Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
Grabs look great!
"Warriors" - A Proof, Inc. Production (2009)
- Thread starter Stephen Mick
- Start date
Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
I can dig it.
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
Update - 4.3.08
Update - 4.3.08
With the first frames finally behind us, the next "Warriors" adventure may be the one most important to the overall project.
Beginning Tuesday, we'll be shooting in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas. First, on Tuesday, I'll be joined by Matt Gottshalk (mcgeedigital) for a day's shooting at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. (And I can't tell you how helpful and accommodating the press officer there has been to us.)
We'll start with a quick tour in the late morning, then we'll be out on the lawn (weather permitting) for a fly-casting clinic put on by Project Healing Waters. Next we'll sit down with some participating soldiers, as well as some doctors and other "important people" for interviews about the programs and how they help the "wounded warriors." Finally, we'll end our day in the pool documenting the work of Joe Mornini and the kayakers of Team River Runner.
On Wednesday, Matt and I will be joining RC Jones of Project Healing Waters at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, where they're putting the finishing touches on a fly-fishingn drift boat they've been building.
Thursday will take us out on the water with Team River Runner, as we tag along for their weekly kayak outing on the Potomac River.
With Matt heading out to NAB on Friday, I'll be joined by Mark Kokkoros of Rooster Productions, who'll be bringing both his talents and his HPX500 back to Walter Reed. There, we've got an early morning interview arranged with the director of the Physical Therapy department, who will likely bring a wealth of experiences and insights to the project.
Finally, Mark and I will drive down early Saturday morning to a little Virginia town called Syria. There, at a place called Rose River Farm, we'll spend the day filming the "Ice Breaker," the first fly-fishing tournament of the season for Project Healing Waters.
Thanks to all of those involved who've helped so far, and thanks in advance to those who'll be helping in the future.
Cheers!
Update - 4.3.08
With the first frames finally behind us, the next "Warriors" adventure may be the one most important to the overall project.
Beginning Tuesday, we'll be shooting in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas. First, on Tuesday, I'll be joined by Matt Gottshalk (mcgeedigital) for a day's shooting at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. (And I can't tell you how helpful and accommodating the press officer there has been to us.)
We'll start with a quick tour in the late morning, then we'll be out on the lawn (weather permitting) for a fly-casting clinic put on by Project Healing Waters. Next we'll sit down with some participating soldiers, as well as some doctors and other "important people" for interviews about the programs and how they help the "wounded warriors." Finally, we'll end our day in the pool documenting the work of Joe Mornini and the kayakers of Team River Runner.
On Wednesday, Matt and I will be joining RC Jones of Project Healing Waters at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, where they're putting the finishing touches on a fly-fishingn drift boat they've been building.
Thursday will take us out on the water with Team River Runner, as we tag along for their weekly kayak outing on the Potomac River.
With Matt heading out to NAB on Friday, I'll be joined by Mark Kokkoros of Rooster Productions, who'll be bringing both his talents and his HPX500 back to Walter Reed. There, we've got an early morning interview arranged with the director of the Physical Therapy department, who will likely bring a wealth of experiences and insights to the project.
Finally, Mark and I will drive down early Saturday morning to a little Virginia town called Syria. There, at a place called Rose River Farm, we'll spend the day filming the "Ice Breaker," the first fly-fishing tournament of the season for Project Healing Waters.
Thanks to all of those involved who've helped so far, and thanks in advance to those who'll be helping in the future.
Cheers!
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
Update - 4.10.08
Update - 4.10.08
People have heard and read quite a few things about Walter Reed in the past few years, most of them negative. After spending the entire day there on Tuesday, I can safely say two things. First, Reed works. The soldiers Matt, Jason and I met are receiving the best possible care the staff there can offer, and recent improvements in the facility itself are obvious to see. Second, on a gray, gloomy, misting day, the soldiers provided all the light we would ever have needed. The spirits of these men and women are an inspiration, and though they have suffered more than any of us could likely imagine, they don't see themselves as "heroes," but simply soldiers who were doing their jobs.
The day began with an interview with Melissa Lewis, who helps manage the aquatic therapy program at the Walter Reed pool. She told us all about the Team River Runner program, as well as a program called S.U.D.S (Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba). Apparently, a number of soldiers have seen the scuba tanks next to the pool and asked about getting certified. So they put together a program that offers soldiers the chance to get their basic certification in the pool. And last year, they put together a scuba trip to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Pretty cool stuff.
