegate started a petition there regarding the cancellation of "Samantha Who?". Although I don't consider myself a loyal watcher (partly because I never know when it is on; which essentially caused it to be canceled), I think it is a hilarious sitcom which really needs to be saved. So, I signed up to Twitter and gave my support to the cause. Now, I am addicted to Tswitter. I even added a Twitter Widget to my blog(s), and connected it to my myspace. The cool thing about Twitter is that it's in real time, and many celebs are on it. (For God's sake; I'm following OPRAH and Ellen and- and- and- Christina Applegate, and Martha Stewart (not sure why), and my local news channel. It's fun! Please follow me if you're on it! My link is up top.

Now, as for real life stuff. I know my previous blog about my meeting with Ruth Dealy says differently, but I am going to attend the University of Rhode Island in September. I am so excited about starting college, and surprisingly excited about starting there. I really wanted to go to a legit art school, but we just can't swing tuiton. URI is still a tough reach, but it's a great school with a fantastic film program. So, I am going there, and really just cannot wait to learn and get started. Perhaps in the future, I will transfer, but I don't know yet. URI has this program where I can study abroad, or somewhere in the country. My ideal goal is to get to California where the business is. I really want to shine and create a strong portfolio during my time at URI to prepare myself when the opportunity for a job is presented. The film industry is competitve, and small windows of opportunity open for a split second; I want to be prepared. I want to learn, and I cannot wait to move on to the next chapter of my life!

That's all I have to say at the moment. My final exams for school are just about done, and I will be graduating in a week. It's so hard to imagine that; time just flew by. I made up my mind today that I am going to be successful (Yeah- like I can really just DECIDE on that, haha) But, I did decide on that because I am determined and ready to learn! Life is so exciting, isn't it??

Danny

"MACbook Wheel"

2009-05-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

"QVCatastrophe"

2009-05-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for my new film / skit to come out! Again, I created it as a response to a school project, but this time for my Art Portfolio class! I don't want to say too much about it, but it parodies my school and has a load of local humor. I'm sure many of you will not understand some of it, but the visuals are so hilarious. Here are some screen shots:

I hope to have this out by Thursday! Keep checking back, and check on youtube for it!

BLOG - Celtic Woman at the Dunkin' Donut's Center!

2009-03-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I hope this message finds you well. I'm probably cruising on warm water for getting made fun of by writing this! Last night, I went to see Celtic Woman in concert for their "Isle of Hope" tour. My friend, Shawna, wanted to go so bad and couldn't find anyone to go with her, so she asked me. After watching some Celtic Woman concert videos on YouTube, the show really appealed to me, as a music student. (I LOVE live orchestra's and singing) Not to mention I am 50% Irish and have a thing for Irish women & accents, LOL! Anyways, it was probably one of the most inspiring, amazing, and beautiful events I have ever attended.

I can't give enough praise to them. The group consists of 4 singers`(only one of whom I actually recognized from the videos on YouTube; Chloe, at the right) and 1 violinist/fiddler; Mariread. Someone who commented this post also pointed out that Lisa is also an original member.

Our seats weren't good at all, unfortunately. The arena (I guess you call it) was only Half House in the shape of a "U". So, the stage was in the middle facing one way. Our seats were up top, looking down at the side of the stage. I guess they weren't TOO bad, but I like being a part of the "concert experience", and being able to be in all the action down bottom. (I've only been to one other concert in my life; Mariah Carey, and we had 2nd row tickets... so nothing can beat being able to see her cellulite)

If you don't know them or what they sing, I posted some videos below to let you have a listen. Many of their songs are recognizable. They sang many Disney songs such as, "You'll be in my Heart", "The Colors of the Wind", "When you Believe", and some other ones which I can't think of at the moment. My favorites are below; Orinoco Flow (Sail Away!), Dulaman (Irish Song), and Spanish Lady (SO fun!)... and of course; You Raise Me Up:

Although they didn't sing this, they have sung my favorite Christmas song!

