The Movies (Jason + Melissa)

March 8th, 2013 Wedding Cinema No Comments

Melissa called us on a pleasantly hot day in June. Immediately, I noticed her extraordinary excitement when she started talking about her wedding. Now obviously all of our brides are excited about their wedding, but I think sometimes as you begin to take on the arduous task of putting it all together, every phone call becomes less and less noteworthy. Not the case with Melissa. Now, I’m the type of person that gets fired up when I’m around someone else who’s fired up. So we talked about all the cool details she and Jason were doing for their nuptials. I’m piecing together a storyboard in my head and we’re talking like nobody’s business.

Fast forward a year later, Kate and I have gone over our shot lists. Jason and Melissa have put together one amazing wedding. We’re having an incredible shoot. It’s a completely unique wedding and it’s lovely. The day goes fantastic and then we get to the reception and it happens. Melissa’s dad gives a delightfully clever speech that (just by looking at each other) Kate and I know is going to just take the trailer to a whole new level. So enjoy, and here’s to fans of movies, of love and of good people.

The Movies (Jason + Melissa) from Turning Point Productions on Vimeo.

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As Long As Our Hearts Are Beating (Lee + Ali)

February 18th, 2013 Wedding Cinema No Comments

Lee proposed to Ali at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. Now that’s a smooth dude. Obviously, she said yes and we were fortunate enough to be selected to produce their wedding film. It’s so great to see such emotion in a couple. Lee and Ali were so much fun to spend the day with. And how about all those cool Chicago locations! Wow. There’s some really beautiful details in all the places they picked.

Congratulations to you both, may you have a lifetime of happiness and fun.

As Long As Our Hearts Are Beating (Lee + Ali) from Turning Point Productions on Vimeo.

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White Dress (James + Antonietta)

January 30th, 2013 Wedding Cinema No Comments

If the last wedding trailer wasn’t from the hottest day of the year, this was. But you’d never know it by watching Toni and James. They still look incredible! Such great people to film, we are so lucky to do what we do. And how awesome is it that they met each other at a bus stop in Chicago. It was a classic tale of boy sees girl. Boy sees girl. Boy sees girl. Okay, okay boy finally gets the courage up to actually initiate a conversation with girl and as they say folks, the rest is history.

Congratulations to this wonderful couple. They made it so easy to do our jobs. We wish you the best of luck and an eternity of wedded bliss.

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My First True Love (Adam + Senneca)

January 9th, 2013 Wedding Cinema No Comments

Adam set up a surprise picnic at the Chicago Botanic Garden, next to a tree dedicated in memory of Fran Ditusa. He got Senneca to go down to the Gardens under the rouse of needing paperwork signed urgently for the memorial tree. Since they were already at the Gardens, Adam then suggested they take a walk to the tree. On arrival, Senneca saw the blanket and the picnic and Adam instantly took his position down on one knee behind her. When she turned around he proposed. The two of them went on to plan one of the classiest weddings in 2012.

They decided to bring things around full circle and get married at the Chicago Botanic Gardens which is an astonishing place and truly breath taking. Every detail from the bride’s dress to Adam’s wonderful speech, the specially choreographed first dance to the Rolls Royce in which they departed at the end of the reception was top notch. Watch the trailer and you can see that even the absolute hottest July day that Chicago could throw at them couldn’t take away from such an incredible event.

And I do mean hot.

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The Shape of Us (Kevin + Amber)

January 3rd, 2013 Wedding Cinema No Comments

Simultaneously, it seems like a very long time ago and also like it was just last week. Once we get rolling in wedding season things get very busy. As a result, we’ve been absolutely absent with our blog. So for 2013, we plan to keep up with somewhat regular blog entries and website updates. Don’t expect too much though, after all -we’re artists. And timetables inherently don’t sit well with us. To start us out, here is a great trailer from summer 2012. Congratulations to Amber and Kevin. They share lots of wonderful things including being teachers and America’s favorite past time, baseball. Giving a nod to great baseball games everywhere, Amber and Kevin even had a late night hot dog vendor at their wedding. How cool is that?

Sit back and enjoy. Maybe the warmth of this trailer can help you out with those winter chills.

 

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Come Alive (Patrick + Jordan)

September 26th, 2012 Wedding Cinema No Comments

Patrick and Jordan are standing on a handmade wooden bridge spanning a small but deep enough pond at the Japanese Gardens. Kate is working closely with the photographer bottling some awesomeness as she’s known to do. I’m cooly composing a nice wide angle shot as I sometimes do then SPLASH! In that nanosecond it takes to turn your head to the left there are so many thoughts racing and bursting through my mind it’s staggering. Is that my camera? Bride? Groom? Was that a frog? Might of been a fish. Is that my camera? Bouquet? Maybe a walnut from a tree or someth- My Camera?!? I focus my gaze on four people, Kate, Patrick, Jordan and our beloved photographer. Check, all present and accounted for. My camera-check. So what in the hell made that noise? My gaze now connects with Kate’s. Except that her gaze is not one of a puzzling nature, she’s freaking out. I would be too if I just dropped my keys into the biggest koi pond this side of the Rockies. The long and short of it is that Kate is a pretty girl and there’s a high school boy that works at the Japanese Gardens who was willing to go in after the keys. I told him when he’s old enough I’d buy him a case of beer. All joking aside he really was the nicest kid, you can imagine. And thanks to him, we could film Patrick and Jordan’s wedding uninterrupted.

