DYNAMARC Words

BATMAN BEYOND: Beyond The Senses- SEE IT NOW!

2010-08-31T20:22:00.002-04:00

It's Finally done! See it at www.youtube.com/dynamarcfilms

Decades in the future... Bruce Wayne is 80 years old and a young protoge' becomes a new Batman for a New Gotham City. Based on the successful animated series BATMAN BEYOND, Dynamarc Films presents a non-profit live-action test short fan film , featuring Dru Grossberg as Batman/Terry McGinnis, Michael McQuary as Spellbinder, and Marc Briatack as the voice of Bruce Wayne. Produced, Directed, Written, Shot and Edited by Marc Briatack. Featuring costumes crafted by Larry Smith, winner of the San Diego Comic Con Masquerade Costume Contest 2010. Batman and related characters are property of DC Comics Inc. which is not afilliated with this production.

BATMAN BEYOND: Beyond The Senses

2010-05-25T14:32:00.005-04:00

As many of you know, my next big project, is the Russ Meyer films spoof called "STRONGER, HARDER GIVE ME MORE!" Before it gets rolling however, I decided to do another short film project based on a well known character.
BATMAN BEYOND debuted on television as a cartoon series some years back with this basic premise: It's the future, former Batman, Bruce Wayne is now 80 years old and in comes a young protegee' named Terry McGinnis to take over the role of Batman. It was an instant success, with a newly designed Batman look that seemed instantly as iconic as the original Batman himself.

So, the year before I filmed the webisode series "Fu Manchu's Weapon Of Evil," a good friend and fellow comic book afficiando, Larry Smith e-mailed me pics of himself in a costume that he, himself made, that perfectly mimicked the Batman Beyond cartoon character. WOW! I was astounded. I knew Larry for some years and never knew he could do this so well. That was the first half of the genesis to the upcoming short film called "BATMAN BEYOND: BEYOND THE SENSES," which I will be writing, shooting, directing, editing, and even providing the voice of the old Bruce Wayne, which I'm told that my vocal impersonation of Batman voice artist Kevin Conroy is spot on! Whooda thought?

The idea to use Larry's costume as the impetus for a short live-action film based on Batman Beyond was instantaneous because of the second part of the genesis of this idea. My good friend, the incomparable actor Michael McQuary (Mister Fu Manchu himself) had introduced me to a friend of his who just happened to be the spitting image of Terry McGinnis in real life. That person was Dru Grossberg. More on him later.

The Batman Beyond film project had to be back burnered because of the tremendous 9 month undertaking (from pre to post production) of creating the Fu Manchu web series. Oddly enough, I began to jump into the idea of the Russ Meyer spoof and it almost looked like the Batman project was never going to get done. However, my Fu Manchu screenwriter, James Sexton has been taking his time and working so diligently on writing the script for SHGMM to make sure it is hilarious and as perfect as can be, that I had a space in time to go back to the Batman Beyond idea. I decided that Spellbinder was the best villain from the cartoon series to use on a limited budget (If I had millions, it would have been Inque). Who better to give life to Spellbinder? None other than Michael McQuary of course.

It was up to me to write the short script which opens with Batman already in the clutches of Spellbinder. I will say no more about the story. You'll have to be surprised. So, the story was completed, Dru and Michael were on board and then Larry Smith thankfully agreed to do the costumes for both Batman and Spellbinder. Larry is a genius. I just love when I discover new hidden talents that my friends possess. Larry came in on the second pre-production meeting and brought the Terry McGinnis Batman costume with him. It looked even better in person than the pics I saw. Dru promplty went into another room to put the costume on. When he came out, Larry, Michael and I gasped! Dru was utterly perfect for this. It was Terry McGinnis as Batman come to life. It's one thing to know in your head that an idea is good, but it's another thing to see it in front of your eyes and have it be even better. Dru looked perfect, Larry's costume was amazing, and I have been pleased beyond words. Larry and Dru, and MMQ as well, I owe you a huge THANKS for what I believe will be an entertaining fan film short. Stay tuned about the where and when you'll be able to see it- Marc Briatack.

BATMAN and related characters are properties of DC Comics Inc.

"LOVE BETWEEN THE LINES"

2010-03-25T18:08:00.006-04:00

Just completed a new short film, Directed, shot and edited by me, Marc Briatack. Written and Produced by Eric Michael Espiritu. Starring Eric Michael Espiritu, Carolina Ravassa, and Michael McQuary.

