ABstudios .

CNN portfolio plugs.

2010-10-28T12:36:00.003-04:00

Just dropping a few links here to a few stories I've either contributed to or written.

Resume/portfolio-ish.

In other news, just released Jay Legaspi's video! Check it out on m3crew.com!

--

Images of characters in the doc, Almighty Debt:

4th man released in anti-gay attacks

Fraternity pledges' chant raises concerns at Yale

Pennsylvania school district settles laptop privacy lawsuit

Boy stabbed repeatedly in New York restaurant

Jay Legaspi's Music Video: Preview!!

2010-10-06T15:11:00.009-04:00

This was a fun project... can't wait until the release of the video, Saturday, Oct 22nd at the Gershwin Hotel in NYC! LINK

Lots of work but was enjoyable to help direct and edit. First time doing a music video... feedback is welcome. Anyway, come out to the release party!!!

"Picture Perfect" by Jay Legaspi - Music Video PREVIEW from M3 Crew on Vimeo.

Introducing: M3 Crew!

2010-10-05T19:10:00.003-04:00

Hello blog readers. It's my pleasure to introduce the newest collaborative project I'm involved with: M3 Crew! This is a newly formed service company that provides photography, videography, DJ and choreography services.

Check out our main website at m3crew.com !

We have a ton of social networking sites that are currently under construction.

Excited for this!

Also, a new video from Michelle and Dan's wedding is up - edited by my colleague, Justin. He did a good job with the colors!

Melissa's Sweet 16 Introduction .

2010-09-13T19:16:00.002-04:00

Meesa (Melissa)'s Sweet 16 introduction has been uploaded! Check it out below.

Currently working on and psyched about our current projects - Michelle and Dan's Wedding as well as Jay Legaspi's Music Video... both of which are firsts for myself and my partner, Justin. The editing process is exciting!

-AB

P.S. To my few blog readers, I haven't been posting much recently because about 6 weeks ago I started a freelance position at CNN as a News Assistant. All is well so far!

Backstage .

2010-07-26T11:36:00.005-04:00

Last Friday, I had a great opportunity that I could not pass by. A former co-worker at ABC News dot com invited me to help him shoot backstage at the GMA Summer Concert Series.

I'm so grateful for the opportunities that have been offered to me thus far.
I just have to keep hoping that I'll get the right job... get my foot in the door somewhere, and hit the ground running.

Thanks, Ken!

Note:
These production shots were taken by me.
However, these may be used by ABC.
Therefore, I do not own them.

EDIT: Here's the FINISHED PRODUCT - my still photographs are dispersed throughout the package!!

Michelle & Dan's Pre-Wedding Preview Video .

2010-07-08T22:23:00.002-04:00

It was such a great experience shooting Michelle and Dan's wedding this past weekend. I was so excited to play around with my photographer friend's 5d mk ii. The video quality was excellent (although I think YouTube tends to change the frame rates of their uploaded videos, but that's another story).

I edited this quick preview video montage.

Check it out!

More video uploads to follow!

Credits for "Rescued" .

2010-06-10T19:51:00.001-04:00

I'm so lucky to have made it onto credits for the CNN documentary, "Rescued"!

Here's a link to the credits:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/05/13/rescued.credits/index.html

More posts will be made with highlights from VSA's Ms. Vietnam Pageant 2010, Cheryl's Debut, and Meesa's Sweet 16!!!!

-AB

Music is...

2010-05-09T23:37:00.003-04:00

Thank you to all my friends who watched the final cut at the Writer's House Film Festival last Wednesday. :)

Here is the final cut. As I said in the description for the video, it's pretty short - I was going for a commercial-like feel, fast-paced and without much detail.

Please click on the video player to view in HD if you'd like.

Final Cut of "Music Is..." Project ...

2010-04-22T15:26:00.004-04:00

... coming up soon! This is my last semester of college, and I'm finding myself inundated with final projects and exams.

In my notebook, I've written "Home Stretch, Baby," because it is - it's the home stretch of college.

Anyway, back to my "Music Is..." Digital Storytelling class final project.
Check back very soon for the video itself!

In the meanwhile, here's a link to my photographer friend's photo blog. He posted a picture he took at his studio which I borrowed for my "Music Is..." filming.

JR PENA's BLOG ENTRY ABOUT MY PROJECT

Here is a photo of my main four participants in my project! The final video will be up soon.

-AB

CNN's Haiti Documentary, Rescued .

