Tag:

documentary

Honeyvoid: No Roadmap | From Addiction to Redemption (A Short Film)

by Dan Perez January 26, 2021

The Coronavirus pandemic has been tough on us all – some far worse than others. So first of all, I hope this post finds you all doing well – keeping your heads above water and finding ways to make the most out of what has been an unusually challenging time.

Like many of you, I found myself with far less to do and far fewer places to go when the shutdowns began in March of 2020. After a few months, I found myself bored a good portion of the time and for a creative person like myself, that ain’t good. Gotta keep the saw sharp, you know? But what to do?

Sammy Jo

Then I came upon a Facebook post from the lead singer of a South Florida based indie rock band that compelled me to reach out to her. After a listen to their terrific debut album on Spotify and an initial chat that revealed a rather remarkable past, we decided to move forward with a short documentary video where she would share her story and I would profile the band through a series of live performances. I mean, I needed something to do and this sounded like fun.

The singer’s name was Sammy Jo and the band is called Honeyvoid. I started taping interviews with her and her fellow bandmates this past summer and we wrapped up a series of live tapings in the fall. What I found myself with was Sammy Jo’s haunting story of drug addiction, depression, and her journey to recovery (not to mention the band’s bassist Jonathan) and how music played a role in their respective “salvations”.

And then there are the band’s live music performances which are pretty dynamic.

Honeyvoid

I was really just looking for something creative to do and what I ended up with is something very special – with some very special people. In this time of Coronavirus, Sammy Jo’s story reminds us that there really isn’t a hole deep enough that we can’t crawl out of if we really want to. It’s a short film I’m very proud of.

Here it is: “Honeyvoid: No Roadmap“. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. Feel free to leave your feedback in the comments section…

You can follow Honeyvoid on Instagram and Facebook and listen to them on Spotify.

Additional music for the film came via audiio.com – a relatively new (but really great) resource for filmmakers looking for cinematic music and sound effects. More on them in a future post…

BONUS: Here’s Honeyvoid performing an acoustic version of their song “Icarus”

Stay tuned for Honeyvoid’s full live music performance videos in future posts!

January 26, 2021

Blog Corporate Short Films Sound and Vision

Physician Voices: Reflections on a Pandemic

by Dan Perez October 4, 2020

written by Dan Perez

I’ve been producing videos for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (formerly Miami Children’s Hospital) for over 12 years now. They were the first big account I landed shortly after launching my video production business in 2006. Over the years, I’ve been able to help tell many different stories that illustrate how remarkable this hospital is (nationally ranked in 5 pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report). I’ve been inside operating rooms (heart, brain and spinal, to name a few) and have interviewed doctors, children and their parents. But when I was contacted by the marketing department with a new video idea, I knew this project would be a unique experience.

The Coronavirus pandemic has affected us all since it put a chokehold on the world back in February. Nowhere was that impact felt stronger than on the world’s hospitals and medical staff. With so little information about the virus, no cure, treatment or tests available, and so much panic, hospitals everywhere were literally making things up as they went along. Every day was a challenge – even for the region’s most respected children’s hospital.

The idea for this video was to have a cross-section of the hospital’s medical staff share their experiences dealing with this pandemic – from its onset to where we are today. From the Emergency Room to the Infectious Disease Department, these are the stories of a hospital that was turned upside down by the Coronavirus. It’s also the story of how this very same hospital came together as a team to fight the pandemic head on.

Eleven physicians were interviewed (I shot and interviewed all but Dr. Valeron and all b-roll shots were provided by the hospital) and then it was time to edit one of the more important videos I’ve ever produced. Here it is – I hope you enjoy it. In the meantime, this Coronavirus pandemic is still upon us, so in the immortal words of Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, “Let’s be careful out there.”
NOTE: The video kicks off with introductions by doctors Maria Franco (President of the Medical Staff) and Chad Perlyn (Interim President, Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists). The stories start at the 2:20 mark. Enjoy…

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with nearly 800 attending physicians and more than 475 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children’s Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine.

October 4, 2020

Blog Corporate Miami Children's Hospital Short Films Sound and Vision

Camp Superstar: A Special Weekend for Children with Cleft Lip and Palate

by Dan Perez May 7, 2018

written by Dan Perez

Started nearly two decades ago, Camp Superstar is a special weekend camp in South Florida for children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate (birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy). For one unforgettable weekend, the campers participate in arts and crafts, dance parties, sports and karaoke and are reminded that “just because you have scars, that doesn’t mean you can’t smile.” The weekend also allows for parents to join with other parents and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital medical professionals to discuss their children’s conditions.

