JJC Media's first pre-screening for their film "Getting Caught" in Hollis, New York

On Sunday, September 26th, JJC Media had its first “test screening” (official screening coming soon!) of their film “Getting Caught”, hosted by attorney Rene Myatt and her staff at their Hollis, New York location. Entitled “Cinema & Cocktails” Ms. Myatt, a purveyor of the arts, not only provides a platform for burgeoning filmmakers, she also showcases the works of interesting artists, musicians, authors or any creative entity she feels may ting the palette of her “arts thirsty” audience.

The audience, made up of a diverse cast of business professionals from real estate brokers, attorneys, pilots, legal consultants to book collectors and arts aficionados filled the room to capacity. As Ms. Myatt gave her initial greetings and introductions, afterwards the lights dimmed and the film began to roll, Director/Producer Mr. Jerry J Cunningham, looked quite the gentleman in his sleek, grey suit accompanied by his Production Manager/Office Administrator, Christopher B. They both exhibited an air of calmness despite the small pangs of nervous tension that probably pounded against their stomachs.

During the film’s screening, the audience’s reactions chimed in exactly to what JJC Media intended and were quite surprised at their reactions during certain elementary dramatic moments. At the film’s end, one clap led to another then a barrage of applause overcame the room as Rene introduced Jerry to the audience for the Q&A portion of the screening. Actors, Derek Brantley (Dave/Mr. Holmes) and Amanda Yachekchak (Jenny Rivers) were in attendance and both received formidable comments to their onscreen performance.

The thoroughly engaging dialogue between the audience and the JJC Media staff and actors elicited some intriguing questions and perceptions of “Getting Caught”. Everything from lighting to camera travel and angles, to sound, editing and of course, plot and story, and a multitude of “why if’s” kept the JJC Media staff on their toes and were quite ecstatic by the audience’s intense critique and questions that continued past the scheduled ending time. By nights end, applauses and congratulations for a work well done were humbly received by Cunningham and his JJC Media collective. “For him, it was a “labor of love” and continues to recognize his blessings in the wonderful cast and crew that made it all happen.

If you can make it to Hollis, New York, find out when the next “Cinema & Cocktails” is showcasing and put it on your itinerary. They offer warm hospitality, good people, great conversation, delectable finger foods, and an array of cocktails to set the mood for an evening of film, art, or music and dialogue. For more information contact: Myattlegal @aol.com.

Upclose with JJCMedia's very own Director/Producer Jerry J. Cunningham!

Passionate, driven and tenacious, he never allows the opportunity for “can’t be done” to enter into existence. Burgeoning film director/producer, Jerry J Cunningham raises the bar on himself, constantly pushing the envelope to meet that standard. His creative, professional, and perfectionist stance battles an ongoing internal war of progressivism vs. conservatism. He stems from a long ancestral line of creative artisans that helped to shape his eye for form, composition, structure and texture. It bloomed through Cunningham's appreciation for the arts, especially his extensive work in music and photography ultimately leading him to produce and direct films, “My photography teacher said, ‘Filmmaking is nothing but a bunch of still photos put together’ and a light went off! I thought of myself as being pretty creative with a camera already and I always liked the film industry, telling stories through moving images, so it was just a matter of executing it.”

Sacrificing the normalcy of what is to be expected; the basic desires of life that most people pursue, Cunningham stepped out on faith and sought to become a filmmaker devouring any and everything in the world of film. He began to venture out securing work as Cameraman/Director of Photography. With these experiences, he used his innate creative eye to develop how he wanted to shoot certain things in terms of angles, shots and shot lists, sharpening his storytelling skills and bringing those narratives to life onscreen, “I like telling stories, capturing people’s imagination, sometimes with just pictures other times with just good acting. There are a lot of stories out there and everyone has a story to tell. It can be compelling if it’s told the right way.”

After obtaining certifications in film production from New York Film Academy, New York, N.Y., AbelCineTech, N.Y., N.Y. and Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., he began to garner a growing slew of resume worthy film projects: “My First Vote” a public service announcement for Screen Gems studios, "Fatherhood.org" a commercial featuring Knicks’ basketball great, Allan Houston, two feature films, “For The Love Of Money” & “Loose Ends”, and completed numerous shorts with actor/musician; Derek Brantley entitled “Making Of DB Magazine”.


Cunningham didn’t approach the process of filmmaking as something trendy or glamorous to enter into, it was something that he wanted to do and proceeded to take the necessary steps toward that goal, “In the beginning…when I would meet fellow filmmakers and directors, I would pick their brain for as long as I could. I would ask question after question…What did you do? How did you start? What books did you read? What courses did you take? What kind of jobs were you looking for in the beginning? What jobs are you looking for now? I did a lot of research, but at the same time, I didn’t let any of their own apprehensions or fears stop me.”

