Jtwo Welcomes Intern Lana Duda

READY TO BE HEARD


By Lana Duda

I see filmmaking as the ultimate form of art. It’s visual, auditory, emotional, informal, and can bring people together. Visual media is something that has become so accessible and dominant in how individuals see and understand the world. Being a part of the film industry gives me the opportunity to create media that accurately represents the truth and heart of a story that can inspire and educate viewers. Film is a window into the cultures and the lives of others. My goal in this industry is to be a part of those stories and help those individuals be heard.

I grew up watching films that changed the way of visual storytelling, Citizen Kane, Tokyo Story, Vertigo, Touki Bouki, etc. Those films have become a foundation towards my storytelling, representation, and the history of film. Film is so powerful and I want to be a part of the new age of filmmaking that elevates these stories to a more equal, realistic, representative level that has allowed more individuals, innovation, and ideas to be seen. 

The funny thing is, I never saw myself heading down this career path. I always had a very natural creative ability, but I grew up in a very math and science dominated school and unfortunately, the arts was something to be budgeted and cut. Not until my senior year of high school did I question filmmaking. I applied to Temple University as a Biology Major and I was not happy. I was doing things that I thought others expected of me instead of taking the risk to say “I don’t know what I want to do”. I declared undecided and took a film class. I finally felt like I was in a space where I could be creative with others. 

From there I declared film and fell in love with Post-Production. In those four years I learned and dedicated myself to working on projects that told an important story. I cannot imagine doing anything else. Post -production is the perfect amount of creativity and technological ability that continues to teach and challenge me everyday. It’s something I can do for hours on end and never be sick of it.

As my final semester at Temple came to an end, I talked to a mentor who told me about JTwo Films. I reached out to their head editor to talk, connect, and ultimately learn from their experiences as an editor in Philly. They themselves interned at JTwo and through hard work and dedication they were recognized and rewarded. Besides their amazing works and stories, that is something that really stood out to me. I had nothing to lose. I applied for the internship and now I am extremely thankful to have this position and be a part of JTwo’s storytelling experience.

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.

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JTWO-Creates-Animations-For-Frame.io-Camera-to-Cloud-Series

JTWO Creates Animations For Frame.io Camera to Cloud Series


PROJECT DETAILS

Our VFX + Animation team recently partnered up with Frame.io to create multiple animations for their recently released 13 part series, “Camera to Cloud.”  Camera to Cloud was created for filmmakers to have the fastests, easiest and most secure way to get their footage directly from the camera to their collaborators. Our team incorporated animations in the 13 part series showing breakdowns of how this is possible through Frame.io’s platform. We are thrilled to be teaming up with their team to roll out this new technology that will change the game for filmmakers everywhere.

CAMERA TO CLOUD SERIES


Client: Frame.io

This animation is from Frame.io’s 2nd episode explaining the breakdown of modems and routers.

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CAMERA TO CLOUD SERIES


Client: Frame.io

This animation is from Frame.io’s 7th episode: Digital Dallies

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Lost Boyz Doc Official Selection Illinois International Film Festival

The Lost Boyz of Chicago was recently named an official selection in the 2020 Illinois International Film Festival. Located in Westmont, Illinois, IIFF aims to present a wide spectrum of filmmaking, from feature films, to documentaries, and everything in between. IIFF works to bring audiences and filmmakers together through the love of film. We are proud to to be nominated as an official selection for this year’s IIFF. Read more about The Lost Boyz of Chicago below.

 

About the Lost Boyz

Dig Deeper

After serving a short term in prison, LaVonte Stewart, a lifelong south side resident and founder of Lost Boyz Inc., became inspired to give back to his community’s youth. Through baseball and softball training, he helps provide a safe space where he can teach leadership and life lessons to neighborhood kids. We were humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to share their stories and tell about how LaVonte and the Lost Boyz are changing the south side of Chicago for good.


BEHIND THE SCENES

With only three days of filming we made it our mission to really immerse ourselves into the south side culture and come to know the Lost Boyz family. We could not thank LaVonte and the players enough for being so vulnerable and trusting of our team with their stories.

In the Press


Credits

Client: Laureus USA
Production: JTWO

Producer: Conor Hare

Director: Justin Jarrett

DP: Maria Vattimo 

AC: Aaron Preusch

Location Sound: AJ Olestad

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 Welcomes intern Chloe Butler

THE NEXT CHAPTER


By Chloe Butler

If someone had told me four years ago that I would be interning at a film production company in Philadelphia I would never have believed them. I grew up in a small town in the South East of Ireland where the most exciting thing that’s probably ever happened is when a film crew showed up to shoot some scenes for John Crowley’s film Brooklyn.

It seems that most people have an unequivocally clear moment where they figure out what area of film is for them, but I can’t say the same. Even though I studied film in university I was still unsure whether or not it was the right fit for me. I’ve spoken Irish since the age of two and my whole life pretty much revolved around the language, anyone who knew me thought that I would turn out to be an Irish teacher at a school in my hometown and for a while I thought that was where my life was headed too. Even throughout my time at university I had that safety net behind me as I continued to study Irish, alongside film, just in case my little film dream didn’t happen.