Many of these children face speech and language delays, difficulty eating, severe dental problems and many of them require complex craniofacial surgeries to repair these abnormalities. Moreover, they have to deal with alienation and bullying at school because of their facial disfigurements; it takes a toll on the child as well as their family. But at Camp Superstar, they are surrounded by other children going through these very same challenges and during the weekend, they learn and gain support from one another.

I had the opportunity to document this remarkable camp for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and watching these children and their families engage with one another is something I’ll never forget. Enjoy the video and please feel free to share and spread the word about this life-changing camp. Moreover, please consider making a gift today to help support Camp Superstar and help give more children born with cleft lips and cleft palates a better chance at life. Here’s the link: www.nicklauschildrens.org/superstar

Camp Superstar: A Special Camp for Children with Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

May 7, 2018

Blog Short Films Sound and Vision

Sober Studios: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation through Hip Hop

by Dan Perez February 27, 2018

written by Dan Perez

After several years, I recently reconnected with my brother from another mother, hip hop artist/activist/producer Brimstone127 – and let’s just say it’s been lovely. Back in 2008, I documented the first year of his PATH Hip Hop Summer Academy (a four-week program where teenagers learn creative, technical and entrepreneurial skills directly from Hip Hop industry professionals, practitioners and pioneers). The film went on to win the “Best Florida Film” award at the 2010 Sunscreen Film Festival (the award presented to us by none other than John Travolta himself) and elevated my fledgling video production career to a whole other level.

I wasn’t the only one who took their game to another level over that same span. With the support of his wife Natalie (who serves as Executive Director), Brimstone has kept the PATH program going strong into its 10th year. I returned there this past summer with camera in hand and documented several days of the program (check out the photos and video) and it was just like old times.

Brimstone and Natalie have also been busy at work growing the PATH program even further and have expanded upon their hip hop offerings through a substance abuse intervention program at Royal Life Centers, a drug and alcohol treatment facility with locations throughout Florida and Washington State. Royal Life Centers’ partnership with PATH and the creation of ‘Sober Studios’ has allowed drug and alcohol abusers to deal with past experiences through musical expression and experimentation.

I recently visited the facility (with camera in hand, of course) and with the full permission of the participants and the blessing of Royal Life Centers, shot this short music video that illustrates the power of hip hop and how it allows participating individuals to grow and heal through the power of music and creativity.

Each session starts with a beat (provided by Brimstone) and time for song-writing. Then one by one, individuals enter the studio to drop their lyrics over the beat. Brimstone then produces the final version which they get to hear and take home that very day.

It’s powerful stuff so let me just show you how it goes down in this short video I shot and edited. Oh, and for more information on PATH, visit their website www.pathtohiphop.org.

And for more information on Royal Life Centers, or if you know of someone struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, give them a call at 1-877-RECOVERY or visit their website www.royallifecenters.com

February 27, 2018

Angels with Shoes Blog Sound and Vision

My Award-winning Documentary Film to Screen THIS WEEK on WPBT South Florida

by Dan Perez February 18, 2018

written by Dan Perez

Happy belated 2018! It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything new but I’m kicking off the year in a big way with big news. First thing is that I’ve been selected as one of 40 South Florida filmmakers in the South Florida PBS “Film·Maker Project” which connects talented local filmmakers from the Keys to the Treasure Coast and allows them to reach an audience of over 6.3 million.

The Film·Maker Project was co-directed by three senior Emmy Award-winning South Florida PBS staffers and local film professionals. The goal of the project was to acquire, broadcast and distribute emerging South Florida filmmakers’ work as well as provide mentorship and guidance as they build careers from their passions. “South Florida is in the midst of a cultural renaissance across all artistic disciplines,” said Doris Bravo-Hieger, Ph.D., Manager of Arts Content for PBS. “It’s become imperative to create opportunities for filmmakers. South Florida PBS is proud to offer a platform, mentorship, and professional development through the film-maker initiative.”

