Tag:

filmmaker

Who is Dan Perez?

by Dan Perez April 24, 2013

Dan Perez is a multiple award-winning documentary filmmaker and photographer who butters his bread producing videos for some of the most respected businesses and organizations in South Florida. Born and raised in New York City, Dan relocated his family to South Florida in 2003. After a successful 10 year career in sales and marketing in the catering/special events industry, Dan realized a passion for video production and started Dan’s Video Creations in 2006. His initial idea was to grow a wedding videography business but in 2007 he was given the opportunity to produce his first documentary film The Motivator: The Business of Selling Hope. The film went on to win the ‘Director’s Choice’ award at the inaugural Rincón International Film Festival and in 2008 Dan Perez Films was born.

Dan has produced videos for diverse South Florida clients such as Miami Children’s Hospital (now Nicklaus Children’s Hospital), United Way, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, the Law Offices of Tripp Scott and Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance (to name a few). Dan is also active in New York City where he’s produced short videos on popular street artists Dasic Fernandez and Marthalicia Matarrita in a short film called The Candle. Dan has also shot and edited a series of videos for live music venue Le Poisson Rouge in NYC’s Greenwich Village.

Dan’s documentary films have won several awards at film festivals, including the Best Florida Film award at the 2010 Sunscreen Film Festival for his Miami Hip-Hop documentary film P.A.T.H. His next film, V.A.C.C. Camp: Camp “Can-Do” premiered at the 2012 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival and took home the 3rd Place Prize in the Feature Documentary category at the 2013 ReelHeART International Film Festival in Toronto.

One of Dan’s latest projects, a short documentary film called Angels with Shoes (a story about life, love and living kidney donation), had its world premiere at the 2015 Rincón International Film Festival and took home both the “Best International Short” and “Audience Choice” awards. The film then won the “Best Documentary” award at the 2015 Film Miami Fest.

His other short documentary film GRAFSTRACT: The Bronx Street Art Renaissance won the “Best Street Art Film” award at the 2015 New Urbanism Film Festival in Los Angeles and has also screened at film festivals in New York, Texas, Spain, Sweden, Mexico, Romania, Turkey, India, and Chile.

If you’re looking for a distinctive video production that will help your company, organization or special event stand out from the rest, please feel free to contact Dan at Dan (@) SouthFloridaFilmmaker (dot) com or call 954-629-3483. You can also request a video quote HERE.

What people are saying about Dan Perez:

“Dan is simply the best! He has extraordinary talent and exemplary work ethic. I would recommend Dan to anyone.” ~Lucy Morillo, Esq., President, Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation

“Dan is a professional and perfectionist in his work. He puts his people at ease during the filming with great results, I highly recommend Dan for any Video Creation you may need.” -Carolina Rendeiro, CEO, Business Centers International

“Dan is truly a diamond in our midst.” ~Mark Trowbridge, President/CEO, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

“Dan Perez is a great videographer. He did a great job and gave us great results and great value. The bonus of working with Dan is that he’s flexible and “goes with the flow”. We’ll use him again soon.” ~Lois Geller, President & Owner at Lois Geller Marketing Group

“Dan Perez was most deserving of this years “Best Florida Filmmaker” awarded at the 2010 Sunscreen Film Festival. Not only is he an exemplary filmmaker, but he is also a tribute to Florida’s filmmakers.” ~Tyler Martinolich, Programming Director, Sunscreen Film Festival

“I would use his services for the rest of my career and highly recommend him to anyone who asks. What I really want to say about Dan as a person he is a man of his word and a passionate advocate for doing things professionaly and going the extra mile with Excellence.” ~Orly Amor, Owner at EXECUTIVE ONE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.

“Dan is a true professional, but beyond that, he is very creative when it comes to getting unique shots on film. If you’re looking for someone to film, direct and edit a project,..Dan is the Man!” ~Victor Antonio, Sales Trainer/Keynote Speaker

Dan with…

Juanes at Miami Children’s Hospital

Jack Nicholson at his home in West Palm Beach

Macaulay Culkin in New York City

Jordin Sparks at Miami Children’s Hospital

Singer/songwriter Doveman in New York

Lardarius Webb of the Baltimore Ravens

Roberto Clemente Jr. in Miami

Alonzo Mourning (and Mrs. Perez)

Backstage with Yo La Tengo in New York City

John Travolta at the Sunscreen Film Festival

Afrika Bambaataa in Washington D.C.

