Steven Caras PBS Documentary

Ko-Mar Productions was hired to shoot segments of a national PBS documentary on photographer Steven Caras. (www.stevencaras.com) The film is called, "Steven Caras: See Them Dance." Inspired by Steven Caras’ extraordinary career in the world of dance, Emmy Award winning film-makers Deborah Novak and John Witek have singled him out as their next subject for an hour-long PBS documentary. We started our filming at the prestigious, Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, FL



Here, we ended day one at the Kravis Center ( www.kravis.org ) for many key scenes and interviews. It was a thrill to have access to Dreyfoos Hall, the main auditorium for our shoot.



Day two, we spent the day at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts (www.awdsoa.org) This day had many stages, first was capturing Steve at work as a photographer. His signature style is unique. The Steven Caras Dance Photography Archive includes in excess of 120,000 powerful images of the dance world's greatest icons and institutions. Spanning thirty years, this invaluable photographic documentation encompasses what is considered to be the most important period in the history of dance in America.

Here, rising Ballet star, Connor Walsh from the Houston Ballet (www.houstonballet.org) gets some hang time for some action shots! Next was possibly a first in the world of Ballet, the POV helmet-cam! Deborah wanted to see what it was like for the audience to experience for a brief moment what it is like to jump and pirouette.

Here is the Small HD camera, we put a wide angle lens on the body and the only thing we could think of to mount it on Connor was to mount it on Paul's bike helmet. It worked! Amazing what gaffer tape and Velcro can do.

I think Deborah liked the shot! Connor was a good sport, he said its was a "unique experience.." The documentary is slated to premier on PBS in early Spring of 2011.

Ko-Mar Goes To Pebble Beach!

You know its a big deal if you send the Senior crew to an event such as this! Its the 110th US Open, and we're there to work with Golf Digest Digital. It will be a long week for them but they have a nice view.

Here is a shot of the 18th green, the boys say its a little chilly there about a 30 degree difference from hot South Florida!

This is the massive media center. It can seem like NASA central command, Jim is producing pieces for Golf Digest and Bill Welsh editing away with our portable Avid. These will post this week on their website. (www.golfdigest.com)

Todd and Jim hard at work...we're shooting High Definition with the trusty Sony V1U to capture Pebble in all its glory!


The rounds start on Thursday, so check out their work out at the Golf Digest website. The man behind the camera is......

The one and only, Chris Demaio! Chris is one of our Senior producers. Chris and Jim are producing the various segments for the site. The Crew: Jim Gallagher, Todd Kolich, Chris DeMaio and Bill Welsh. As Anthony would say.."Nice."

Golf Digest Digital Goes, "True Blue!"

The flowers are in bloom here in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at the True Blue golf course. True Blue is located on Pawley's Island of the main drag. Check it out here: (truebluegolf.com) Golf Digest Digital has a great relationship with the Myrtle Beach area. We are shooting there once a month for some great golf tips from Peter Morrice and Stina Sternberg.


It did rain on and off during our quick trip but we managed to get our segments in between the rain drops. Weather is part of golf, not good for cameras, but we had umbrellas and took a long lunch break until it was suitable to get another tip done.


Here, Stina rehearses her golf tip segment, we usually set up two cameras, one wide and the shorter one for the close-up's..


Senior producer Chris DeMaio goes over a golf tip with P-Mo..The shoot went very well, the staff at True Blue was very helpful. The Ko-Mar crew was Chris DeMaio and Paul Piasecki. Our local SC crew was Doug Kelly and company. Overall another successful shoot and we are going back next week!

Taking a Dip in the Pool!

We were on location to shoot the latest "How to" demo DVD's for Hayward Pool Cleaning Products. (http://www.haywardnet.com/) We had to partly cloudy days hence the Arri HMI's, we threw in a Joker 800 and 3 Shiny Boards but we seemed to manage. Here we are setting up the dolly for some B-Roll shots.



We had to shoot very detailed information, we also had the help of spokeswoman Miranda Khan. (http://www.mirandakhan.com/) Bruce Porter, marketing manager for Hayward Polls flew in from New Jersey to join the Ko-Mar gang. He had a lot of great input of the specific shots we needed.



Underwater camera services were provided by Steven Miller. (http://www.stevemillerproductions.com/) He got us some great angles we didn't even think of until he was under water. He used the Sony Z1U HDV camera and this cool looking underwater rig...



Another great shoot! The crew was: Paul Piasecki, Dan Taylor, Anthony Angrisani, and our intern Valery Lugo.

Adcomm Advertising and Ko-Mar go Solar!

Solar for Adcomm's next direct response video that features the "Solar Max"that Ko-Mar just shot on location in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Adcomm Advertising, Originators of the "As Seen On TV" Retail P.O.P. packaging, is a full service creative agency specializing in the direct response industry for over 20 years. They can be found here: www.adcommadv.com

Ko-Mar productions has a long relationship with Adcomm's president and CEO, Don Braca. Don is the "Guru" for direct response and long format infomercials, as well as packaging for thousands of products over the years. Here are some behind the scene photo's.

Don at the helm...


We don't need a car rig.......another day at the pool..

In this segment, we needed to do some table top product shots and set up our infamous portable sweep table, please excuse the saw horses but they work. Here the crew is hard at work.


Gary's very hands on approach.....Jose keeping his head in the game..


We had to suspend the small adapters hence the glass...Gary also had to do some old school stop motion work for one of the give away products. You need a lot of patience and time to get table top shots right!


This last shot was a day for night set-up. Actually it was closer to dusk, rather than waiting until dark, we enclosed the tent (which was outside) with black visqueen, camera and all. Overall, another successful shoot. Crew: Paul Piasecki, Anthony Angrisani, Rick Meister, Jose Flores, Gary Waxler, Peter Parcells, Christiana Schwartz.

"A Passion For Golf, PGA Professionals and You"

We are gearing up for our second National CBS Sports special for the PGA of America. The special will air May 2nd on CBS 1-2pm EST. We have traveled from one end of the country to the other and places in between.

The first part of the journey took Producer Jim Gallagher and DP Todd Kolich to the Phoenix area to start filming a segment with Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson both highly respected PGA teaching professionals featured among top 50 list for Golf Digest Magazines' best teachers in America.



They are co-founders of Vision54, (www.vision54.com) an integrated coaching programs that increase performance and individual development for golfers, for athletes, for coaches, for business and life.



Jim and Todd ended up in Los Angeles, CA to shoot a segment with PGA teaching professional Bruce Hamilton and 2010 Ryder Cup Captain, Corey Pavin at the Spanish Hills Country Club (www.spanishhillscc.com) where Bruce is Based.

Corey Pavin

Bruce Hamilton in action.... Spanish Hills Country Club

Next was a quick turnaround for Jim, right after they got back from LA, Jim and DP, Paul Piasecki flew to Dallas to shot a segment with PGA teaching Professional, Randy Smith and PGA Tour Professional, Justin Leonard.

Randy Smith & Justin Leonard

Randy's home course is Royal Oaks Country Club (www.royaloakscc.com) in the heart of Dallas, Texas. Randy has one basically every award a PGA professional can get including "Teacher of the Year," back in 2002. Justin Leonard (www.justinleonard.com) has worked with Randy since he was a junior golfer, he regards Randy as a mentor and an old family friend.


That's it for now...more behind the scenes to come..