Not only will South Florida PBS be broadcasting the films to an estimated 6.3 million viewers, they will also distribute it through other media outlets, giving selected productions a national audience. In my case, my award-winning short documentary film “Angels with Shoes” will screen THIS COMING TUESDAY, February 20th at 7:30pm as well as THIS THURSDAY at 5:30pm.

“Angels with Shoes” (which I wrote, produced, directed, shot and edited) tells the story of a living kidney donation between two cousins. The film, which was shot in Miami and Puerto Rico and runs just over 15 minutes, won the ‘Best International Documentary’ and ‘Audience Choice’ awards at the 2015 Rincón International Film Festival as well as the ‘Best Documentary’ award at the 2015 Film Miami Fest.

So if you happen to live in South Florida, set your DVR for either screening and let me know what you thought of the film!

Here’s the film’s trailer…

Angels with Shoes (a Kidney Transplant Story) [OFFICIAL TRAILER] from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

Here’s the promo from WPBT South Florida…

February 18, 2018

Blog Photography Sound and Vision

Hip Hop Education: The PATH Hip Hop Summer Academy (In Pictures)

by Dan Perez August 14, 2017

written by Dan Perez

Back in the summer of 2008, I shot a documentary film about a unique four-week summer program in Miami that focused on the history and philosophy of Hip Hop and its four main elements: DJing, MCing, B-boying/girling, and Urban Art. The camp was was started by long-time Miami hip hop artist Brimstone127 who I had contacted via the internet a few months earlier to ask his permission to use one of his songs in a documentary film I had just shot and was now editing; it was my very first documentary film.

We met face-to-face some time afterwards and he told me about his upcoming Hip Hop camp, which would be called PATH (for Preserving, Archiving and Teaching Hip Hop History). It was a project he had been trying to get off the ground for several years and had finally found a home (and funding) for it via Miami Light Project, a not-for-profit cultural organization. It was then that we began to discuss creating a documentary film about the camp and, long story short, that film went on to win the ‘Best Florida Film’ award at the 2010 Sunscreen Film Festival – the award presented to us by none other than John Travolta himself (watch the award presentation HERE and you can watch the original PATH film HERE).

The film elevated my fledgling video production business to another level and I haven’t looked back since. And as for PATH, despite funding being cut and the camp reduced to only one week the following year, the PATH Hip Hop Academy has flourished through the years, cultivating the next generation of hip hop artists, leaders, scholars and entrepreneurs by partnering with local artists, industry professionals, community leaders and local businesses to offer innovative Hip Hop education programs to youth ages 13-19.

In 2012, a few years after the program’s inception in 2008, Brimstone127 (real name Seth Schere) married Natalie Lewis, who took over the role of Executive Director with Brimstone becoming Education/Program Director. It was a marriage made in Hip Hop heaven and their partnership has fueled the growth of this truly unique organization over the years. PATH, Inc is now a 501(c)3 organization and students of the Hip Hop Academy not only learn DJing, MCing, B-boying/girling and Urban Art skills from professional working artists, but also develop leadership skills and focus on serving their communities.

After several years, I reconnected with Brimstone127 and revisited the PATH Hip Hop Summer Academy this past month and spent several days there every week documenting the camp through video and photos, this time with my Lumix GH4 in hand. Why? Well the summer program, which now calls the MDC Live Arts Lab in Miami Dade College home, just completed its 10th year and a new 10 year REDUX of our original documentary film is in the works (the original was shot in SD using the popular Panasonic DVX100). In the meantime, I’d like to share several photographs I took over the past four weeks to get you up to speed on what the PATH Hip Hop Summer Academy is all about. Having spent the better part of the last month getting to know these kids (and the PATH staff and instructors) has reassured me that the future of the world (at least here in Miami) is in good hands…

Enjoy the photographs. Oh, and you can learn more about PATH and all their other programs at pathtohiphop.org, and you can make a donation to help them continue their programming and outreach to youth and adults HERE.

DAY ONE

The PATH Hip Hop Summer Academy kicks off with a welcome and opening message by Brimstone himself…

Executive Director Natalie Lewis Schere (above center) then gathers the students around her for a day one icebreaking session.

DJING

The DJing classes are held at Scratch DJ Academy in Miami. Scratch DJ Academy is the world’s leading DJ and music production learning center, founded in 2002 and co-developed by Jam Master Jay of Run DMC. Headquartered in NYC, Scratch has locations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Miami.

