I wanted to to let  everyone know that next weekend is the start of of the Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival and DB Photo and Film is one of the proud sponsors! This is the second year running and for 2011, VISAFF is collaborating with Indian Summer, a 10 day festival that will bring the best of Indian arts and culture to Vancouver. The Festival Kicks off on July 15th with the screening of West is West. For the complete film list go to the following link.

Also ~ VISAFF on Facebook

This spring I shot the feature “Barricade” starring well known Canadian actor Eric McCormack (Will and Grace)  and directed by Andrew Currie (Fido).  Glen Schaeffer from The Province wrote this following article while we were in production.

Parental fears heighten horror tension.

My approach to all of my photography wether it is unit stills, fine art, or actor headshots is that there should be something that catches the viewer, something that excites the the person looking at the photograph. In my opinion this is not only the goal of photography but of all art and all creativity. Call me opinionated because I am.  Many of us have heard words similar to the following: “We are all unique, we are all individuals.” – I remember the day when I experienced this with total clarity for the first time and it changed my life for ever. I was with a group of fellow dance students and we were given the most simple theater exercise ever – so I thought. The studio had a black upstage curtain and one at a time, we were asked to walk next to the curtain from upstage left to upstage right. Nothing fancy just walk across the stage. While one person walked everyone else watched and nothing else moved in that studio but the one person on stage. This was the first time that I actually saw and felt how individual we all are in our rhythm, our weight, our energy, our cadence, our posture, our intention…… It was the first look into a bigger but more subtle and more intimate world. And its these unique qualities in each person that I take the time to emphasize and amplify during our photo session, to bring out your uniqueness.

That is s why I am calling my current promotion – Get Noticed Fast.

I want your photos to jump from the inside out. But its not just about the inner actor, it is a total package. My process involves a lot of things and below is the short list of main ideas I am drawing from.

We build wardrobe ideas around stock characters that are both contemporary and archetypal. We emphasize mood and meaning with backgrounds and lighting and we also cover all details with respects to your hair and make up choices. We also talk a little bit about your emotional preparation for your shoot, and where you are in your career and what your aspirations are. These last few things help me to direct you on the day. Once all these details are covered we set a booking date, and your photo session is no longer just a photo session but it is much more like a structured improvisation. One thing you can be absolutely certain of is, now that we have taken care of all the details, your shoot will be a blast! Play time (photo making ) can involve  a ton of different starting points – movement, breath and spine work, sound or script and walking as well! I use lots of different approaches for different actors who are at different ages and at different levels of experience.

All this work is to get the actor in you excited, and focused because the elevation of emotion is absolutely necessary for great photos – photos that stand out and catch the viewers eye.  Emotions change the breath and the expansion of the rib cage, the response of and quality muscles in the body and face, the movement of blood in the capillaries and the response quality and texture of the organ which is your skin. It also changes your scalp which affects your hair the dilation of your eyes and the nostrils. It changes energy movement in the body……. The amazing thing is that while all this is happening it does not happen for any two people the same way. But being alive is a great way to Get Noticed Fast!

And that is exactly what you want to have happen.

The Get Noticed Fast Promotion includes the following:

~ hair, make up and wardrobe consultation
~ about 2 hours of photo coverage time and about 150 photos to choose from
~ an online gallery for viewing your images
~ 2 images retouched and color corrected for printing and forwarded to the photo lab for printing
~ 2 images for web and internet use
~ 2 – 8 x 10′s

Cost: $250 (regular price $300)

If you prefer a 3 look session the fee is $300 (regular price $350)

If you have any questions about the above information, feel free to call me at your convenience, and I look forward to seeing you in the studio!

This promotion ends March 19th.

Dean Buscher

778.928.9132

Do you have an iphone? scan the following QR (quick response) code and be instantly connected to this page and share it with your friends!

If you don’t know about QR codes here is a link to get you started….. All you do is download a free app and away you go….

QR Code getting started.

