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Happy Saturday.

This past week I was asked to create a new demo reel for my filmmaking work. Many of you have already seen this material, but I thought I would post it anyway:



Yes, I'm now on the professional video site Vimeo. In addition to my Youtube page, I'll be migrating/posting some of my material here as well. 

Spidey approved! Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Some cool news: the videos I created for the Heroes & Villains: The Art of Alex Ross exhibition received two awards during this year's New England Museum Association (NEMA) Publications Competition. The exhibition video won third place for Educational Publications, Materials, & Kits; and the promotional trailer won first place for Marketing/PR Materials-Press Kits, Museum Budget over $500K! It's a good feeling, as these two projects held such a special interest for me.


NEMA sponsors the annual Publication Awards Program, which recognizes excellence in design, production, and effective communication in all aspects of New England museum community publishing. Entries are judged by a panel experienced in publication, design, marketing and communications. Awards are given to those entries which most effectively present their message to the intended audience. 

The videos will be on display during NEMA's 2013 Annual Conference to be held at the waterfront Newport Marriott in Newport, Rhode Island, November 13 through 15, 2013. Cool city... I hope to attend.

Related Links:

2013 NEMA Publications Competition Winners

vimeo.com/jeremyclowe

Snap Shots

Queen on her throne. Photos by Jeremy Clowe.
©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Summer has arrived... but who would have thought we'd have such humidity already? Luckily there are still traces of the sweet air of spring, both in the fragrance and beauty of blossoming trees and plants.

Before I bid adieu to my favorite season, I thought I would post some fun shots I took a couple weeks ago at Norman Rockwell Museum. A member of our maintenance crew alerted me to the arrival of an interesting visitor, who stopped by just to give birth. Yes, you read that correctly.

A huge snapping turtle had wandered on to our grounds and settled atop a pile of stones our crew had lying around, adjacent to the parking lot. Not wanting to get too close, I still couldn't resist taking some snaps of my own with the Canon 60D (National Geographic, eat your heart out!).

I found the baby momma still there seven hours later (guess these things take time). The next day, however, she was gone... hopefully making her way to the nearby Housatonic River to cool off. Glad I caught her while I did, and still waiting to find any offspring wandering around campus... careful where you step.

Berkshire Soul

RBIT at the Spectrum.
Courtesy Spectrum Playhouse. All rights reserved.

Happy summer solstice! It's a beautiful, sunny day here in the Berkshires, and I thought I would take some time out to share another update.

There's a lot happening here in the Berkshires this weekend— most notably, Wilco's Solid Sound Festival at MASS MoCA. I had the good fortune of attending and covering the event a couple years ago, and it was a blast—great fusion of music, art, good vibes... I won't be attending this year, but I'll try and post some more of my experiences working on the 2011 festival in the coming weeks.

I will, however, be performing again tonight with the Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe. It is our last gig of the season and honestly, I think we could use the break... get refocused and audition for some new members (contact me or the group if interested). If you're in the area, tonight's show is 7:30 p.m. at the Spectrum Playhouse in Lee, Massachusetts (can't thank these guys enough for their hospitality over the last couple years). 

Also worth checking out in the Berkshires, of course, is Norman Rockwell Museum. Our exhibition, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic is a real treat, as is seeing our permanent collection of Norman Rockwell artwork. Below is an interview I gave a couple weeks ago to WGGB, the ABC station in Springfield, Massachusetts, to help promote the Museum. Turned out pretty good, even though the audio sync appears off and you see me swatting some flies at the beginning of the piece (the fact that I was being interviewed by a former Miss Connecticut made it slightly more bearable). Fast forward to about 12:27 to view the segment:

Speaking of interviews, if you're in Boston this Saturday, you can hear me on WBZ Radio's  New England Weekend, talking up the Snow White exhibit. The segment should air around 7 a.m.

Well, that's about it... just got back from lunch at Baba Louie's Pizza in Great Barrington (another Berkshire favorite), so before I fall into a food coma I better get back to work. Happy Summer, everyone.

Dancing on Air

With Snow White model Marge Champion at the press 
conference for "Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs: 
The Creation of a Classic" at Norman Rockwell Museum, 
June 7, 2013. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic is a hit! We had a successful opening last weekend, and our Enchanted Evening Gala was enjoyed by all who attended. I was asked to help out with an auction held during the event− as a performer, it made me conscious of how to speak effectively from the diaphragm, and in an engaging way in order to entice potential bidders. There is an art to this public speaking thing, for sure... but I did alright.

One person who seems to have mastered the skill is Marge Champion, the famed dancer/choreographer who also served as the live reference model for Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She was our guest of honor during our gala event, and also joined us for a well-attended press preview to talk about her experience working on the groundbreaking film. I was impressed by her energy and spark, and her words were often inspiring (hope I'm like this when I reach 93). During the gala, Sarah I and took the dance floor and so did Marge... I must admit, there was a part of me that wanted to impress the award-winning performer with my own dancing ability (here's a little video my co-worker filmed of us; you can also see Marge Champion waltzing away in the background).  

During my last post I mentioned my planned interview with the Berkshire program Well Talk Radio about the exhibition. I thought it turned out well... here is a link to the segment, where you can also hear portions of my April interview with Marge Champion. And... without further delay, here is a very quick clip I put together from that same interview... I hope to put a longer piece together when I can find the time... right?

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic will be on view through October 27, 2013 at Norman Rockwell Museum.

Related Links:

"'Snow White' in the Press," Norman Rockwell Museum website

Enchanted Evening Gala photos (includes shots taken by your's truly), Norman Rockwell Museum Facebook page

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho!

"Snow White Dancing with Dopey and Sneezy. Doc, Happy, Sleepy
Playing Music." Disney Studio Artist Reproduction, cel setup; ink and acrylic
on cellulose acetate. Courtesy Walt Disney Animation Research Library. ©Disney.

Back from a relaxing and adventurous weekend in the Adirondacks... good to get out in the fresh air and countryside. Now I'm busy preparing for the opening of the exhibition, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic this weekend at Norman Rockwell Museum. We have already received a couple good articles in The Boston Globe and Berkshire Eagle, and a Friday press preview is starting to fill up nicely.

Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) I will be talking about the exhibition on the radio show,
Well Talk with Avi Dresner. This Berkshire radio program focuses on health-related subjects, so we will be looking at the film's connection with dancer Marge Champion, who served as a live reference model for Walt Disney's first feature-length animated film. The host plans on airing portions of my videotaped interview with Champion, which was conducted in early April− this seems perfect, seeing as she lives part-time in the Berkshires. You can listen to the interview at 9 a.m. ET on WSBS Radio in the Berkshires, or online at www.wsbs.com

Also in the works: a couple interviews about the Museum that I conducted for the Russian Television Network of America, and WRGB-TV, based in my new home of Schenectady, New York. Apparently WRGB is the oldest TV station in the country, but more interesting for me is the fact that my Mom used to sing on the station when she was a teenager! More info soon... heigh ho, heigh ho...

Related Links:

www.welltalkradio.com

"New family fun programming at the Rockwell begins with Family Day opening of Snow White," Berkshire Family Focus, May 30, 2013