Psychicflyingmonkey Productions shot a variety of vastly different projects this year, from commercials to documentaries to fine art photography, and was featured in one of the largest cinematography magazines in the world.
By Jason Ryan
January
I spent most of January furiously editing to finish Models on the Move: Journey to Teen Fashion Week in time for its premiere at Look Cinemas in Chandler late in the month. I was editor and director of photography on this feature-length documentary. Here’s a 15-second trailer I cut for the film that aired on TV stations throughout Arizona.
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February & March
When I started editing together my 2022 narrative cinematography demo reel early last year, I set it to “Sweet Soul Music” by Arthur Conley. About 30 seconds into the process I realized it was the wrong song for my DP reel…because it was the PERFECT song for my music video reel.
Here’s the first demo reel I’ve ever made of my directing and DP work in music videos featuring Arthur Conley’s STONE COLD JAM.
I’ve had my Psychicflyingmonkey Productions booth at every Phoenix Film Festival Industry Night for the last 8 some-odd years. This year I did something I’ve wanted to do for a while. I challenged all my visitors to figure out which camera I used on each of the 8 music videos featured in my new music video demo reel. Now I did give them multiple choice format; I’m not an animal. Two people tied for the high (yet still failing) score of 3 correct out of 8.
In the film and TV world there’s a ridiculous and entirely misguided amount of emphasis put on which camera is being used. I’ve long maintained that the emphasis should be taken away from the brand, model and price tag of the camera and be put on the EYE BEHIND THE CAMERA. My little pop quiz proved me right.
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April
April was unseasonably slow, so I’d like to share a commercial on which I directed photography for an entry into the 2012 Chevrolet Superbowl Route 66 contest.
For those who don’t know about Angel Delgadillo, he’s a true Arizona treasure. So much so that his photo is hanging outside one of the Kierland Resort’s ballrooms on their Arizona Wall of Fame and he has been featured in many magazine and news pieces as the man who saved Route 66.
When I-40 was built in the 60’s, Angel’s hometown of Seligman died instantly since the historic highway cut right through the center of town and kept everyone in business. Angel fought for no less than a decade to get Route 66 recommissioned as an historic highway and was ultimately successful. Directors Ryan Ingram and Greg Pilon thought this would be the perfect premise for an entry into a Route 66-themed commercial contest.
We shot for 2 days with Angel in Seligman and got killer footage. Country singer Trace Adkins came on board to provide the narration, and the piece came out amazing.
When the directors submitted the commercial into the competition, the contest officials insisted on a copy of Trace Adkins’ driver’s license. For obvious reasons, Trace’s manager did not want to give out private information just for a contest, so the commercial was disqualified from the competition. Nevertheless, “Angel of Route 66” has stood the test of time. When you view it, you can easily see this playing on TV as an actual Chevy ad, and it’s one of the most highly-viewed pieces in my portfolios.
May
In May I landed an unusual gig: Shooting stills of almost 200 animals and 27 firearms for an estate auction. A world-class hunter and multi-millionaire had recently died, and his family was putting up all his taxidermy for sale. I was tasked with shooting photos of every animal in the gigantic trophy room. The place was nothing short of a private museum of natural history, complete with a watering hole and a cliff side.
I’m still pinching myself to make sure this is real. British Cinematographer, the Official Magazine of the British Society of Cinematographers featured my DP and directing work in their Focus On: Lenses guide that came out in May and shipped with the May/June issue of the magazine. The entire guide is free on their website, and I’d highly recommend every DP and camera op read it.
I originally put my set of Nikon primes together by purchasing them separately on eBay in 2009. At the time indie filmmakers were getting a cinematic look by putting 35mm stills lenses on special rigs made by Red Rock Micro and other companies. We’d put the lenses in front of HD cameras with non-removable zoom lenses like the Panasonic HVX-200. A cinematographer for whom I’d AC’d gave me some great tips on what to look for in manual Nikon lenses and coatings, and before long I put together a set that included a 20mm, 28mm, 50mm, 85mm and 105mm. While my primes are great, especially when it comes to taking the edge off 4K and even HD, they’re technologically inferior to the killer lenses featured in this guide (not that it matters to the viewer). I’ve shot on Cooke lenses, Zeiss lenses, RED lenses, anamorphics and more, and it’s great to see my humble lens set hold its own. It’s been pretty cool to see this trend of shooting with vintage lenses in the last few years, while owning my own set of lenses from the seventies.
When you read the guide, you’ll see I’m in good company, to say the least. You’ve got Shane Hurlbut, ASC talking about filtration, then there’s Kate McCullough, ISC reviewing her lens choices on The Quiet Girl, not to mention Eben Bolter, BSC discussing his lensing of The Last of Us. And that’s just the start, as you have top cinematographers from all over the world as well as top engineers and leading manufacturers sharing their knowledge. That’s what’s so cool about getting a full page in this guide. I don’t have the most expensive, latest gear. I wasn’t working with a well-known band. But the staff of one of the largest cinematography magazines in the world liked my music video, and thought my contribution would add to an amazing guide on the latest lenses and techniques in the cinematography world.
