We have Updated the St Michael’s Abbey piece with a great new VO by Dave Pettitt. Details are copied below:

Round about two months ago, our friends at Mpower Pictures contacted us about flying out to California to capture the beautiful life of the Norbertine community at St. Michael’s Abbey. (Scroll down a few entries to read all the details and see some pics.) We are pleased to present the finished film just below! (If you have time to watch it, make sure you turn the HD on and pop it full screen.)

This experience/film production/idea was different from what Gorilla usually produces — and that’s what made the process of creating it so refreshing and rewarding. Again, kudos to cinematographer Tanner Wolfe for bringing his RED camera skills to the film production and to David Michael Phelps for his brilliant scribing of the script. Also, a big round of applause goes to Kyle Campbell for scoring the music. His tones always inspire a little party in my ears.

And lastly, all the thanks goes to the Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey who displayed nothing but trust, patience, and incredible humility in helping us produce this film for them.

Round about two months ago, our friends at Mpower Pictures contacted us about flying out to California to capture the beautiful life of the Norbertine community at St. Michael’s Abbey. (Scroll down a few entries to read all the details and see some pics.) We are pleased to present the finished film just below! (If you have time to watch it, make sure you turn the HD on and pop it full screen.)

This experience/film production/idea was different from what Gorilla usually produces — and that’s what made the process of creating it so refreshing and rewarding. Again, kudos to cinematographer Tanner Wolfe for bringing his RED camera skills to the film production and to David Michael Phelps for his brilliant scribing of the script and his voice-over work. Also, a big round of applause goes to Kyle Campbell for scoring the music. His tones always inspire a little party in my ears.

And lastly, all the thanks goes to the Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey who displayed nothing but trust, patience, and incredible humility in helping us produce this film for them.

As abruptly as conspired, it ended. No trip to Haiti. Poor Tanner Wolfe didn’t even get to make it through customs. Although the merits of the trip will apparently be re-evaluated, the powers that be spied something that raised a red flag in regards to filming their relief effort.

Sometimes you have to respect the call from the top. This is film production. For better and for worse, it’s the life we have chosen.

The world of film production is a crazy thing. One minute you’re sitting in your cozy Grand Rapids, Michigan office counting snowflakes and the next minute you’re getting a call from the good people at Amway Global to pack your camera, sandals, and sunblock for a trip to Haiti (but this is no vacation). And that should mean something right now, because as all of you well know, the damage the earthquake in Haiti has done is beyond comprehension. Gorilla feels very blessed to be asked to go on this trip and help out in any way possible. Eric Johnson and Tanner Wolfe, one of our favorite documentary cinematographers, will be the two Gorilla representatives. They leave tomorrow and will be back on Saturday. We know the trip is short but excitement is high (as well as emotions).

Apologies for the brief blogging but Eric and Tanner have a lot of planning to do. A more comprehensive (and picture-filled!) blog on the Haiti adventure will appear early next week. So check back.