Cinemacia Blog

After the fun and success of producing the “Sunset Blvd” music video with James, we both knew that we wanted to create more videos together. In February, after a pre-production meeting for the “Final Scorpion’s World Tour,” James called to tell me that he was going to have a 120 foot screen behind him during the show – and that he wanted my help to create a “Drum Solo to end all Drum Solos!” Of course I said, “Hell Yeah!” - or something like that. Then I contacted my partner, Paul DeNigris, and asked if he was ready to have his work be seen by millions of people all over the world: He said, “Hell Yeah!” – or something like that. Then I asked Shari and her rocker/drummer husband to start thinking about ideas for this, as well.

The concept evolved, roughly, like this:
James wanted to give his audience a ‘visual roller coaster ride.’
Paul suggested a roller coaster ride through his brain.
Shari suggested honoring the history of the Scorpions by including images of their album covers.
I figured out how to ‘place’ James in various scenes, inspired by their album covers.
Paul directed and edited, with his amazing team of talent at UAT, an incredible video shot almost entirely on a green screen.
Shari assisted by lending her talent and skills to creating killer backdrops.
I shaved my head and got to “Attack Kottak!” and to be James’ and Athena’s chauffeur.

We took the video from concept to completion in less than 4 weeks, sent it James in Germany, and he and his production team then spent a couple of days incorporating into their show before debuting Kottak Attack: You Kick Ass on Friday, May 7th in Leipzig, Germany. The band, fans and press were immediately blown away, and continue to be mesmerized almost nightly. The best way to experience James and the Scorpions is LIVE! Go to www.the-scorpions.com/tourdates to see if/when they are coming to a town near you. This is their LAST world tour – DO NOT MISS IT!

After discussing the concept with the band and agreeing to produce a video for James Kottak’s Kottak Attack Drum Solo, on the Get Your Sting and Blackout World Tour, I was invited to join the band a few days later to photograph their induction onto the Rock Walk – in front of the Guitar Center in Hollywood, CA. The Rickman flew out from Phoenix to assist me because it was truly a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ moment. There were members of the press from all over the world, rock stars, longtime and lifelong fans, and the day concluded on Bob Coburn’s “Rockline.”

Before the band left the “Rockline” studio, they approved the following photo to be used in their press kit and it was featured in various magazines and newspapers around the world. Without the help of 2 very important people, there is NO WAY we could have pulled this off. THANK YOU Rickman and Shari!!!

If you’ve never been mesmerized by a drum solo then get yourself to the next Scorpions show. Go to www.the-scorpions.com for tour dates - the US tour should take place sometime in the summer of 2010 - and experience James Kottak. His virtuoso turn so aptly called “Kottak Attack” will simply leave you BREATHLESS. That’s a promise.

James was the original drummer in Kingdom Come but the first time I saw him in concert was with the Scorpions on the “Pure Instinct” tour about 14 years ago. I had no idea that they had replaced their drummer and as I looked at him I wondered; “Who’s this crazy looking guy with the blonde hair?” I watched him play and was blown away by his performance!

A few years ago I met James in Albuquerque, NM while shooting a rockumentary style show with regional concert promoter Danny Zelisko: We hit it off well. The second time we crossed paths was at a rock festival in Porto, Portugal in July 2009. After the show we caught up as I rode in the car with James and Scorpions’ bass player Pawel Maciwoda back to the hotel. I handed him my card and mentioned that if he needed any video produced I would love to work with him. I wasn’t sure that he would call but thought it was worth a shot. Surprise, surprise, about a month later he did call. He said he was working on a new album for his “other” band, KOTTAK (formerly called “Krunk”), and wanted an EPK (Electronic Press Kit) and/or a music video to showcase the band to promoters. Their new album called Scream with Me includes the song Sunset Boulevard which he wanted to feature in the video.

After we came up with a game plan I drove to LA to capture the magic that is KOTTAK. As I drove the 350 miles I asked myself, “How many time do film crews go FROM Phoenix TO Los Angeles?” I still don’t know the answer but I think it’s a funny question. And it was definitely worth the trip.

All the members of KOTTAK live in the LA area. And while they love living there they also love making fun of all things LA. This video shows a bit of their fun side both in song and the accompanying visuals. I hope you enjoy viewing it as much as I enjoyed making it!