2010-04-16T18:02:00.003-04:00

It has been a pleasure working for CNN this semester.
Working for In America totally boosted my confidence in wanting to make long-form documentaries, or at the very least, pursue a career in television.

I've watched this documentary as it was being put together pretty much since day one; tune in on May 8th!
Can't wait to see it!

Josephine's Sweet 16: Photoshoot Highlights

2010-04-05T15:42:00.001-04:00

Part of the "Extras" section of Josephine's Sweet 16 DVD production (almost complete!).

One Sweet 16 coming up this Saturday! Another Debut (18th Birthday) the following day! Should be a busy busy weekend.
-AB

Josephine's Sweet 16 - photos .

2010-03-26T17:26:00.003-04:00

So Justin and I recently covered Josephine's lovely Sweet 16.
We were lucky enough to watch the dress rehearsal the night before! This helped us set up our shots for the actual day.

I'm no professional photographer, but I shot a few behind-the-scenes photographs.

Here they are:

Be sure to check back for some video highlight reels!
-AB

Pieces of a puzzle...

2010-03-17T14:49:00.001-04:00

I see everything that’s going on now… the whole process, the hierarchy of tasks and duties… the pieces of the puzzle of making a documentary come together. I can do this – the whole process – I can help with the research beforehand, pitching ideas, creating questions, going out on shoots, manning a camera, asking the questions, creating a script, managing logs and staring at time codes, knowing the ins-and-outs of my own project(s), stepping into the edit room and really piecing it all together… I see this process, and I want to do this. I really do. I’m learning so much here at CNN, especially about the whole PROCESS surrounding it all – the one semester of Documentary Filmmaking was not enough! That was just a window into a huge opportunity that excites me. Do I have what it takes? I can do anything that I set my mind to. And if I love my job, then all the better. I can do this.

But first, getting a job.

Videography: Behind-the-scenes...

2010-03-13T15:34:00.003-05:00

Since I haven't uploaded pictures on my blog in a while, here's a few photos of past projects and a picture of our baby, the XH-A1.

Music is ...

2010-02-28T19:48:00.002-05:00

This is the beginning of my "music is.." project. It's for my DIGITAL STORYTELLING class.

The beginning clips will most likely be edited down (and not even used) - I just needed filler video clips for what I WILL be using once I film it (I will have b-roll of the people I interview in the studio doing their own musical talents).
More details and new cuts will be posted as the semester continues!

Update on my current doings .

2010-02-11T13:47:00.002-05:00

Just a little update to what I've been doing as of late... I'm currently taking really interesting yet challenging courses in my final semester of college (tear tear!). These are:

Digital Storytelling - just like Documentary Filmmaking class from last semester... should be fun! I have more creative license in this class and can control what direction it can go in (instead of just taking someone's words and putting them together in a sequence).

Information Design - learning Adobe InDesign ! currently making mock brochures for the American Museum of Natural History. pretty cool.

Modern China - my last required history course for my second minor (History. haha)

Exploring New Media - online course that's really interesting and keeps me in tune with my Journalism-ness (even though I'm done with requirements).

Financial Accounting - always had an interest in business... and may plan to get an MBA in the future. challenging course but also very different!

In addition to this, I'm interning with Soledad O'Brien's In America team at CNN... very fun! Learning lots of industry programs, conducting research for long-form documentaries, logging and ingesting tapes... very much up my alley, and very much what I'm considering I'd like to do in the long run (long-form projects.. versus breaking news).

OK, got accounting homework to do!
-AB

deep treble .

2010-02-11T13:18:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite a cappella groups at Rutgers, Deep Treble, was kind enough to let myself and my groupmates in Digital Storytelling class record them during one of their practices.

Here's the one minute collaboration project for this semester! (see last semester's HERE):

Sweet 16, continued .

2010-01-18T23:46:00.002-05:00

Here are two videos from Cathy's Sweet 16!

Justin and I finished making 17 copies for Cathy and the cotillion member's families.

1. Cotillion Highlights - played around/edited these clips with special effects.

2. DVD Menu Sample - the video leading up to the DVD menu.

Check back for some behind-the-scenes footage of post-production editing! The last video I took for BTS was THIS one.

Sweet 16 .

2010-01-06T02:50:00.005-05:00

Currently working on Catherine's Sweet 16 DVDs. Coming out pretty well! Trying some new, creative editing techniques, as well as employing more Motion graphics.

