World Famous Photo Reporter

WELCOME TO SAVINI LAND

2009-10-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

TOM SAVINI IS ONE OF THE TOP 10 HUNKS OF SPECIAL FX AND HE TOTALLY KNOWS IT!

VIDEO ART

2009-10-15T21:58:00.000-07:00

I grew up watching Night Flight. No wonder I thought it was possible to be a video artist. Recalling this clip makes me reminiscent of the days when video art was something they would actually show on television. John Sanborn and Dean Winkler are such cool guys! Act III: Music: Philip Glass is still mind blowing and beautiful today. Thanks dudes.

TIMOTHY ARCHIBALD LECTURE IN SAN FRANCISCO TONITE!!

2009-10-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

Tonite Timothy Archibald will be speaking at The Apple Store at One Stockton Street, San Francisco from 7-8pm. For more on Mr Archibald : http://timothyarchibald.blogspot.com/

FUTURE WAR

2009-10-06T23:36:00.001-07:00

Future War is a 1997 direct-to-video American science fiction film about an escaped human slave fleeing his cyborg masters and seeking refuge on Earth.(Kind of like the film, Cyborg but with a Swiss Van Damme)

EDINBURGER IN CALIFORNIA -CALIFORNIAN IN EDINBURGH

2009-10-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

GARY'S ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY 4 "M 57, M 15, NGC 891"

2009-09-29T22:19:00.000-07:00

Taken Thursday evening by my father in his back yard.
(Because the photos blend in with the busy background, please click them to look closer)

CHRIS VERENE at DNG Gallery

2009-09-27T12:37:00.001-07:00

Chris Verene’s new book and series “Family,” published in 2009 by Twin Palms Publishers, is the sequel to his critically acclaimed monograph about his birthplace, Galesburg, Illinois, where his family has lived for three generations. Galesburg is a central Illinois town that has fallen on hard times, much like other small towns across the United States. This series conveys his bittersweet fondness for the now decaying community in which he grew up, which still holds lessons about aging, disability, unemployment, alcoholism and other difficulties.
Verene has been photographing his family and friends since 1984 and has committed to this project for the duration of his life. “The key to my artwork,“ Verene has written, “is that it can only be born out of real and deep friendships and bonds with the people in the pictures.” Each image, whether it is of his family at Christmas breakfast, or of a rundown trailer of two of his friends, is accompanied by a hand-written, sincere text, giving the viewer an insight into Verene’s relationship to his subjects.
For more on Chis Verene: http://www.chrisverene.com/

Currently at DNG Gallery
154 N. La Brea
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Show ends November 7, 2009
GALLERY HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday 10-6

ESTHER PEARL WATSON ON T.V.

2009-09-26T00:47:00.000-07:00

Esther Pearl Watson was recently interviewed on KERA television, a local channel in Texas, near her hometown. I really enjoyed watching the down home television style and hearing her talk so comfortably about her work. You should watch it too!
Interview on KERA television - CLICK THESE WORDS

*Remember the good-old days when television was like this everywhere?

"GOING WHERE I'VE NEVER BEEN"

2009-09-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

A very personal documentary about the photography of Diane Arbus

There... Are... Four... Lights... !!!!

2009-09-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

John Maus is currently on tour. Check him out if he comes to your town.He is one of the finer entities currently residing in a human body. I caught his show last night and it was tear worthy!

Sep 17 2009 8:00P Bottom Of The Hill San Fransisco, California
Sep 18 2009 8:00P Holocene Portland, Oregon
Sep 19 2009 8:00P The Vera Project Seattle, Washington
Sep 24 2009 8:00P UW Madison Memorial Terrace Madison, Wisconsin
Sep 25 2009 8:00P Schuba’s Tavern Chicago, Illinois

And if you haven't yet please see the video we made in collaboration :

ENTERPRISE by John Maus from Telefantasy Studios on Vimeo.

Buy his albums here http://www.upsettherhythm.co.uk/johnmaus.shtml

HIJACKED PHOTOGRAPHERS IN TV DOCUMENTARY

2009-09-12T23:06:00.000-07:00

Exciting news! A documentary film based on the Hijacked Photobook is in the works! Producer Jack Pam has been flying around the world interviewing everyone from the book and taking a look into the way in which they approach their work. When Jack came to interview me, I happened to be shooting Francois Sagat for a segment of my sci-fi show,"The Multinauts" ( In the segment Francois will be advertising a futuristic perfume....and that's all I'm gonna say about that for now) Don't know when the documentary will air, but I sure am looking forward to it.

