Mike Pecci

Mike and filmmaker Garth Donovan were invited as guest speakers to the Induction Ceremony of Stonehill College SMPTE Section along with David George Chairman of the Board/CEO of Azcar technologies. They were asked to speak about the Boston Indi-Film scene and their experiences in making indipendent films.

-- 2/10/05 - Industry Online Resource

I’ve created a Message Board setup specifically to help Local Photograpers and Filmmakers. This will be a one-stop location for questions on the latest gear, posting headshots and actor info, project inspirations, upcomming events and screenings, and film feedback. Once you become a member you can post you own topics as well. Use it to your advantage. Membership is free and takes less than three minutes. (click here for instructions) The board just went up this week so we need members. Please suggest it to others, the more people we have the better it will be!

Here is a list of the Latest Threads:

- Technical Questions & Discussions
Got questions about cameras, gear, software, ect. Here is where you can post and sap the knowledge of our peeps

- ACTORS & ACTRESSES HEADSHOTS & CONTACT
Here is a place to post your info if you are an actor or actress looking for work.

- PHOTOGRAPHY
Here is the place to show photos, talk shop ect.

- Upcomming Screenings, Parties, and Stuff
Got an event coming up? Wanna shamelessly plug. Heres the place for it.

- Post and Be Inspired!!!
I’m trying an experiment with this thread. Post anything interesting here. STRANGE NEWS ARTICLES, Words of wisdom, interesting stories, ideas that can’t seem to get off the ground, anything that may inspire a film or project. I’m not saying give away your ideas, use this as a place to develop them.

Just finished shooting a feature film called “Street Players” for director Drew Pearlman. This marks my second Cinematographer credit on a feature film and has resulted in some of the best images I have shot to date. I was given absolute creative freedom and was able to bring my recent high-energy style to the test. The entire 18-day shoot was handheld using the new Canon XL-2, P+S Teknik's Mini35 Adapter, and the Zeiss Super Speed Lens Set from Boston Camera. The brand new XL-2 is a beautiful camera. We beat the hell outta that little rig (filmed in true progressive 24p, used all its new color correction techniques, built it into a 35 pound beast with all the accessories, and ran it in below zero temperatures). The lens adapter created amazing results with stunning depth of field and vivid color detail. I was able to utilize the XL-2’s in camera color and level adjustments to push colors in the interiors and pull the colors out for gray exteriors. We also experimented with various shutter speeds to add intensity to the various action scenes in the movie. Working with the Zeiss Super speed lenses gave us the ability to shoot as low as a 1.3 t stop but the rotating glass adapter presented quite a learning curve. Gaffer Dave Provenzano, Key Grip George Lyon, and I had to redesign our lighting strategy the first week in order to get the best possible image from the lenses. The popular misconception with lighting for video is that its easier than film, but in fact it much more difficult. The Past three weeks have pushed my boundaries as a photographer, built me a strong crew that I will work with again, and taught me a lot about cinematography.

Thanks again to a fantastic crew who stuck with me through a hard three weeks. I admire you all.

Gaffer: David Provenzano

Key Grip(1st two weeks): George Lyon

Key Grip(Last week): Kevin Vincent

Best Boy: Aaron Tyburski

Asst. Camera: Louis Scheele

Consultant: Mike Henry

For those interested in seeing the results of this cutting edge new technology contact me directly.

-------------------------------------------------------------

--12/01/04 – Fences and Fingernails --

You can come see some of my recent work at the screening of Garth Donovan’s new feature “Fences and Fingernails. I was hired to re-shoot most of the film and have been giving Garth feedback and assistance through the post-production process. It’s a really good film and a strange direction for the “gritty” Donovan. For those of you interested the Premiere Screening will be held on FRIDAY January 7th @ 8PM at the BELMONT STUDIO CINEMA. I know most of the cast and crew will be there, and for those of you who have seen Garth’s films you know they are interesting people!

See the trailer here: http://www.garthdonovan.net/samtrailer.html

-- 12/01/04 – Director of Photography

So the rumors were true, my next official project will be shooting the new gritty crime feature film titled “Street Players”. Production starts the first week in January and will go for three weeks. I’ll be working hand in hand with local Gaffer Dave Provazano and a handful of regulars. Stay tuned for more information and behind the scenes photos.

So I have decided to release a new series of prints available to the public. They would make a perfect gift for the holidays. Check them out here: Link

Check out our Spec Ads Produced By Louis Scheele and Directed by Benjamin Oliver and Mike Pecci. See them here: Link.

