Matthew J. Santo

Bert & Arnie’s Guide to Friendship…and, no, it’s not really for kids…

msanto — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:18:42 +0000

A feature that I shot last summer for my Waverly-associated pals, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer, just won “Best International Feature Film” at the London Independent Film Festival. It’s a great little movie that is on its festival tour right now, so definitely check it out if you can. http://www.BertandArnieMovie.com/

Times Square Distractions

msanto — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:27:46 +0000

It’s New Year’s Eve again, and while I highly discourage it…if you happen to be spending the day waiting in a secured holding pen in Times Square, you can pass the time watching the Samsung billboard where the “Wondercubes” campaign that I shot continue it’s flickering, briefly interrupted by some holiday wishes from Samsung, which we also shot just recently.

Then, look southbound and watch for the VH1 Mob Wives promos that are appearing elsewhere on a giant LCD screen.

You’re welcome.

Introducing Google Music

msanto — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:05:58 +0000

I recently shot this introductory spot for Google’s new music service, directed by Jonathan Zames. We achieved the rotational moves with a Cinemagic Revolution lens relay. But let me tell you, nothing makes you feel old like watching a PA marvel at a old 1/4″ reel to reel player. (Not that I ever used one outside of film school, myself.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3roWaFngMo

and the behind the scenes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awAfoPU-5ts&feature=related

Clinton Foundation: Celebrity Division

msanto — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:58:51 +0000

Here’s a little project that I shot for the Clinton Global Initiative in association with Funny or Die. It originally was showcased at the 10th anniversary concert for the Clinton Foundation at the Hollywood Bowl last week. We shot it over the course of a week, as almost nobody showed up on the same day. In fact, the camera work for Kevin Spacey in LA had to be directed via Skype, as we were simultaneously shooting someone else in a hotel conference room in New York.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/71a3d4cccc/clinton-foundation-celebrity-brainstorm

Nokia Spots featured in ICG Magazine

msanto — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:32:23 +0000

ICG magazine highlighted another one of the unusual commercial campaigns that I shot with Mr. Jon Watts. This time their September issue discusses the stop motion, paper-cut out shoot we did for Nokia. In case you aren’t already getting your copy in the mail with your local 600 membership, there’s a pdf version here:

icg-09-2011-nokia-article.pdf

Tonight We Tanqueray

msanto — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:37:21 +0000

Check out the first released video in a campaign I did for Tanqueray Gin. Yep, one cannot look at Idris Elba without seeing Stringer Bell. But it was Michael Pitt’s character from Funny Games that I kept thinking of during the shoot. As per usual, YouTube has it even before I do…more to post when on the site when I get my files: http://www.youtube.com/user/Tanqueray

Gold Lions at Cannes

msanto — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:32:28 +0000

While not any great feats of cinematography, two of the “user-generated” Google spots that I shot for Trevor McMahan at Rabbit Content this past year just won Gold Film Lions at the 2011 Cannes Creativity Festival. Congratulations to Trevor and the team at Johannes Leonardo NY. Cannes 2011

The Internet Is the New TV, Unless You Watch TV On Your Computer or Have One Of Those TVs with Internet…

msanto — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:21:32 +0000

Here’s a little side project web series that I shot for atom.com called:

“My Anime Girlfriend.”
Also, last summer I shot a Comedy Central pilot for the fine folks at Waverly Films. The much anticipated premiere of “The Fuzz” is here:
“The Fuzz!”

Fame Monster

msanto — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:56:56 +0000

I shot an interview for MAC Cosmetics’ launch of their Viva Glam campaign this year with Lady Gaga. It was the first glamour lighting set-up that I’ve had where the talent had prosthetic cheek bones and horns, as well as a made-up skin tone the color of latex condoms. Portions of the interviews aired immediately a week or so ago, but I’ll post pieces of it as soon as I’m allowed. I’d like to thank my 1st AC, Gordon for contending with the various, often arcane formats that some of the news outlets requested from post. The photo here is from an excerpt that EXTRA used.

Rube Goldberg spots are like Sarah Lee…nobody doesn’t like ‘em.

msanto — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 20:32:56 +0000

Here’s a cool thing I shot with director Jonathan Zames and Syyn Labs LA for the launch of Google’s online science fair. I’ve done quite a bit of work for Google in the last year or so, but this was exciting in that it was their first live action broadcast spot (or so I’m told) and obviously a pretty imaginative one, as well. I would like to say that we did it on the first take…but you know that’s a lie.Here’s the extended spot (flash version coming to my commercial page shortly):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7oJfK4E7RY
And here’s some behind the scenes footage of the motion control rig battling it out with the Rube Goldberg machine:
http://www.fastcompany.com/1715957/syyn-labs-google-machine-under-the-hood