What’s an actor Headshot Make Over? The makeover session is a complete review of everything about you your look, where you are in your career and where you are going or want to go.  If you are starting out, mid career or a well established artist, we put a complete package together. Age, coloring, emotional range, hair wardrobe, skin consultation, stylized backgrounds, lighting and make up…. Everything is covered to provide a complete and tailored look to take you out of the ordinary into the extraordinary. Here is a breakdown of some of the looks we are going after.

Headshot Makeover

Once you check the full program set up have a look at results below for Actors Mike Barton and Ana Machado.

READY FOR A MAKEOVER?

The Olympics have come and gone, spring is here and now the production season is soon going to be in full swing. That means its time to brush up your look. On May 26th/27th/28th  I am opening my studio for a special collaboration with hair and make-up artist Robyn Ross. Together Robyn and I will build a series of 3 looks for actors with the intention of giving you a depth, an edge and the distinctive look that’s needed to get you noticed.

So how are we going to do that? Certain looks and stock characters are given emphasis in any era and the entertainment industry today is no different. We are giving special attention to these stock looks and will develop them  keeping in mind the unique aspects of each actor who books a session with us. While you are considering some of these stock looks for your headshot session keep in mind we are not developing character or straying into high style but giving you a placement and tone that will put you on the map.

~Plain Jane/Skid Row/Runaway/Hard Knock Life

This is the makeup, no makeup look for actors that want to show a more vulnerable side and to get the attention of casting directors who are looking for these roles. A more standard headshot would be “too attractive” or too pretty (applies equally to men and women). Of course wardrobe, background, and lighting are a consideration here, and we will bring it all together to make your look right for the part.

~Commercial/Collegiate/High School Student/Mom/Pretty Girl/Natural or “Green” Look

With this look we are showing you off in the best possible light to the broadest audience possible. Your skin is flawless, eyes are bright and open, the lips are flushed with color, and hair is falling perfectly into place. Wardrobe and background will be interesting and creative and designed to bring out your very best in coloring. The idea we are creating is that this the way you wake up every day!

~CSI/FBI/SCI-FI

This is a look defined by power, sophistication and energy. Hair is pulled back (no hiding behind it), eyes are more defined and with lips that make them want to listen to what is being said. This is also a great look for theatre headshots as well. Face on, no holds barred – you control the room.

~Ingenue/Leading Lady/Red Carpet

This is the look that makes them wonder why they haven’t “discovered” you yet. It is full out glam or the look you would have for your nine page spread in Vanity Fair. Sex kitten hair. pouty lips, eyes that scream you’ll never forget me, and sexy form fitting clothes. Basically we are adding some model aspects to your look but we keep the shoot directed to an actor with chops. You are a great actor you just happen to be drop dead gorgeous!

So this is the run down:

1) consultation to discuss stock looks and prep for your shoot

2) Get your wardrobe (5 – 6 outfits suggested).

3) Hair and make up by Robyn Ross

4) Photo session with Dean Buscher to include three looks (we shoot them inside and outside and to give you that natural light and studio look). Web gallery created to preview your photographs and two images color corrected for printing.

We have 2 bookings open for each day on May 26th, 27th, and 28th.  The first session is  at 10:00am and the second one is at  3:00pm.

Each session fee is $500 not including taxes.

Any questions please call the studio and ask to speak with Dean.

778.928.9132

*Special note – while we have designed these three days for female actors if men are interested in the benefits of working with Robyn and myself we can schedule another day and adjust the time, price (and looks) accordingly.

GENIE AWARDS WESTERN NOMINEE RECEPTION ON MARCH 22ND 2010 AT THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL VANCOUVER

The nominations for the 30th Annual Genie Awards were announced this month by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television at a press conference in Toronto hosted by Gordon Pinsent (three time Genie Award winner) and Tatiana Maslany (Special Jury Prize, Sundance 2010 – Grown Up Movie Star). Leading the pack with 11 nominations is Polytechnique, including nods for Best Motion Picture and Best Direction. Following closely behind are NURSE. FIGHTER. BOY (ten nominations), Before Tomorrow (nine nominations), Grand Ourse: La cle des possibles/The Master Key (eight nominations) and Fifty Dead Men Walking (seven nominations).