Check back for a preview video or two! I'll also be creating highlight reels of past videography events over the next few weeks.

For now, check out my photographer friend's pictures from the Sweet 16 (we both worked at the same event):

http://jrpena.tumblr.com/post/295958970/catherine-sweet-16-preview

EDIT:

Here is a picture of the finished DVD boxes! Please visit our Facebook fan page for more videography links to videos and photos of past projects.

FAN PAGE

Also, Justin has finished my simple little website. It serves as a launching site to other websites of mine, and also includes my resume:

ABSTUDIOS MAIN WEBSITE

A whole lot of projects.

2009-12-14T12:14:00.003-05:00

1. If anyone has time, check out the 'debut' of my PD documentary... shown at the Writer's House Film Festival.

Details HERE.

2. Here's a PD trailer that Justin and I whipped up about a week ago:

A Night Full of Dance...

2009-11-23T23:47:00.004-05:00

Congrats to PD on getting 1st place at PRIDE 2 Dance Competition.

Here's the video!

Congrats also to RDT for getting 3rd place! Yay RAPS!

check out more videos of mine HERE .

<3

A Stroll in the Park...

2009-11-23T16:05:00.001-05:00

Bernie and Therese's Engagement Video, version 2.
(the first didn't have color correction).

Whipped this up in a day... things needed to be added/fixed still, but check out the work in progress.

Was a fun shoot to do (first time doing an engagement video!).

Thanks to Bernie and Therese for the opportunity.

A little bit of what goes on...

2009-11-09T12:05:00.005-05:00

... when we make DVDs in bulk!

The post-production, post-editing work that gets done to produce multiple DVDs.

This particular DVD: CHINA NITE XIV.

Created 55 + copies.

If you're interested in how we create DVDs, or interested in having something made (freelance videography projects), contact us!

We also are willing to rent out our baby, the Canon XH A1, or any of our other smaller but very capable HD cameras.

Check the info on the header business card picture, or just email me at:
imabonus@gmail.com.

Video shot with my d90's video capabilities. f1.8, so the focus is quite difficult, but i managed!

Dark Blue...

2009-10-23T18:12:00.002-04:00

Jack's Mannequin, one of my favorite groups, came to Rutgers this past Wednesday to perform. It was an awesome experience!!!

Took some photos. Enjoy:

Rutgers .. Rutgers .. RUTGERS!

2009-10-20T12:20:00.010-04:00

1. INVOLVEMENT FAIR
[edited]

2. HOT DOG DAY
[edited]

3. HOMECOMING
[shot the footage]

RU Homecoming Festival and Pep Rally from Targum Editor on Vimeo.

also found here

photos from Homecoming:

When Pigs[skins] Fly..

2009-09-28T22:37:00.006-04:00

.. you'll do anything.

America runs on Football.

RU v MD.

Took pics and have a video highlight reel on the way!

More to come.

Rutgers vs Florida International Gameday Recap

2009-09-22T14:20:00.003-04:00

Feels like I've been editing every day for the past few days.

Shot this at the game on Saturday, and edited all of yesterday (Monday).

Overall great weather, and a good game.

Created for The Daily Targum.

RUTGERS vs FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL Gameday Video from Targum Editor on Vimeo.

It has been WAY too long..

2009-09-17T16:38:00.003-04:00

.. but I've got the first video project to make it to this blogspot!

This semester will be full of video projects. With Documentary Filmmaking, Advanced TV Reporting, working with the Student Life Marketing Team, and various random side projects that I've got going on...

this is just the beginning!

Side note: Yay for videography and photography, and getting my very first bandwidth warning because of uploading video whilst in my dorm!

California, part 2 (and a bonus part).

2009-07-09T21:40:00.008-04:00

My plan was to edit my Californian adventures in chronological order... but when I sat down with mom just now to review the photos and show her how I edit, I ended up editing random photos - whatever caught my eye.

These photos are from various places.

(PS. WILL ADD MORE IN THE A.M. sleep for now!)

PART 2: SAN FRANCISCO/MONTEREY HARBOR/OTHER .

Bonus Part: (family photoshoot... the 4 sisters, plus cameos by myself and my cousin.)

California, part 1 .

2009-07-01T23:55:00.007-04:00

It has indeed been a long time, oh blog of mine!
Right after the spring semester ended, I went straight into working full time at my internship in NYC.
The camera(s) went to rest, and so updating this blog with new material proved difficult.

