Making Of Featurette

Client: Sharkwater Productions, Tribute Entertainment & Alliance Atlantis.
My Role(s): 1st Assistant Editor, Title Design & Animation, Promo Online Editor, Web Promo Editor, Viral (Online) Marketing.

Official Site
iMDB
iMDB: Benjamin Dickerson

Sharkwater – The Story “An eye-opening film…visually stunning… this movie will change the way you see our oceans.” – Bonnie Laufer, Tribute Magazine For filmmaker Rob Stewart, exploring sharks began as an underwater adventure. What it turned into was a beautiful and dangerous life journey into the balance of life on earth. Driven by passion fed from a life-long fascination with sharks, Stewart debunks historical stereotypes and media depictions of sharks as bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters and reveals the reality of sharks as pillars in the evolution of the seas. Filmed in visually stunning, high definition video, Sharkwater takes you into the most shark rich waters of the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world’s shark populations in the marine reserves of Cocos Island, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. In an effort to protect sharks, Stewart teams up with renegade conservationist Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Their unbelievable adventure together starts with a battle between the Sea Shepherd and shark poachers in Guatemala, resulting in pirate boat rammings, gunboat chases, mafia espionage, corrupt court systems and attempted murder charges, forcing them to flee for their lives. Through it all, Stewart discovers these magnificent creatures have gone from predator to prey, and how despite surviving the earth’s history of mass extinctions, they could easily be wiped out within a few years due to human greed. Stewart’s remarkable journey of courage and determination changes from a mission to save the world’s sharks, into a fight for his life, and that of humankind. Written by Sharkwater Productions Inc.

For Sharkwater; I wore numerous hats. Most of what I did for the film was Post Production related. However, before the Canadian theatrical release I was given the opportunity to promote the film using some really basic but constant online techniques. Offering new and exclusive content and cross posting images, links and opening discussions in several forums, message boards and other online communities.

Founded in 1987, The Beguiling has set a new standard in Canada for comics and graphic novel retail. Showcasing the largest selection of alternative, underground and avant-garde graphic story telling in the country, The Beguiling has a worldwide reputation for excellence. Among the many accolades afforded the store, the most prestigious was the first-ever Will Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award for excellence in retailing.

In its long history The Beguiling sponsored many book launches, author signings, readings, and other comics events with legendary creators including Robert Crumb, Harlan Ellison, Jamie Hernandez, Neil Gaiman, Joann Sfar, and literally hundreds more. In 2003 several members of The Beguiling staff founded The Toronto Comic Arts Festival, bringing alternative and independent comics creators from around the world to Toronto to celebrate the best of comic art. Held every two years, the show continues to thrive, growing in size with each iteration.

Directed and Edited by Benjamin Dickerson

Shot by Sebastian Mirecki (Interviews) & Felix Chan (Environmental)
Music is Brahms “Rhapsody, Op.79-2″

Video Shot & Edited by Benjamin Dickerson

This is a Demo Video I shot and Edited for Carbon, for the new JVC GY-HM700U. A professional HD Camera. The footage was shot up Hwy 118 near Bracebridge Ontario.

A Class of Its Own… The GY-HM700 combines JVC’s popular compact shoulder form factor with a new level of performance suitable for demanding applications in mainstream production, electronic newsgathering and cinematography. Add to that the convenience of solid state recording, the economy of widely available SDHC media, and the world’s fastest workflow, and it’s easy to see why the GY-HM700 is today’s most complete and versatile professional camcorder.

Carbon Sound and Picture is dedicated to providing the highest quality support for Post Production Professionals. We have technicians experienced in post production and broadcast hardware, software and workflows. Our status in the industry allows us access to top-level support contact at major vendors like Apple, Panasonic, Avid, AJA and many more.

A promotional video for a multifaceted media services provider. The challenge was to find interesting ways to integrate static content into a fully immersive DVD experience. This particular sequence was the opening of the DVD, and is used as a “Demo” for the Company.

Job Role: Creative, Animator, Editor

Video by Benjamin Dickerson

This is the Little animation that could. A rejected little cartoon I started for the Rated R Art Show. This is the finished version I never bothered to post. The sound is rough, but the animation I found to be fun and worth sharing.

Art Director Reel

My Role(s): Editor, Title Design & Animation.

Svjetlana Jaklenec is an Art Director based out of Toronto. This is the Demo Reel I cut for her.

Ontario Women’s Directorate: Woman Abuse Affects Our Children

Job Role: Editor, Animator

A five part Educational Documentary about the Affects Woman Abuse has on Children.

Module One: “To ensure that educators fully understand issues surrounding woman abuse, the Module One video focuses on defining woman abuse and on how the abuse of women can have an impact on children’s emotional, physical, and social development and behaviour.”

Click To View all Five Modules from Woman Abuse Affects Our Children

Opening Animation

My Role(s): Creative Director

“If you want some fun you should make sure you travel with these guys. Frank Greco and Lauren Sally take a light-hearted look at the world as they pull on their rucksacks and head off to Malta, Bora Bora, Hawaii and many other destinations. Happy travels!”

For this spec opening I served as a post supervisor and creative director over seeing the creation and execution of the animation.

Institute of Medical Science (University of Toronto)

A short Recruitment Video.
Job Title: Editor, Animator, Post-Production Management.

Ontario Women’s Directorate: Woman Abuse Affects Our Children

Job Role: Editor, Animator

Part Five of a Five part Educational Documentary about the Affects Woman Abuse has on Children.

Module Five: “Responding to violence against women is not the duty of one person, but is the shared responsibility of all. Module Five assists educators in identifying and establishing strong relationships with community-based organizations that provide support and referral services for families who are exposed to abuse.”

Click To View all Five Modules from Woman Abuse Affects Our Children