Backstage Pass with Danny Zelisko

Longtime concert promoter Danny Zelisko has been bringing some of the biggest names in the music business to Phoenix and the Southwest for over 35 years. While many people know Danny, very few know what a concert promoter actually does. To remedy this situation, and because Danny leads such an interesting life, in August 2007 Cinemacia teamed up with this tireless promoter to shoot a reality based TV show, focusing on his daily interaction with the bands, their agents and the musicians themselves. Backstage Pass with Danny Zelisko started out as a pilot for a reality show, but later evolved as a documentary style variety show featuring Danny and two bands, The Scorpions and Styx. It depicts, in fascinating detail, how he put these two legendary rock groups together for a “one night only” event in Albuquerque, NM (Sept. 2007). During the shoot there were many logistic challenges, but the members of Styx and The Scorpions were so gracious and accommodating that when you watch the show you get the intimacy of what it feels like to hang out with them backstage. In particular, we get rare glimpses of how Tommy Shaw (Styx), Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs (Scorpions) interact with each other when they are not on stage. The cool thing for me was the fact that although they are all rock superstars, they are also genuinely nice guys who are a lot of fun to talk to and be around. The pilot we created is roughly 39 minutes long, which is an ‘odd’ time for a TV show, so we have re-cut it into 3 webisodes (12-15 minutes each). While we can’t, for legal reasons, show these webisodes yet, Cinemacia is hoping to have them online soon. So in the meantime, enjoy the photos that were taken by my good friend Rick (Rickman) Kalinowski and we will let you know when the webisodes are available for your viewing pleasure.

Danny's Facebook

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Danny's MySpace Page

(click here to see a clip of Backstage Pass)

Scorpions in Porto, Portugal Madrid, Spain (July 2009)

I noticed that The Scorpions were going to be playing in Porto, Portugal, a 6-hour drive from Madrid. I immediately got on the phone and arranged with Pawel Maciwoda (bass player for The Scorpions) to meet before the show. He also had another friend, Marco, who had flown in from Madrid to see him. Together, the three of us went to dinner and afterwards we drove in the motorcade with the band. Let me tell you, there is nothing like flying in a convertible through the streets of a city in a foreign country with cop cars behind you, sirens blaring, and arriving at a venue with a bunch of rock stars. Try it sometime and you’ll see what I’m talking about… Anyway, here are some pictures of the event taken by Marco and me. In addition, it was during the car ride back to the hotel, after the show, that James Kottak and I first spoke about working together.

The Scorpions website

(click here to see the pictures from Porto)

Styx in Phoenix

When we originally planned our shoot for Backstage Pass with , we had planned to shoot a lot of footage with The Scorpions in Albuquerque and then shoot Styx the next night in Phoenix when they rejoined their tour with Foreigner and Def Leppard. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we were unable to shoot everything we needed. So, when Styx came back to Phoenix, nine months later with the band Boston, and played at The Dodge Theatre, they selflessly allowed us to reshoot the great footage that we now have.

Styx website

(click here to see the pictures of Styx)

Tesla at Martini Ranch in Scottsdale

June 5, 2007. This was a big night for Cinemacia. Tesla (http://teslatheband.com), another of my favorite bands, was at Martini Ranch, a popular nightclub in Scottsdale, signing autographs and promoting their new album “Real to Reel”. I showed up with a buddy, Gerald Kirkpatrick, who offered to take pictures of me with the guys in the band. After I met all the members and had taken pictures with each one, I then introduced myself to Danny Zelisko, the concert promoter. It was this meeting that started the ball rolling for what would later become Backstage Pass with Danny Zelisko.

Tesla website

(click here to see the pictures of Tesla)

MJ Guitar Shop, Munich, Germany

Matthias Jabs, lead guitarist for The Scorpions, has been one of my favorite guitarists since I was 13 years old. After meeting him in Albuquerque, when we shot the pilot for Backstage Pass, I became an even bigger fan. Matthias is honestly one of the coolest guys I have ever met. He is a genuinely charming person. His passion is the guitar and he owns a kick ass guitar shop in Munich, Germany. Check out some of the pictures I took in his shop, then check out his website: www.mjguitars.de. If you are a musician, a collector or just need a gift for that special someone, he sells his personal line of MasterCaster guitars, along with an amazing selection of any type of guitar you can imagine.

(click here to see the pictures of MJ Guitars in Munich)

KLPX Fest, Tucson, AZ

Shari, of One Louder Designs, her husband, ex DJ “Scary” Larry, and I went down to Tucson for the 20th anniversary of KLPX; a great rock station. They were hosting a party featuring an eclectic lineup of bands including Great White, Eddie Money, War, Styx, and REO Speedwagon. Check out these pictures we took that beautiful day in the desert.

KLPX.com

(click here to see the pictures from KLPX Fest)

Douglas Turner Ward and the NEC (a documentary)

This is one of our “works in progress”. It was conceived and directed by Gus Edwards, a friend and well-known playwright, who is also a professor at Arizona State University. It features Douglas Turner Ward, who is sometimes known as “The Godfather of Black Theatre,” in a series of “talking head” observations and remembrances of his co-founding the NEC, its high points and its low, the state of African American Theatre as he sees it and a variety of other topics relating to the history of this remarkable company. This documentary is being edited and as the project progresses we will keep you posted.

(click here to see the pictures of the Douglas Turner Ward Documentary)

Cowboy Dreams

Cowboy Dreams is a film by Paul DeNigris and Steve Briscoe. Paul and I work together whenever our schedules allow and on this shoot I served as Paul’s 1st AD (Assistant Director). Cowboy Dreams is a short film starring Bill Engvall, one of the ‘Blue Collar Comedians,’ and was written by Steve Briscoe. Check it out at: http://lockedhornsproductions.com/films/cowboy/.

(click here to see the pictures from Cowboy Dreams)

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