"The 10th Circle"

2009-03-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to finally share my project with you! If you don't understand the concept, please read the previous 10th Circle Project posts below!

BLOG - With Ruth Dealy

2009-03-05T15:25:00.001-08:00

Hello! I hope this message finds you well! I have a bit of exciting news to share, so here it goes! Today, I had the privilege to meet a well known Rhode Island painter. Her name is Ruth Frisch Dealy. Click her name right there to view her website and her amazing work. I had a meeting with her today for a portfolio review. It was very exciting! My art teacher and my mother were able to accompany me in her studio which is located in Providence. (The cool part of her studio is that it is an Old school. Ruth, along with other artists including Barnaby Evans, the water-fire creator, purchased the building and converted it to accommodate them. It truly was an inspiring and amazing visit.) I brought along some of my work so she could get a glimpse of what kind of artist I am. The main purpose of this visit was to get advice from her for the future, and request that she write me a recommendation to attend school at RISD. After showing some of my films, we talked to her about where I should go to college, and agreed that I definitely should start in state, and then continue on to California! I just got off the phone with my art teacher literally two minutes ago, and she explained that she talked to Ruth about reconsidering her letter to RISD. I talked to my mom about this after the meeting, and we agreed that I shouldn't have her write it. I'm glad my art teacher called, and I told her that I don't want to take the opportunity to go to RISD away from another student, and have Ruth's impact for admission less powerful. She also explained that Ruth will be forwarding me connections in the industry, and told me that Ruth requested for me to contact her throughout my years in college.

I feel great knowing I made a life-long friend who understands me, speaks my language, and is willing to put herself out of her way to help guide me. I'm about to send this brilliant woman an email thanking her for seeing me. I feel proud knowing I'm on the right track.

Previews of "The 10th Circle"

2009-02-28T01:12:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to share these few screen shots with you. Filming for my project officially began last Tuesday. Yesterday, I had my wisdom teeth extracted, but I didn't have time to waste today! I filmed a total of four scenes so far; The News Report, Getting Ready, Dancing at the Club, and Stuck in a Wheel Chair. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, read the previous blog post. Some things have been altered to make the overall film "connect" more, so the post isn't an exact outline of the film.

Here are some preview screenshots:

We haven't filmed the car crash scene yet (that's tomorrow, haha) and we haven't filmed with Lisa yet for the road test scenes (that's Sunday). Still a lot to do, but I am happy with the progress so far! Anyways, it's 4:30 in the morning on Saturday. I'm going cross eyed, so that's all for now! Danny

Art Institutes Poster Competition

2009-02-15T08:47:00.001-08:00

This is my submission for the Art Institute's AI Poster Competition. Here is my Artist's Statement:

Creating a poster for the Art Institutes Poster Design Challenge was an intriguing experience. As a student filmmaker, I was unsure of my computer graphic design abilities, but this competition put those skills to the test and granted me a bit of confidence. This challenge propelled me to formulate a meaningful poster design, and provided me with inspiration to execute my vision. My motivation behind the design came from a real life moment when I was visiting my cousin’s house. After a long nap, my two twin cousins awoke and decided that they wanted to paint. It didn’t take long for them to make a mess and have a paint war. My poster design portrays my twin cousin’s playing with their paints. The toddler on the left laughs with joy as the rascal on the right uses him as a canvas. It was a hilarious to see both of them painting each other. Art is very important to me, but I could tell from their expressions that art means something extraordinary to them that I seem to have lost. At that moment, the idea to include them in my poster design struck me.