This year’s Halloween party was awesome! Thanks to all of you who showed up! It was a crazy night with lots of great food, surprise visits, 1970’s vampire soft porn, and booze, booze, booze! There were a lot of great costumes and the best group of people we have had yet! Lots of photos on the way including a one on one between Jesus and the Devil! Stay tuned!

Headed to NYC tomorrow on a two day “Steel Safari” in search of inspiration and with hopes of “fire starting” my photography again. I will be joined by my true inspiration. Hopefully some images will come soon.

Attended Garths screening of “Everyone’s Got One” last night. Lots of famaliar faces and a crowd filled with Boston’s talent. After was a night of drinking with the boys from “Pure Volume”. Those guys rock and they are doing it hard!

-- 9/12/04 - Jillian Swanson

Actress and model Miss Jillian Swanson was impressed enough with my last shoot to incorporate them into her website. She’s a great girl and you will see quite the scenes from her in the new Garth Donovan feature entitled “Fingernails for Samantha” I’m flattered to be on her site. Oh by the way she is also a makeup artist folks. F.Y.I. Check out her updated website here: http://www.jillianswanson.com/

Louis Scheele’s hardcore music documentary is still in production. He is on the road gathering interviews with some of today’s most popular heavy metal and hardcore music bands. Most recently he interviewed “Crisis”. I recently cut him together a quick trailer for the doc.

Take a peek at it here: http://www.pmpecciart.com/HTMLFiles/MikesAndTheBand.html

For more info in the film go to: “And The Band Played On”

Our good buddy and fellow photographer Steve Purcell just got a shooting gig on the television series “American Chopper”. Looking forward to seeing his work on TV. You can see some of Steve’s work here: Steve ’s Nightmare

Autumn was reviewed by local film critic Gerald Perry in this week’s issue of the Boston Phoenix. The article was entitled “Hole in the Wall”.

"Mike Pecci’s "Autumn," a mini-Mamet drama with tangy slang dialogue in which several suspicious-looking oddballs prepare for a secret operation in the night. Two twist endings, one twist too many."
GERALD PEARY

Considering what a harsh critic he is we couldn’t be happier. For full article go here: http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/movies/film/documents/04046001.asp

-- 8/08/04 - Autumn Screening sells Out!
Autumn screened at a packed Woods Hole Fire station during the 2004 Woods Hole Film Festival. We were part of one their experimental shorts program that sold out quickly. Still confused as to why our drama screened in the experimental and animation category though.(ticket sales?) The audience loved the film and the twist ending! It’s always fun to watch that movie with first time viewers, they have no idea what to expect.

-- 8/02/04 – “Autumn Revisited by the “Globe”.
The Boston Sunday Globe ran an article on “Autumn” yesterday:

Boston filmmaker Mike Pecci's short film "Autumn" makes its debut Thursday at 7 p.m. at this year's Woods Hole Film Festival. The cast and crew will be in attendance.

Pecci is calling this version of his film, which stars Pete Giovine, local director/actor Garth Donovan, and Boston comic Tom Morin, a "director's cut" because "Autumn" was originally created as part of the 2003 48-Hour Film Project. Shot in Chinatown, at the Ritz Hotel, and at Pine Manor College, Pecci's film went on to win awards for acting, sound design, visual effects, and an audience award in the competition. Pecci and editor Benjamin Oliver later went back into the studio and edited the footage, adding special effects and music from composer Angus Moncrieff. "Autumn" was then handed over to David Schwartz and Greg Lutton at Drag1 Studios for new sound design and dialog remastering, said the director whose first short, "Torpor" played the Woods Hole Film Festival and the Boston Underground Film Festival in 2002.

-- 7/30/04 – Murderer.
We are in post-production heaven this week. Just got the contract to edit, color correct, and sound design(drag1 Studios) two short films by director Andrew Silver. We are putting the finishing touches on his film “The Murderer” starring Paul Guilfoyle(C.S.I., LA Confidential) and based on a story by Ray Bradbury and will begin work on “Next Door” starring Paul Guilfoyle and James Woods (Any Given Sunday).

-- 7/15/04 - 12 Items or Less!!
Just finished the second part of the press kit photo shoot with Garth Donovan. As you can see we were able to get the ladies this time. Shot over 10 rolls of amazing stuff. We were approached last week by PLASMA RAG MAGAZINE to use the shopping cart photo on their cover next month. Check my main gallery for frequent updates from this series.

Finally after months of work the “Autumn” Directors Cut is ready for release. The new version comes with a cleaner new edit with unused original footage, brand new sound design by DRAG1 STUDIOS, new music tracks, and a sleek new look thanks to digital grading. Get ready to see "Autumn" the way is should be seen!!!

Take a peek at the new Poster design for the "Moment in Time" film series and read about the current state of Pecci's latest project.