Well, the d90 sprang back into action during my recent escapades in California.
Friends told me to take lots of pictures, and even create a photo travel blog of sorts.
Well, here's to the beginning of that! Check back for updates to this mini-series.

A special thanks to friends who inspire me to continue my creativity through blogs and photography.

~AB

PART 1: DAY 1.
highlights...
IN-N-OUT BURGERS.
[main focus] HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART COLLECTIONS, and BOTANICAL GARDENS.

action packed .

2009-05-04T12:38:00.005-04:00

last weekend was a busy one for photos.
Friday: Kean University's Asian Culture Club Fashion Show
Saturday: Rutgers Day and 75th Birthday
Sunday: SoReal Cru.

Fashion Show:

---

Random: The Daily Targum has a few 'non-traditional' pictures(I mean, not containing people or a sport or a special event) of mine currently up on their site... since the paper is done until September, I think these photos might be on the site over the summer! Haha. Thought I'd go with a different approach by taking screenshots of the photos.

Photos of the new restaurant off Easton Ave - Via Vita.

From Via Vita featured in The Daily Targum

playing catch-up [soon] .

2009-04-21T03:23:00.008-04:00

I haven't blogged in a little bit - my apologies! Please look forward to a few updates, which may include photos of: Barrio Fiesta Practices; Governor Corzine; LGBT Rally/Day of Silence; AACC Block Party; Dogs playing outside; and China Nite XIV.

Also look out for a possible preview video for VSA's Miss Vietnam.

adieu for now. goodnight! zzzz.

---

EDIT. [events in no particular order..]

1. pomeranians .

2. China Nite XIV .

3. LGBT Day of Silence Protest/March + AACC Block Party Highlights = ushering in the beautiful weather and colors that arrive with Spring.

a couple of surprises .

2009-04-07T21:46:00.007-04:00

Today I was busy working on a big presentation for a class of mine... and was also greeted with a couple of surprises/random stuff that I thought I'd share (I'll share some photos too...maybe!)

1. THE DAILY TARGUM - I was browsing around the site doing research for my presentation and came across something newly uploaded ! I hope this stays up there for a while. Multimedia (as far as I know, I could be wrong) isn't up on the website for long, so I never linked videos/photos on the paper's site to potential employers or whatnot (only articles... because they stay there, archived).

2. BARRIO FIESTA 2009 - The RAPS annual dinner and play! JR took some photos of the cast and entrusted the editing to me and our other photoshop savvy friends (Marc, Justin). So I rushed and did some really amateur edits (temporary stuff.. nothing perfect) and uploaded the pictures on the Facebook event to advertise for the event.

From Barrio Fiesta 2009

3. I received two calls back from two internships, repsectively. Even though that's really exciting, I know now that I'll have to forgo my dreams of Japan (was signed up to study abroad there this summer, but it closed due to lack of enrollment... I could've done another program, but then the internships just got back to me). As an undergrad (this being my last summer as an enrolled student)... I'm not sure if I'll ever get a chance to study in Japan again. I can only look forward to tourism at a later date I guess!

4. Update on my video escapades.. working on three projects as of right now, the priority project being the Vietnamese Student's Association Ms. Vietnam Pageant that just took place last weekend. I've seen my share of many dance competitions and such, so it's refreshing to see something else once in a while. Maybe I'll get some DVD preview[s] up on youtube one of these days.

5. And of course, on top of everything else, there's school. Speaking of which, I should get back to my presentation. Self-reminder: registration takes place in a week for Fall 09 classes.

gardens at dusk .

2009-04-03T14:07:00.005-04:00

During a random trip to The Botanical Gardens at Snug Harbor, Staten Island, I and my good friend Crisanto Jorda were able to take some awesome photos. It was a cloudy gray afternoon... and as my friend put it, the sky stayed gray for what seemed like hours (until we got kicked out by the friendly security at dusk!). It was a beautiful day nonetheless (even though the weather lately has been very bipolar).

What an adventure. Some photos came out silly; others look like they should be an album cover (might I also mention that these friends of mine are very musically inclined?)

Here we go [you know the drill, press play and view away.]

PS. it has come to my attention that the comments section of my blog isn't working (not an active link or something). i'll try to fix it soon, but feedback is always appreciated. contact me via facebook or gmail =]. thanks!

scarlet sweep .