As my twin cousins continued to paint, they truly portrayed what a joy art can be. Art doesn’t have boundaries or limits, and it’s perfectly fine to make a mess and have some fun! I feel that depicting my little cousins in the poster was appropriate because everyone was once an innocent little child. As we grow up and learn about the world around us, it seems that we lose touch with our inner child and become overwhelmed with the issues in our daily lives. My intention is to bring out the audience’s child at heart through viewing this poster. One can also interpret this poster as a timeline. The boys are placed towards the bottom of it to show that they are in the beginning phases of life. As one makes their way towards the top of the poster, a faded blue transition background becomes noticeable. This small but significant element was added to represent the sky, and to encourage the audience that “the sky is the limit”. The sky has no boundaries and is essentially endless; Art has no boundaries as well, and nothing is impossible. The most noteworthy dilemma I faced was deciding on a perfect text font. In the end, I decided to make a custom text for the phrase “Life is better with Art in it”. The font was influenced by a childhood cartoon character everyone recognizes. My intention was to shadow the back of the text in primary colors, but that presented some coloring balancing issues with the rest of the piece. The custom paint splatters placed around the poster shows a chaotic mess (similar to the mess caused by my cousin’s that I was forced to clean up).

Overall, I am content with the final result of my Art Institutes Poster Design Competition entry. I never imagined I would be able to successfully create a poster from scratch. My twin cousins continue to inspire me, and it is a thrill that I could include them in my poster. They made this contest worth the time and effort spent creating my entry, and including them gave my poster a personal touch that means so much to me. It is funny how inspiration knocks on ones door. You can spend all the time in the world trying to formulate a plan, but when inspiration and motivation arrive, you know your idea is meant to be. I am impatient for my twin cousins to get older and gain an even greater appreciation for art so I can thank them for inspiring me, and restoring the joy in myself that they experience when they create art. I am confident that the viewers of my entry will feel this joy as well. Hopefully my poster entry will be one among the winners to guarantee attending my dream school at The Art Institutes.

RISD Double Sided Paper

2009-02-14T19:49:00.000-08:00

This is my drawing for RISD. The requirement was to make a drawing that utilized both sides of the paper. Read my Deviant Art comment to understand the concept. Enjoy!

RISD Altered Paper

2009-02-14T19:46:00.000-08:00

This is my submission to RISD for the altered paper requirement. It's not the greatest because I kind of ran out of time. I wanted to do a bunch of papers in this drawing... but I preferred having one good paper opposed to a bunch of crappy ones.

"Applebees Commercial"

2009-02-14T17:53:00.000-08:00

This video is just a compilation of video clips my friends and I shot while dining at Applebees. It's no where close to professional, but it was a fun little creation. It was made over a year ago, but my friends are still raving about it. It was discovered by an Applebee's agent, and was going to be used in an Applebees commercial until Applebee's abruptly discontinued using real footage for their commercials. It was disappointing because I could have made $200.oo off of it, but instead, I made $5.oo! (It probably cost more for postage to send the check....) But anyways, here it is in all of its glory.

"Sims2 Titanic"

2009-02-14T17:45:00.000-08:00

Although I hate crediting this as mine, I think I will include this project here. I didn't write it, or create the audio. I remade the popular movie TITANIC through Machinima using the game "TheSims2" by Electronic Arts. I made the decision to discontinue the "Series" after deciding that it was not an important project and would not earn my any type of reward. My audience of thousands continues to enjoy the parts that are available.

You can access Sims2 Titanic by clicking here, or clicking the video logo below and transferring to the youtube page.

"Nailin' Sarah Palin"

2009-02-14T17:30:00.001-08:00

This satirical sketch was written, directed, edited and produced by me. Pretty much I did everything, including acting. I have to give a big thanks to my sister who dressed up as Sarah Palin for this. This was created as a school project. The task was to create a fable and present it using technology. Well, I created a frame story.

The story is- Sarah Palin appears on CNN to promote her new book about how the media has attacked her throughout the campaign. CNN airs a video that will be presented at a convention she will be attending later that day at Wasilla High School. The video includes the fable I was required to write as the assignment. It's the story of a little boy (USA) drowning, and how two groups of animals (Democrats and Republicans) had to make a bipartisan effort to save the boy. The news Anchor, Lizz Mantell, is left stunned, and concludes the video with a short interview.

