Newfest Film Festival

In early June I set up shop and took portraits of people participating in NYC's lgbt film festival, known as Newfest. It celebrated its 23rd anniversary this year and screened some great new films. I worked out of the Logo Lounge aka The Cell across the street from the SVA Theater on 23rd St in an upstairs area that was private and had a cool chalkboard wall. I met so many wonderful people and love this series. I just put up a new portfolio on my site from the week if you want to see more. Check out Newfest's site here. Included here are directors Tina Mabry, Kyle Thomas Coker and Brian Harris Krinski; actors Derrick Middleton, Aidan Schultz-Meyer, Brian Seibert and Holly Lynn Ellis; filmmaker & photographer Katrina Del Mar, Barney's creative director Simon Doonan; and three time world champion figure skater Johnny Weir. Quite a group.

Stella

So as many of you probably are aware of, Facebook is a great way to socialize online and network with old friends, classmates, and business colleagues. I've been trying to build up my friend list with cool creative people and having fun seeing glimpses into their lives. It's fascinating I think. And has proven already to be good for business as I'm doing a shoot on Tuesday which is happening all because of Facebook. Anyway, I befriended David Wain, Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black on the site whom I had shot for Comedy Central's ad campaign for their short lived show. They still tour and have each done their own thing to great success. David just directed Role Models which I can't wait to see. These guys humor you either love or hate and fortunately for me it's love. I'll post the DVD cover soon too, which has them riding a triple bicycle against clouds...now done. The campaign was fun, 7 sets built in studio, great art directing and cool funny guys in suits. I'd like to do more stuff like this.

Retna Tribeca Film Festival Portraits

I shot at the Tribeca Film Festival on saturday for Retna, my celebrity syndicator, doing promotional portraits, a service they offer to the casts of films on the festival circuits. I hope it was the first day of many. I had a great time, did it without an assistant and on a tight budget, which proves that you don't need a lot of fuss to take nice portraits. The actors are from a film called The 27 Club, starring Joe Anderson. There are also shots of James Marsh and Philippe Petit, the director and star of Man on Wire. Philippe is the acrobat that illegally walked the high wire between the Twin Towers in the 70's. He's in the second photo, just after Joe. These are some pretty lucious portraits, if I do so say myself.

Rosie Perez

I have worked with Rosie a few times. Not only on Dinner for Five, but also on the documentary Yo Soy Boricua, which was her directorial debut. Super smart and very sweet woman. This was shot at La Chanterelle in Tribeca.