It wasn’t until my third year at university after going on a study abroad to Drexel University that I came to the realization that there was absolutely no way that I was going to let that dream fail. Even after my time at Drexel and learning that the film industry was where I wanted to have a career, I still cringed away from that dreaded question ‘so what area of film do you want to work in?’.

Fast forward a few months, after studying at Drexel and moving back home to Ireland, I had one final year left at NUI Galway where I had no film classes my entire final year and I was miserable. All I was studying was my ‘safety net’ subject, Irish. I concentrated all my energy on figuring out how I was to pursue a career in filmmaking after gaining essentially no practical film skills after spending three years studying film while my graduation date was fast-approaching. I had this fanatic notion in my head that once I graduated and had that piece of paper in my hand, I needed to be on track to taking some sort of step in the direction of starting a career in the industry and that if I didn’t make the step then I never would. I’m not sure if I was driven by the hysteria of final year or by ambition or a combination of both, but however driven I made the decision to drop everything and move to the US after graduation. I figured that if I was to have any opportunity to get into the industry what better place than here, where my love for film was reaffirmed and the anxiety that I had made the wrong decision and wasted three years of my life was allayed.

After a year of planning and obtaining a visa I moved back to Philadelphia with no solid plan once I got here. I made a list of production companies in the area, and talked to a few professors I had during my time at Drexel and thus found JTwo Films. After researching the company and later speaking with some of the team I felt like it was a great fit for me. I still wince at the question of what area of film I want to focus on, but I’m confident that during my time at JTwo I’ll be much closer to having a clearer idea of where I’m headed.

  

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.

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JTWO Welcomes intern Megan Swick

THAT ONE MOMENT


By Megan Swick

It seems now, that the most successful personalities in different fields can pinpoint a particular moment when they fell in love with their craft. It’s almost as if there is a spiritual urge, guiding them directly to their life’s passions. The most noble leaders, artists, and scientists recall that moment with a certain tenderness in their hearts, as it was the dawn of a lifetime of devotion to perfecting their craft. When Galileo first watched that swinging pendulum, could he feel the Gods calling upon him to become the father of observational astronomy? When Edgar Allan Poe first picked up a pencil, could he feel the spirits of centuries of artists possess his tortured soul, begging him to become a central figure in American literature? When Rosa Parks refused to move seats on that bus, did she feel compelled by her ancestors to become one of the most well-remembered civil rights activists? Because for me and the start of my life’s ambition, all I did was pick up a 2009 Flip camcorder and press record. 

For the record, I buy the life’s calling and predetermined purpose spiel. I actually find it inspiring and comforting. However, I must admit, no God called upon me to go into the production field, and I certainly never felt Stanley Kubrick’s blood pulsing through my veins. In high school, I was mostly unamused with most learning material, but also found my extracurriculars lackluster. As graduation approached I was convinced I’d have to decide on a neutral major like communications- I just didn’t have the passion for anything specialized. 

The last half of my senior year, I dropped my environmental science, and took a broadcasting class that produced the morning news. This was the first time I held an actual camera and filmed something other than my teenage self and friends doing something cringey and/or stupid. 

Was this my Galileo-pendulum moment? No, it wasn’t an irresistible pull towards my school’s morning announcements, but I found I really did enjoy making something. As the year went on, I got a taste of creating something from nothing. I experienced the rush of working in teams to produce something for an audience. I found a community in production, and I found a passion. 

Flashforward a year, and I’m going to school at Temple for Media Studies and Production. It didn’t start out that way though, because my college career actually began over 2 hours away at a different school in an entirely different major. But hey- I made it to Temple- it’s that Galileo calling working its magic right?

At Temple, I was launched into Media Studies and surrounded by people enjoying the same passion as I was. But after a while, I noticed a pattern regarding what content was more acceptable to enjoy. Perhaps all people in this industry are familiar with the age-old icebreaker question of “what’s your favorite movie?”. Depending on who you are speaking to, there is a right answer. Most people in my school are looking for an Oscar nominee, well regarded but not too well regarded as to be tainted by the wrath of pop culture followers. You can’t say the Matrix or the Breakfast Club, but you can probably throw out High Fidelity or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And, although I’ve seen all of these movies and enjoyed them, they’re simply not on my top ten.

I thoroughly enjoy what some may refer to as “lowbrow” culture. My top ten list of movies feature Wet Hot American Summer, Lego Batman, and Paddington 2. I’ve watched Interstellar once; I’ve seen Disney’s Christopher Robin five times. On the first day of my first production class, we were asked what movie inspired us to be here, and when people audibly scoffed at a kid’s answer of “Robocop”, when it was my turn, I had to choke out “Donnie Darko”. How could anyone take me seriously had they known the only song I have downloaded to my Spotify is The Muppets’ Life’s a Happy Song? What if they found out I fell asleep during The Godfather?

