Nanotech 210 Teaser

Like I mentioned in a previous post, UMG linked up with Bailey who heads up MY Media and Ray from Komifoto to shoot a new project for Nanotech 210.

It was really refreshing to do something different that is sure to get people's attention and put the watches on the map even more. The Nanotech guys really gave us creative license to do what we needed to do on set which made our jobs a little easier. Anyway, here's a little teaser vid I threw together while I wait for some video material and the audio recordings from the studio. Enjoy!

Nanotech 210 x MYMG x UMG x Komifoto (Teaser) from Mike Maravilla on Vimeo.

A Night at Chicago Oven Grinder

After the University YMCA Alumni Event, Ryne from BakitWhy and I hit up Chicago Oven Grinder to meet up with another BakitWhy member from out west (Kathlyn), Voltaire (from the Roxas Brothers) and his gf Rowie and singer/songwriter Manny Garcia.

Despite the obnoxiously loud girl a table away, we were able to enjoy the deliciousness, good conversation and some intense twitpic-ing and digicam snaps. Yup, you could tell we were a table chock FULL of bloggers, haha. Here are some snaps:

The twitpics begin!

Before commencing, 3 people at the table popped some Lactaid, hahaha

The result of obligatory 5 minute silence

Table spread (L to R): Ryne, Voltaire, Rowie, Kathlyn & Manny

I took a little video of the waiter distributing the pies. Don't mind the ridiculously high ISO on the vid - it was hella dark in there...just focus on the deliciousness, haha.

2010 BDPA Awards Banquet

Click here or the image above to watch the photo slideshow

In lieu of the ever-expanding scope of UMG and what it will become in the near future, I wanted to continue the trend of collaboration that really took off in 2009. That being said, I (along with Bhargav from Channel Awesome and Mark Reyes) linked up with Justin from Mix Media to cover the 2010 Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) 21st Annual Awards Banquet here in Chicago.

The event was flawlessly pieced together - from the food, music and general ambience to the eloquent speeches and professionalism that this organization and its sponsors exude. Huge thanks to Millie Liggins (the event coordinator) for having us out for the event and congratulations to all the award winners and newly elected president - Pamela Sexton!

In typical UMG fashion, I put together a photo and video slideshow and included some snaps below. Enjoy!











BDPA is a global member focused organization that serves the professional well-being of its stakeholders. BDPA remains committed to excellence and providing a wide spectrum of resources to members, corporate sponsors, businesses, educational institutions and the community. The organization is a catalyst for professional growth and technical development for those in the IT industry. [Via BDPA Chicago]

Also, be sure to check out the video edit that Bhargav did using our collective footage here - good stuff!

Chris Kim's Favorite Short

Just a short little diddy here...

I totally forgot to post this up after I saw it because I was too busy watching it over and over again. My friend Chris Kim linked me up to this vid on his blog and after watching it, I can really understand why it's his favorite short. Thanks again, Chris! Feel free to bombard my inbox with more short films you like, haha.

Ethnikroots Holiday Videos are HERE!

Hey all, it's officially 12 days until Christmas, can you believe it?? Anyway, if you missed out on my previous post about the Ethnikroots and UMG collab, check it out. Oh, and before you click play on the vids, I just wanted to remind you that Ethnikroots is offering FREE SHIPPING for the holidays so order up quick! I know I'm going to snag a few more shirts before we all say goodbye to 2009. But anyway, I had so much fun filming that I had to do two different cuts for EKRS, so feel free to let me know what you think. Without further a-do, ch-ch-check out the videos:





By the way, huge thanks to Phil from 360VM for helping me out with the Shin-ski track. Since I'm back in the motherland (and the song is a rare find/sitting in my external back in Chicago), he was nice enough to up a copy and let me DL it. Serious life saver!

Anyway, as I keep saying of late, it's been amazing of late to mesh minds, do work and collab with people who really want to put Chicago on the map in their respective areas - Ethnikroots, Equilibrium USG, Mix Media, KOMIFOTO and G Handle. Thanks for thinking of UMG and I hope we all continue to work together and grow in 2010.

OKAY the aww sappy stuff aside, hope you all enjoy the vids. I'll continue posting up from the PI as my month-long hiatus from the snow and below freezing temps continues. Happy Holidays from the FUTURE!

Midcoast F.Show: Are You Going??

So if I didn't post enough about the Midcoast F.Show and how cool it is, maybe this post will finally get through to you, haha. Anyway, the show is TONIGHT TONIGHT ZOMG FREAKOUT at Lumen Nightclub. Everything about the show is sick - the venue, the set up, the hosts, the clothes and of course the models. It'll be amazing to see Chicago's best mixing minds (and wardrobes) with the most renowned designers from the coasts. Oh! Speaking of models, here's a little sneak preview of them strutting their stuff at a casting we had over at Jugrnaut awhile back:



If you missed the photo session behind the vids, don't worry I made a little slideshow of the pics for you all here. But seriously, the show is bound to be a really good time, so I hope you already bought your tickets and you're just reading my blog for leisure, right? Hahaha. Anyway, the doors to the show open up at 10pm so don't be late and dress fresh. Oh, and if you're still a youngin' under 21, you'll have to catch the show on YouTube later, sorry! But seriously, if not for the fashion itself, roll through since a portion of the proceeds will be going towards Autism Speaks. Now how can you say no? That's what I thought.