You can check out the British Cinematographer article on my DP and directing work on “Fishing for Love” HERE:
I directed photography and operated camera in May and June for the TV show The Reveal. A few episodes of the show follow the creation of a mural that the show’s star Katie Von Kral painted to honor the Granite Mountain Hotshots. We followed her process as she began painting the mural onto panels at her studio in Tempe, transported the panels up to Prescott, and revealed the mural on the side of the Prescott Chamber of Commerce across from the historic Yavapai County Courthouse.
Ultimately we shot so much more than just the mural-making process. We hiked with family members to the site where the 19 hotshots died at the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park, we shot interviews with family members at the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew Tribute Center, we took a 5-mile hike to the famous Juniper tree the hotshots saved from the Dosi Fire to interview the current Prescott Fire Chief, we shot the 5-year anniversary celebration of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew Tribute Center, and of course we shot the 10-year anniversary of the passing of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots in downtown Prescott on June 30th. This was the first time many of the family members have been willing to talk on camera about the tragedy, and these will most assuredly be a powerful series of episodes when released.
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June
Out of all the times I’ve been to Los Angeles, I’ve never sojourned to the dark heart of downtown. On Saturday night after Cine Gear LA this year, I drove around the center of the city. I had my 4K Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera on me which performs fabulously in low light, plus there was a full moon, possibly a super moon. This is a frame grab from some footage I shot while dodging hobos with the quickness.
Since we camera ops ran our own audio for The Reveal, the Picomic 2 wireless system was a Godsend. At one point Katie Von Kral interviewed multiple subjects as they left a party for a few minutes each, and we were able to swiftly throw a little Picomic right on their collar with no wires, no muss, and definitely no fuss.
If you’re a videographer that uses lavalier mics, I can’t recommend Picogear’s system any more highly, and the price is legit. Joe Becker kindly let me use his Picogear lav system for a few shoots, and now I’m stoked to announce that I’m a brand ambassador for Picogear. If you’re interested in purchasing the Picomic 2 wireless system, go HERE:
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July
Psychicflyingmonkey Productions was hired to create a promo/testimonial video for HOPESS. HOPESS is a residential rehabilitation center that delivers individualized services to help their clients regenerate their lives. Within the first hour of the tech scout, I could plainly see that HOPESS was on a much higher level than other rehab centers. Most rehab centers get their clients off drugs/alcohol but don’t cultivate the essential skills and provide the crucial assistance needed to keep them clean and sober.
It was a pleasure to direct and direct photography on this doc-style piece that shows people in need of treatment the care, professionalism and commitment that HOPESS provides. I’d like to give a huge thanks to my production designer Toni Ross and my gaffer/key grip Adam Harding for their incredible help on this project. My favorite scene was the group meeting around the fire pit. I could feel the warmth and I think you will too when you watch the promo at the bottom of the HOPESS “About” page HERE:
Since releasing my 2022 narrative cinematography reel, I received excellent feedback from two distinguished cinematographers that helped shape my new 2023 narrative cinematography reel.
Ricardo Gale’ has won numerous awards including the François Chalais Award at the Cannes Film Festival as well as the International Critics Award at the Toronto Film Festival for “ West Beirut “ and Best Cinematography for ‘ Touching Home “. He took time out of his busy schedule to go through my 2022 reel shot by shot, and his input was invaluable in creating my 2023 reel.
I also sent my reel to Jayson Crothers, who was the sole DP on the NBC/Universal hit show Chicago Fire for 3 seasons and recently shot American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally starring Al Pacino. He watched my reel and offered very helpful advice on it as well.
Huge thanks to Ricardo and Jayson, and to all the directors, producers, cast and crew that enabled me to lens the shots that appear in my new 2023 narrative cinematography reel!
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August
I designed the posters for the Ninth Annual Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival and the First Annual Jerome Craft Beer Experience. I used photos I’ve taken over the years in Jerome and it was cool to see shop owners so happy to put them up due to their high quality aesthetics.
I snagged a fun gig shooting King Bach at Stand Up Live in Phoenix. King Bach has a humongous social media following and has acted on the TV shows The Walking Dead, Key and Peele and Workaholics. He’s also acted in the films Vacation Friends and The Babysitter and is now on a world tour with Jo Koy, another great comedian for whom I’ve had the pleasure to shoot.