Next, we were out on the front lawn with Project Healing Waters. A number of soldiers showed up for the fly-casting clinic, including Sgt. Jonathan Grundy, a first-time participant. After a few minutes, he was throwing his fly-line better than I can. We met Ed Nicholson, founder of the program, who invited us along for the Saturday fishing tournament in the Shenandoah foothills.
After a brief trip to one of the new occupational therapy buildings, we were back in the pool with Jason Beakes, Troy Roberts, Joe Mornini and the Team River Runner crew. Matt and Jason worked the HPX and HVX around the pool, while I put my HVX in the "housing" and went underwater. A good group of soldiers turned out for the clinic, and everyone seemed to have a great time in the water. It's really amazing to see that, when a lower-leg amputee soldier gets into a kayak, he looks just like anyone else. If you didn't know what their injuries were, you'd never suspect a thing.
Big props to Matt Gottshalk (mcgeedigital) and his assistant Jason Cross. Their creative eyes and tech smarts are an asset I feel fortunate to have had access to for the last few days.
Grabs from the day posted. More to come later this weekend. Cheers!
On the lawn at Walter Reed with Airborne Sgt. Jonathan Grundy
Learning to work the fly rod
Sgt. Grundy gets a lesson from a master caster
Ed Nicholson, Founder of Project Healing Waters, teaches a young vet
With Walter Reed in the background, Ed shows Ferris how to roll a tight loop
In the therapy pool at Walter Reed, two "warriors" look on as a third rolls in his whitewater kayak
Patrick, a lower-right leg amputee, shows off his skills in the pool
Joe Mornini, Founder of Team River Runner, looks on as his "students" work on their roll technique
Update - 4.10.08
People have heard and read quite a few things about Walter Reed in the past few years, most of them negative. After spending the entire day there on Tuesday, I can safely say two things. First, Reed works. The soldiers Matt, Jason and I met are receiving the best possible care the staff there can offer, and recent improvements in the facility itself are obvious to see. Second, on a gray, gloomy, misting day, the soldiers provided all the light we would ever have needed. The spirits of these men and women are an inspiration, and though they have suffered more than any of us could likely imagine, they don't see themselves as "heroes," but simply soldiers who were doing their jobs.
The day began with an interview with Melissa Lewis, who helps manage the aquatic therapy program at the Walter Reed pool. She told us all about the Team River Runner program, as well as a program called S.U.D.S (Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba). Apparently, a number of soldiers have seen the scuba tanks next to the pool and asked about getting certified. So they put together a program that offers soldiers the chance to get their basic certification in the pool. And last year, they put together a scuba trip to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Pretty cool stuff.
Next, we were out on the front lawn with Project Healing Waters. A number of soldiers showed up for the fly-casting clinic, including Sgt. Jonathan Grundy, a first-time participant. After a few minutes, he was throwing his fly-line better than I can. We met Ed Nicholson, founder of the program, who invited us along for the Saturday fishing tournament in the Shenandoah foothills.
After a brief trip to one of the new occupational therapy buildings, we were back in the pool with Jason Beakes, Troy Roberts, Joe Mornini and the Team River Runner crew. Matt and Jason worked the HPX and HVX around the pool, while I put my HVX in the "housing" and went underwater. A good group of soldiers turned out for the clinic, and everyone seemed to have a great time in the water. It's really amazing to see that, when a lower-leg amputee soldier gets into a kayak, he looks just like anyone else. If you didn't know what their injuries were, you'd never suspect a thing.
Big props to Matt Gottshalk (mcgeedigital) and his assistant Jason Cross. Their creative eyes and tech smarts are an asset I feel fortunate to have had access to for the last few days.
Grabs from the day posted. More to come later this weekend. Cheers!
On the lawn at Walter Reed with Airborne Sgt. Jonathan Grundy
Learning to work the fly rod
Sgt. Grundy gets a lesson from a master caster
Ed Nicholson, Founder of Project Healing Waters, teaches a young vet
With Walter Reed in the background, Ed shows Ferris how to roll a tight loop
In the therapy pool at Walter Reed, two "warriors" look on as a third rolls in his whitewater kayak
Patrick, a lower-right leg amputee, shows off his skills in the pool
Joe Mornini, Founder of Team River Runner, looks on as his "students" work on their roll technique
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Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
Update - 4.16.08
Update - 4.16.08
Washington, D.C. is now in our rear-view, as shooting for "Warriors" rolls along. Between our visit to Walter Reed and our Saturday outing on the Rose River with Project Healing Waters, we were blessed to meet soldiers and volunteers whose stories touched and inspired each and every one of us.