Backstage with Andy Montañez of El Gran Combo

Yuka Honda in New York City

Grandmaster Dee of Whodini

Former Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez

Fania legends Tito Allen and Izzy Sanabria

Backstage with Salsa legend Willie Colon in Hollywood, Florida

April 24, 2013

VACC Camp: Spring Break for Ventilator Assisted Children

by Dan Perez March 25, 2012

written by Dan Perez

For those of you who have been following my blog for the past year, you know my life has been touched by VACC Camp, a unique camp hosted by Miami Children’s Hospital every Spring for ventilation assisted children (children needing a tracheostomy ventilator, C-PAP, BiPAP, or oxygen to support breathing) and their families. Last year, I was commissioned by the hospital to document the 25th Anniversary year of the camp. I spent the entire week getting to know not only the wonderful campers and their families but the people who work the whole year round to make the camp a reality and the many young volunteers who give up their Spring Break to care for these challenged children. It’s a life-altering experience for all involved. I wrote about my experience at the camp and produced a short video from all my footage that helped earn the program $25,000 from the Mercedes Benz “Community Stars” program.

Over the past year, I have continued shooting post-camp interviews with several of the families and hope to have a full-length documentary film on the camp completed by this summer. This past week, however, I stopped by the camp to spend an afternoon with the campers and volunteers on “Pool Day”, the day where the campers, many of whom are connected to ventilators 24 hours a day, get to go “swimming” in the large pool at A.D. Barnes Park in Miami. It’s one of the highlights of the camp.

Having my Panasonic GH2 on hand, I couldn’t help but shoot some video as the kids began being lowered into the pool. The rest of the story can best be told in this short video I produced. Hope you enjoy it…

For more information on this amazing camp, please visit www.vacccamp.com

Did you know that video promotion is over 6 times more effective than print and online? If you’re not using video to promote your product or service, maybe it’s time you did. Feel free to contact us to discuss how we can help tell your company or organization’s unique story…

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March 25, 2012

Unlisted

Breathe. Now, Can You Spare 30 Seconds To Help Ventilator Assisted Children?

by Dan Perez October 9, 2011

written by Dan Perez

For the past 25 years, Miami Children’s Hospital has hosted V.A.C.C. Camp. VACC (Ventilation Assisted Children Center) Camp is a free week-long overnight camp for children needing a tracheotomy, ventilator, C-PAP, BiPAP, or oxygen to support breathing, and their families. The children come from all over Florida and the United States to partake in activities such as swimming, going to the beach, boat rides, field trips, campsite entertainment, and structured games. For many of the children, these are activities they could only experience at the camp.

This past Spring, I was given the opportunity to shoot a documentary film on the V.A.C.C. Camp here in Miami and last month, I submitted a 60 second video to the Mercedes Benz “Community Stars” Program, which is donating $25,000 to five worthy charities. V.A.C.C. Camp was named one of the 15 finalists.

I’d like to ask for your help. Please visit the Mercedes Benz “Community Stars” facebook page, Then follow these simple steps:

1) “Like” them (my apologies to Audi, BMW, & Lexus owners but it’s for a really good cause!)

2) Select “PICK YOUR FAVORITE”

3) Scroll down to V.A.C.C. Camp (watch the video) and vote for them.

4) Vote for them every 24 hours until October 21st.

And if you feel compelled to share, please do. Post it daily on your facebook page, share via twitter, Linkedin or email. The donation would help ensure that the Camp continues to provide this one week out of the year where these disadvantaged children can feel “normal”. And it only takes 30 seconds to do it.

You can spare 30 seconds a day, can’t you?

I promise you that each time you vote, the next time you take a breath on your own, you’ll get a warm tingly feeling all over your body. I promise.

Thank you.

For more information on this unique camp visit vacccamp.com

Here’s a post that I wrote after completing my week of shooting at the camp. It may help you make your decision: 5 Things You Can Learn from Ventilator Assisted Children

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October 9, 2011