Successful individuals in their quest to realize their dream and have hurdled over the initial obstacles to achieve a certain level or status in their respective field often share how they “did it”. They’ve accrued an extensive, noteworthy body of work and now emerge as the “new” leaders in their field and will offer great sound advice to the novice along with their own personal pitfalls and what they did to climb out from them. However, there are those who may have second or third level “success stories”. It is these individuals who express to the wide-eyed novice more of their own fears and insecurities masked behind negative statements of “you can’t do” or “it’s so difficult”, “you need x-y-z to accomplish a-b-c.” Cunningham chose not to let those kinds of “success stories” or their fears deter him,



“Quite a few people said to me that you need thousands and thousands of dollars, a giant crew etc., but at the end of the day, only one person has to believe in it and that’s you. Once you believe in it, it’s a lot easier to get other people involved because they see you putting all your blood, sweat and tears in it.” He continues, “They will understand your vision, your drive and what you’re trying to do and they’ll be on board one way or another. If they’re not on board, they’ll let you know as soon as you call them in for a meeting.”

In the spring of 2005, Cunningham launched JJC Media.net, a film & video documenting company. He wanted to legitimize what he was doing and needed to do it for “real”, “I wanted to start a company and get it up and running to let people know that this wasn’t a fly by night sort of organization…that we’re here to stay.” His first original production from JJC Media.net, the feature film, “Getting Caught” was born out of the need for his voice, his story, and his creative vision to be told. Adding to the challenge and stress of launching a business and producing a film, it is Cunningham’s directorial debut of this magnitude. He cites such established and respected film directors as Clint Eastwood, the Cohen brothers, Guy Richie, and Spike Lee as his influences, clearly evident in Cunningham’s embryonic directing mode. But when asked if he had a style or his own methodology to directing, Cunningham felt that he needed to direct a few more films and responded jokingly, “You tell me.”

With a seasoned and sympathetic cast, as well as, having a crew with whom he’s worked with on a host of projects, he says, “Directing the first scene was easy for me. I had a very talented crew that I worked with in the past. So it was like working with family. I just wanted it to feel and look real in terms of how people act or don't act in real life...and because I had some amazing actors, they really pulled it off!” One of the concepts that Cunningham discovered while working on "Getting Caught", in addition to producing and directing the film is to, “stick to one thing”. He explains, “That’s the one thing I’ve learned producing and directing this film. Either you’re going to direct, shoot, or produce. I just find it hard at times to multitask. Some people can do it all; I’m just not one of them.”

Christopher B. Flowers

Check out the "Getting Caught" trailer:
http://web.me.com/jjcmedia/Site/Getting_Caught_Movie_Trailer.html

A Talk With Getting Caught's Still Photographer...Akinyele Stephen!

The work of a Still Photographer in the filmmaking process is a necessity for the promotion and marketing of a film. It is also vital; in its less aesthetic makeup for continuity purposes, comparing the composition of a film's scene to its corresponding still photo. Having a career in this area of filmmaking may not have thought to be an option for the budding or even seasoned photographer; however, once the option is thoroughly investigated, the long-term benefits are gratifying once hurdled over the “traditional” and/or “commonplace” obstacles. Unfortunately, initial entry into the field seems to be based on the old adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” mentality. According to Dan Turkeritz, screenwriter and editor who shot stills for the feature film, “Sodom By The Sea” in an article posted by Dean on photopreneur.com/the –photographer-on-the-movie-set, “[I]n the movie industry, it’s all about who you know,” he warns. “Nothing means more than connections. You could have the top gear Canon or Nikon sells and have a portfolio that rivals Ansel Adams’, and still get beaten out for a job by a photographer who knows somebody.” This doesn’t seem to concern photographer & media entrepreneur, Akinyele Stephen who shot the stills for our indie feature, “Getting Caught”. His resume is quite impressive despite the challenges he faces and candidly shares a moment with Christopher B. about his beginnings as a photographer, why he loves parades, his work on Getting Caught and what’s he’s been up to in the world of film and photography.


Christopher B: You do a host of things in media, where does your specialty lie?
Akinyele Stephen: My specialty is in Still Photography. I also shoot video but my passion lies in Photography.

CB: What inspired you to become a photographer?
AS: By a need to capture the present and save it for future memories. I always felt that as a youth, my most treasured moments were not caught on film, which left me relying on faded memories and childhood stories.