When a fortune teller warns a young man of the impending doom of a former love, he is moved to drastic action, but just what exactly is really going on here?

On a personal note...

2009-11-15T22:59:00.002-05:00

My family doesn't live in this country, but I have wonderful friends, and in particular a family of wonderful people who are always there for me, so I'd like this chance to publicly thank the incredible Cerrone clan. They are always there for me with laughter, smiles, warm hearts, great food, and a calming environment. As my film is hitting the internet, this beautiful family surprised me with a special cake commemorating my triumph. Anyone in this world would be lucky to have them in their lives, so thank you Alba, Augie, Sandra ("Sandrutza"), Claudia and Daniella. You are all loved!

FU MANCHU'S WEAPON OF EVIL DEBUTS NOVEMBER 9th!

2009-11-08T11:05:00.006-05:00

BEGINNING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9th at 9PM and WITH A NEW CHAPTER every Monday night, ending on Monday, January 4th! FU MANCHU'S WEAPON OF EVIL- the weekly webisodes, Starring Michael McQuary as Fu Manchu, James Sexton as Nayland Smith, Stephanie Layton as Vesper, and Eric Michael Espiritu as Ching. Sax Rohmer's classic arch-villain returns! New York, 1935: When Fu Manchu learns of Professor Wembley's Atomic Beam Generator, he sends henchman Ching, and the beautiful and deadly Vesper to acquire the components. As they leave a trail of dead bodies in their wake, it's up to Fu's arch-rival, Scotland Yard's Nayland Smith and his associate Doctor Petrie, to stop Fu before he can hold the world ransom and achieve world domination! Produced and Directed by Marc Briatack, written by James Sexton, and also starring Jon Michael Johnson as Wembley, Bob Gutowksi as Petrie and also starring Callie Burk, Jaques Mitchell, Richard Dama, Tim Mele, LeNair Xavier Taprovo, and Dru Grossberg. See it at www.youtube.com/DYNAMARCFilms and www.dynamarcfilms.blogspot.com starting November 9th, 2009. A DYNAMARC Films Production. PASS IT ALONG TO YOUR FRIENDS TOO!

COMING VERY SOON!

2009-10-27T23:48:00.002-04:00

The Film's soundtrack is now one third complete, so look for the weekly webisode intallments VERY SOON, and meanwhile enjoy the DVD cover/main poster!

A BIG THANK FU TO ALL

2009-10-19T18:40:00.002-04:00

" Fu Manchu's Weapon Of Evil.."

FILMING HAS BEEN COMPLETED! Wow, what an experience shooting this film. Before I toot my own horn, and I will; I have to give it up to my talented cast for making this the most rewarding creative experience of my career.

First I have to mention the three unsung heroes of the film. Three guys who have either little screen time, or no lines in the film, yet made such a strong impression in the production and on me personally.

Dru Grossberg has one scene in the film as a Dacoit fighting with Nayland Smith on the streets of New York. He's masked so you don't even see him until you venture to to end credits where everyone gets their face and name attached to each other, I wish more films did this old-style scroll of the actors name under their visage instead of the fast moving rolls of white letters against black backgrounds. Dru never had any real training as an actor or fighter before this project, but he came through like a champ, learning the moves quickly and perfectly. If it reads a bit corny on screen, blame it on myself as a director who didn't want actors who had no stunt training, to hurt themselves while pretending to hurt each other.

Timothy Mele is in that same scene. In fact, he is the first person we see in that scene, tumbling down an outdoor staircase before his demise and warning our protagonist to "RUN!" He had a great look and charm that came across even more obvioulsy as he winked to the camera while shooting his credit scene. It was that natural playfullness that made me want to give him something else to do in the film, so you also see him as the male half of the two screamers in the opening credits.

What can I say about our main Dacoit (basically a ninja), Lenair Xavier Toprovo? Lenair is a friend, and since we had no budget on this film, I nervously tapped my friends to help out. He could have said "no." Instead, he showed up every day we needed a disguised servant of Fu Manchu to either attack someone or get "beaten up" or "disintegrated." He has no lines in the film, but provides us with a necessary presence through out most of it. The guy is aces, and a real professional talent that I hope to showcase in another production, and has my eternal gratitude!