DJ Bounce (above right) teaches the kids “scratching” and turntablism…

DJ Fielo (above right) educates them on music production…

During their four weeks of classes at Scratch, the students create their own music piece complete with scratching and other turntable effects.

B-BOYING/B-GIRLING

B-Boy/B-Girl classes are given by Alfredo Sotelo aka B-Boy Lego (above right) of the acclaimed Miami dance crew Flipside Kings…

Classes begin with a good stretch before the students cut loose…

Bronx-born, Miami-based hip hop artist Triple Seven (above center) of the Street Masters Crew instructs the kids on the “uprock” or “rocking”, an urban street dance that dates back to the birth of hip hop in NYC

URBAN ART

Urban art class is handled by long-time Miami urban artist MECS

In the four week class, students design the backs of a denim jacket (remember when that was the style?)

MCING

The MCing class is handled by Miami hip hop artists and songwriter Sekajipo (on right). Over the course of the four weeks of classes, students will write songs and record them in an in-house studio…

Students writing lyrics…

And working on their delivery…

Then it’s time to select their beats…

And record their tracks.

THE LAST CYPHER

The final days of the program are all about full day rehearsals for the closing ceremony, “The Last Cypher”. The students put on a theatrical show for friends and family that incorporates the four elements of hip hop as well as its history…

Here’s a short recap video of THE LAST CYPHER I shot and edited:

Returning to PATH after so many years was a strangely familiar and highly enjoyable experience for me. We’ve both come a long way since 2008 and as is often heard being chanted at the PATH Hip Hop Summer Academy, “can’t stop, won’t stop!” is what the next ten years has in store for us. Stay tuned for the documentary film – coming later this year…

August 14, 2017

Blog Featured (Soledad)Films GRAFSTRACT Sound and Vision

GRAFSTRACT: The Bronx Street Art Renaissance | A Short Documentary Film

by Dan Perez August 7, 2017

written by Dan Perez

Filmed in the Bronx back in the summer of 2014, my short documentary film “GRAFSTRACT: The Bronx Street Art Renaissance” has just completed a rather surprising three year film festival run that included screenings in 13 different countries as well as Los Angeles (where it won the “Best Street Art Film” award at the 2015 New Urbanism Film Festival), New York City (2016 Bronx International Film Festival) and several states in between.

The film is now available for public viewing (scroll down to watch the film subtitled in Spanish or Italian) and you can read up on on all the who, what, when, where and why on the film’s official page. So enjoy the film and feel free to let us know what you thought of it in the comments section below (and feel free to share!). Thanks, in advance!

Here’s the film:

GRAFSTRACT: The Bronx Street Art Renaissance from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

La película subtitulada en español:

GRAFSTRACT: The Bronx Street Art Renaissance [SPANISH SUBTITLES] from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

Il film sottotitolato in italiano:

GRAFSTRACT: The Bronx Street Art Renaissance [Italian Subtitles] from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

From Left: James ‘Sexer’ Rodriguez, myself, SinXero, and John ‘Crash’ Matos [Day 1]

From Left: Chris Stain, Billy Mode, James ‘Sexer’ Rodriguez and SinXero [Day 2]

From Left: Luis ‘Zimad’ Lamboy, James ‘Sexer’ Rodriguez, SinXero, and John ‘Crash’ Matos [Day 3]

Me and my “Production Assistant”, my daughter Miranda. That’s a wrap!

August 7, 2017

Blog Films GRAFSTRACT Sound and Vision

Official Selection: Festival Internazionale del Cinema Documentario | Taranto, Italy

by Dan Perez April 26, 2017

written by Dan Perez

Very happy to announce that my award-winning short documentary film GRAFSTRACT: The Bronx Street Art Renaissance has been named an official selection and finalist of the 3rd edition of the Festival Internazionale del Cinema Documentario – Premio Marcellino de Baggis in Taranto, Italy. The selection will mark the third screening of the film in Italy (grazie!).

The festival, which is named after award-winning Italian cinematographer and director Marcellino de Baggis (who passed away in 2011), aims to create awareness for the documentary film culture as well as promote the history and beauty of Taranto, a coastal city in Southern Italy. Our film will screen on May 4th, full schedule HERE.