2009-03-29T19:48:00.004-04:00

RUTGERS SOFTBALL versus VILLANOVA // 3.25.09
Rutgers Softball team played on a sunny day in their first home game this season.
They won both games in this doubleheader!

Watching them, I smiled often and laughed to myself because I missed the sport [well, I played little league baseball for 6 years]. I wanted to get my glove and join in on the fun.

Well, I'll save the playing for another day.

I stuck to the sidelines and got a few shots:

The Main Event .

2009-03-19T18:23:00.005-04:00

Fr3sh presented The Main Event -- action packed dance teams galore!

Select photos:

the beach. when it's cold and gloomy.

2009-03-15T22:26:00.014-04:00

Hey friends.

So.. the rest of the cool Jollibee pictures AND Main Event photos will be posted on another date... along with a host of other photos I need to post on this thing -sorry it's not in chronological order =[. Marc took my camera and shot around during Battle of the Barrios, and I have cute puppy photos!

Hmm...side note: do people prefer the slideshow (see first post) or the photos all placed one after the other with captions? I wonder which is more aesthetically pleasing.

Anyway, so today I went to a fishing pier for a few hours with my photographer friend, JR Pena. Here's a couple shots from the shoot: (slideshow version.. I figure I'll try slideshows and just straight posting ... until someone tells me otherwise, or until I get a real legit website up and running! yay.)

[note: press play or scroll at your own leisure.]

Port Monmouth, NJ:

PS. I have a wish list going.. in order of preference, but not necessarily in order of my budget (so this is more like a "dream on" list):
1. AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED (2.9x) (i-need-a-2.8-good-overall-lens)
2. AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G OR AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G (difference in price.. difference in performance???)
3. AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED (2.9x) . (if ever i pursue sports photography or photography in the wild/war-torn regions of .. somewhere)

ONE DAY, i'll get the first lens on the list (used or something decent so it's cheaper!). Though price-wise.. the 35mm seems more in my range for right now. Too bad it's backordered like whoa, and since it's new, I'm not entirely sure it's as good as they say.

opinions/advice welcome! gmail/gchat: imabonus@gmail.com . thanks =]

PSS. Photography is a hobby; videography is a hobby which has made me some money/really is my forte/i should, in the end, spend more money (invest more money) in videography. don't get me started on a wish list for video equipment... (in a REAL reach of mine: combining photo/video, the 5D mk. ii. haha. i should post a sample short film or something.. shot entirely with my d90 video capabilities). <3 video editing/video-taping multi-angle events/TV reporting.. but i want to get into more creative video projects (editing put to awesome use). any ideas??

PSSS (WHAT?!): i love journalism/having a journalistic approach. that means NEWS. =] ...and finally, adieu. goodnight.

ECAASU

2009-03-04T13:49:00.007-05:00

Sorry, but Jollibee photos shall be posted after these! (and Main Event pics too!)

This past weekend I got the opportunity to cover ECAASU, a huge conference that was hosted at Rutgers. I covered it for my own personal interest and also on behalf of the Daily Targum (our student newspaper). Collaborated with my friend Marc Mance in creating an article for the paper (it was edited not by Marc and myself, so not too proud of it, but nonetheless it's an article!).

PS. sorry for the small sized photos .. only one per line..and sorry also for the comments section not working after each post. still trying to experiment/figure out how to use my website!

volunteers in the green shirts.
Marc conducting an interview for our article!
Mmm, salad during a meal provided at the Hyatt.
Workshop conductor from a group called HereandNow.
Step Performers (in heels).
Cultural performance.
Band, Tim Be Told.
Tim Be Told part 2.
Speaker from the Coast Guard.
Co-Director of ECAASU.
Lots of Asian Americans.

Jollibee Adventure, Part I.

2009-02-26T22:19:00.025-05:00

Standing on a line for 5 hours is no joke. Putting three photographers on the line together... also no joke. We stood on line with our friends and passed most of the time taking lots of photos.

Here's a highlight of my photographer friends, Luke Villapaz and John Richard Pena.
(I am definitely not as good as these two guys!)

More photos to follow!

Here's a start !

2009-02-23T16:35:00.001-05:00

Photo blogs are everywhere these days.
So... how about I join the bandwagon?
Expect some amateur video posts....
and even more amateur photographs.

Let's begin.

=]

-AB

PS. excuse the site; definitely under construction.
PSS. temporary header photo courtesy of JRPENA .

my b/w random selects.