Before I get to the rest of the actors, I have to throw in a couple of mentions of thanks to two people, without whom this production could not have looked as good as it did. I'm not even talking about our production designer yet, but I'll get to him soon. My love goes out to an incredible lady by the name of Maxine Beige, an incredibly good-hearted person who provided us with both the Ninja costumes, and the outfit of Vesper, our lead female character. Maxine and her brothers own Rubies Costume Company (free plug) and if you've ever gone costume shopping and saw a little red circle with a little clown in it, on the packaging, then you know this company. Maxine has always been there for me as a person, and has extended her warmth to this film as well. A heartfelt THANK YOU to you, Maxine! Next up is James Darconte of J.D. Auto Body Repair in Mineola, New York, who just happened to own a period specific automobile that is seen when Nayland escapes with Wembley after he is shot. James D. just let us use this classic car to add some "gravitas" to this film, very graciously. So another round of thanks is heaped upon him too!

Well, despite this film being mainly my baby; no, I'm not that much of an egotist to think I could've done this alone, I have to also applaud my co-editor Tony Munoz. Tony is another friend who had worked as an editor on documentary projects and who wanted a challenge of working on a narrative. Well Tony, hope you got what you wished for (insert laughter here). Tony had the ardrous task of having done either clean-ups of my preliminary edits or providing another set of eyes to make this film work visually better. Hey even we Directors know that objective eyes are good for the final product!

Now back to our supporting cast; three actors who had one or two scenes of note that without their talent, we could not have made the story work. Callie Nicole Burk plays Professor Elena Jameson, a part originally written for a man (then named Ian) , but when the original actor could not do the part due to scheduling issues, I decided to recast with a young woman because otherwise the film was turning into too much of a sausage fest. In walks Callie. Lucky me, lucky us! Callie impressed me with a real professional actor's attitude and training that goes way beyond her young years. In her first scenes, she actually blocked herself, which made my job as a Director much easier. Like Tim Mele, I brought her back to film the opening credits as one of the screamers. Next up we have Jacques Mitchell, who plays a recurring role on ALL MY CHILDREN. Wanna know why? Look at him, he's got those model good looks that ladies love and is what I term a "hardcore actor." I say this because he takes a beating in the film, getting slapped by Vesper, knifed in the leg, and then tied up, bound and gagged, and killed. Through it all, his attitude was to make it real. If our lead actress needed to slap him, he was okay with it. If he had to have tape over his mouth and then ripped off, it would give him something to work with. I, however have a protective streak toward people on set and decided to opt for ways of not harming my cast. The weird thing here is that besides the looks, talent, and toughness of Mister Mitchell, he's also one of the kindest people I've met. Speaking of another person who meets their demise on camera we have Richard Dama, who like many of us did double duty in the film. Rich is another friend who I consider something of a mad genius. He builds things... complicated things.. artistic things, so I cautiously asked him to build the three machines needed for the film and their components. Do you like that little Atomic Beam Generator that Wembley invents in the film? How about Fu Manchu's Worldwide Radio transmitter, or better yet, the huge monstrosity that eventually becomes Fu's version of Wembley's little invention? Thank the warped mind of Mister Dama for that. Without his contribution, this film wouldn't have much of its look and story elements. Rich also lent his apartment for a scene, so I decided to let him play the part of the character that inhabits the office where it takes place, and wouldn't you know it, but the guy can act too!

Now for our principal actors. Where to begin? Let's start with Bob Gutowski who plays Doctor Petrie. Bob came in for his audition armed with talent and ideas. Every single reading he threw at me worked and I knew I had someone here who would bring style to his performance. Watch his facial expressions on screen and you can tell he acts with his entire persona and not just by delivering lines. He's also one of the most consistent actors which makes editing his scenes easier because his line reads and physical gestures always match from take to take. He also went over the script with the eye of a hawk and added so many small wonderful touches that increased the believability of a story that stretches the imagination a bit. Any film production company and any director would be lucky to have him on board.

Now what about that guy who plays Fu's henchman, Ching? Eric Michael Espiritu has played Ching before, both in Fu Manchu photo shoots and the film short, "ALCHEMY: THE DIABOLICAL EXPERIMENT OF FU MANCHU," which was a quickly shot (in five hours) 8 minute test film, which you can view at www.youtube.com.DYNAMARCFilms . Eric had a scar painted on his face and no lines in that film, but got much attention because of his scantily clad presence. He was such a trooper, that I decided that Ching needed to be given a big part with plenty of lines, no scar, and clothes! Eric is another professional actor who is always pleasant on set, ready to do his job and just comes across great on camera.