“This years nominations reflect a national cinema that is courageous in it s storytelling.” says Sara Morton, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. “They are films created from the wealth of cultures, communities and historical moments that make up the Canadian identity. As the Genie Awards celebrates its 30th anniversary, these nominees will remind us of why it is as important as ever to celebrate and cherish the best of Canadian film.”

Charles Officer and Sara Morton

Tantoo Cardinal, Peter Leitch, Sara Morton

Chad Willett and Sonja Bennett

Terry McKeown and Ben Mink

Gabrielle Rose and Tantoo Cardinal

Garry Chalk and Karen Robyn

Scott Weber, Stephen Adams and Lorne Wright

Stephen Hegyes

Jim Finn

Terry Mc Evoy

Sonja Bennett

Clare Contini and Sara Morton

Ben Mink

Gabrielle Rose

Mayor Gregor Robertson

Mayor Gregor Robertson

Charles Officer

Stephen Hegyes

Paul Armstrong and Ryan Catherwood

Jim Finn, Pamela Finn, paul Quinn and Clare Contini

Daniel Ingram, Stephanie Swedlove and Jeff Chiba Stearns

Leslie Wooton Tom Adair and Colleen Nystedt

Tantoo Cardinal

I have had the good fortune to shoot Garry on a number of films over the past several years, so working in studio together was just another nice way to keep the creative experience going. I have gone with the monochrome experience always a nice alternative and a nice way to bring out powerful eyes.

To know more about Garry you can go here: Garry Chalk on imdb

Being a photographer and working in the film industry means there  are a lot of people who knock on your door needing publicity and gallery work for their short, pilot, web series film event etc. Many of these people are your close friends and colleagues and you really want to help them out but life is full and you can’t always make it out to their gig. However this year when the Actors Fund of Canada contacted me through the IATSEE 669 office, I took a look at the work they were doing and knew it was something that I wanted to support. Living in Canada life is full of opportunities but living the artists life has implied risks many people do not anticipate. Sure, I know, we all belong to the universe but the world here owes us nothing. We are all wanting to live the dream but making it is another thing – sometimes it just takes a while. So life can be challenging but when an emergency situation comes along, artists seldom have the resources to deal and life can suddenly become unmanageable. The Actors Fund of Canada can help. The Actors Fund is the lifeline to the entertainment industry in Canada. Over 10,000 professional members of the industry from all over Canada and in the fields of film and TV, theatre, music and dance have been helped by the Fund which provides emergency financial aid to assist cultural workers in recovering from an illness, injury or other circumstances causing severe economic hardship. I sure wish I had known bout the Actors Fund some years ago. Here is to getting the word out now.

Now the shoot itself had an interesting directorial tangent. I was sent some images that were used in previous publicity campaigns, and was asked to mirror the style, look and feel. I really enjoy looking at other photographer’s work analyzing it figuring out what works how it came together – so I pretty much instantly knew what I wanted to do. And the shoot came together in less than 2 minutes the fact that it was starting to sprinkle didn’t hurt either. Julia and Maia were great, and the clouds made for perfect soft lighting.

For more information: The Actors Fund of Canada. Please leave a comment at the bottom if you want to connect or you have any questions.

This is a really sweet script played by a cast with subtlety and range. A real treat to be with this crew for 2 days.  Working on green screen really doesn’t change my job during shooting but it does give me some thing to play with afterwards. And as I dont have to shoot each scene over and over again I also had a lot of time to shoot the crew. One of the most enjoyable parts of being on set. Some crazy folios of Peter New who just can not resist the camera – which I like and a good publicity spread for the Red.

http://www.productionheads.com/2009/11/883/#more-883

Panelists included: Casting Director Stuart Aikins, Literary Agent Anna Archer, President of Force Four Entertainment Rob Bromley, Producer/Development Executive Louise Clark, Producer/Director Gary Harvey, Manager Elizabeth Hodgson, Producer Reunion Pictures Matthew O’Connor, Producer No Equal Entertainment Larry Sugar, Producer Brightlight Pictures Shawn Williamson.

All Proceeds from this event went to the Performing Arts Lodge Vancouver.

all images © Dean Buscher 2009