Adam Irving | DP | Photographer

USC Architecture Professor Doris Sung: Smarter Building Materials

Adam Irving — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:05:47 +0000

Today I completed a video (click HERE to view) for USC’s media relations department. The short piece highlights architecture professor Doris Sung’s research in thermobimetal and its application as a “green” building material. When subjected to heat, thermobimetal curls and can therefore serve as a sun-sensitive window shade that moves on its own. A real world example of thermobimetal in action is now on view at the Materials and Applications exhibit space in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. The video will be used by USC’s media relations department to pitch professor Sung’s research as a news story to major media outlets around the country.

Center for the Greater Good: Investing in Underserved Communities

Adam Irving — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:45:26 +0000

Earlier this month I produced a P.S.A.- style commercial (click HERE to watch) for The Center for the Greater Good, a non-profit organization that attracts investments into low-income housing. I hired 15 actors to play “everyday looking people” to show that poverty is blind. What’s more, we had John Belluomini, C.E.O. of the Center for the Greater Good narrate the promo since he too grew up in poverty.

The video was shot on a white infinity cyclorama (a jointless curved wall) at CML Studios in Glendale, CA. I directed and edited the promo, while Michael Winokur served as D.P., and Ama MacDonald handled lighting. To soften the light, we bounced a pair of Mole 2Ks against two white foamcore panels. This created a larger, indirect light source. To yield the highest possible image quality, we used a trio of professional lenses on my Sony FS100 camera, including the Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro, the Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro, and the Sony Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8 zoom lens.

Directing the talent

On set at CML Studios

Center for the Greater Good C.E.O. John Belluomini

Skye Carter: Hearing For The First Time

Adam Irving — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:03:36 +0000

Last month, the Alfred Mann Foundation commissioned me to direct a short documentary film (click HERE to watch) about Skye Carter, a fourteen year old girl who was born completely deaf, but can now hear after receiving cochlear ear implants developed by the Al Mann foundation. The film was shown last Sunday at the foundation’s annual gala in Santa Monica, CA. To tell Skye’s story, I flew out to Chicago and filmed interviews with Skye, her mom Cheri, and her surgeon, Dr. Nancy Young. Back in L.A., I interviewed her dance instructor – celebrity choreographer Debbie Allen. I also captured footage of Skye embracing activities that would be unheard of for a deaf person, including playing the clarinet, dancing, and singing.

Cochlear Ear Implant Recipient Skye Carter

Skye Carter in the classroom

Cheri Carter, Skye's Mom

Dr. Nancy Young (left), Skye Carter's cochlear implant surgeon

Master Choreographer Debbie Allen, Skye Carter's dance instructor

This short documentary marked the first project shot on my new Sony FS100 camera. Unlike my Sony EX-1, the FS100 is a large sensor camera which produces richer images and shallow depth of field – similar to a DSLR, but with all the capabilities of a professional video camera. To strike a balance between image quality and versatility, I use three lenses with my FS100: a Zeiss Makro 50mm F/2, a Zeiss Makro 10mm F/2, and a Sony Zeiss 16-35mm F/2.8 zoom lens.

Future360: Profiling Green Technology Companies

Adam Irving — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:15:54 +0000

This summer, I shot and edited nearly a dozen videos for Future360 (click here to watch videos ) – a syndicated news magazine web series, focused on cleantech innovation. The series brought me to Austin, New Orleans, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Toronto, and Los Angeles. I had the privilege of shooting interviews with the best and brightest innovators working on tomorrow’s greenest technology, today. Memorable interviews include John Anderson (President & CEO of Levi Strauss), Henrik Fisker (Founder and CEO of electric carmaker Fisker Automotive), and Wendell Pierce, star of HBO’s “The Wire” and “Treme.”. Green tech authority Sarah Backhouse, whose credits include BBC, Discovery, PBS, and CNBC, hosts and produces Future360. Images below were taken from my Sony EX-1 camera.

Henrik Fisker, Founder + CEO of electric carmaker Fisker Automotive

Future360 host Sarah Backhouse on the Mississippi River in New Orleans

Actor Wendell Pierce, star of HBO's "The Wire" and "Treme"

John Anderson, President + CEO of Levi Strauss & Co.

