« Posts by Steve Kahn

“Lady or Vamp” – Sue Wong Fashion Video

Sue Wong has been a icon in the design world for ages. She is an exacting genius who always knows what she wants and always gets it. Just directed a fashion video for her “Lady or Vamp” collection.

 

LADY or VAMP:

 

Here are some frame grabs and production stills from the shoot. Models were the lovely Alli Cripe and beautiful Linda Taylor.

This is a vertical version of the above video, slightly different, to be played in Sue’s New York and Los Angles Showrooms on large rotated HDTVs.

“The Nakeds” – Maggie Barry Fashion Video


Maggie Barry is an exciting and bold fashion designer who makes amazing creations for celebrities and stars the likes of Katy Perry, Lady Antebellum, Billy Idol and Cher.

These are larger than life mega-artists with larger than life personalities and larger than life sex appeal..and Maggie’s looks have been central in creating that image.

The Nakeds is her new collection for 2011. It is shiny. It is glittery. And it is very sexy.

 

THE NAKEDS:

 

Frame grabs and production stills

 

CAST

Antoinette Kristensen
d'Manti
Rachael Broussard
Adamme Sosa
Erika Costa
Christina Costa

 


WARDROBE

CLOTHING           Maggie Barry
HATS               Baron Hats
ART HATS           Hatmosphere by Drew Bird

 


CREW

HAIR               Milan Daw
MAKEUP             Victoria Rowe
MAKEUP             Adamme Artistry
WARDROBE STYLIST   Arturo Chavez
SET PHOTOGRAPHER   Ken Mudge
GAFFER             Thomas Rowe
DP                 Ben Baker
PRODUCED BY        Maggie Barry
DIRECTED BY        Steve Kahn
 

 

 
 Much thanks to Gibson USA, Peter Leinheiser and Jennifer Feeney

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Kit Kraft Commercial; The Challenge: Make One Spot Work for Two Divergent Audiences. The Result: “Through the Eyes of a Child”

Kit Kraft is two things. It started out as a mom and pop hobby store almost sixty years ago in Southern California and it became one of the largest international distributors of hobby goods – while still remaining a local hobby shop for generations upon generations of faithful artisans, craftsmen, creators and model builders.

For me it was models. Specially Estes Rockets my friends and I took unending joy in building and lighting off at a local park (and sometimes at the end of our dead end street when our parents weren’t looking).

We bought them as kids and then proceeded to forget about them when girls became more interesting. I suppose there are just tons and tons of people like me who grew up and forgot the store. I’m sure there are generations of us.

So Kit Kraft has history. A lot of it. But, it also has become a huge distribution center which has many times saved the business from going under when walk in traffic didn’t pay the bills. In those times the internet hobby supply business kept the store in the black. International business over the years has gone on to far, far out-shadow sales in the quaint little mom and pop store.

So, these were the challenge: Produce a spot that would recapture the feeling one had as a child when first discovering the store while not detracting from international business.

And so was born the concept: “Through the Eyes of a Child”

score composed by Derek A. McKinney

“Dramatic Chihuahua” to be used in National Commercial Spot

It was a blatant steal when I shot it. It was intended to be a “viral” teaser for the web series “Killer Chihuahua” and now it is being licensed for a national commercial spot.

I just have to laugh.

Yoga commercial spot #2; “The Shakti Edit”

Recently “The King’s Speech” was re-edited for a PG-13 rating and widely promoted as such to get additional audience share. This is done all the time in Hollywood; a film will have several trailers cut with each intended to target a specific audience.

In this vein when I shot footage for Noelle I told her that I wanted to cut two spots: one directed towards a male audience and one for a female. Noelle lit up, as she’s prone to do, and said: “a Shiva version and a Shakti version! I love it!”

I must have looked a bit lost but she quickly rescued me, as she’s prone to do, telling me that Shakti aside from being a Hindu Goddess is the personification of divine feminine power.

“Yes, yes” I said. “A Shakti version!”

I am so proud to present “The Shakti Edit”


 

Shiva and Shakti

The Amazing Yogini, Noelle Beaugureau. Commercial spot #1

Shot this a couple days ago. This is one of two rough tests. Spot #2 to follow

 


The Amazing Noelle

 

In production on short film “WILDFLOWERS”

Currently in production on the short film “Wildflowers” which stars Katie Owsley.

Katie Owsley

Wildflowers” is a coming of age story I was inspired to write after a recent break up from a long term relationship. I guess at such times we look at the big picture. She was looking at hers, I at mine and as I’ve always been utterly fascinated with life and humanity, I was looking at hers as well. It was very interesting to me how the things women go through in their twenties are just so vastly different than what men go through.

Hence, “Wildflowers” was born.

Though the dailies have looked beautiful I don’t want to post any until the edit is locked. But, I will post some pictures of some of our locations which are just beautiful.

 

Cherry blossoms at Balboa Park…

 

And California Poppies in Lancaster Poppy Reserve

 

And downtown Los Angeles amongst others…

 

Joseph Campbell’s Ten Commandments for reading Mythology

I’ve been doing a lot of mythology research for an upcoming project and came across Joseph Campbell’s Ten Commandments for reading Mythology. While I’ve poured through “Hero with a Thousand Faces” and watched Bill Moyer’s “Power of Myth” again and again and used time and time again Campbell archetypes to mold characters in screenplays…

I’ve never seen Campbell’s Ten Commandments for reading Mythology so I thought I’d post them here. Powerful stuff!:

1. Read myths with the eyes of wonder: the myths transparent to their universal meaning, their meaning transparent to its mysterious source.

2. Read myths in the present tense: Eternity is now.

3. Read myths in the first person plural: the Gods and Goddesses of ancient mythology still live within you.

4. Any myth worth its salt exerts a powerful magnetism. Notice the images and stories that you are drawn to and repelled by. Investigate the field of associated images and stories.

5. Look for patterns; don’t get lost in the details. What is needed is not more specialized scholarship, but more interdisciplinary vision. Make connections; break old patterns of parochial thought.

6. Resacralize the secular: even a dollar bill reveals the imprint of Eternity.

7. If God is everywhere, then myths can be generated anywhere, anytime, by anything. Don’t let your Romantic aversion to science blind you to the Buddha in the computer chip.

8. Know your tribe! Myths never arise in a vacuum; they are the connective tissue of the social body which enjoys synergistic relations with dreams (private myths) and rituals (the enactment of myth).

9. Expand your horizons! Any mythology worth remembering will be global in scope. The earth is our home and humankind is our family.

10. Read between the lines! Literalism kills; Imagination quickens.

EDIT: As I delve deep and do my research I find myself coming back to these Ten Commandments again and again to understand the very nature of myth itself.

Thank you Mr. Campbell.

Jessica Morris to star in psychological thriller “FEAR”

I’m very excited to be directing Jessica Morris in the psychological thriller short film entitled “Fear”

Jessica is not just beautiful but is a superb actress who started out as an Elite model then later developed her craft on “One Life to Live” and “CSI NY” amongst many others.

Having directed and acted along side Jessica I am just thrilled that she is attached to this project; she’s a director’s dream. Despite being beautiful she’s easy to work with and with quite a range she can go quickly where the role demands her to be emotionally.

I’m sure she’s going to rock this short film and be quite an asset to the project.

“Fear”: A young woman struggles against letting her fears get the best of her.

New Site & New Projects

Very excited at the moment. Prepping a new film as well as getting this site in order.

More to follow soon.

~S