Gorilla Pictures

Shot & Directed by MIKE GONZALES & LOGAN McMILLAN | Witten by MIKE GONZALES | Shot on a Canon 550D & Canon 5D mk2

Recently I got asked to go to Hong Kong and shoot a promo for toy company Wow Wee.

My good friend Mike Gonzales works there and was a co-director on this project. Travelled across into mainland China to shoot in a factory. Was super hot. Interestingly we weren’t allowed to use any actors – so had to pick out our cast from the real factory workers on the morning of the shoot.

Another challenge was that none of the workers could speak or understand any english.  So we had 2 translators – one from english to cantonese and one from cantonese to mandarin. It took forever to tell the ‘actors’ what we wanted them to do.

Ended up being a lot of fun though – and the workers had a great time!

Mike and myself setup a shot on the slider.

They provided 4 of us with something like 12 McDonalds combos for lunch!

Surrounded by merchandise.

Mike with his Canon 550D & 70-200mm f2.8 L series lens.

Trying to get some cool jumping shots. The actors loved this.

One of the funniest things of the shoot was Mike teaching the workers how to rock out.

China's very own Bruce Springsteen & Pe-Wee Herman

So I have just done a quick cut of a new showreel.  It’s mostly footage from 09/10 but there is the odd bit and piece from yesteryear as well:

(yes it has LittleSisterFilms on the end – which is the production company of producer Katie O’Brien)

So after hours apon hours of work we finally have our Hell Pizza Youtube interactive adventure finished.

Check out the start video below and enjoy!!

Deliver me to Hell in the news…

Read an interview I did with The Z Word here.

Well after a year off Kurt, Morgan and myself got back together to have another shot at the 48 Hours Film Comp (find out all the details here).  Our previous effort got 2nd in CHCH – B1NARY JU5TICE.

We drew the genre of Sex Ed Film – and at one stage almost threw the towel in.  But after listening to some Ennio Morricone I got inspiration to shoot a western – something I have been wanting to do for a long time.  We ended up shooting a drama, which we hoped would make it stand out.

We were lucky enough to win the Christchurch comp and I took out best cinematography for NZ!!  So were are all pretty proud of our little film….

Genre: Sex Education

Winner Christchurch Sexiest Short, Best Cinematography & Overall

Winner NZ Best Cinematography

Starring ROBERT FAITH, MORGAN WILLIAMS, GEORGIA EASTER & KURT PRESTON

Shot & Directed by LOGAN McMILLAN

Here’s the piece Two Heads put together for the Grand Final Show on C4 TV – they did a really good job of cutting together a kick ass trailer:

Here is an interview that Tandem Studios did with me before the final:

Got a chance to direct this video for Rare Shot Blue – a brilliant musical duo based in CHCH. Was a whole bunch of fun to make – got my brother John to cut the top off an old Ford mk3 Cortina, turning it into a convertible.  It is the most intensive edit I have done for a music video – taking inspiration from Eminems 3AM – which I think is a pretty cool look and suits the music.

The whole video was captured using the Canon 5D mk2 DSLR (@ 30fps) and then some of the performance was sped up to 200%.

Check out Rare Shot Blues Myspace page.

Director / Editor LOGAN McMILLAN | Producer KATIE O’BRIEN | Director of Photography KIRK PFLAUM | Art Department DAMIEN SHATFORD | Makeup LUCY HARVEY | Talent MISSY ROBERTS

A little concept Ben and myself have been working on. Hopefully will be shooting a whole lot more during 2010.

Sound: BEN EDWARDS Video: LOGAN McMILLAN

Episode 1: Hulme.

Based on the true story of WW2 sniper Sgt. Clive Hulme. Hulme was awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts on the island of Crete.

The story takes place during May of 1941 when New Zealand troops were posted to defend Crete from invading German paratroopers.

Find out more about the battle here

Written / Shot / Directed / Editor: LOGAN McMILLAN Art Department: DAMIEN SHATFORD

Starring ROBERT FAITH
with NICK WHITE, SHANE PALMER & BRAD McMILLAN

Thanks to KEVIN McMILLAN, DAVE DUNLAY, JOHN McMILLAN, Christchurch RSA, Gun City, & Kiwi Disposals

I worked with Ben & Tim at The Sitting Room to produce 8 x ‘A Day In The Life’ videos of University of Cnterbury students.

Producer: TIM CHESNEY Director, DOP, Editor: LOGAN McMILLAN Sound Recording, Mix: BEN EDWARDS

We shot this video at the old Odeon theatre on Tuam St. in CHCH. Shot in a bout 4 hours and edited in another 4. Was a nice fast turnaround and a pretty good result. My favorite video for the year.

Directed / DOP / Edited: LOGAN McMILLAN Camera Op: KIRK PFLAUM Assitant Editor: DAMIEN SHATFORD Producer: FLIP GRATER

Check out their Myspace

The 4th promo for Gorilla-TV. In usual fashion it was written an hour before Ben & Morgan turned up to act. Ended up being my favorite of the series.

Writer / DOP / Director: LOGAN McMILLAN Talent: BEN EDWARDS & MORGAN WILLIAMS

Above is a quick look behind the scenes of the “Same Idea” spot which was shot on the Canon 5D mk2. Music by Hennessy Love Machine