Speaking of the "Alchemy" test film, we also have Jon Michael Johnson returning as Professor Wembley. Jon is great; a scene stealer that is so much fun to watch as he peppers his performance with amusing oddness that adds so much depth to his portrayal of the bumbling scientist. He is also one of those actors who doesn't really need much direction because his instincts about his performance are spot-on!

Now for the main triumverate of the film! Let's start with the ultra-sexy Stephanie Layton who plays Fu's henchwoman/ main squeeze, Vesper. Unlike Fu, Nayland and Petrie, Vesper is not a creation of Sax Rohmer. I created the character to be strong feminine presence, unlike the typical 1930's (the time period the film takes place in) where women's roles were more "damsels in distress." Stephanie brings Vesper to life beautifully, revelling in the character's nastiness. I think Stephanie has the most fun in the film. She gets to pull guns on people, slap people around, stab them with knives, fights with a sword, whips her cohort, and does it with style. I think that Miss Layton will be the breakout new star of the piece. Working with her has been great, as she always came prepared, knew her lines (she holds the film record for least amount of line flubs- just one!), and is the epitome of what a Director needs from an Actor. It is my hope that someone will notice her and cast her in a major production so that her star will rise. She deserves it!

James Sexton doesn't have it easy. He plays Nayland Smith with spit-polish British restraint which is something his Scotland Yard trained character needs to keep his cool while every other character and situation goes over the top. James has classic Hollywood leading man good looks and stature and I discover something new in his performance each time I view it. Watch his facial expressions and where he looks, because you can see the story on his face at key moments. James also wrote the screenplay for FU MANCHU'S WEAPON OF EVIL, and I gotta say, he gave me a great script. When I first read it, I asked him "What are you doing to me?" There were so many things in the script that made me as a producer, director, and cinematographer wonder how I was going to accomplish these things with no budget, but James clearly knew what he was writing because he challenged me, and through luck, ingenuity, and a little help, I pulled it off (I think and hope, but that's for you, the viewer to decide). As I continued shooting the film and assembling its components, I started to really see how well thought out James' script was. Everything is there and has a reason for being there. Kudos to James Sexton for giving the audience what I believe will be a fun, thrill ride!

So what can I say about our lead actor Michael McQuary? A lot! He is a consumate actor of the highest calibre, who I've often described as the best actor who's not famous- YET! My DVD interview reiterates this point, and also the fact that McQuary has this incredible facial and physical malleability that seems to equal the vocal ability of Mel Blanc, who did the voices of most of the Looney Tunes cartoons. Watch how his version of Fu Manchu compares with Fu's disguise of "Professor Wong" early in the film. You see the transformation yourself, yet somehow it's still hard to believe it's the same person. Fu gets crazed by the film's end and it's probably the best moment in the film as McQuary's frighteningly evil laughter escalates as he turns on the big version of the Atomic Beam Generator. Classic villain, classic acting. I don't think I could ever do a project without somehow utilizing the incredible talents of this man, and his talents aren't just relegated to acting either. In fact, Fu's make-up was done by McQuary himself, as was the set decoration of Fu's lair, because it's the actor's actual home! Believe it folks!

Now as for myself and the work I had to do... Well, this was indeed much work and I loved every second of it. Coordinating schedules, finding locations (aided by James), casting (aided by Michael and Jon), producing, directing, doing the camerawork, playing a Dacoit and a radio announcer in two quick instances, the preliminary edits, the sound effects, the visuals effects, photographing the DVD cover, doing the publicity stills, keeping the continuity as we shot out of sequence, designing the opening and end credit titles, the lighting, "blocking" the action, getting the costumes, obtaining the classic car, etcetera, etcetera. In fact, I was the ONLY crew member. I'm exhausted.... Yet somehow luck smiled upon this production. We shot in some great places; outside the Museum of Natural History in New York, outside and inside an actual ship we snuck onto, the incredibly beautiful Snug Harbor in Staten Island, and also sneaking onto college campuses and actually shooting in real classrooms and labs, to name but a few. Ah, "guerilla filmmaking" at its best, and yet this film LOOKS like it had a budget! So, as the film nears it's nine-chapter webisode version on-line debut, and before the full form version hits film festivals, enjoy these periodic blogs and to my actors: TAKE A BOW, because you deserve it.

More to come... the unveiling of the main movie poster and dvd cover...

