JTWO says Goodbye to Intern Kyungchan Min
Farewell My Friends
by Kyungchan Min
Aight, so it’s been a few days since my last day as an intern at Jtwo, and this blog post is a bit overdue. It goes without saying that I learned a ton over the past semester, and that this experience has been crucial in helping me find my place in the film industry. I’d like to first thank everyone at Jtwo who helped me adjust to the office and find my niche in the color grading suite. The other interns, Ian and Alex, were really dope! I wish my internship schedule (Tuesdays through Thursdays) overlapped more with their Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule, but what’s done is done. I also wish I didn’t have to miss some days because of the Nor’easter. But again, what’s done is done.
What matters is that I had a great time working with everyone and being trusted to do most of the color grading by the end of my stay as an intern. At first, it was daunting being given a client project to grade, knowing that what I send out will be the final visual piece for that project. But it got easier. Each color grading project became more of a normal part of my internship rather than a special event. Although I still call myself a cinematographer and aim to pursue work as a DP on feature films, I’m glad I can add color grading to my skillset.
I wasn’t stuck underground in the color grading suite all the time though. I got to go location scouting a few times, help out on sets, and even take Nova out on a walk. I learned the importance of a solid workflow and good organization, which I try to emulate on all my projects.
This was my first foray into the world of commercial filmmaking. Even though my plan is to work as a DP on indie features, I learned a lot about dealing with clients and how that could translate to film sets where not everyone is a part of the core circle of collaborators.
I’m planning to go back home for a while and enjoy the hazy southern summer, but I’ll be back and ready to keep on color grading Jtwo’s projects.
Until next time,
Kyung
This project was created as part of the JTWO [INC]ubator Project. A semester long internship program built from the ground up to give young filmmakers, content creators, and all around hungry for a challenge individuals a place to stretch their creative minds while preparing them for the road ahead.
JTWO Opens Chicago Branch
Look Out Midwest, Here We Come!
Today we are proud to announce the official launch of JTWO | Chicago. We will be bringing our full range of Video Production and Post-Production services to Chi-Town along with some of our talented crew. We already have hit the ground running with collaborations with both agencies and clients on the ground.
Justin Jarrett, JTWO Principal Director
Over the past nine years, we have worked tirelessly to grow JTWO into one of the leading video production companies in the city of Philadelphia and we felt like it was naturally time to expand. There are more stories to tell and we felt like Chicago, with it’s deep rooted history and booming creative scene, was the perfect fit. Also, as a diehard Chicago Bulls fan I wanted a reason to attend more games (Don’t worry Philly, I am still Trusting the Process).
Meet Our New Executive Producer
JTWO | CHICAGO
We are proud to announce the newest addition to our team and Executive Producer of our new Chicago branch, Conor (Conaaaa) Hare! Having worked in account management for 9 years, Conor possesses extensive experience in client services and looks forward to expanding JTWO’s name in the midwest to bring stories that matter to life.
Growing up in a household of musicians, Conor always had a passion for storytelling. He loves the way lyrics meet paper and bring memories to life. Since Conor was young he’s been composing and recording his own music alongside his older brothers and finds that there’s truly nothing like it. He appreciates the connection film has with music and believes that together they form a powerful relationship.
In The Press
JTWO Helps Bringing Hope Home Celebrate 10 Years
Bringing Hope Home is a non-profit organization that provides unexpected amazingness to local families with cancer through financial and emotional support. Through their Light of Hope Family Grant Program, they offer a one-time grant to pay essential household bills for families with cancer in the Greater Philadelphia Area. We have worked with Bringing Hope Home since 2010 as part of our Projects That Matter Initiative, and this year they are celebrating 10 years as an organization!
17th Annual Great Guys Dinner
This year marks the 17th Annual Great Guys Dinner, a fundraising event that celebrates BHH’s mission of Unexpected Amazingness by gathering the donors, supporters and families they serve. We worked with BHH to produce two separate spots on Great Guy of the Year Dr. Kevin Fox, and Volunteers of the Year Mark McNamara and Ted McCullough.
This project was made possible through our Projects That Matter Initiative. The Projects That Matter Initiative is a Philadelphia based video production program with the mission of providing professional digital media services to Non-Profits at a discounted rate. To learn more about how your organization can join the initiative and qualify for creative content production discounts click below.
JTWO Produces Mission First Housing Video
Mission First Housing Group’s mission is to develop and manage affordable, safe and sustainable homes for people in need, with a focus on the vulnerable. They ensure their residents have access to resources to help them live independently. They deliver housing that provides long-term benefits to residents and neighborhoods, alike.
This is the third year in a row that we’ve had the good fortune of working with Mission First Housing Group. This year’s video focuses on Walter Baker and other military veterans staying at the Whitehall Apartments in Spring City Pennsylvania. The Whitehall Apartment building is a recently renovated building that provides housing for at-risk veterans. During filming we sat down and discussed Walter’s past and focused on the ways in which the Whitehall has helped him and others to find stability in their lives. This year’s video is featured below and you can check out our previous videos on our work page.