As for the couple, they didn’t drop anything into the small lake, but they did have an amazing wedding day filled with hilarious friends and family, tons of loved ones, great moments and a small power outage at the reception. Congratulations to Patrick and Jordan and thanks for inviting us out to be a part of such an awesome wedding. Check out their trailer to get a glimpse of the love these two share. It’s pretty cool.

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In Your Arms (Rich + Solongo)

August 16th, 2012 Wedding Cinema No Comments

It is a quiet Sunday in May, Mother’s Day to be exact. The sun is laying it’s warm light unto an ivy covered chapel at the University of Chicago. Inside there is a low hum of conversations, the laughter of a few children and . I meter the light, check my audio recorders one last time and then stopped. There was something that I couldn’t identify, something that had been trying to get my attention ever since I arrived for the bridal preparations. Then it became so clear. I could not help but notice this incredible feeling of peace. It lingered on the slight breeze coming from outside through the chapel doors. It filled the small room and embraced everyone in it. This was not our typical wedding. It was a small intimate affair with about 30 friends and loved ones in attendance. And that peaceful, easy feeling? Well the Eagles were no where in sight, but it would stay with us all day long. In retrospect, I suppose it was a combination of Rich and Solongo’s personalities as well as that of their families mixed in with a terrific lazy Sunday in the city of Chicago. Yes, my friends even the ever-crowded Michigan avenue seemed to be so with a pleasant manner. Riding in the limo with the newlyweds, some family members, Archie the puppy and the amazing photographer Millicent Wong felt like taking a cruise with some old friends.

Congratulations to Rich and Solongo and thanks for inviting us out to be a part of such an incredible and intimate event.

In Your Arms (Rich + Solongo) from Turning Point Productions on Vimeo.

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This Kind of Love (Jack + Dorin)

July 17th, 2012 Wedding Cinema No Comments

I met with Jack and Dorin downtown on their lunch break on a cool and windy autumn day (typical Chicago weather right?) that seemed like an long time ago. But before we knew it, we were shooting their wedding at the SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church followed by a romp through downtown Chicago and an elegant reception at Georgios Banquets. We had the pleasure to work alongside the very talented Brian Kinyon of Brian Kinyon Photography. You should click on his link, he’s got some great stuff.

Jack and Dorin have spent 8 amazing years together culminating in one very special day to enjoy with family and friends. Jack’s a happy man because he got to marry the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. We love the way these two look at each other. Enjoyable and just some nice people to be around, we hope our film has done their personalities justice. Enjoy!

This Kind of Love (Jack + Dorin) from Turning Point Productions.

 

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It’s not that important

May 8th, 2012 Other Stuff No Comments

Contrary to popular belief your work is not too important that you cannot take a break to go outside and bask in the glorious sunshine. Ok maybe if you’re a doctor and your scheduled for open heart surgery or something of the like. Yeah you should probably just wait to have your relaxing moment. Also, good for you. I’m sure that’s a very stressful thing to do and I would not want to switch places with you. But the rest of us who do not currently have a life hanging in the balance of our next decision, we should just take some time to enjoy the small things in life.

“But wait anonymous Turning Point author” you say, “I do not have the slightest idea of how to relax and surely I do not want to go have a beer whilst I’m working. What pray tell should I do?”

Fear not loyal reader for we have put together a small collection of things which bring us a zen-like feeling of peace and or excitement. You can check it out by clicking the word HERE.

We are curious what you do to unwind and take your mind of things. For example, back when I worked in a cubicle for a living I would sneak down and out the rear of the building and really just waste time watching people in their cars at the stop light on Golf Road and some street I cannot remember. Man it’s hysterical to see the performances people put on in their car. Dramatic sing alongs, the rear view mirror makeup application, unmentionable habits concerning ones nose-that really creeps me out. One of my favorites was to see multiple dudes (in different cars) checking out a pretty woman. You really get to see the various approaches to “inconspicuously looking”. And the inevitable “oh crap, she just caught me, act natural. la la la.”

So anyway, this was just a quick post to say “hey, enjoy yourself”. Keep on keepin’ on.

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What’s worse than being a guest at a lame party? Being the host.

March 28th, 2012 Other Stuff No Comments

Last year we had the privilege of working with one of the hippest bands around Chicago. Richie Davis from the Chicago Catz called us up and we talked for quite some time. These guys are the real deal, I thought to myself. The stories I heard, the places they had been, the people they had played alongside. Man, my head was spinning. Make no mistake, it wasn’t Richie doing some unsolicited name dropping, it was one honest answer to a question I asked that sparked me to ask a follow up question whose answer sparked another question and then another. You see where this is going right.

We’ve shot a couple of different gigs for the Chicago Catz and each time they simply owned the stage, owned the crowd, and owned the night. The passion for what they do and their talent just combines into this unstoppable energy that doesn’t quit until it creeps into your feet and hands forcing you to get down and dance. To cut loose and enjoy yourself. Now try to imagine staying focused long enough to shoot a video. It wasn’t easy.

Since our first conversation, Richie and I have became friends. We don’t go hang out every Tuesday on a bowling league, but our phone calls definitely do not follow the traditional client/service provider template. But then again, I guess neither one of us are exactly traditional. I can say that Richie is a stand up guy, someone who really cares about making people happy and making good music. If that’s not the guy you want in charge of the good times at your event, I don’t know who is. Check them out at www.ChicagoCatz.com.

 

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