"AS USEFUL AS AN INFLATABLE PIN CUSHION"

2009-09-09T16:57:00.001-07:00

A few years ago my friend Francesca Baglione asked me if I would participate in a small show she created for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival called "Miss High Leg Kick's Fashion Bus". Based on the structure of a high fashion catwalk, caricatures of everyday London people would emerge from a double-decker bus onto a catwalk with all the pizazz and confidence of a supermodel. It's goal; to entertain the viewer but also to remind the world that everyone is fabulous. (this realization must only take place after you are done laughing hysterically) I figured if Im going to photograph this show, I absolutely have to be in it as well.

The first year we did the show, it was a "failure". Failure meaning the shows were somewhat empty often having to perform for an audience of two people. When the reviews came out,one in particular read "FASHION BUS- As useful as an inflatable pin cushion" 1 star. Francesca burst into tears. In an attempt to comfort her I said, "Who ever said art was useful? A blender is useful" and from then on we took being an inflatable pin cushion as a compliment.

We pressed on in all that supposed failure. A years later, The British Arts Council saw the show and decided to back us up. With their help and everyone at the Colchester Arts Center, for the past two summers we have been able to take this show on the road and turn it into a spectacular celebration of everyday people.

This summer we went back to Edinburgh to prove ourselves. To reclaim and redefine inflatable pin cushions. Yet by the time we got there, we realized it didn't really matter what people thought. The cast was so involved in the mere act of performing that the show was not strictly assigned to the stage. Everywhere we went was a stage...what more can you expect of a bunch of show offs? Taking photographs was easy.

Rather than show my own photographs of our recent time in Edinburgh, the above photos are the work of my friend and fellow cast mate Steve Nice, who picked up a camera after we met during the first run of Fashion Bus in 2006 and is now studying at Kingston University in London. I am so excited for him and his emergence into the world of photography.

*click on photographs to see them in detail

THREE DAYS BEFORE MY U.K JOURNEY

2009-08-07T23:04:00.001-07:00

I'm counting on some serious R&R when I go to England on Monday. I don't know if you can call it a vacation, I'll be there for two weeks rehearsing for Miss High Leg Kick's Fashion Bus and then a week in Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. So, before jetting off, I crammed in as much work as I could in 3 days. One of which is building and shooting a large sandbox for a lunar landscape for my upcoming film. Look out!!!!!!!!!

GARY'S RAINBOW PHOTOGRAPHY

2009-07-28T01:47:00.000-07:00

My Dad takes the most spectacular photographs of the stars. I like to post them here whenever he sends new images to me. This time although not of the stars, its still the sky. A double rainbow no less. **Notice his mini observatory in the lower left corner of the second photo.

BRENT SPINER :A TRUE THESPIAN AND THE BEST SENTIENT ANDROID EVER

2009-07-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

I had never been to Comicon until this year.
I've been to all the other cons and always avoided Comicon because I thought
it was too commercial. I take it back. It's all about the fans!
I had a blast. What makes it so great is the fact that 180,000 people attend which means 180,000 people are excited. Excitement is contagious.
As soon as I got there, I was walking alongside Ray Bradbury who was being pushed in his wheelchair. Right then I got a call from my friend who said, "I just saw Brent Spiner. I think he just left."
To which I screamed, while standing next to the legendary Ray Bradbury, "BRENT SPINER!! BRENT SPINER!!??? WHAT? WHERE? HE'S GONE??"

I think I need to get my priorities straight.

Sunken thinking he'd left I headed over to see the new "V" screening.
In the middle of the show right before the lizard reveal, I recieved a text.
"Brent Spiner and Leonard Nimoy are at the Star Trek booth."

I rushed out of the new V, ran downstairs, got lost, panicked, and then found 2 people in Star Trek uniforms who then showed me the way to Star Trek booth.

Sure enough there they were. Android and Vulcan, standing together with no more than 4 people waiting.

As approached, a woman working the table asked , "Are you here for Leonard Nimoy or Brent Spiner?"

At which point Leonard Nimoy was standing next to me and waiting for my reply. "Mr Spiner" I said with a giggle. I then turned and said, "Hello, Mr Nimoy" and he laughed.

Brent Spiner then shook my hand and I said "Thank you Mr Spiner for everything you have done. I find you truly inspiring."

"How then do you find me inspiring?"

"I appreciate your dedication as an actor and well, I also make my own science fiction television program that is inspired by the spirit of The Next Generation."