Ah...DELAYS, DELAYS...

2009-09-26T22:49:00.005-04:00

FU MANCHU'S WEAPON OF EVIL has been a bit delayed due to scheduling conflicts, but things are going remarkably well otherwise! We will be done shooting the film on October 13th and will be quickly finishing the edit to get it on-line for the weekly webisode intallments. Opening and end credits have already been completed with music selected and we're a mere 5 scenes short of completion. Then the work of cutting the film up into the chapters with the added music soundtrack will be done, and we'll be good to go. Check back here for updates, and enjoy these frame-grabs with more scenes to come in a few more days!

FLICKR ADDICTION

2009-09-18T23:06:00.004-04:00

Photographers these days have to really put it out their in order to be noticed and competitive, and not just with our own websites. While I'm in the process of redesigning my site with a high-tech look and interactive slideshow presentation of my photos and links to my films, I bit the bullet and joined Flickr.com. I usually hate these so called social networking sites because they can be time wasters with communications that you don't want to participate in, but Flickr is a dedicated site to the photographic community from afficionados to pros and is a joyful site for those who enjoy looking at or taking pictures. Sure there are some turkeys on there, but there is outstanding work too and excellent discourse amongst hobbyists and professionals about technique, equipment and subjects. I'm hooked! So, if you're one of these people who admire photography and/or photographers, either join or take a look. Oh, and there's some new images that have not yet debuted on my personal website that I've posted, if you want a preview of some of my newest images. Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcbriatack . Meanwhile here's one of my newest shots that so far has gotten the most amount of views on my photostream. Enjoy?

Another Anniversary

2009-09-10T22:07:00.001-04:00

September 11th, the worst day in our collective lives for those of us living. To all those families, my heart goes out to you. To all the policemen and firefighters who worked diligently for months on the clean-up, I salute you all. Seen here is a photograph of an actual piece of steel from the World Trade Center..... Never Forget

Fun time while filming!

2009-08-31T23:46:00.003-04:00

Allow me some self-promotion here on behalf of me and my great cast of FU MANCHU'S WEAPON OF EVIL. We should be done shooting by the end of the month, slightly behind schedule, but that's okay because I'm working with such a great group of talented people, that accomodating actors' schedules is the least I can do. Six scenes left to shoot as of this writing and just two weeks after that to finish post-production because we've been editing quickly as we've been going along. I'll probably blog about this great experience at least two more times before the release, and a few afterwards. Meanwhile, check this impromptu attached photo of some of my cast, in-between scenes and just having fun.

For you techies out there, This film is being shot with a prosumer JVC Hi-Definition camera in "film" mode, which is basically a 24 frames per second frame rate to look exactly like film, not video. It's then converted to an old black and white look to mimic the style of old movie serials. So far, it really does look like an old film.. with the exception of some modern day background things inavoidably getting in there, but hey, it's the "future sci-fi" envisioned by artists of the past, so we can fudge a bit!

CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHY LEGALITIES

2009-08-14T10:00:00.003-04:00

Last night I went to see PAT BENATAR and NEIL GIRALDO at a free concert in Asser Levy Park in Brooklyn. The show was great, but something annoyed me. I'm a professional photographer, so that means I have noticable "pro" gear to accompany that fact, which means I get singled out for special treatment from security people. So, let's take a look at concert photography and taking pictures. First off, in this instance, the concert was outdoors and I could've easily taken shots from the street with a telephoto lens, so security guards telling me "no pictures" is just patently ridiculous. Secondly, virtually everyone these days has a cell-phone camera, so checking people's bags for cameras now becomes a new legality and a case for selective enforcement. I understand that recording devices for the audio should be banned as the music is copyrighted material, but performers are celebrities performing in public and therefore having their pictures taken is part of the deal. Having audience members in no way hinders the hired, working pro from shooting the concert and making his bread. Moreover, when concert goers PAY for tickets or not, they should be allowed some personal momento of their experience in the form of photographic memories and NOT be told that they can't do it. It's time for new legislation to challenge these archaic "laws," if any laws are actually at work here, and security guards need to be put in their place for their overcompensating of their position. Meanwhile, enjoy these pics!

