Dundalk Zombie Walk Photos (Part 1 of 2)

So here are the photos I took during this past years Dundalk Zombie Walk. I am breaking it up into two different days of photos. The first day is all the photos I took using a wide angle lens I borrowed from my friend Zach. It was my first time using this wide of a lens and I must say, I love the results. See for yourself and let me know what you think.

Random Movie Fact: In the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, at the beginning of the "Bring out your dead" scene, two nuns with gigantic mallets can be seen. The original script called for them to be pounding on a man tied to a cart, but the scene was cut and that glimpse is all that remains.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Blessed to be busy

So October I think has been the busiest month on record for To Tony Productions. I was expecting fall to be busy but not anywhere near this to be honest. Each weekend of this month we have been booked and then the week has been filled by catching up on filing away or organizing footage/photos from the times we are booked. It has been truly amazing. Plus on top of that I personally have had my part time job at Render Perfect Productions which has gotten me on a ton of corporate style shoots which has been awesome. This month has truly been a blessing and once it is over I am going to give a big recap of all the great things we did this month.

This past Saturday I hope though that everyone was able to make it out to the Dundalk Zombie Walk, it was a lot of fun I took a lot of pictures and if you were there you could have gotten a free goodie bag from To Tony Productions complete with a special gift inside each one! In any case I should be editing the photos from the event soon and then I will have them up here on my blog for everyone to check out and enjoy.

Looking to the future this coming Saturday I will be at M & T Bank stadium doing photography for a local non profit organization which is having their 30th Anniversary auction event. It is going to be a huge event and I think something to the effect of 800 people are going to be there so it will be a cool experience.

Random Movie Fact: In the 1995 film Sense and Sensibility, during filming, the Jane Austen Society telephoned co-producer James Schamus to complain about the casting of Hugh Grant claiming that he was too good-looking to play Edward Ferrars.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

This Saturday

Everyone should come on down to Dundalk Heritage Park this Saturday at 2pm to join in on the fun of the Dundalk Zombie Walk. We will be there taking pictures as well as at our booth giving away free goody bags! It will be fun for the whole family so stop down anytime from 2-6pm.

Phew...I am exhausted but still moving from the past few days. This weekend was pretty much the biggest weekend ever in terms of work/importance. All this past week I was helping a studio based out of California to get ready for a documentary shoot here in Maryland. Throughout the week we found grips, an AC, makeup people, and a DIT (myself). Then they needed black wood frames to hang bike parts in to have as the backdrop to the interview, so with the assistance of my father, all Friday night I was painting wood. I got it all done the frames were put together and we were in business. Saturday night comes around and they asked if we could make four more, there was no way to make them but we were able to paint the materials for four more. Sunday comes we take the frames and got to set on time. Then all day Sunday we were filming two interviews one with Debbie Pastrana and the other with the legend Travis Pastrana himself. It was great, stressful at times, but awesome to be in that environment. The next day we came back again at 10:30am and cleaned up the mess from Sunday.

That is why I haven't really been able to update and with the Zombie Walk coming up it is another week of dealing with crunch time.

Random Movie Fact: In the 2008 film Frost/Nixon, Both Frank Langella and Michael Sheen repeat the roles they created on stage. Ron Howard would only agree to direct if the studio would allow both actors to appear in the film version.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

This Past Weekend and the Gaps

So this past weekend was freaking awesome! I got to go to the Virgin Mobile FreeFest and do DIT for a company that flew in all the way from California. They were a great bunch of guys and while we didn't have a long time to chat, the little time we did have to talk was super informative and worth all the time in the world. I got to get the VIP treatment around the fest and got pampered with free food and swag as well as seeing some awesome acts from the media area. The piece de resistance of the day though was being around a Red Epic camera which was the first time I got to see it up close, it was a beauty and just an awesome rig the videographer had set up. Not only that but I got to handle all the footage coming in from the Red and it was beautiful. All around great time with a chill crew and a cool event.

Now to address the gaps in my blog, sorry each month I strive myself to post something every day but each month I find out very quickly I just can't do it. Some days are just big on a lot of down time which I don't want to write about because me talking to potential clients all day is just plain boring. Or on the other hand I get overloaded with work and I have a ton to talk about but I don't have time to because I am busy...then when I do have time to it makes for one huge blog post which I don't like to do either. I am going to try to find a middle ground soon and hopefully have a month where I blog every single day without missing any...

Random Movie Fact: In the 2008 film Hellboy II: The Golden Army, the one-eyed Troll Mr. Wink was named after Selma Blair's pet, a one-eyed dog named Wink.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Ahh October

So October is here and the fall is starting to come out full swing. It is a nice time to go outside and enjoy the weather and also a nice time for video production. It has been busy busy busy over here, I feel like this week was non stop. Today is no different, I will be out at the Virgin Mobile FreeFest concert all day being a DIT/Assistant for a company flying in from LA to the event. It should be a lot of fun and I haven't been to Merriweather Post Pavillon since Warped Tour 08. Moving forward from that I have a lot of potential client meetings coming up, one of which should have been yesterday but I was getting pulled in so many different directions I couldn't make it out. Plus tomorrow night I may or may not have a promotional video shoot for a local musician, still have to get confirmation.

Before I forget I wanted to announce here that To Tony Productions has been selected as the official event photography for the 3rd Annual Dundalk Zombie Walk! The event takes place on October 20th from 2-6pm at Dundalk Heritage Park, and we will be taking pictures all day around the event. Also we will have a booth set up where you can see samples of our past work and also get some free goodies. Plus there will be tons of fun activities for the whole family. Mark the calendars and we will see you there.

