mikepnelson.com

Since October of 2011, my wife Katie and I have been working on...

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:44:00 -0600

Since October of 2011, my wife Katie and I have been working on a music video for a local Minneapolis band called Still Pacific. The band approached Katie back in the October and asked if she would make a video for them. Katie and I got to writing right away and came up with a fairytale that reminds us that finding true love can be just as interesting as who you fall in love with.

The video was shot on Red and Epic with Zeiss Super Speed glass and a Cooke 18-100.

The official music video for Still Pacific performing “Mine for the Time”. © 2012 Still Pacific

Edited and Directed by Katie Maren and Mike P. Nelson
Cinematography by Nick Junkersfeld and Mike P. Nelson
Animation by Katie Maren
Compositing and VFX by Daniel Broadway and Josh Clos
Gaffer Doug Gander
Special Effects Makeup by Aaron Pikala
Illustrations by Jennifer Garza and Holly Thorstad
Crew: Kris Palmer, Pete Ostebo, Samantha Tucker, Jonny Stuckmayer

http://katiemarenanimation.tumblr.com/
www.mikepnelson.com
http://www.myspace.com/stillpacific
http://www.facebook.com/stillpacific

The computer wizards here at MAKE just wrapped this spot for...

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:01:00 -0600

The computer wizards here at MAKE just wrapped this spot for Child’s Play Charities. I helped concept and write the idea, directed the motion capture and voice actors, and was Supervising Sound Editor on the piece. This was some of the most fun I have ever had sound designing. Monster’s, guns, explosions, aircraft, all sorts of mechanical workings and a ton of creative freedom.

The piece also gave me my first experience directing motion capture, which isn’t as easy as it may sound. It was difficult getting my head around much bigger, theatrical movements so the motion capture device would read. You really begin to analyze the movement of the human body.

www.childsplaycharity.org

www.makevisual.com

Best McDonald's Commercial

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:51:00 -0600

In lieu of directing my first McDonald’s commercial come January, I wanted to post my favorite of the corporate giant’s ads. This was an ad that aired back in 1987. I remember watching this commercial over and over on an old dubbed tape of Raiders of the Lost Ark. For all of you who remember how magical and warm and fuzzy McDonald’s was, this is for you.

(Thanks to www.ilovetvcommercials.com)

Note: This is the only site I could find the spot so you will have to click the link and find the appropriate link on the following page. About half way down)

Click here »» McDonald’s - Singin’

Official One Sheet #1

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:03:00 -0600

Official One Sheet #1

A :30 I cut and directed for a mixed martial arts training...

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:11:00 -0600

A :30 I cut and directed for a mixed martial arts training school here in Minnesota. Featured fighters include Kamron Saraye, Pat “HD” Barry, and Kaitlin Young.

Shot on Red Mysterium with Zeiss Super Speed glass.

Shot by: Nick Junkerfeld

Produced by: MAKE

Creative: Danny Robashkin

Makeup: Aaron Pikala

Special thanks to Jason Ho, Josh Clos, Greg Nelson, Andy Grahn, and the rest of the crew at The Academy!

Sanford Children’s has posted the “The Art and...

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:30:30 -0600

Sanford Children’s has posted the “The Art and Science of Health Care” spot I edited at MAKE this past Summer. All vfx work and animation was done in house by the guys at MAKE.

A wickedly gory little animated piece for your Halloween weekend...

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:03:00 -0500

A wickedly gory little animated piece for your Halloween weekend pleasure. It’s beyond me why we don’t get any hard core 3d animated feature films like this. Here’s to hoping…

Directed by Joe Burrascano

Candied Image, Velvety Performances, a kick ass soundtrack, and...

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:27:19 -0500

Candied Image, Velvety Performances, a kick ass soundtrack, and Tension like a Rhino hanging from a rope. DRIVE is by far the best film of the year.

If you haven’t seen it, SEE IT!

Sunday with The Baron

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:44:00 -0500

Last Sunday I helped director Phil Harder yet again with his Baron Von Raschke film. The film chronicles the iconic wrestler’s life and rise to fame in both narrative and documentary form. Not only was I shooting along with Patrick Pierson, I also played an AWA interviewer back in the 70’s hamming it up with Verne Gagne (played by local acting veteran, Charles Hubbell) and the man himself, The Baron Von Raschke.