My Love Affair with Olympus

2009-08-09T17:47:00.002-04:00

It started sometime in the early-eighties. Like many of us, I owned a small camera; the Olympus XA2. A famous department store was going out of business, and I used that as an opportunity to buy my first interchangeable lens camera at a very inexpensive price. I remember that day well. I was relatively young and extremely proud of bringing home that camera with a two-lens kit, and flash. That camera was the Olympus OM-G (a choice I made because of my ownership of the afore mentioned "capsule" styled Olympus compact). Entry level to be sure, but it was to set me on my course in life. Within a day of reading the instruction manual, where I was taught about exposure, depth of field, and other necessary knowledge to becoming a photographer, I started taking pictures and was excited beyond words when I got that first roll of film developed. We're talking about the days before digital! The Olympus Zuiko lenses were tack sharp with incredible clarity, and they were small and compact with a strong construction. I had marvelled at my equipment as a feat of artistic engineering.

After a sufficient amount ot time and growth with the camera, I purchased Olympus' top of the line OM-4. Don't forget, this was an era right before autofocus would become the standard, and the beautifully rugged OM-4 had a wealth of features that I'd never seen in a camera like multi-spot metering and highlight and shadow controls. I was hooked and in love.

Years go by, and Olympus took themselves out of the SLR (single lens reflex, the term for most interchangeable lens cameras) camera business. I was saddened. Though Olympus continued producing incredibly strong cameras in the point and shoot market, a talented hobbyist turning pro would now have to turn to a new system to compete with the growing amount of other shutterbugs seeking to start a career as a professional behind the lens. I remember how I regretted selling my cameras and lenses to trade up for the Nikon N90s and the Nikon system. To be sure, that Nikon was first class for its time and no slouch when it came to image making. I was now indocturned into the world of autofocus and autoexposure with a new system. I loved it, yes, but I had lamented the passing of the OM system.

Again, some years go by and cameras evolve into the computer world as almost all imaging becomes digital (There are still some hold-outs, but they will be things of the past). Excitedly, I heard the news that Olympus was getting back into the SLR business in this new digital photography world. I waited a while before purchasing a new DSLR system (insert the letter "D" for "digital" in front of "SLR), and when I did, I bought the now archaic Nikon D100. Things progress rapidly in digital technology and price eventually comes down, so I became fully invested in the Nikon digital system, but then I also had to buy my first Olympus DSLR; The Olympus E-500. It was an eight megapixel camera (a bit better than standard resolution at the time of its introduction), and I bought it with the two-lens kit. I had Zuiko glass again! Those two lenses provided me with the equivalent coverage of 28-300mm focal lengths in comparison to 35mm film photography. I was in heaven again, because I saw something I liked. The color rendition and contrast range was just what I liked almost right off the memory card, leaving me with little time needed for post-processing of images as compared to what I did with my Nikon images. Im not knocking Nikon nor will I ever. It's a pro system that yields incredible results, and that along with cameras made by Canon are considered the top contenders in the DSLR pro shooter categories. I love my Nikons too, as I've constantly upgraded as camera resolutions and features grew in the new photography world, but there's always been something about the images from Olympus.

So, like my Nikons, I've constantly uprgaded my Olympus cameras and lenses. I've been through the E-500, The E-420, The E-520 and finally the new (as of this wrting) Pro oriented E-3, the incredibly feature rich E-30, and the fun E-620. The latter two yield twelve megaixel images with rich colors and dynamic ranges and features that astound me. I can switch aspect ratios (4:3, 6:6, 16:9, 2:3 for example) and I've got a choice of in-camera filters that can produce very specific types of images right out of the camera with no post-processing like "pop art," "light tone," "pinhole," and "grainy black and white." Add to this the swiveling LCD screen and "Live View," and I've got vitrually everything I could ever want in a still camera, and don't forget that Olympus has innovated these features in their cameras! When not using my Nikons for some pro assignments, I'll whip out the E-3 and E30 to shoot side by side with my other system. The E-620 is something else for me. Along with a series of four very small lenses that fit the comparitively small camera, I find that this new system is perfect for personal creative expression and it allows me to carry the low-weight system for long periods of time. I pack my E-620 with the 9-18mm, 14-42mm, 40-150mm and 70-300mm ED lenses, and I've got coverage ranging from 18-600mm in 35mm photography terms. Add the FL-36 small and lightweight flash, and the new vertical grip attachment, and I'm good to go in any photographic situation and resulting images that are almost exactly the way I want them, or surpassing my vision right out of the camera and off the memory card. Olympus has once again made me feel a love of the medium that I can never take for granted.