It was this sentiment that frustrated me. Art is so subjective that it’s ludicrous for there to be an invisible measurement that dictates what is intellectual to enjoy. It took some minor soul searching, but in time I became a firm believer in like what you like. Art is for everyone. Television and film have no boundaries, and it’s quite ridiculous to treat it as a dichotomy structure of high and low culture. I came into this field to create things I like, to share with other people who might like it. I did not waste four years of studying production to churn out indie coming-of-age pieces that I do not have the passion for. 

I found JTWO through their shared passion for innovative storytelling, and creating. The wide array of content they’ve created showcases their rage in this industry, and acceptance of the malleability of this art form. I was excited to find a home that will support my pursuit in creating what I like. Through my high school broadcasting career, my introduction to (sometimes) pretentious film culture, my media studies, to my JTWO internship, I carried with me the desire to make something to share with an audience. Whether that something is a foreign film noir or a musical with puppets, I plan to stay true to what I like. I’m sure if Galileo diverted his studies because other scholars didn’t see the art in it, his potential would have gone to waste. I realize that I’m in no way destined for the level of greatness as the father of modern physics, but as an intern at JTWO, I can try.

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.

Learn More

fredsfootsteps

PTM Helps Fred's Footsteps Celebrate 15 Years


GO DEEPER

Fred’s Footsteps has been a client of the Projects That Matter Initiative for the past several years and we have had the privilege to join them on their journey. The video reflects the past 15 years of stories and experiences from the family members who make up the Fred’s Foundation, to the families who have benefited from their helping hand.


Credits

Client – Fred’s Footsteps

Director – Justin Jarrett
Assistant Director – Maria Cantu
Producer – Travis Capacete
Cinematographer – Maria Vattimo
Cinematographer – Jay Miller
Sound –  Steven Layton
PA – Chris Tocchet
Editor – Maria Cantu
Editor – Ian Schobel
Color Grading: Dave Bauer


JTWO Welcomes Director Maria Cantu

Maria Cantu


JTWO added Maria Cantu as a new Director. A former graduate of JTWO’s [INC]ubator Project, Maria is also an Emmy Nominee and an Addy “Best of Show” Winner. She brings with her an uncanny ability to weave together intricate stories across genres.

Maria came to us from Temple University in 2018. After obtaining a Media Studies and Production degree and seeing the beautiful work she brought to JTWO during her internship, it was an easy decision to bring her on full time as one of our Directors. Her Directorial debut for “Barre None” recently won Best Documentary in Bucks Fever Filmfest and took home 2 Gold ADDY Awards for Best of Show and Best Cinematography under the student category, along with Best Student Documentary at the 2019 Louix Awards.

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JTWO | LISC Chicago Partner For Neighborhood Development Awards

LISC CHICAGO: 25th CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AWARDS


Client: LISC CHICAGO

JTWO was tasked with creating ten videos for the 25th Chicago Neighborhood Development Award Show Winners. We shot the videos over four days of production from Hyde Park on the south side, to Logan Square on the north side and everywhere in-between.  During these four days our production crew got to see and hear the real meaning behind neighborhood development and what it really takes to bring it all to fruition. LISC and the city of Chicago have been hosting this award show since 1995, and have helped to create a better means of life for so many Chicagoans and the communities they live in.

When LISC and MK Communications came to us in November 2018 we knew we had some special stories to tell about the communities and neighborhoods of Chicago. Since 1995 LISC has been holding the annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards to recognize the non-profits and for profit developers who have enhanced the communities in Chicago. These awards are given to developers who acheived outstanding development and community building. View the ten award winners videos below.

CARLING HOTEL

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WHOLE FOODS

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BOXVILLE

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FARM ON OGDEN

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CITY GARDENS

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TRAUMA CENTER

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CHICAGO STREET MEDICINE

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BELMONT CRAGIN

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ACCESS HOUSING

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ST. EDMUND'S OASIS

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responsibility.org

Ask, Listen, Learn: Nathan Adrian + U.S. Attorneys General

AskListenLearn

Ask, Listen Learn asked us to write and produce Public Service Announcements (PSAs) featuring 5-time Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Adrian along with Attorneys General from over 20 states. Each PSA is aimed at helping educate parents on how they can help their kids say “yes” to a healthy lifestyle and “no” to underage drinking. Nathan is the newest champion to join Ask, Listen Learn, a program that the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) developed alongside a team of educators and organizations specializing in middle school-aged students.

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The Project

The PSA’s were filmed in Washington, DC over the course of one day with post-production taking place in March in order to launch the projects during April’s Alcohol Awareness Month. The PSA’s were written and directed by our Principal Creative Director, Justin Jarrett.

Behind the Scenes

21 PSA’s in 5 hours….need we say more?

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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 Chicago Works with We Raise Foundation

Our team had the opportunity to work with We Raise foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending poverty, violence, and inequality in Chicago communities.

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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 | PHILADELPHIA


11 SOUTH STRAWBERRY ST.

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106

P: 267.239.0099

JTWO | CHICAGO


4350 NORTH BROADWAY

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60613

P: 773.217.0041

JTWO Films a Philadelphia Production Company