Random Movie Fact: In the 2012 film Dredd 3D, Duncan Jones was offered the film, but turned it down, not because he didn't like the Alex Garland script (Jones said it was great), but because he had such a strong idea of what he wanted to do with a Dredd movie, that he felt he could not bring himself to take it on and not do it his way.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Looking Forward

So since today is the last day of September I find myself looking forward to new gigs coming up over the next few months. The couple of video jobs I have on tap right now I am very excited to start. The first coming gig is a promotional video I will be doing for a local musician which is awesome for a few reasons. The first being that it is a promo video which I am familiar with how to do but have not done one yet, so great reel material. The second being the look this musician has is perfect vintage style which is exactly how the final video is gonna look which gives me a great bit of artistic range for the promo.

Another upcoming gig is a music video project I am doing in conjunction with a local studio which I have worked with before; [kp] mag. It is a free music video that we are doing for a local band which has a crazy unique sound. We are basically getting close to totally free artistic range on this video as well which is letting me really soar with ideas. It is a nice change of pace for me and will be the first time I really have control over content in the video.

Final gig on tap as of today is a wedding coming up in January which should prove to for a third time in this post be awesome. The wedding will be taking place at the church where Edgar Allen Poe is buried and the theme of the wedding is a masquerade ball. This content on video should look outstanding and be great for a wedding reel. It is not a paid gig but an excellent opportunity for experience filming a wedding. I am actually meeting with the couple today which is very exciting.

As you can see some cool stuff on tap, hopefully more still to come for TTP, but for now at least we will be able to let creativity take control which is what I am most excited for.

Random Movie Fact: In the 2007 film Shoot 'Em Up, the budget for squibs alone was $70,000. On average, you can get 50 squibs for $1,000.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Support Local Art!

Today I am making a plea to anyone visiting this page to support a local film director Shawn Anthony and his upcoming film project The American Werewolf Project by donating. Feel free to donate any amount big or small to help get some great local art made. As an artist I feel the need to support other great artists work and as fellow artists I hope you find it in your hearts to support this cause as well. Follow the link below and at least check it out. Thanks!



Random Movie Fact: In the 2004 film The Passion of the Christ, Jim Caviezel experienced a shoulder separation when the 150lb cross dropped on his shoulder. The scene is still in the movie.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Photo Portfolio 2

Here is a new photo portfolio of all of my best work. Remember if you would like to book a photo session feel free to call us at 443-683-1185 or email us at totonyproductions@gmail.com

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Light Experimentation

I was experimenting with some old christmas lights I found in this box the other night. Snapped two quick photos of them with my 5D and decided to touch them up, then put them up for everyone to see. They look way cooler in video form but photos are still pretty sweet too.

Random Movie Fact: In the 1982 film The Dark Crystal, early drafts of the script featured Jen and Kira traveling through the underworld where they encountered a race of underground mining creatures. This concept was later integrated by Jim Henson into Fraggle Rock and served as the partial basis for the story of The Power of the Dark Crystal.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Random Photos of the Day

Today I went around my yard and took some random photos, I hope you enjoy them. Let me know what you think.

Random Movie Fact: In the 1999 film Anna and the King, 3 months into filming an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis hampered the filming. Some sets had to be relocated because they were too close to pig farms (the main source, transmitted by mosquitoes). All the cast and crew were given a vaccine by the set doctor, and some sets were sprayed with insecticide before crew turned up to start filming.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Three Beers Later!

So without any further delay may I present to you the official music video for Three Beers Later by Wesley Spangler. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Three Beers Later from Daniel Hess on Vimeo.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Moving Visuals

I am really excited these days, I see a lot of opportunity for video work coming up for To Tony Productions which is pretty awesome. It was fun to focus a lot on photography for a while and really helped me to expand my thoughts for unique video shots but it is time to get back in the drivers seat for some video projects. I see potential for two music videos, a promo video, and possibly even a video that will play out more like a commercial. I don't know a lot is on my mind so I hope that I can accomplish all I want to and not have anything fall to the wayside. Next month and this month for that matter I see good things, lets work together and make it all come true.

Random Movie Fact: In the 2004 film Taxi, almost all shots in which you see the taxi or other cars in the street, or car stunts performed in the streets, were really filmed in Los Angeles, not New York.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Music Video Deal!

So To Tony Productions is partnering up with [kp] mag (another local production company) to give away a music video at a next to nothing cost. However we are looking for a truly awesome and great band to do this video for. This is a huge deal and just because the cost is severely reduced does not mean that we will be cutting corners on the video end, we want to make something amazing! So if you are a band or know a band that would be interested please email us at totonyproductions@gmail.com, send us a little bit about your band and also any samples of your bands work would be awesome. Thanks in advance and remember this is a one time deal only so don't delay in sending an email.

Random Movie Fact: In the 1998 film Bride of Chucky, when Jennifer Tilly is dancing for Chucky, there is a brief appearence of the top of one of her nipples. This is revealed in the DVD commentary by Jennifer herself.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

So...Hey!

Long time no post from me, sorry on that. I have been drained trying to get myself caught up on all kinds of different projects. Currently I have been working a production company based in Towson, Md on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I am still getting used to that. Also I am getting the music video finished up for Wesley Spangler entitled Three Beers Later, I am all done the color correction and editing...as far as right now I am just waiting for final approval from him. Also I have another client who I did a big photo session for like two weeks ago and I am still waiting on the photos to edit from him. Also I did a shot with a local budding model last Sunday which I will start editing after I get a list of favorites from her. I have been fully immersed in all things video which is great in some ways and also not so great in others, but at the end of the day I am happy to be working.

Random Movie Fact: In the 2005 film Domino, thanks to Gusmano Cesaretti, Michael Mann's regular collaborator, Tony Scott managed to get on screen real-life gang bangers from 18th Street Gang in East Los Angeles.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

9/11

Remember.

-Dan