Here is the break down of the shot we...

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:33:00 -0500

Here is the break down of the shot we created.

Director/Animator: Josh Clos

Camera: Mike P. Nelson

So, remember that Tron shoot I posted back a few months ago?...

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:21:00 -0500

So, remember that Tron shoot I posted back a few months ago? Well today we have the final product and a VFX breakdown from the director Josh Clos. I helped Josh back in July shoot the live action, which in this projects case was just a very small part.

Watch the final shot and then check out the break down.

Today's Shoot - Bad Ass Big Wheel

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:13:00 -0500

Here are a few stills from the Big Wheel shoot I had today with Nick Junkersfeld and Peter Ostebo. And a special thanks to our little star, Spencer Brennan!

Here is the Dell Contest commercial I made with Gabe Steinberg....

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:46:00 -0500

Here is the Dell Contest commercial I made with Gabe Steinberg. “Like” the video and move us to the top of the list! Then come back and vote to help us win!

Shot in a day on the 7d with Canon glass.

Special thanks to Jason Ho.

To “like” us and/or comment to help us in the standings,

Go here »» http://www.poptent.net/assignment/324#tab=submissions

Yours truly,

Mike P. Nelson

Wickedly done! Shot on the Phantom Flex at 1000 fps. Directed...

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:32:12 -0500

Wickedly done! Shot on the Phantom Flex at 1000 fps.

Directed by: Saman Keshavarz

A Monkey on your Back

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:31:00 -0500

Just wrapped a :30 today involving some human puppetry for some “Roger Rabbit” style animation interaction. I worked with Charles Hubbell and Kevin Joseph Klein and it was a blast. Shot on RED on Zeiss Super Speed glass, on green screen, with daylight. Thanks to Nick Junkersfeld on camera and Tom Colvin on sound. And a huge thank you to Justin Weber for making sure all the puppeteering went without a hitch. Thanks to Chang and Josh Clos for their puppet hands as well. The spot is an anti-smoking ad that we hope to pitch to Quitplan upon completion. Check the board to shot comparisons below. Storyboards by Andrew Chesworth.

MMA Shoot

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:26:00 -0500

I just shot some stylized MMA fighter vignettes with Punnavith Koy and Jason Ho at MAKE. Had a lot of fun with lights and slow motion. Shot on the RED with Zeiss Superspeed glass. Check out some stills from what we did below. The stills are straight out of RedCine. Shot everything on green and hoping to key and replace with some killer backgrounds.

Motion Capture (Mo-Cap)

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:58:00 -0500

Wednesday and Thursday of this week I found myself learning and directing some motion capture for a faux video game cinematic spot we are making for Childsplaycharity.org at MAKE

At first directing proved difficult. I was not used to directing overacting and focusing solely on body movements. As the day went on, I picked up a flow with the help of Kevin Wisdom and Aaron Dabelow from MAKE. We captured the movement at Cinequipt’s Studio C. Thanks to Alex, Andrew and Samantha for wearing those skin tight suits and looking like black Christmas trees.

A Bear Suit, a Drummer, and a Crooner

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:54:00 -0500

Just shot a few more style shots this past week at MAKE. Thanks to Nick Junkersfeld, Katie Maren, Josh Clos, Daniel Broadway, Justin Peters, Rico Ventura and Props on Wheels for making it all happen.

You Got Saged.

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:55:36 -0500

Today I shot some Aztec dancers on Nicollet Mall with my trusty RED Camera. After the performance, I was offered a free rejuvenation in which after kneeling down, I was covered in incense smoke and serenaded with flute music. I must say it felt pretty good. See below for some stills. Kalpulli MexicaYolotl.

Retro High Life Vignette - Shoot

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:59:04 -0500

Last Friday, I built a set wall with Sam Tucker at MAKE and we shot a sleek little vignette of some retro high life. Thanks to Oren Robashkin, Josh Clos and Aaron Quist for their help and to the talent, Valerie Square-Briggs, for bringing the beauty. Stay tuned for the clip in the future.