It's not professional, but also not bad considering the limited technology I have. Enjoy!!

Dreamscape

2009-02-14T17:26:00.000-08:00

The task was to create a dreamscape. I was required to record my dream one night, and this is what I came up with. I (the black figure) was trapped inside a building. I had a flashlight (Seen against the wall) and had to find my way out. I eventually found a door. The drawing shows me standing at an unreachable door that had scary eyes and a melting door knob. In my dream, I was unable to open the door, as a tornado started to destroy the place I was trapped in. It was a fun task!

Organic Sampler

2009-02-14T17:24:00.000-08:00

This was done by ripping pieces of paper, tracing them, and creating patterns or designs inside them. We also had to incorporate shadows. It's not a portfolio worthy piece, but it was still fun to complete. This piece inspired the dreamscape.

Birds Eye / Movement

2009-02-14T17:22:00.000-08:00

This piece was pretty much done as a joke. The task was to create a space using a birds eye view, and incorporate movement. I don't like the piece, but I figured I'd include it.

Grand Staircase

2009-02-14T17:17:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite recent drawing. It's the Grand Staircase on the Titanic. The Titanic was a ship that sank almost 100 years ago after hitting an iceberg. It's my most favorite historical topics, so I was totally in my element drawing this piece. I really enjoyed playing with the light. The black fog around the piece was intentional. I wanted to make the piece look like a dream or a memory.

Rhode Island Series

2009-02-14T17:09:00.000-08:00

The following drawings were created for the Scholastics Art And Writing competition. I unfortunately did not win anything, but I am happy with the pieces. They were entered as a Portfolio Submission. The pictures are not good quality, but I hope you enjoy them! They are of different towns in Rhode Island, and places that are well recognized in the towns.

Bicycle Observations

2009-02-14T17:00:00.001-08:00

This was my first Bicycle observation. This was intended to be for RISD, but I found out that it was completed on the wrong required sized paper. It was disappointing, but I'm still happy I successfully completed this. My favorite part to this drawing is the wheel. I really like the contract variety between the grooves and the smoothness. This was only done in #2 pencil. I am considering redoing this piece and adding more contrast in other parts of it. This piece is not on Deviant Art due to stealer's.

The second bike drawing is also my second attempt at an observation. I strongly dislike it, but due to time constraints, this was my submission to RISD. I think the first bike is 100 times better, but what can I do.

Altar of Fire

2009-02-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

This was my first attempt working with oil Pastel. I'm not a huge fan of the medium, but it was a fun challenge creating this piece. The idea was inspired by a friend of mine. I would like to go back and work on this piece more. I feel that the floor could be affected my the light more, but I also like the crispness into the darkness. I'm not sure where this piece stands in terms of being a favorite of mine.

Vending Machine

2009-02-14T16:53:00.000-08:00

This is a response to the task of "Dollar Bill Observation & Adaptation". Continuing my hand study, I decided to have a hand holding a Dollar Bill, and getting ready to place it into a vending machine. The vending machine is not detailed due to the fact that this was an on demand task. I only had one hour to formulate an idea, and execute it. I don't think it turned out too terrible, but I would like to redo a professional version of this.

Game Scatter

2009-02-14T16:50:00.000-08:00

This piece was created as a response to a "Game Transformation" task. The hand in the drawing is my hand, and one of my first attempts at drawing a hand. I think the overall piece turned out nice. It's simple, fun, and cartoon like.

Tranquility

2009-02-14T16:45:00.000-08:00

This piece was drawn from an exhibit. The two items in the exhibit that appealed to me the most were an Asian Head, and a plant/flower arrangement. Those two items inspired me to create a tranquil scene. The waterfall above the head is a cultural dream land.