Litewave Media was hired by the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) to film two projects at the Republican National Convention, which recently took place in Tampa, Florida this August. “The RSLC found us online through our website,” Litewave founder Christian Schwier explains. “They had viewed some of our company’s previous work and thought we would be a good fit for their documentary video project.”
Christian working at the RNC.
Despite storms from Hurricane Isaac, gnarled traffic and huge crowds, our Tampa film crew had an exciting week filming for the documentary. Our onsite editor and Tampa post production crew also created short daily video updates that were uploaded online directly from the convention.
The Fox studio at the RNC in Tampa, Florida.
“Once we got past the security check points, bomb-sniffing dogs and car searches, the shoot was a breeze,” jokes Schwier. The documentary video project centered on five Latino Republicans from around the country who are all running for office, including House and Senate seats and a governorship. The film will tell the story of their candidacy and experiences at the RNC.
Christian and Taylor with their passes to the RNC.
The team also shot footage for five three-minute shorts, which allowed our Tampa video production company to get involved in several different aspects of the convention. Among the events filmed were an interview with Mike Huckabee, a tech panel with Joe Green, (Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard roommate) who developed applications for Facebook, and an educational summit featuring Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
Taylor using the MacBook Air mobile editing station.
Directory of Photography Christian Schwier, and the crew—Taylor Girard, Editor and 2nd Camera and Rachel Lappe, Camera Assistant—used both a Panasonic HPX-170 and a Panasonic HVX-200 to shoot the video segments. Litewave Media’s new ultra-mobile post production station includes Apple’s MacBook Air with Final Cut Studio and Adobe CS6, which allowed the footage for the video shorts to be edited onsite from almost anywhere. After they were finalized, the mini-movies were immediately uploaded to the RSLC’s YouTube channel, enabling Republican supporters to follow the activities at the convention in close to real time.
Although the Tampa video crew enjoyed many parts of the gig, Schwier says the highlight was meeting Dr. Condoleezza Rice. “We got to chat with her for a few minutes before she went on stage,” he shares. “She’s very eloquent and gave a fifteen-minute speech with no teleprompter. The room was really engaged when she spoke. You could feel the energy.”
Christian filming Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
The Republican National Convention is yet another major event to come to Tampa recently, bringing additional film and video business opportunities to the city. Schwier feels that’s good news for both the industry and Litewave Media. “Networking at the RNC will hopefully earn us future jobs when these companies and people come back to Tampa Bay for their next video project,” he says. “We’re working hard to establish ourselves as Tampa’s premier video production company—a one stop shop for crew, production, and post production needs.”
Rachel and her RNC pass.
If you have a video project you’d like to discuss with us, please contact us and to keep up with all of our adventures, like us on Facebook
Scuzz TV, the UK’s most popular rock and metal TV station, hired our Tampa film studio to interview and film three of the bands participating in the Warped Tour this year. The international music festival with over 100 bands ranging from punk and metal to reggae and alternative stopped at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, FL this July.
Directory of Photography, Christian Schwier, spent a day in the Florida sun with sound engineer Mike Barnitt and production assistant Harold Hood. Together, they captured the stories and music of the bands and the energy of the fans.
Filming interviews at Warped Tour with band: Miss May I
Ronnie Radke, the lead singer from Falling in Reverse, was one of the musicians interviewed by the Tampa video crew. Part of the conversation focused on how Radke’s life-changing experience of how going to prison affected his music and has contributed to the band’s success. Litewave Media also talked to Of Mice and Men lead singer Austin Carlile and members of the band Miss May I.
“Two of the bands invited us onto their official tour buses,” says Schwier. “Ronnnie Radke actually played us an unreleased track off the band’s new record. It was an incredible experience.” The other interview was conducted in Vinoy Park with the beautiful St. Petersburg Pier as a back drop.
Christian with Beez – Channel manager at England’s Scuzz TV
Schwier and his team used two cameras to catch the essence of the bands and the tour: a Panasonic HPX-170 and a Panasonic HVX-200, both 1080p high definition video cameras capable of broadcast quality video acquisition.