P’TACH: Jewish Special Education

Adam Irving — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:45:32 +0000

This week I finished editing an inspirational video (click HERE to view) I produced for P’TACH – a New York-based non-profit organization that provides solutions for Jewish students with learning differences. P’TACH (Parents for Torah for all Children) uses smaller classes, specially-trained teachers, and cutting edge learning tools to help learning challenged children achieve success. To build the narrative spine for my video, I interviewed school psychologists, program coordinators, parents, teachers, and students at four P’TACH sites including Flatbush (Brooklyn), Washington Heights (Manhattan), and Holliswood (Queens). While producing this video for P’TACH, I was touched by the dedication of its teachers that transformed failing, discouraged students into confident, successful young adults.

Alfred Mann Foundation Video

Adam Irving — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:07:51 +0000

Earlier this week, the Alfred Mann Foundation’s brand new website went live and now features my video on its homepage. Click here to watch it. The video was commissioned by the foundation to explain its purpose, goals, and history to the public, and to attract new investment and talent. To tell the AMF story on video, I interviewed the organization’s C.E.O., C.F.O., C.O.O, engineers, project managers, technicians, and developers on site at the foundation’s headquarters in Santa Clarita, CA. The Alfred Mann Foundation is a non-profit organization that invents and manufactures life saving medical devices including pacemakers, cochlear ear implants, and insulin pumps. AMF develops biomedical devices that are not financially feasible in the for-profit world. The foundation was started by Alfred E. Mann, an inventor and entrepreneur who amassed a fortune of over $2 billion through his success in developing aerospace and biomedical technologies.

TvTak Commercial Featured on Israeli TV

Adam Irving — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 00:35:50 +0000

Last month two commercials I shot for TvTak – an iPhone app developer – were featured on Israeli television. Click here to see the 30-second Israeli TV clip. Click HERE to see the first commercial and HERE to see the second. I shot the commercials on location in my living room in Los Angeles. Gev Miron directed the spots while Teddie Bergman handled makeup. Model/actress Shira Vilensky starred in both commercials. Filmmaker/actor Ian Fisher played Shira’s love interest in the second spot. I shot the commercials on a Canon 5D MkII fitted with my Canon 35mm f/1.4L, Sigma 85mm f/1.4, Zeiss 100mm Macro f/2.0, and Canon 24-105mmL f/4. I lit the talent with a Lowel Rifa eX88 softbox light while I lit the interiors with a pair of Kino Flo Diva-Lite 200s, a Litepanels 1×1 LED and a 650 watt Mole-Richardson Molequartz.

TvTak's website featuring the two commercials I shot

Still frame from TvTak commercial

Still frame from TvTak commercial I shot in my living room - starring Shira Vilensky (R) and Ian Fisher (L)

“The Night Cook” Documentary Airs On Canadian TV

Adam Irving — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 20:08:15 +0000

Last Sunday on my birthday, my brother’s documentary film The Night Cook aired on Canadian television. I served as the film’s second camera operator as well as its story editor. The Night Cook follows the life of George Golias, a lonely 68-year old cook in Toronto who is reunited with his wife, daughter, and siblings in Slovakia after leaving them unexpectedly 37 years ago. I shot several scenes for the film in Prague in October 2006, while completing my masters degree in cinema studies at NYU. This is my brother Jay’s first televised film.

Official "The Night Cook" poster designed by Sheena H Ma.

Mission Driven Investing: Veris Wealth Partners

Adam Irving — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 05:10:06 +0000

A video I shot and edited last October for Veris Wealth Partners, is now the centerpiece of the firm’s brand new website, designed by Jose Caballer of The Groop. Veris is a money management firm investing exclusively in eco-friendly, fair-labor companies. Veris has offices in New York, San Francisco, and Portsmouth, NH. I filmed and photographed executives at the firm’s San Francisco office, while master photographer Berman Fenelus covered Veris’ New York headquarters.

