Freedom Documentary

Hello everyone,

So a few months ago our school gave each of us the task of creating a short documentary to help promote the 2008 presidential election.  Upon completion, select videos were then sent to the Chicago McCormick Freedom Museum to be entered in a contest.

Well of course Ryan and I worked together on it and although we both hate politics, we actually had a lot of fun making it.  We were able to interview Andy Sisomboune, Matt Levy, and Mark Levy and get their opinions on current politics and the 2008 presidential election.  This project was also another opportunity to hit the streets of downtown Chicago and film at various locations around the city, which is what we love.

Our documentary did get selected by the McCormick Freedom Museum, however, we didn't win the the final contest.  No big deal though, it was fun making it and a tremendous experience nonetheless.  Please pardon the incorrect aspect ratio.  Enjoy!

Freedom Documentary from Michael Bartello on Vimeo.

Introducing Kevin Kuczkowski

Hello everyone,

Just got off the phone with Ryan, we should have the trailer for, February, up on Vimeo pretty soon.  But, until then check out this edit of Kevin Kuczkowski, a Chicago local.  Filmed and edited by Ryan Berena, see more of Kevin in, February, a documentary about skateboarding.  After the video be sure to check out more little edits like this from Ryan on Vimeo, Enjoy!

Introducing Kevin Kuczkowski from ry. on Vimeo.

My First Student Film

Hello again,

Here is my very first student film that I've done at my school, Flashpoint Academy.  When I was writing it I had a whole story line to go with it, however, some of my actors fell through unfortunately.  Therefore, last minute I changed the whole meaning of the film.  Rather than convey a story, I decided to concentrate on all visuals and let the audience come up with their own story for it.  

The footage Ryan Berena and myself shot is all located within downtown Chicago, mostly within the loop during the winter months of 2008, and featuring Michael Falco. Yes, we froze while shooting this, but it came out better than expected surprisingly.  Please note that I plan to go back and re-edit the footage sometime in the future.  I'll stop talking now, please pardon the incorrect aspect ratio and enjoy the first cut of my first student film, Socialize.

Untitled from Michael Bartello on Vimeo.

Interview Photo Blog

Hello again,

We are just about done filming for the skate documentary, February, we just need a little bit more b-roll footage and interviews or Ryan and myself.  That trailer coming this week!

Anyway...

 

The other week we interviewed Joe Gigele, and thanks to Josh Gort and Alex Villasenor, we have a photo blog of it.  Thanks a lot guys, enjoy!

Mr. Gigele himself, posing for the camera.

That man wants to get interviewed!  Even when there is no one around.

Josh decided to jam while we were trying to set-up.

This picture is pretty sick, props to Alex Villasenor.

Alex looks confused while Joe goes Hollywood.

Yeah...we use various gels to achieve maximum satisfaction.

Gigele, moments before we roll camera.

I found a new place to store my cigarettes, hands free!

Gigele's getting pumped, can't you tell?

Finally, roll camera.

Ryan Berena posting up, manning B-camera, smoking cigarettes.

Alex, scoping out the interview before it's his turn.

February, coming soon!

I just want to take this time to thank everyone who Ryan and myself have interviewed.  I know the process is nerve racking, long, and uncomfortable, but thank you for your dedication.  Once again, special thanks to Josh Gort and Alex Villasenor for the pictures, and extra special thanks to Josh Gort for letting us use his place to conduct the interviews.  Stayed tuned for more photo blogs and videos, all soon to come!

Thanks!

"Flashing Lights" by Michael Bartello

Uprise Warehouse Photo Blog

Hello again,

First of all I want to say sorry for lying, I wasn't able to get the videos up this weekend because Ryan and I were extremely busy wrapping up filming for this documentary.  But I swear I'll get videos up as soon as I can, hopefully sometime this week.

Anyway...

So on Saturday Ryan and I visited the Uprise Warehouse to do some filming for the documentary.

And yes, I followed through with my photo blog idea!  

Our crew consisted of...

Tony brotha, he the man.

This is Muggles, I mean Alex, rockin' the stash.

Ryan Berena, man on a mission.

Myself, wishing I could rock a stash like Alex's.

After getting down on a gnarly photo session, we eventually met up with Kevin and Justin at the Uprise warehouse to get down to business.  We started off just skating the park and getting warmed up, did I mention the warehouse wasn't heated?  Well it wasn't, and there were numerous times where Ryan and I swore we caught a case of the frost bitten toes, which put a damper on the comfort factor.  However,despite the cold the warehouse was amazing and had a lot of fun obstacles to skate.

This picture does no justice to the warehouse, my apologies.

We ended up going with the duo of the classic flood light...

...and our school's light to light up the quarter pipe.

Tony brotha, lurkin' on us as we set-up lights...admiring the magic.

We stepped it up with some dolly action for ultimate viewer satisfaction.

Tony and Alex got down, mission accomplished...great job!

Overall it was a successful mission.  We wanted to capture a lot of footage on the quarter pipe, which I'm certain we did.  The dolly shots we got look great as well, which tends to happen when you use a dolly.  

See Alex, Tony, Kevin, and Justin in, February, a documentary about skating,  due out February 6, 2009.

More photo blogs soon to come, I know this one was kind of week, however, they will only get better so stay tuned!  Oh yeah, more photography and sketches soon to come as well, check back soon.

Thanks!

Finally...

Aloha everyone,

So after being without my digital camera for quite some time, I'm finally getting back into the groove and snapping some pictures.

This means two things...

1.  More Chicago photography.

2.  Photo Blogs!

Everyday ends up being an adventure in some way or another.  Especially since we've started filming for this documentary, life as been everything but normal.  So now that I got my camera up and running, I can share these experiences through various photographs and brief captions.  Should be quite entertaining so say the least...I look forward to seeing what comes out of this.

For example...

This is Tony.  He likes having good times.

This is Tony 30 minutes later...still having good times.

See Tony, and many more in, February, a skate doc.

I'm hoping to get some videos uploaded on here by the end of the weekend.  Photo blog's and new sketches of mine, coming soon!

Thanks!

Chicago Photography by Michael Bartello

Arizona Photography by Michael Bartello