To which he replied,
"Jennifer I hope that one day you can inspire others the way I have inspired you"

I no longer have the ability to complain.

p.s. and Johnny Depp was at Comicon and I didn't care.

UPCOMING SHOWS

2009-06-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

Here come a whole slew of shows in the next few months..

Video for John Maus' "Enterprise" will be part of the group video show QUARTZ CUBE
July 11, 2009 at Show Cave Gallery
1930 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90026
8pm

Photo series "Non-Stop Picture Show" will be in the Slick Exhibit
at Project 3119
3119 Chadwick Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
The show runs July 26th through August 9th.
The opening reception will be on July 26th from 5-8PM

Multimedia collaboration with British artist Miss High Leg Kick
August 24-29 in Edinburgh, Scotland
"Miss High Leg Kick's Fashion Bus"
This is a live show in the Grassmarket outside of Edinburgh Castle
and includes video, performance, and light show.
All shows are free and begin at 9pm.

MIDWEST DIVA

2009-06-01T00:43:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I shot a new video for Leslie Hall. Once it is completed no one will guess that it was shot in a backyard and that our siblings were the crew.

PRIME DIRECTIVE

2009-05-12T22:56:00.001-07:00

It is fair to say I did not like the new Star Trek movie because they did not follow the prime directive. Thank goodness I have the TNG box sets.

AN ODE TO STAR TREK

2009-05-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

ENTERPRISE by John Maus from Telefantasy Studios on Vimeo.

John Maus wrote a song about the starship Enterprise and so naturally I had to do the video. Both the music and video come directly from a lifetime love and understanding of Star Trek.

More specifically, The Next Generation and Deep Space 9 crossover.

For more on John Maus : upsettherhythm.co.uk/johnmaus.shtml

THERE WILL BE BLOOD

2009-05-03T21:45:00.000-07:00

Today we wrapped up shooting all the last little bits of the next episode of The Multinauts. I went home smelling like chocolate mixed with syrup and paint. Reptilian Agenda fans get ready...this one is not for the squeamish.

GARY'S ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY 3 "Thursday Night's Dome"

2009-05-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

These we're taken by my father Thursday night in his mini observatory.

POINT OF VIEW

2009-04-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

My friend Bryan just put his old debate team videos on youtube. Currently it is my favorite thing on the internet and I won't be satisfied until he puts ALL of them online! I can't get over the topics, the graphics, the sets, Laticia, and the philly accent.

ITALIAN HORROR LEGENDS!

2009-04-20T02:47:00.000-07:00

I went to a double feature of "The House on the Edge of the Park" & "Demons" by myself last night. No big deal but then suddenly Lamberto Bava and Ruggero Deodato came in and sat down next to me. Legends of Italian Horror !! Ruggero liked to talk during his own movie and kept calling me "Cindy" (one of the victims in the film). When I left, I ran into David Hess (star of "The House on the Edge of the Park") and Ruggero Deodato in the parking lot where they humored me by reeanacting the Cindy scene in "The House on the Edge of the Park".

ADIDAS ORIGINALS

2009-04-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

I just finished shooting some ads for ADIDAS ORIGINALS! Although I can't share the pics just yet, let's just say that the ad agency chose well, being as though I was a dressed like Kevin Bacon and dancing on stage only a few months earlier as part of the 25th anniversary of Footloose. It was an awesome job...and I got a free pair of futuristic high tops perfect for dancing.

ON TOUR WITH LESLIE & THE LYS

2009-04-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

Leslie and the Lys current revue holds a whole new element of showmanship and magic. I was blessed to go out on part of their tour with them and was completely enamored with the hard work behind the show. Every night after driving to a new town, they set up a full sized jungle gym, a sign that reads SHAZAM!, a video projector, a fog machine, a rotating disc that Leslie stands on & a 12string guitar affixed to a stand so that it creates the illusion of spinning in the air. (A 12-string guitar with a faded decal of Princess Diana and Charles on their wedding day no less.)
The Lys then change into White Tiger costumes that would make Siegfried and Roy proud and later reveal a second outfit covered in sheer sparkles.
However, behind the scenes it's no joke. It's a tight run ship as all the focus must remain on the act. Their show is by no means ironic. It's more like going on tour with the aspirations of Shania Twain and I found that to be the most inspiring thing about them. Oh and by the way the show is mega-fantastic.
Tour dates here: http://leslieandthelys.com/
CLICK THE PHOTOS TO SEE THE DETAILS