Veris Wealth Partners' homepage featuring my video

Brides of Beverly Hills: First Five Episodes Wrapped

Adam Irving — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 04:52:48 +0000

Last week my crew finished shooting episode five of Brides of Beverly Hills, a forthcoming Canadian reality series about brides and bridesmaids buying gowns at Renee Strauss for the Bride – an upscale bridal salon in Beverly Hills. This is the second series I have shot for Planetworks Inc., the Toronto-based production company which also produced Totally Tracked Down, a 2010 reality series centered on a journalist who tracks down TV icons from the past. I serve as one of the camera operators as well as the production coordinator for Brides. Director of photography Gurjeet Mann and camera operator Andrew Hayes make up the rest of the camera crew, while Kevin Cheng handles audio. The Slice Network, our Canadian broadcaster, will begin airing the first of thirteen episodes on Thursdays at 9:30 PM, starting June 16, 2011. TLC will broadcast “Brides” in the U.S. beginning October 28, 2011. Click here to see a promo clip for the show. Stills below were taken from my camera.

Glisten Photo Shoot: Behind the Scenes

Adam Irving — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:27:17 +0000

Earlier this month, I shot and edited a ‘behind-the-scenes’ video (click HERE to watch) of MicaBeauty’s latest product catalog shoot, focused on the company’s latest hair product, ‘Glisten.’ Celebrity photographer Fernando Escovar directed the catalog photo shoot, while marketing guru Ilan Mitelman of the Unito Group produced both the photo shoot and my behind-the-scenes video, which will be used in MicaBeauty’s 2011 e-marketing campaign. Last year, I shot a similarly styled behind-the-scenes video (click HERE to watch) for MicaBeauty’s sister company, Micabella cosmetics, which specializes in 100% natural cosmetics and skincare.

UCLA School of Public Affairs Alumni Profile: Brian Wren

Adam Irving — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 07:17:20 +0000

Last month, UCLA’s School of Public Affairs hired me to shoot and edit an alumni profile video (click HERE to watch) of clinical social worker and UCLA graduate Brian Wren ’10, after he published an article in the newsletter of the California chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (Vol. 37, No.1). To supplement the video profile, I photographed Mr. Wren for a print article highlighting his successes, published by UCLA. Starting today, the School of Public Affairs will feature my video on its homepage.

Brian Wren at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, CA

Still from Brian Wren Profile Video

Vicino House: Architectural Highlights

Adam Irving — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 06:53:55 +0000

Last week, I shot and edited a video highlighting the green features of the Vicino House, a high end LEED-certified home in the Pacific Palisades. Click HERE to view the video. The short piece was commissioned by Vicino House designer Tim McCarthy of the Forma Design Group, and Michael Gottlieb, owner and developer of The Vicino House. TV host and green media consultant Sarah Backhouse wrote and hosted the video. See screen captures below.

Tim McCarthy (L), Sarah Backhouse (R)

Willie Nelson at the Greek

Adam Irving — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 23:59:41 +0000

Last night, I shot an interview with legendary country singer Willie Nelson backstage at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. The interview will be featured in Flower Power, an upcoming documentary about Proposition 19 – the proposition to legalize cannabis in California. Flower Power is directed by award winning Israeli filmmaker Dan Katzir and produced by Dan’s longtime partner Ravit Markus of New Love Films and Lati Grobman, producer of the 2008 Al Pacino-Robert Deniro crime thriller, Righteous Kill. Flower Power is slated for release in 2011.

Ravit Markus interviews Willie Nelson backstage at the Greek Theater

Ravit Markus interviews Willie Nelson

DreamCatchers TV Commercial

Adam Irving — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:08:28 +0000

Last month, I shot behind-the-scenes footage (click here to watch) of a TV commercial for DreamCatchers, a permanent hair extension product from Hair Tech International.

DP Morgan Schmidt shot the commercial on his RED camera on stage 2 at Siren Studios in Hollywood, CA. Omer Bar-Sadeh of the Vision Film and Television Group directed, while Nyenye Kitchings produced the spot. Documentary filmmaker and lighting consultant Ama MacDonald served as gaffer. Katelynn Tilley, Erin Marie O’Hara, Aurelia Scheppers, Amy Rasimas, Erika Fitzgerald, Sabrina Machado, and Jenny Sauer modeled the product. The actual commercial will air on national television, while a variation of my behind-the-scenes video will play on the DreamCatchers website.

Countdown to Zero: Opens Friday

Adam Irving — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:56:15 +0000

I am a proud to announce the theatrical release of Countdown to Zero, a documentary film about nuclear disarmament. The film will open in Washington D.C. and New York this Friday.

