Deep in the Heart

I just entered WorldNomads.com's travel writing scholarship for 2011. The winner get's an assignment in Istanbul, Turkey!

Read it and comment here:
Deep in the Heart by Dean Hannas - WorldNomad's Travel writing scholarship 2011

Hook, Line, and Sinker

Hook, Line, and Sinker - IMDB Trailer

A short film that I shot a few years ago is beginning to see the light of day in the film festival circuit. I'm quite proud of my cinematography on this project. Hook,Line, and Sinker stars Jeremy Sisto (Six Feet Under, Law and Order) and was written and directed by Trevor Lawrence Young who also co-stars.

The IMDB tag-line reads, "a successful lawyer crosses paths with a friendly gas station attendant, leading to deadly consequences."

Trevor flew up from LA to shoot the film here. In pre-production we both decided on a gritty stylized look for the exteriors. British Columbia is very green so in order to get a rusty look for the exteriors I used a light red filter on the camera. Once this colour is corrected out it makes the greens a lot darker and adds a roughness to the skin tones which was appropriate. I pushed the film (over developed it) to add more grain and contrast. I desaturated it a bit in post to get the final look.

The fact that you can't see Jeremy's eyes is intentional. It makes him more threatening. It's a departure to photograph a major actor this way as the old rule of cinematography says to always get some extra light in the eyes so they pop or sparkle. Breaking this rule felt right for this situation. They did that in The Godfather and that one turned out pretty good.

For the interiors, I used a cleaner high-contrast look with swashed of colour. This was long before CSI Miami. Maybe they copied me? Hmmmmmm.

I still haven't seen the entire film in its completed form! Please watch the trailer and post your comments below.

Hook, Line, and Sinker - IMDB Trailer

Makes me Thirsty Contest

Would you like a free drink?

Last week I wrote, directed, and shot a short commercial to display my abilities in shooting table-top food and beverage. I also shot stills. John Lee, a professional composer www.wailingwallofsound.com, whose work has appeared in numerous commercials and episodic tv shows created an original piece of music for me. The spot was cut by award-winning feature film editors Scott Winlaw and Stephen Green. The spot is below this post.

In order to celebrate I'm having a little contest entitled, "Makes me Thirsty" as this is the common reaction I am getting from the spot. If you can guess how many beers I used (not consumed) during the production of this commercial and the stills that I shot, there's a $5 Starbucks card with your name all over it.

Makes me Thirsty Contest Rules:

1- Please submit your guess below by commenting on this post. Click on the green "comments" link to do so.
2- Only one submission per person. Try not to cheat.
3- Employees and management of Dean Hannas Boutique Photography are not eligible. I guess that's me?
4- Contest deadline is Feb 18, 2011.
5- Molly Chow of the Langara SE Program is ineligible. Sorry Molly, you've seen my expense report. Next time.
6- You (the "Contestee") agree to indemnify Dean Hannas Boutique Photography (the "Contestor") from any wrong doing what so ever related to this contest or any other contest in perpetuity. The Contestee agrees to have a good time and enjoy the prize awarded from said Contestor.
7- Minors are unfortunately ineligible. You'll just have to wait to get older like the rest of us.
8- In the event of a tie, I'll figure something out. It won't be like the lottery where you have to divy it up five ways. You can't buy anything for a buck these days at Starbucks. Maybe a shot of vanilla syrup without any coffee? That's about it.
9- This isn't like playing horseshoes or throwing hand grenades. Close is not good enough. You have to have the exact number.

No beers were harmed during the making of this production.

Pilsner Urquell 2011 - Spec Commercial

Pilsner Urquell 2011 from Dean Hannas on Vimeo.

Quaker Harvest Crunch

I'm currently enrolled in a continuing studies course at Langara College entitled, "All about Publishing." Our first assignment was to write a rant. I have just submitted it to the Westender for publication. Cross your fingers for me and keep your eyes peeled for it.

RANT

Quaker Harvest Crunch
by Dean Hannas

I know its been said a million times before but I’ll say it again. What’s up with our horrible and Nepolionic liquour laws in this province? The only body these arcane laws serve is the Provincial Government. World class my ass. The greatest place on earth? Give me a break Michael J Fox from your happy feely marketing bullshit. We should also thank you Big Brother for playing Daddy with your sin tax grabs but that’s another rant altogether. You make me embarrassed to say that I’m a local.

Kudos to our city council though for having the balls to try something new this year with their European themed Christmas Market. But, you branded numbered wristbands on us like Nazi prisoners to impose your three-drink minimum. What are you worried about? A bunch of drunken frat boys getting out of their minds on Glog? The prices are so high that you’d need a line of credit just to get your drink on anyways. Any European visitor would laugh in shock at our Puritanical ways.

Freedom! Drinkers of the Province, unite! Chained by cruel taxes and orthodox laws, its time for the fundamentalist regime to crumble. Let your voices be heard! We deserve to be part of the civilized world. It’s time for the Quaker’s to pack up their caravans and leave town.