Scuzz TV will use the footage in two of their brand new shows, one highlighting the diverse tattoos inked on rock stars and musicians, and the other offering intimate interviews with musicians about their journeys as artists and stars. All footage was transferred to hard drive at our Tampa production studio and express mailed to the UK, where Scuzz TV immediately began editing. Both shows will premier in September.
Pre-production has begun on Litewave Media’s next independent film project,
The Skyship Chronicles
, scheduled to begin shooting this fall in the Tampa Bay area.
Concept art for one of the villains in the movie.
After completing the feature film Jules Dongu Saves the World in early 2012, the premier Tampa video production company is already hard at work scouting locations and building partnerships with local crew, actors, and artisans for the new production.
“We love filming here in Tampa Bay,” says director and Litewave Media founder Christian Schwier. “We have the most amazing talent here, and the potential shooting locations are top notch.”
Screen tests for make-up and costume with Rachel Lappe, one of the film’s actors.
Local crafts people like ADEQ Firearms of Tampa and the St. Petersburg Wood Guild have already signed on to assist in building sets and props that will give the film a retro-science-fiction or Steampunk look, reminiscent of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine.
Steve, the film’s DP, with the Red Scarlet video camera.
Set at the turn of the 20th century, The Skyship Chronicles is an action/adventure film with plenty of humor. “The plot revolves around two misfit time travelers and a hapless postal worker,” explains the film’s writer, Jeff Zampino. “Together, they battle a mad scientist bent on destroying the world.”
As a leader in video production, Litewave Media will shoot with the new Red Scarlet® cinema camera, one of the most innovative digital film cameras available. Its 4k resolution is double that of HD. With a wide range of video equipment in their arsenal, Litewave Media is a true one-stop resource for professional video and film production in the Tampa Bay area.
Behind the scenes pic with some of the film’s actors testing out costumes.
The video production company is using the Web site Kickstarter.com, a funding platform for creative projects, to generate additional funding for the film. For more information on the progress of the film visit http://www.skyshipchronicles.com/.
Jeff Zampino adjusts a gun prop during a video screen test with Rachel.
On Saturday, May 5th, Litewave Media’s Tampa film crew recorded a live three-hour concert performed by local gospel group Cepeda McKay and No Limits. The band has been uplifting audiences in Tampa and across the country with their original compositions and signature sound since 2002.
Cepeda McKay and No Limits rocks the house.
A packed house enjoyed the concert at the beautiful new First Baptist Church of Progress Village near Tampa, Florida. Five cameras—two Panasonic HVX-200s, two Canon 7Ds and a Canon 5D— filmed the concert simultaneously, capturing the members of Cepeda McKay and No Limits, along with the live band and dancers performing with them.
Our Tampa video production company arrived early to plan the camera angles and set up film equipment, which included a 20-foot CamMate jib system. The jib allowed the video team to capture sweeping overhead shots of the concert as well as the audience that was grooving in the aisles to the catchy songs.
Litewave Media’s Tampa film crew included: CamMate Crane operator, Andrew Ortoski; camera operators Jamie Parslow, Ryan Zarra, Evan Zissimopulos; and Director of Photography, Christian Schwier.
Andrew and Jamie, members of Litewave Media’s Tampa video production crew, set up the CamMate jib to film the Cepeda McKay and No Limits concert.
Preliminary editing is scheduled to begin next week at Litewave Media’s post production studio in Tampa, Florida. Using Final Cut Pro and Adobe After Effects, our Tampa post production team will craft a professional concert DVD that the band will then use to promote their music and ministry.
Cepeda McKay and No Limits shares their uplifting music all over the world.
If you’re looking for music video companies in Tampa Bay to film your production, please contact us for a personalized consultation.
Our Tampa video production team just had the pleasure of producing a new 5 minute web video/infomercial for Ideal Image the nation’s #1 laser hair removal company. We produced the video over the past month and incorporated client testimonials as well as video of actual treatment providers. Our Tampa post production team also created two 3D animations for the video production. Take a look!