I served as the film’s key production assistant, working under co-producer Lisa Remington, director Lucy Walker, and academy award winning producer Lawrence Bender (Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, An Inconvenient Truth). My responsibilities at the Beverly Hills production office included travel coordination, equipment inventory management, and intern supervision. Countdown to Zero features interviews with Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Tony Blair. The Gary Oldman-narrated film makes a compelling case for worldwide nuclear disarmament, an issue more topical than ever with the Obama administration working to revive this goal today. Countdown will play in over 40 cities nationwide and I encourage everyone to see it.

Totally Tracked Down: Season One Wrapped

Adam Irving — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 01:19:09 +0000

Last week, after 13 episodes and over 50 days of shooting, our crew finished production on Season One of Totally Tracked Down, a forthcoming hosted docu-reality series about tracking down TV icons from the past. I served as the show’s second camera operator and production coordinator. The show’s last three episodes focused on tracking down stars from Happy Days (1974-1984), Diff’rent Strokes (1978-1986) and Saved by the Bell (1989-1993). TTD will premiere in Canada on September 2nd, while show’s U.S. debut is yet to be determined. For more information on Totally Tracked Down, read my May 7 blog entry. Stills below were taken from my camera.

"Saved by the Bell" star ("Slater") and host of "Extra" Mario Lopez

"Saved by the Bell" co-star Dennis Haskins ("Mr. Belding")

"Diff'rent Strokes" star Todd Bridges ("Willis")

"Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi" star Erin Moran ("Joanie")

F.O.C.U.S. Informational Videos

Adam Irving — Mon, 31 May 2010 01:51:11 +0000

This week I finished editing two informational videos for F.O.C.U.S. (Families OverComing Under Stress) – a resiliency training program for spouses and children of military servicemen and women deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The shorter of the two videos, geared at potential program participants, will be featured on FOCUS’s updated website, designed by the Groop and funded by the Department of Defense. The longer version will be distributed to mental health professionals and others who may benefit from learning about FOCUS.

The videos combine my interview footage of FOCUS family participants, clinical psychologists, and FOCUS resiliency trainers with photographs of personnel from all four branches of the military departing and reuniting with loved ones. Stills below.

F.O.C.U.S. Modeling Videos

Adam Irving — Sat, 29 May 2010 22:36:47 +0000

Last week I shot and edited a series of five behavioral modeling videos for the U.S. military’s FOCUS program. F.O.C.U.S. (Families OverComing Under Stress) provides resiliency training for spouses and children of military servicemen and women deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. These videos will appear in a private section of the FOCUS website for the exclusive use of military families.

I shot the videos with my Sony EX-1 against a nine foot seamless backdrop. I lit the backdrop with a pair of Lowel Omni lights and bathed the actors in soft light using two Lowel Rifa eX88s and a litepanels 1×1 LED light.

This was a highly collaborative project. Seasoned location sound mixer Kevin Cheng handled the audio. Groop chief Jose Caballer directed the talent which included Jose Rosete, Paula Vincent, Carmel Cavacas, Ilan Plant, Ozzie Rodriguez, and Sebastian Ruelas. Graphic designer Grace Karabachian drew the colorful background illustrations which were skillfully composited by After Effects whiz Tim Wilkerson. TV host Sarah Backhouse produced the series, while Dr. Catherine Mogil served as project consultant. Click here to view one of the five videos. See stills below.

Kevin Cheng (L), Jose Caballer (LC), Sarah Backhouse (C), Adam Irving (RC), Dr. Catherine Mogil (R)

Paula Vincent (L), Ilan Plant (C), Carmel Cavacas (R)

Carmel Cavacas (L), Ilan Plant (C), Jose Rosete (R)

Paula Vincent (L), Ilan Plant (C), Carmel Cavacas (R)

MySpace User Testimonials

Adam Irving — Sun, 09 May 2010 01:09:40 +0000

Last weekend, I shot and edited an internal video for MySpace, the popular News Corp. owned social networking website. The video featured testimonials from real MySpace users, coupled with screen shots of their MySpace pages, to show how creatives harness the power of MySpace to enhance their careers. On Monday, MySpace executives screened the video at the company’s corporate headquarters in Beverly Hills. News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch called the video “bloody brilliant.” Orlando Sanabria and Nick Toga designed the video’s graphics. Screen captures below.

Makeup artist Erin Nichols

Film and fashion producer Rick Gonzales

Entertainer "Gypsy"