Fifty People, One Question

I've been a fan of Fifty People, One Question for a long while now and I just found out that that videographer behind the site recently did a Post Secret edition...which was brilliant as always. I'd love to do a couple versions in Chicago just to fuel my own curiosity and for iamselfless.org.

But anyway, it's just amazing to get a glimpse of raw, human authenticity amongst a world of superficial glamour and plastic. I love the fact that there are still people ready and willing to put themselves out there on camera and expose their inner vulnerability and honest emotions. It's because of these people that I really believe big change can happen - that we can step out of our little boxes sometimes and make a bigger impact by just having the courage to do something small. The slogan of Fifty People, One Question is all about "exploring human connections through people and place". And that's definitely something we should all strive to do more often...whether it's just to say hello, to touch someone's lives or inspire.

Here's one of the first ones I saw (By the End of the Day - New York, NY):

To Wake Up (Brooklyn, NY):

In Studio

On Saturday, I had an opportunity to link up with G Handle to shoot a commercial that's going to be featured on their website. I called up Iris from The House of Suh to collab since the owners of G Handle really liked the look of her work on the Equilibrium spot and I really respect her visions and talent.

Before the shoot I ran over to Calumet to scoop up some extra video lights. They're not the best lights out there by any means, but for a 3-head 1500 watt kit, I really couldn't complain. Unfortunately, one of the bulbs burnt out when I first tried to turn in on. Blah. Regardless, we made due and Iris was a pro at setting up the lights so that the editing process wouldn't be as painful. Thanks again, Iris!

Anyway, as I was wrapping up I decided to just throw a short video together so you guys could see the set up better than the couple iPhone photos I posted up on Facebook, haha. Enjoy!

Project 808 x Unscene Media: Part 2

For the second part of the Project 808 videos, I wanted to really appeal to the senses. As you add mods to your car (or you're sitting behind the wheel of your finished product), we get a sense of that inner 5-year old, gitty excitement that we crave. With this video and with the talent behind Project 808 in building your car to perfection, I really wanted to capture that sensation without aid of conventional music...but with the natural soundtrack and look of the cars themselves. I know my heart starts speeding up every time I watch it.

Project 808 x Unscene Media: Part 1

My friend Jesal from Project 808 and I had a chance to get together and get some filming done finally. Project 808 is THE definitive source for all your aftermarket exhaust needs. I'll definitely be picking up some goods from these guys when spring rolls around...especially after chatting it up with Jesal during our shoot. Anyway, we've been trying to get together for some time some Unscene Media could put its spin on the ever-so typical car (exhaust) videos.

Thankfully, Jesal was open-minded enough to let me do my thing and do things differently from the norm. Check out part 1 below and let me know what you think!

Cut & Paste Show at Coalition Gallery

So Ryne from BakitWhy and I hit up the Coalition Gallery for their newest showcase opening called "Cut and Paste". I hadn't been to an art gallery for over a year, so it was really amazing to head over to this show. Not only was the art fantastic, but everyone at the show was a blast to talk to.

Anyway, the art was created on all sorts of medium, but all with the "Cut and Paste" theme in mind. I was inspired to work on the video coverage prior to the photos, so here's a little teaser until that is all finished up:



The gallery featured three different artists - Richard Shipps, Jun Jun Sta. Ana and Vanessa Vargas. Here's some info about them from FilAmNation:

"Richard Shipps left the world of corporate presentation arts in 2000 to re-focus on his personal art. He has shown at various venues in the Chicago area since moving here in 2007 from Michigan where he spent his childhood, attended college, and founded a company that created cutting-edge computerized multi-projector presentations, for which he received over 40 awards. Art writer Jeff Stevenson recently quoted Shipps as saying that his work “examines the dynamic tensions between light and shadow, and the interplay of negative and positive form” and “the push and pull – juxtaposition and synergy of image.”

Jun Jun Sta.Ana, was born and raised in the Philippines. He came to Chicago in 2006, and has been showing steadily since. Sta.Ana has shown frequently in the Philippines, as well as in Japan, Russia, and across the US. His collaging is done entirely in the computer. He is known particularly for his Unconventional Portraits in which he repeats images of the subject as a design element to create a larger image portraying, defining, or referencing the person.

Vanessa Vargas, who lives and works in Chicago, has shown in Illinois and Minnesota. Her work, which will be shown in this exhibition, is meticulously crafted from plexiglass and paper. The varying depths of the minute boxes that each hold part of the whole extend from the wall, create the feeling of a multitude of tiny paintings assembled into a larger image. "

For BakitWhy specifically, Ryne and I interviewed Jun Jun Sta.Ana, who had several amazing pieces including some very memorable self-portraits and an incredible piece printed on silk (that you can see on the teaser video).

