Videographer · Editor · Producer
Corporate Work
ATI Automate With Us!
My roles in the project: Producer, Videographer, Editor, Crafted Messaging
ATI is an engineering company specializing in robotic peripherals. They’ve been in business for more than thirty years and wanted a taut, no-nonsense brand video to tell customers about what makes them the world-leading supplier of robotic end-effectors and one of the most trusted names in automation.
BTS coolness: The interviews with Evan Haley and Robert Little were shot in a completely blacked out environment. I wanted a naturalistic feel to the imagery, so I lit the set to to make it appear as if sunlight was streaming through the windows, bouncing off the walls, and giving a soft ambiance to the room. Ian Stern's interview was lit in a similar way, but what makes that setup notable is that Dan Merritt's interview was filmed in the same location, on the same day—just on the opposite side of the room. More than anything, I think this speaks to the transformative power lighting can bring to a space and how effective it is at creating mood.
Why ATI Material Removal?
My roles in the project: Producer, Videographer, Editor, Crafted Messaging
Automated Material Removal is an emerging market in the robotics industry. Nearly all manufacturers have a need for it, but there is skepticism among many that robots can perform these types of operations effectively. It’s something of a catch-22 because manufacturers are reluctant to invest in automating their material removal applications, yet struggle to retain skilled workers to manually perform these processes because they are dull, dirty, and dangerous. ATI wanted a video that addressed this reluctance and highlighted how the technology they are developing is making material removal with robots possible.
BTS coolness: More than twenty lamps were used to light Max Painley’s interview. I hung multiple RGB tube lights in the room with the robot and dialed them to primary blue to give the space a cooler feel. Because I was shooting into observation windows, the camera needed to be draped with black out curtains to prevent its reflection from showing in the glass. I also had Max wear a black shirt to minimize his reflection and allow us to see more of the background action.
Let’s Talk Robotic Grinding
My roles in the project: Producer, Videographer, Editor, Assisted with Script Writing
ATI is supporting its effort to drive the adoption of automated material removal through a series of application videos focused on common material removal operations. One of the most prevalent processes is grinding. ATI wanted a video that A) provided customers with insight about how to approach robotic grinding and B) showcased two of their products that it make easy and efficient. This project is the first of four educational videos.
BTS coolness: Motion controlled photography was employed to photograph the Before and After segments of the video. The camera was mounted to the wrist of a robot, which was then programmed to execute the desired camera move. This made the VFX work for this part of the video a lot easier to complete. I built the speed ramp effects, 3-D motioned tracked text, and RGB split/glitch transitions from scratch in Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects.
ATI’s QC7 Robotic Tool Changer
My roles in the project: Producer, Videographer, Editor
Robotic Tool Changers are the flagship offering in ATI’s product portfolio. Tool changers increase the versatility and flexibility of robots by allowing them to exchange process tooling and execute more than just a single task. The QC7 is ATI’s latest tool changer for small industrial robots in the 35lb payload class. ATI wanted a simple, yet stylish product video that highlighted the QC7’s core features.
BTS coolness: This was primarily a green screen shoot. I added the camera movement in post-production and created the holographic elements and text animations in Adobe After Effects.
Narrative Work
Talk Again Soon
YouTube views: 39,000+ and counting...
A woman receives a call from her concerned father after a series of car alarms interrupts her quiet evening.
Talk Again Soon is a short horror film that I wrote, produced, directed and edited. It is a love letter to the simplicity and aesthetics of slasher films from the 1980's.
BTS coolness: I shot the film using a LUT that emulates Fujifilm's 8553 Eterna film stock, and I created the dust, hairs, scratches, and grain assets in Adobe After Effects to age the visuals and evoke the experience of watching a low-budget horror film from the 1980's. Also, all the dialogue in the film was ADR'd.
Apartment 2-7-1-5
YouTube views: 1,444,000+ and counting...
One night turns to terror in apartment 2715 as an unwelcomed guest stops by.
Apartment 2-7-1-5 is a short horror film that I shot, directed, and edited. I also produced and wrote the film, though I used the aliases Christian Smith and Mart Burns for those roles, respectively.
BTS coolness: The majority of the film was shot during the day. I had to tent out the back patio of my apartment to create the necessary nighttime ambience. I primarily lit the film with only two lights: a paper lantern with a 150 bulb and an RGB tube light.
Clowning Around
YouTube views: 1,075000+ and counting...
A woman is stalked by a mysterious clown after her birthday plans get cancelled.
Clowning Around is a short horror film that I wrote and directed. I also produced, edited, and shot the film, though I used the aliases Mart Burns, Thomas Riley, and Heath Mitchell for those roles, respectively.
BTS coolness: The scene with the balloon popping is actually a composite of three different shots: 1) a take with the actors acting out the scene, 2) a shot of the balloon being popped by a broomstick with a safety pin taped to it, and 3) a clean plate. In post-production, I slid the clean plate underneath the shots of the actors and balloon. Next, I created two masks: one that revealed the take with the actors, and one that removed the broomstick to reveal the clean plate underneath. I then timed the balloon popping to coincide with the performance of the actors. A similar masking technique was used to achieve the effect of the clown disappearing in a puff of smoke at the end of the film. Also, like Talk Again Soon, all the dialogue was ADR’d.
About Me
Hi there! I'm Justin. I’m a corporate videographer, editor, and producer located in Raleigh, NC. I'm also a horror film enthusiast—John Carpenter, anyone? Random, I know, but that's what these sections are for, right?
I've been creating video content for nearly 10 years and love every part of the process. Seriously. I'm not jut saying that. It's hard for me to pick a favorite. But, if someone were twisting my arm (hypothetically, of course), I'd choose the photographic aspect of the craft. Images possess an extraordinary power to make you feel any number of things about a product, a brand, or a person. Even cooler, they do this with incredible immediacy. Composition, color, and lighting are some of the most powerful tools a videographer has to help a video resonate with an audience. This is endlessly fascinating to me, and it informs my approach to videography. I’m always striving to elicit emotions with my imagery and refine my skills to make doing that easier.
When I’m not producing corporate videos or waxing poetic about how much I love my Sekonic L-858D light meter, I’m creating short horror films which have amassed more than 1.6 million views on YouTube.