This project was made possible through our Projects That Matter Initiative. The Projects That Matter Initiative is a Philadelphia based video production program with the mission of providing professional digital media services to Non-Profits at a discounted rate. To learn more about how your organization can join the initiative and qualify for creative content production discounts click below.
JTWO says "see ya soon" to Intern Alex Siwik
Not a goodbye, but a “see you soon.”
by Alex Siwik
During any typical week of a typical semester, my life would tend to feel a lot like the movie Groundhog Day. I was a trapped Bill Murray doing the same stuff everyday of every week. However, this semester was a lot different.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I spent my days with the folks at JTwo. Whether I was at the office or on a shoot, each day was different. I was no longer Bill Murray. One day I would be camera assisting or shooting product photos for Victus, and the next editing a new project. It was always interesting and kept me on my toes… not to mention, the people at JTwo are hilarious and very fun to work with.
They say you learn the most by doing things, which is certainly true. I learned a ton on set, but believe it or not, I also learned a whole lot just by eavesdropping on some of the conversations flying around the studio. I often found myself tuning in to Travis’s post-production-related talks and commands, usually not understanding some of the lingo, but by the end of my internship, I definitely gained a better understanding of workflow and the importance of being an organization freak. Although my career goals consist of me being a shooter, I feel that these things will help me in general in the long run.
JTwo wasn’t all about work all the time. We did some fun things together, such as go to the ADCP Louix Awards, where I had an embarrassing moment in which I went up to accept an award before our name was even called (Imagine if we didn’t win that award… Moral of the story: Open bars are cool, but don’t get too tipsy at award shows). The coolest thing about the Louix Awards though is that we shot the badass opening film that screened at the beginning of the ceremony, which was perhaps my favorite project I got to work on.
I also enjoyed our trip to DC for the Responsibility.org shoot with Summer Sanders and all the attorney generals. It was a long couple of days, but I got to stay in a pretty nice hotel and be surrounded by super official-looking people in suits. I shot and edited the behind-the-scenes video for the shoot. You can check it out on JTwo’s website or Vimeo page (No, this is not a shameless plug).
At the end of my internship, Justin tested my abilities and sent me on a trip to Rehoboth, Delaware to shoot a video with Bringing Hope Home. I was totally nervous and afraid that I would screw something up, but everything ended up going very smoothly. It was awesome that the guys at JTwo felt they could trust me to go as a one-man-band and shoot something for them.
To sum things up, my internship at JTwo was a great experience. When you hear the word “intern,” you may think of a student who is forced to do crap work and then is let go and forgotten about at the end, but at JTwo, I got to work on awesome, real stuff and was more than just an intern. I was part of the team and part of the family. My fellow interns, Ian and Kyung, were also great dudes and I plan staying in touch with them. I will already be coming back to JTwo’s office next week when the Movi Pro comes in, and then again to work with on the next Victus shoot. So yes, I may be shutting the door to my internship, but it is more like opening the door to an extended stay with the JTwo crew.
This project was created as part of the JTWO [INC]ubator Project. A semester long internship program built from the ground up to give young filmmakers, content creators, and all around hungry for a challenge individuals a place to stretch their creative minds while preparing them for the road ahead.
JTWO Produces Philadelphia Flyers Post Season Hype Video
Following our recent win at the Louix Awards this February, The Philadelphia Flyers reached out to our team to produce their postseason playoff hype video. They tasked us with creating an emotional, hard-hitting spot that would tell the story of the Flyers tumultuous season through specific moments throughout the year which ultimately culminated in a trip to the postseason. We made it our mission to scope out the craziest and most dedicated Flyers fans in the Greater Philadelphia area. Considering some daring new ink and a bold haircut, it’s safe to say the city did not disappoint. While not every fan made it into the final cut of the video, their commitment was not lost on us. Check out the :90 spot below.
JTWO Says Farewell to Intern Ian Schobel
Spring
by Ian Schobel
I wasn’t your first.
You told me to be sure this is what I want.
I found you online, all your awards on display, the screen grabs, and the bio.
“We are storytellers.”
I figured your inbox must be worse than the line to a Fortnite cosplay booth but still… I reached out cause I thought I had a shot. You agreed to meet me, you who were so no-nonsense, experienced, but not cynical. I wasn’t that thirsty but I was looking, and it felt like we had just enough in common, like it was the right time for both of us, you know?
You took my hand in yours and we agreed to see each other three days a week. You’d smile at me when I walked in. Me, always the boy too up-in-the-clouds to notice the signs, knew you had a thing for me right away, and after a couple weeks you hit me with that you’re-mine-this-right-here’s-the-real-deal nickname: sweat-boy.
I woulda come every day but you know those other classes had me locked down, forced me to commit early, made me hang out late, always sending me emails when I left, reminding me how important they were; cause I’d always talk about you.
Straight up, I cared about them. But not like you. They’d pout but they knew our thing really meant something, like when we drove down to Washington D.C. for Responsibility.org’s Ask, Listen, Learn shoot: a 12 hour day filming with 23 Attorney Generals, and gold-medal Olympian Summer Sanders. It was in the Ritz Carlton conference room, wrapping up the equipment check the night before, that I could see how proud you were that I wrote that script.