Again, a big thank you to Team River Runner's Joe Mornini, Melanie Kaplan, Jason Beakes and Dana Alexander, as well as Project Healing Waters' Ed Nicholson, R.C. Jones, John Colburn and Cpt. Eivind Forseth (Ret.).
Props to Mark Kokkoros for both the use of his HPX package and his DP skills on Friday and Saturday (grabs to come).
And finally, heartfelt salutes go out to all of the "warriors" who shared their time and their stories with us.
Below are some additional grabs from our days in D.C., with more to come in a few days time.
SFC Patrick King gets ready for his first outing on the Potomac
The Team River Runner crew puts in
SSG Elijah Cheatham goes over the falls
Instructor Dana Alexander heads over the top
Patrick takes a moment to enjoy the outdoors
For all the "warriors" who never made it home
Col. Barbara Springer, Chief of Physical Therapy Services at Walter Reed
Team River Runner instructor Jason Beakes runs Great Falls
Update - 4.16.08
Washington, D.C. is now in our rear-view, as shooting for "Warriors" rolls along. Between our visit to Walter Reed and our Saturday outing on the Rose River with Project Healing Waters, we were blessed to meet soldiers and volunteers whose stories touched and inspired each and every one of us.
Again, a big thank you to Team River Runner's Joe Mornini, Melanie Kaplan, Jason Beakes and Dana Alexander, as well as Project Healing Waters' Ed Nicholson, R.C. Jones, John Colburn and Cpt. Eivind Forseth (Ret.).
Props to Mark Kokkoros for both the use of his HPX package and his DP skills on Friday and Saturday (grabs to come).
And finally, heartfelt salutes go out to all of the "warriors" who shared their time and their stories with us.
Below are some additional grabs from our days in D.C., with more to come in a few days time.
SFC Patrick King gets ready for his first outing on the Potomac
The Team River Runner crew puts in
SSG Elijah Cheatham goes over the falls
Instructor Dana Alexander heads over the top
Patrick takes a moment to enjoy the outdoors
For all the "warriors" who never made it home
Col. Barbara Springer, Chief of Physical Therapy Services at Walter Reed
Team River Runner instructor Jason Beakes runs Great Falls
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Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
All the praise for this stuff goes to Matt Gottshalk (mcgeedigital) and Mark Kokkoros (Mark Kokkoros). When you find good people and let them do what they do best, you also learn a lot in the process. And I've learned quite a bit in the last two weeks.
Oh, and no, Matt didn't actually shoot with the gain set at +6. It's an inside joke between he and I.
--SM
Oh, and no, Matt didn't actually shoot with the gain set at +6. It's an inside joke between he and I.
--SM
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
All the praise for this stuff goes to Matt Gottshalk (mcgeedigital) and Mark Kokkoros (Mark Kokkoros). When you find good people and let them do what they do best, you also learn a lot in the process. And I've learned quite a bit in the last two weeks.
Oh, and no, Matt didn't actually shoot with the gain set at +6. It's an inside joke between he and I.
--SM
You will pay for that one. :happy:
Seriously though...one of the most fulfilling shoots personally for me, being a former service member as well. Just wanted to thanks Stephen for the opportunity to meet these heroes and watch them rehabilitate through the exploration of the grerat outdoors.
On a side note, I met the team from the Wounded Marine Careers Foundation out @ NAB this year. Talk about awesome!
Panasonic, Apple, and out own Barry Green stepped to the plate in a BIG way to help retrain these wounded Marines in the career of film making.
To meet these guys was truly inspirational. I will never forget it.
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Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
A quick update…
Just got back from a shoot last week in Colorado. We were out there with Team River Runner, and I thought I'd post a clip of one of the instructors, Corey Volt, ripping it up on the Yampa River…
http://www.warriorsfilm.com/clips/corey_volt_kayak.mov
The compression isn't the best, but it's the best I can do with limited time. I'll post more details when I can.
--SM
Just got back from a shoot last week in Colorado. We were out there with Team River Runner, and I thought I'd post a clip of one of the instructors, Corey Volt, ripping it up on the Yampa River…
http://www.warriorsfilm.com/clips/corey_volt_kayak.mov
The compression isn't the best, but it's the best I can do with limited time. I'll post more details when I can.
--SM
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
HVX200 handheld, standing on a rock about six feet from the subject.
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
Looks good Stephen!