GRAFSTRACT: The Bronx Street Art Renaissance, a film I directed, shot and edited, was filmed in the Bronx, New York City, back in the summer of 2014 and tells the story of J. “SinXero” Beltran, Founder & Creative Director of TAG Public Arts Project. With the help of some of the world’s top street artists, SinXero’s mission of “Enhancing The Visual Landscape of Urban Communities with Art” is becoming a reality in the birthplace of graffiti, The Bronx.

The film won the Best Street Art Film award at the 2015 New Urbanism Film Festival in Los Angeles. The film made its NYC premiere at the 2016 Bronx International Film Festival and has also screened at film festivals in Spain, Sweden, Albania, Turkey, Mexico, Chile, Scotland, Romania, Colombia, India, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary and Italy. Very excited that the film is continuing to reach new international audiences.

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/116378964[/vimeo]

April 26, 2017

Blog Films Sound and Vision

“The Candle”: A Short Documentary Film about the Power of Art (and Family)

by Dan Perez February 22, 2017

written by Dan Perez

“The Candle” is a short but sweet documentary film I shot in the Bronx in the summer of 2013. The film introduces you to Marthalicia Matarrita, a Dominican/Costa Rican artist raised in New York City with her two brothers, Tomas (older) and Jorge (younger). Encouraged by her mother, Marthalicia and her brothers realized a passion for art at a very young age; and during a very difficult time in their lives.

I came across Marthalicia during an internet search for Bronx street artists that summer. My younger brother Ruben and I were in the process of creating a video series on street artists and I was looking to feature someone from my old stomping grounds (I was born and raised in the Bronx). I found her art style, a fusion of nature and the harsh realities of inner city life, fresh and appealing so I reached out to her by phone and that’s when she told me that her two brothers were also artists. The proverbial plot had just thickened.

I met Marthalicia face-to-face for the first time a few days after our initial conversation as she was working on a mural project at the Tinton Avenue projects in the Bronx. I was able to arrange an interview with her and her brothers Tomas and Jorge for later that evening. When my brother and I arrived for the shoot, we entered a sweltering tenement basement used by Marthalicia and her brothers as an art studio. What followed was a series of interviews where the many hardships this family had to endure came to light. Financial hardships had stripped the family of resources most of us take for granted; the family of five found themselves in a small one-bedroom apartment and even a homeless shelter. Their passion for art, however, provided an escape – even when the electricity went out.

During the shoot, I also came to learn that it had been several years since Marthalicia and her brothers had actually come together to paint. Watching them work the canvas together with their own distinct styles over several hours of what turned out to be a long steamy night, I couldn’t help but feel I was part of a special moment for this family; I think they felt it as well. And as I edited this short film in my own studio back home in South Florida, I felt all the more fortunate to have spent the evening with a family that had overcome so much…

And I learned that art has a power to give joy in even the harshest of environments. It was a good lesson.

The film has been screened in a handful of small film festivals over the years since it made its premiere at the 2014 Indie Boots Film Festival in Chicago. It has also screened at film festivals in Los Angeles, Trenton (NJ), San Antonio, the Dominican Republic, Buenos Aires, and Barcelona.

It’s a modest little film shot over the course of just one afternoon and evening but the message it carries is poignant. It’s also a film that I’m very, very proud of. I hope you enjoy it (your feedback is welcome!).

The Candle: A Short Documentary Film about the Power of Art (and Family) from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

Here’s a version of the film subtitled in Spanish…

The Candle [La vela] from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

Marthalicia, yours truly, Jorge & Tomas wrapping up our video shoot sometime after 1:00am…

February 22, 2017

Angels with Shoes Blog Featured (Soledad)Films Sound and Vision

Angels with Shoes (A Kidney Transplant Story) | A Short Documentary Film

by Dan Perez January 24, 2017

written by Dan Perez

WINNER: BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT and AUDIENCE CHOICE Awards | 2015 Rincón International Film Festival

WINNER: BEST DOCUMENTARY Award | 2015 Film Miami Fest

Please allow me to present to you a very personal film I wrote, produced, directed, shot and edited, “Angels with Shoes” (a kidney transplant story). The film, which has just completed a surprisingly successful film festival run, was a passion project I was inspired to make by my wife Madelyn.