It was only supposed to last three months, but you trusted me to touch your software and let me write inside your server. I just want you to know I never took that for granted.
I don’t like to think about that first Wednesday in April, when, realizing the end of the semester meant the end of the internship, I read over the contract I signed three months ago. There, on the first page, it stated that two days from then, Friday, would, contractually, be my sending off. I got so caught up in the days together I didn’t have time to think about life without you.
But that’s it, we’re over, I’m not your intern anymore, and I suck at goodbyes. So maybe, let’s try again, when we’re ready.
This project was created as part of the JTWO [INC]ubator Project. A semester long internship program built from the ground up to give young filmmakers, content creators, and all around hungry for a challenge individuals a place to stretch their creative minds while preparing them for the road ahead.
JTWO Redefines Victus Grit Series Brand
Victus is one of the leading wooden bat manufacturers in the world and used by Major League Players across America. So when they tasked us with expanding their product offerings and redefining their brand, we jumped at the chance. Series, named after the Victus Grit Matte Bats was the first product category to launch. The Grit Series took inspiration from the military and was designed with a utilitarian approach to offseason training. Every article of apparel or piece of gear would be inspired by this as we moved into the design phase. Along with design, we produced several spots for a pre-launch Social Media campaign. Check out the full length spot below.
JTWO Welcomes Associate Producer Brittany Bonanno
Introducing Brittany Bonanno
We are proud to announce the newest addition to our team and graduate of the [INC]ubator Project, Brittany Bonanno. With extensive experience in client services and social media content creation, Brittany has been brought on as our Associate Producer and head of Public Outreach. With a passion for people and film she is thrilled to be working with JTWO’s partners and collaborators to bring their visions to life.
Brittany has always been fascinated by the power of film. She loves the distance it takes our world and sees a sort of magic in the way it connects people. Studying the art at Rowan University, Brittany took up a knack for photojournalism, and upon graduation traveled to Western Ghana where she taught underprivileged youth and began her journey with the camera. Her biggest dream is to help restore humanity and she believes that film and photography play a monumental role in that.
In Brittany's Words
I appreciate film and photography because I believe they bring out a truth that society often tries to hide from. I think it’s important to expose the real world and show people that they’re not alone in adversity. The camera allows us to find balance and connection with each other, and I think that’s something our world could use right now.
JTWO's Incubator Project Brings you "The Swing Dreamer"
"THE SWING DREAMER"
DIRECTED BY ALEX SIWIK
A film student attempts to complete a class assignment on Marilyn Monroe, but instead falls asleep, not realizing his hypnotic trance that lies ahead.
Project Breakdown
I will start off by saying my journey with this project was not necessarily the smoothest. Midway through shooting what was supposed to be a mini-documentary, I hit a bit of a wall. I realized that my vision for the project I pitched was not so clear after all, as I was no longer able to see where the piece was heading. After some heavy contemplation, I decided to put the documentary idea on the back burner and figure something else out.
I made it my goal to keep things simple but visually interesting. As someone who is more of a cinematographer than a writer or director, I did not want to fret with writing a script or having to direct actors too heavily. I also knew that I really loved the footage I already shot for my previous idea, so I decided to incorporate it into a fictional piece and shoot new footage to go along with it.
The film features a boy, Noah Lovas, in a sleep-dance trance with Marilyn Monroe (played by Kaylie Minzola). My background in music often leads me to make my projects very musically driven, so it was almost a no-brainer for me to make a dance piece. I have worked with Noah on dance projects in the past and we work great together. We constantly bounce ideas off of each other and make magical things happen, however, this time was a bit trickier than the rest. The only direction I gave Noah was, “Dance around with a broom in a drunken manner with your eyes shut.” Nevertheless, Noah handled it like a champ and killed it.
I focused heavily on lighting and the color grade with this piece. All of the Marilyn dream scenes were lit rather high-key, much like a fashion or beauty commercial. My inspiration for the color grade for these scenes comes from those old-time photo places you find on the boardwalk. The photos are edited to look very washed and with sepia coloring. For the nighttime dance scenes, I kept things contrasty, with the TV and moonlight being the only motivated sources of light. I feel that the overall contrast between both scenes worked to my advantage in keeping the piece interesting to watch.
Although my original idea for this project did not work out, I am still super satisfied with how things turned out. I certainly learned some things, too. If I could take away one thing from this project, it would be to always have a thorough vision in mind for every project you take on. See it from beginning to end before you even think about breaking the camera out.
Meet the Director
Alex is a senior at Temple University, where he studies Film & Media Arts with a concentration in Cinematography. During his college years, Alex gained production experience through shooting narrative shorts, music videos, and commercial content for local businesses. As a cinematographer, Alex believes that lighting is one of the most crucial elements in establishing a scene and enhancing what the director wants the viewer to feel. In his downtime, Alex enjoys playing music, skateboarding, and reading about new camera and lighting technology.
This project was created as part of the JTWO [INC]ubator Project. A semester long internship program built from the ground up to give young filmmakers, content creators, and all around hungry for a challenge individuals a place to stretch their creative minds while preparing them for the road ahead.