-Marc Briatack,

photographer and filmmaker.

THE NEW MOVIE POSTER

2009-07-23T20:39:00.002-04:00

Seven more weeks of shooting to go and 75% finished as of this writing. This has been the most rewarding directorial experience I've ever had. Meanwhile before the release of the film, enjoy a glimpse of the movie poster!

STOP THE KILLING

2009-07-04T20:24:00.003-04:00

I'm a meat eater, and I feel that needs to be said before I begin my tirade about something I witnessed a week ago. I understand that animals in the wild kill prey to survive, and I can somewhat condone humans killing animals for sustenance for the same reason... within limits. I respect and admire those who are vegetarian on the basis of ethics. Maybe one day I'll get there myself. What I can't condone is the killing of any animal for sport. A friend and I happened to be touring the Nautical Mile in Freeport, New York, where we spied a group of people picketing the hunting of sharks. I don't like sharks because of childhood trauma of seeing the film JAWS when I was very young and impressionable. That doesn't mean I want to see them callously hunted down. SHARKS ARE NO MORE DANGEROUS THAN ANY OTHER ANIMAL SPECIES ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH WHEN THEIR TERRITORY IS ENCROACHED UPON. Don't believe me? Go spend some time amongst gorillas, tigers, elephants, bears or other various animals in the wild. SHARKS ARE DYING OUT AND THEY ARE A NECESSARY PART OF THIS PLANET'S ECOLOGY. So, as a photographer, I thought this would be a good topic to document. We photographers can be a strange bunch. Put a camera up to our eye and getting the shot is the only thing we focus on, no matter what the subject matter. It seems like the camera becomes a shield against our own emotions despite what we may witness through the lens, yet many times our goal is to get a specific reaction which we may not be feeling while we press the shutter. Our reactions come later when we review the results of our work. My friend and I observed a shark hunting contest being held and needless to say, the camera shutters were clicking... and I became disgusted. I was offended by this needless display of "sportsmanship," and came to a strong conclusion. I've met others who have hunted animals for sport and let's just say, I am not their friend. PEOPLE WHO CAN KILL ANIMALS FOR SPORT ARE CAPAPBLE OF MURDERING HUMAN BEINGS AS WELL. The psychology is the same. These people just want to kill, and are looking for "acceptable" venues for their perverse behaviors. Every sports hunter I've met exhibited this same disregard for life. Bears are killed in New Jersey because of "overpopulation." Really? Where? In there own territory? They don't exactly mingle in human poluation and while I know that sometimes they can be seen around the backyards of these rural New Jersey neighborhoods, they run and are more frightened by us humans than we are of them, and they come to these backyards because of the inability of human homeowners to properly package their garbage and other waste. So, think about these types of people who look for excuses to kill, and maybe support legislation against the unneccessary wholesale slaughter of animal life.

FU MANCHU'S WEAPON OF EVIL!

2009-07-04T17:56:00.000-04:00

Does it strike fear into your heart? Ah well, as of this writing, I'm slightly more than halfway through directing a 9-part webisode feature on the above mentioned subject. FMWOE has been a long time coming. If you've seen my youtube channel ( www.youtube.com/DYNAMARCfilms ), you'll have noticed a short test film called "Alchemy: The Diabolical Experiment of Fu Manchu." Now, we're stepping it up as FMWOE expands the cast to 10 principal actors and really becomes a testing ground for me to direct, film, and co-edit the first longform feature in some time. I'm proud of how it's looking so far. The webisode series is shot in black and white and made to look like a 1930's movie serial. Creative anachronisms will no doubt be evident, but hey it's all about super-villain fun bent on world domination. It stars the phenomenal actor Michael McQuary as the nefarious Fu, James Sexton as Nayland Smith (who also wrote the piece based on Sax Rohmer's character), the incredibly hot Stephanie Layton as Vesper, Jon Michael Johnson as Wembley, Bob Gutowski as Petrie (who is a blast to work with), and Eric Michael Espiritu as Fu's henchman, Ching!

Meanwhile, while you're on youtube, check the music video I shot and directed called "Jealous Man," and if you like it- HIRE ME! (LOL!)

and so it begins.

2009-07-04T17:37:00.000-04:00

Like most visual artists, I am equally as vocal. Sometimes contraversial, sometimes going along with the flow, I'll strive to intrigue your mind, eyes, and thoughts. If you're amused or uncomfortable at times, I'll know I've done my job....