My fiance Toni Ross and I were honored to be invited to appear on Arizona Horizon on PBS for the first time to talk about the Ninth Annual Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival. You can watch it HERE:
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September
We held the Ninth Annual Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival September 7th-10th and it was our best festival yet. Between beloved established events such as our Wicked Wild West Cinema Train, our opening night mixer and Saturday night costume party (roaring twenties-themed this year), and the new events such as the owl release right after the screening of a documentary on a wild animal rehab center and our First Annual Jerome Craft Beer Experience, we received rave reviews. But the highlight for me was when we screened Finding Courage, which documents a Chinese family’s fight against the evil and despicable Chinese Communist Party which imprisoned and tortured many of their family members for practicing Falun Dafa.
We had an excellent Q&A after the film screened that lasted almost an hour. We anticipated it would go long due to the depth of the subject matter, so we allotted plenty of time for it. The whole family came out from the Bay Area, along with the director, producer and cinematographer. This film and subsequent Q&A changed lives at our festival. During the Q&A it was revealed many festivals had turned this essential film down, and that one festival was even given $100,000 NOT to show Finding Courage after originally accepting it. Truly disgusting, I know, so I’m happy to be managing director of a festival that has found the courage to show important films such as this one. We will not be bribed or intimidated from exercising our freedom of speech….EVER!
Finding Courage is now available to rent or buy on Apple TV, VUDU, Google Play & YouTube, and you can watch the trailer below.
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October
I started working with Contagion Media in October and had a great time collaborating with them. Contagion Media is an Art Agency specializing in commercial content creation for websites, magazines, and social media. Here is one of my favorite still frames from a video on which I directed photography for Contagion.
My fiance Toni, her daughter Taylor and I traveled to Monument Valley to see the annular eclipse in the middle of the month. I had found out that the main path of the eclipse would go right through Monument Valley, so we went there to shoot the eclipse then explore the iconic valley. We traveled back to Flagstaff that night then drove up to Snowbowl Ski Resort the next day to shoot the aspens in alll their golden glory. Controlled burns were in progress, creating a mysterious sky, which made for a perfect time to shoot these photos in a meadow which would soon be covered in snow.
I shot the photo and created the poster for this important short documentary about how ALS has personally affected the lives of a family. Keep a look out as it’s hitting the film festival circuit soon!
The first time I realized the power of lighting to effect emotions was at a Violent Femmes show around ’97 at Club Rio in Tempe. The band’s lighting director set a mood for every song, from using low-key toppy blue washes for slow-tempo intros to employing 9-light blinders to hype up the audience during “Blister in the Sun”. I didn’t even own a video camera at the time, but later I remembered the feeling certain looks gave me when I started designing my own lighting as I began film school in 2005.
Toni and I saw the Violent Femmes at the Arizona State Fair late in the month and they did not disappoint. Those highly skilled musicians put on one helluva show. They also brought a killer sax player that played an enormous contrabass saxophone for certain songs. Even though I’ve worked many concerts and have designed hundreds of lighting setups for films I’ve shot since seeing them the first time, their lighting still moved me.
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November
I directed photography on a segment of a documentary about the Houston, Texas comedy scene. The director worked his way up in the comedy scene in Houston then moved to LA with a few other comics after a few years on the come up in a secondary market. Now he’s making a film about the comics and the clubs of Houston and where they are now.
I also had the privilege of directing a 3-camera shoot and operating camera for an Esteban concert at the Orpheum in Phoenix. That guy is some kind of a storyteller, and he regaled the audience with stories of how he became a world-class flamenco guitarist from his humble beginnings as the son of a Pittsburgh steel worker.
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December
I’ve been quite inspired lately by the photography of cinematographers, especially M. David Mullen, ASC’s work. He was just in Scotland and his street photography was nothing short of stunning. Ultimately, cinematography is multiple photographs displayed in quick succession.
Last winter a dense fog crept into Jerome and the Powderbox Church caught my eye as I was heading down the hill to Cottonwood. I went back to the house to get my camera and proceeded to shoot all around the Mexican Town church-turned private residence for the next hour and a half. This is my favorite photo from the shoot. I love how the roughly vertical lines created by the dead branches in the foreground compliment the strong vertical lines of the church’s towers and Italian Cypress surrounding it.
I had this photo printed on a 16″x20″ canvas and it’s for sale in the Jerome Heritage Shop. The printer did an excellent job for me and while Jerome Heritage Shop has sold many of my photo prints over the last year, it’s pretty cool having a piece this big, printed on fabric, that’s ready to grace someone’s abode.
To all the producers, directors and clients who have hired Psychicflyingmonkey Productions to help bring your ideas to life this year, I extend my sincere gratitude. We’ve got some big projects planned for 2024, so make sure to keep an eye on what we’re doing by following Jason Ryan on Facebook and Instagram (links below).
If you need high quality film/video production or photography, please don’t hesitate to contact Jason Ryan at Psychicflyingmonkey Productions via the contact info HERE.
Have an excellent 2024, and stay free.