CB: What is it about this medium that you find most interesting?
AS: It’s interesting to experience and see things the way others won’t and being able to capture that moment in the right time and space which sometimes can be very stressful yet very rewarding.

CB: How would you describe yourself as a photographer?
AS: I tell stories through my photos. I display my surroundings through the eye of a camera whether it’s video or photos. Due to my limited mobility, I use my previous experiences and zoom lens to predict the actions of my subjects, for example parades are some of my favorite events I cover annually.

CB: Why parades?
AS: It is interesting to experience the vast array of colors and all the different cultural displays. In order to capture these I must time my subject, amidst the constant activity of the participants and capture the image at the right frame and time (like a lion waiting on its prey). This calls for a lot of fast and constant readjustments to my telephoto lens to capture my desired image. I’ve done the “Dominican Day Parade 2007”,”Turtle at Coney Island" “Downtown Brooklyn", “Labor Day 2k7", Neoworld Productions etc.

CB: I've seen you in a still as an extra in a major motion picture; do you have any desire to be an actor?
AS: Acting is a hobby of mines so I’ll take it as it comes.

CB: What are some of the films you were in?
AS: I was in" Arrange", "I Am Legend", "Meet Dave", "The Bounty", " Undefeated", "Blizhny Boy: Final Fight", “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", “Just Wright", “Going The Distance", “Step Up 3", " Notorious" ,The Soprano", “American Gangster" and many more. I also did a Bud Light beer commercial that aired during the Superbowl.

CB: Wow…those are some major projects! So, I take it that you have a passion for filmmaking also?
AS: Yes. Over the years I have made a few short documentaries online and have contributed to some independent films.

CB: Have you ever shot stills on video production sets?
AS: I did “behind the scenes” video photography for “Background", “The Daytime Emmy Awards", “The Answer" and movie premiers like “The Interpreter” among others.

CB: How did you get involved with "Getting Caught"?
AS: I worked with Jerry, the director on “Getting Caught” on previous projects, so I guess I ‘got caught’ LOL!

CB: While you were preparing to shoot on the set of "Getting Caught", what did you wanted to capture first?
AS: The essence of all activities taking place on set, the stars of the movie LOL! I saw a very professional crew and some very talented actors on set.

















CB: What other films have you worked on?
AS: I’ve done “Spanish Harlem”, “For Love Or Money”, “The Answer” and “Background” among others. I’ve done movie premiers and celebrity red carpet events. Additional details of my work can be seen on my website, www.tradingphotos.com or upon request.

CB: How do you approach shooting stills for films as opposed to working on your own work?
AS: When shooting stills for films I would first ask, what is expected of me, since satisfaction is of most importance. Whereas working on my own, I refer to my artistic point of view.

CB: What projects are you working on now?
AS: Currently, I am working on an untitled movie and the poster for it. I am also taking portfolio headshots at requested locations. I’m continuously taking photos for my web site Tradingphotos.com & Tradingphotos.net which will be revamped in the near future.

CB: What advice do you have for the novice photographer or would-be filmmaker?
AS: My advice would be to define your goal as a photographer. If it’s as a hobby or for fond memories then get a good camera and snap away. If it’s on a professional level then talk to professionals, read books and do research. And last but not least, go to school and learn the skills from the best. There are many different areas of photography, it’s not just point and shoot so good luck.

Inside Getting Caught with Graphic Designer, Shala Abbasi!