Here’s the story…

I met Yaredly back in July of 2012 at Miami Children’s Hospital (now Nicklaus Children’s Hospital) while she was receiving dialysis treatment. She was the featured patient in a “Patient of the Month” series of videos I’ve been producing for Miami Children’s Health Foundation for the past several years. She had suffered kidney problems since she was 11 years old and now, 9 years later, was diagnosed with Membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN), a slowly progressive disease of the kidney. She was in need of a kidney transplant.

What struck me the most about Yaredly, who lived in beautiful Fajardo Puerto Rico at the time, was her infectious positive attitude. Having her kidneys give out and in need of a transplant didn’t seem to dampen her outlook on life; instead, it seemed to strengthen it. She immediately reminded me of someone else…my wife.

My wife has gone through two kidney transplants, the first when she was a teenager and her most recent one is still going strong after 8 years. For 9 of the first 10 years of our marriage, I saw her endure the hardships of three weekly dialysis treatments with a remarkable upbeat attitude that made me wonder how she did it. Cramping, difficulty sleeping (four hours of continuous sleep was a good night), daily limitations on fluid intake (only 32oz/day!) and a highly restricted diet – she dealt with it without ever feeling sorry for herself; nor ever allowing us to.

Yaredly seemed to have a similar spirit.

So when Yaredly told me that her cousin, who also lives in Puerto Rico, got tested as a possible kidney donor in Miami and was found to be a good match – a documentary film was born. There was no way I wasn’t doing this film and I had the full blessing of Yaredly’s and Kiara’s parents (who have now become our family).

The transplant took place at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and this inspirational story of love, life and living kidney donation was the result of over a year of filming in Miami and Puerto Rico. The film had its world premiere at the 2015 Rincón International Film Festival in Puerto Rico where it took home both the “Best International Documentary” and “Audience Choice” awards.

The festival, named one of the ‘Top 25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee’ by MovieMaker Magazine in 2013, was where my very first documentary film, The Motivator: The Business of Selling Hope was first selected and screened (it ended up winning the ‘Director’s Choice’ Award) back in 2008. It was a truly memorable return to a film festival that was already very dear to me. That the film made its world premiere in Puerto Rico (where these families are from) was the icing on the cake.

So after a film festival run which also included winning the “Best Documentary” award at the 2015 Film Miami Fest and screenings at film festivals in Mexico, India, Spain, Nairobi and Kosovo, I present you with “Angels with Shoes”.

BUT FIRST:

Did you know that there are currently over 123,000 people waiting for lifesaving organ transplants in the U.S.?

That nearly 3,000 new patients are added to the kidney waiting list each month?

That 12 people die each day while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant?

ARE YOU A REGISTERED ORGAN DONOR? It only takes a minute to register and could save up to 8(!) lives. Sign up at DonateLife.net, the 120,000+ people in need of an organ transplant will be happy you did.

Here’s the OFFICIAL TRAILER to the film. Our hope is that it not only helps educate people about the importance of being an organ donor and answer a few questions about living kidney donation, but helps remind people (as Yaredly puts it) that “love can cure everything.” Need more information? Visit the good folks over at the National Kidney Foundation and help them in fighting chronic kidney disease with groundbreaking research, critical advocacy, and effective prevention programs.

Enjoy the film and please feel free to leave a review or comment and please share. Also like us on Facebook (thanks!)

Angels with Shoes (a Kidney Transplant Story) from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

And here’s the film subtitled in Spanish, “Ángeles con zapatos”. ¡Disfrute!

Ángeles con zapatos: Una película documental sobre un trasplante de riñón from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

“Angels with Shoes” was shot with a combination of the nifty little Canon XF100 camera and my Panasonic GH2 (I’m using the GH4 now but still have two GH2s). Interview audio was captured to a Zoom H4n audio recorder using the excellent Sanken Omnidirectional Lavalier and for interview lighting I used a pair of highly efficient and economical LED lights I picked up on ebay based on a recommendation from a fellow filmmaker.

I shot it, edited it (Premiere Pro CC) and got some terrific music from French composer Julien Lussiez. That’s it. Bragging? Me? Never. Just letting any budding filmmakers out there know that it doesn’t take a big crew and a whole lot of expensive gear to get a quality documentary film made. Just a bit of passion and some filmmaking flair (you’ll know soon enough whether you have it or not).

So go…and make that film you feel passionate about. You never know where it’ll end up…

January 24, 2017

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