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy the video! Stay tuned for the Sta.Ana interview and venue photos!

BakitWhy x Unscene Media x Michael Copon (preview)

So as some of you may know, Michael Copon was in Chicago last week. Graciously, he agreed to sit down with my good friend Ryne from BakitWhy and me for an interview.

Oh, and if you DIDN'T know, BakitWhy is the latest and greatest online resource community for FilAms. It's committed to becoming "a progressive advocate, information resource and a place for discovery for and about the Pilipino American community". If you're down with the brown, join up and start getting involved! Look out for more collabs between Unscene Media and BakitWhy in the future.

But anyway, back to Michael Copon. He is an amazing guy and really down to earth, no joke...and he's really got his hands in a lot of different projects aside from acting - including a lot of charity work which is AWESOME. Definitely be on the look out for him leaving his mark on the music industry as well. Here's a little teaser and shoutout to BakitWhy straight from Michael Copon himself after the jump:



And just for fun, I figured I'd throw in a few outtakes before we really got filming. Camera aficionados, pay attention to the end...HE KNOWS WHAT'S UP!!. Check it out after the jump.



By the way, sorry for the lack of embedded vids - Vimeo free accounts only allow 1 HD upload per week and it went to my newest short. Vids are bigger on my server anyway, so enjoy the full 1080p HD clips!

Keep it locked - the interview should be posted soon!

New Short: From Where You Are, To Where You Want To Be

So after the Art & Copy Night (I know...I can't stop talking about it), I said hello to a long lost friend of mine (the train) and got a ride home.

Since the rain spoiled any chances of whipping out my camera to take pics at the Music Box (and since I was MASSIVELY inspired to do something creative), I figured I'd bust it out during the ride home and do some filming.

The concept of this short was simple - film what you see from right where you are. Don't move. Don't look for anything other than what you would see if you were sitting in that exact spot, in that exact moment. It was all about capturing the moments that we may often take for granted along a journey - the beauty of the ordinary.

The title itself is not only about the physical want to get from point A to point B. It's also a desire to get away from a place of mediocrity, stagnancy and close-mindedness and arrive at a place of inspiration, emotion and creative freedom.

"Creativity can solve anything". - Art & Copy

My E90 M3: BMW Performance Mag (Aug 2009) Tribute

A followup to the first In for Service was long overdue, but my appearance in the Aug 2009 issue of BMW Performance magazine was a good excuse to throw this together. It's gratifying to see the car come together like it has, but more importantly, it is the first worldwide-circulated publishing that Unscene Media has been blessed with. Expect a much bigger production for the next film and the magazine to drop stateside in 1-2 weeks. Here are the shots that made it in the mag from UMG (and the vid below):

UMG Cruise: A Tribute Video

As some of you may know, Alex and I both sold our daily drivers over the weekend. Here's a couple quick shots of my now ex-DD and Alex's respectively:






More shots of his car are in the slideshow at the bottom of my original post. Anyway, I figured I'd do a little "tribute" video of our cruise between photo locations. Both of us were definitely a bit down as our cars drove away. I'm sure there will be new projects in store for us in the future though. Hope you enjoy the video!

Interactive Music Video

Props to Yoshi for the find on this one. It's an interactive music video that responds to your mouse as the song plays. At the end, you can view the painting you created in progression. So soothing! Check it out:

Soy Tu Aire by Labuat

Click the image above or here to visit the site

Video: Onwards (by Nike)

Sweet inspirational video for all you artists/movie makers/runners out there from Nike. Check it out:

Onwards from AKQA on Vimeo.

James Jarvis, the artist and runner.
Richard Kenworthy, the animator.


Click here or the picture above to visit James Jarvis's site and check out his bio. Kudos to Fatlace for the find.

New Movie: "In For Service"

The newest short film by Unscene Media is DONE! Huge thanks to Patrick BMW in Schaumburg for letting us film on location and to Mark for lending his time and acting. Click here or the image below to check it out:



I was tired of seeing car videos with no plot...no back story and just driving fast. So for this shoot, I tried to make it a little more like a short movie - a bit like what BMW used to do with their BMW films. BMW, are you listening?! Anyway, hope you all enjoy the video. It was a blast to make and there will be more to come. Stay tuned and THINK BIG.

Will you...

Totally professionally unrelated...but I thought it'd be worth a share. So PSA Formal is coming up (April 4, 2009) and I thought it best to make use of my 5D Mark II in popping the question (no, not THAT question). Check it out & hope you like it! Click here or on the screenshot below to watch it!



I would have uploaded to Facebook, but I have a feeling they would have taken it down because of the music, haha. Anyway, feel free to leave comments & questions here or on Vimeo.