There is no greater joy for an independent filmmaker than to complete the task of shooting his or her film. From writing the script to the first day of casting to scouting locations, working within the crew & actor’s schedule and making sure the shoots go smoothly according to plan. Of course, in an ideal world, things going “smoothly” would be the case; however, we don’t live in an ideal world! Nonetheless, the filming is complete and is in post-production. However, the hard work has really just begun. There is now the daunting task of creating an image, a look for the film, creating its identity to be sold ultimately to the public. Graphic designers are the heartbeat of everything we see in our world. Using art and text to create an image and transmit a message. It is psychological power. We live with fruits of graphic design everyday, it is inescapable. Solely embedded in our subconscious, it is exhibited in the way we react to good and services. Since the inception of the film medium, the role of graphic designers in that industry has been an important one. Iconic graphic designers in film such as: Saul Bass who worked with legendary filmmakers as Hitchcock, Preminger & Scorsese, Karen Fong, and Bill Gold all have influenced scores of designers and filmmakers. Christopher B., Production Manager on Getting Caught chats with graphic designer, Shala Abbasi who designed the movie poster for the film. She briefly summarizes what it’s like in the world of graphic arts, her beginnings, training and her work on Getting Caught.
Christopher B: When did you realize that you wanted to become a Graphic Artist?
Shala Abbasi: I decided to pursue graphic design about 4 years ago.
CB: Do you work in any other art medium? Painting? Drawing? Sculpture? etc.
SA: I'm really interested in learning all mediums. Since I had to take foundation art classes, I experimented with various mediums such as paint and glass. I really enjoy painting as a hobby but wouldn't consider myself a fine artist.
CB: Was the process of learning your craft come natural to you or difficult?
SA: I never took art classes prior to college, so I was a bit behind others. It definitely did not come easy to me. I'm constantly working hard to improve my skills.
CB: Did you attend a “Graphic Arts” specific school, college etc.? How was that experience?
SA: I attended Tyler School of Art which has an amazing Graphic Design department. It was the most challenging thing I had ever done. I'm so grateful for the experience because I learned so much and it challenged the way I looked at things.
CB: What are some of the things that you’ve done that you‘re most proud of?
SA: I had various projects in school, but I really enjoyed an invitation I designed for a fictional event. It was one of the first times that I used pop up elements which gave it another dimension.
CB: What is it about what you do that you love the most?
SA: I really love making images and solving problems.
CB: How did you get involved with “Getting Caught”?SA: I was asked by my close friend Jerry to design a poster for his movie.
CB: What graphic ideas came to mind when you read the script for “Getting Caught”?
SA: There were a lot of things that I was thinking about as I read the script. I asked myself a series of questions like what does it mean to "get caught," and how do I depict it without being too literal. I thought about what was important in the whole story. I thought deception was a good angle to focus on. I liked the idea of being blinded before you "get caught." I also thought about spider webs, but I had my breakthrough when I asked Jerry what he wanted to depict in the poster.
CB: How is working on art for films different from other media forms or the same?
SA: Whether it is film or any other industry, I think the process is the same when I'm designing. I think about what the most important message is and how best to convey it.
CB: What it is the most frustrating aspect of working with clients?
SA: Sometimes clients think that they are designers and you have to convince them that their choices aren't "good" design.
CB: What are you working on now?
SA: I'm working on invitation designs and expanding the way I make imagery.
CB: What advice do you have for the novice Graphic Artist?
SA: It's a highly competitive field, so make sure you love it. Learn key shortcuts to work quicker. Practice and challenge yourself daily.

Getting Caught Updates!

Peace and many blessings to you all! Can you believe that it's already March! It seems like the Snow Queen continues to beat us down with her winter blasts. I pray that everyone is keeping safe and warm. Anyhow, we hope that you're in great spirits and keeping the faith in whatever you're doing to "make it happen". As you know Getting Caught in is post production and I was privileged to a sneak preview of the rough cuts of a few scenes and I must say, hats off to you guys for a job well done. Everything looks and sounds great, we will keep you updated as the post continues to completion. Once again, thanks for all your time, talent and treasures! Stay tuned for up and coming Getting Caught events.

Getting Caught's Amanda Yachechak in new children's musical, "Uncle Pirate"!

Amanda Yachechak will be performing in a new children's musical, "Uncle Pirate" at Vital Theatre. It's a wonderful story about a boy who's afraid of everything, and whose uncle is a pirate. Amanda is cast in the role of Captain Jack, a singing, dancing penguin! She says, "The music and script are fabulous and the cast is terrific. It's a really exciting project to be working on, and has potential to really go places. Great for anyone who loves pirates, great musical theatre, children's stories, and/or talking animals". The script was written by Ben Winters, who also wrote Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters.

Uncle Pirate runs Jan. 16-Feb. 28 at Vital Theatre, 2162 Broadway (at 76th street). Saturday and Sunday, 11am and 1pm. Tickets are $25, but use the code UPVEB for $15 tickets. Amanda also has 2 free tickets for opening weekend, and an additional 2 free tickets for any show. Below is a link to the webblast for the show, with all the information, a fun picture and synopsis. Tickets can be purchased at the box office on the day of the show, or can be purchased in advance.

http://vitaltheatre.org/webblasts/PirateBlast12-28-09.php

Welcome to 2010!

Peace and blessings to you all! Welcome to 2010! We’re so happy that you’re all well and in good health and spirit. 2009 was a very productive year for the Getting Caught crew. If you’ve been following this blog, you know that we’ve been diligent in our efforts to finish our film. It’s been a labor of love and it wouldn’t have been possible with our extremely supportive staff, crew and actors. We were truly blessed! Right now, Getting Caught is in the middle of post-production and is slated for release this coming fall. If anyone has any questions about the independent filmmaking process or is interested in having a screening in their area, please feel free to drop us a line on this blog and/or contact us at jjcfilms@gmail.com. Once again, thank you for your support and have a prosperous new year!