Showing posts with label Contract Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Contract Work. Show all posts

Mar 10, 2022

Monarch Theatre Documentary in Production

Currently in its second month of principal photography, my latest documentary featuring the Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta has provided some really memorable experiences so far. With hours of interviews shot and a deep dive into every space, cubby, and rafter of this old theatre, I'm already certain that I've uncovered a few untold gems in the story of this cinema that have never been formally documented or contextualized before.

Monarch Theatre Documentary Luke Fandrich



In addition to this being a story about one of the oldest surviving cinemas in all of Canada, what's been particularly interesting about the Monarch is how little material actually exists about it. Photographs, artifacts, records, etc. are few and far between so connecting the dots to go beyond the obvious has been a really involved, but fascinating undertaking.

While I'm saving a lot of the surprises for the finished documentary, I wanted to share a few of the production highlights up to this point:

  • Interviews are still ongoing, but a few early highlights have come from acquiring stories from both a 101 year old with a unique connection to the theatre and a 94 year old who used to work at the Monarch as a teenager.
  • In addition to the obvious task of documenting the Monarch, the cinematic side of the production has involved playing with various lighting rigs, gimbals, cameras, props, and even painting with projections throughout the cinema. 
  • As a result I'm certain I've now filmed and photographed more details inside the Monarch Theatre than anyone else in its 110+ year history.
  • I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge how helpful the social media response has been, in addition to features in the local news, Toronto Star, etc. in helping to connect me with a wide array of people with memories about cinemas in this area.
  • Numerous highlights have also come from uncovering clues through old paperwork, basement finds, and mapping out the history of the theatre. What's been so thrilling about this is that I know just the exploratory aspect of this documentary will be compelling to a lot of people who have likely never even heard of this place.
  • Speaking to former employees has made me wish I'd have worked at a movie theatre as a teenager too lol.
  • And finally, one of the absolute coolest things about shooting this documentary has been the unfettered access I've been given to the Monarch. While it was always going to feature this space, the ability to arrange and film every interview within the cinema, while also coordinating multiple ancillary shoots, has been practically ideal. 
There will be lots more to share in the weeks ahead, particularly as the project transitions into post-production in the spring. Follow the Editing Luke instagram for more regular updates and stay tuned for details about the release of this documentary later in the year. 

If you have any information or memories to share about the Monarch Theatre (or any of the former cinemas in the Medicine Hat area) please contact me via my business site here.

Monarch Theatre Documentary Luke Fandrich


Feb 8, 2022

Meet Alice: Monarch Documentary

With interviews for the Monarch Theatre documentary kicking off this month, I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to one of the interviewees - Alice. 

Alice will be 95 years old this year. Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking with her about her time working at the Empress and Monarch theatres as a teenager in the early 1940s. From the uniform she wore to first seeing Gone With the Wind, moments like this - capturing memories and untold first hand experiences - are what make documentary filmmaking such a thrill.

Still razor sharp, her memories tap into a time when very little was written about these cinemas. This is what's been so exciting. The process unlocks doors that haven't been opened in decades.

Much more to come about this latest film project.



Feb 2, 2022

A Grateful Eight

This month marks 8 years since Editing Luke graduated to a full-time operation and production company - when everything really took off. It doesn't seem like much time, but 2014 now seems like a lifetime ago. Thank you all for continuing to share this journey with me and for the incredible support you've shown on the countless travel shoots and film projects I've produced with the help of so many amazing people over the years.

With a new feature documentary currently in production and the unbelievable response to all of the print releases last year, I can only express gratitude.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.



Jan 20, 2022

About That Documentary I Mentioned ...

As my final announcement of 2021 I shared that my latest documentary proposal had been greenlit with plans to move into production in early 2022. With things continuing to progress I wanted to share a few more updates about what the project is actually about.



Inspired by my love of vintage films and the cinematic experience - specifically, going to the movie theatre - this new documentary is all about cinemas. Highlighting the evolution of the theatre going experience and showcased through the rise and fall of some largely forgotten movie houses, this new documentary tells the story of how the oldest purpose-built cinema in all of Canada ended up (in of all places) my hometown - Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Locals are sure to recognize names like the Monarch, Towne, and Gemini, but what makes this story unique is how much hasn't been widely told - particularly regarding the 110+ year history of a single screen cinema on main street that is actually older than every major Hollywood studio. Perhaps most amazing, it's still here!

There's a lot to unpack, but I'm really excited to bring this story to life in this new feature documentary in the months ahead.

Here's where I could use some help ... 

Did you, a family member, or friend ever work at a movie theatre in the Medicine Hat area? 

I'd love to connect with anyone who has stories to share about what your time was like at the Monarch, Towne, drive-ins, etc. I'm deep in research these days and have already coordinated with the Friends of the Monarch, local archives, and City - what's missing is you!  

If you have any pictures or souvenirs from these venues from over the years it would also be a massive help as (not surprisingly) a lot of these places were not documented. Thank you in advance.

Lots more to come as this ramps up! ðŸŽ¥ðŸ˜‰ Please get in touch if you have anything to share that you think may be of interest. Cheers!   

Jan 5, 2022

Top 6 Photo Essays of 2021

Last year I released over 125 new photo essays spanning a variety of unique destinations. After review, here were the TOP 6 most popular releases based on web traffic on the Editing Luke site in 2021. As always, thank you for the incredible support.



6. Santa Cruz, California | Surf Culture

Photo essays of Santa Cruz, California included spotlights on Surfers at Steamer Lane, the Wharf, Beach Boardwalk, and Surfing Museum.



5. Ford Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan

This photo essay highlighted the factory where the Ford Model T was born.



4. Rebuilding Notre Dame in Paris, France

This photo essay showcased the reconstruction of Paris' iconic cathedral.



3. Inside Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee

A look inside Elvis' iconic estate in Memphis.



2. Exploring the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California

A photo essay from inside the home of the Academy Awards.

1. Neon of Shinjuku in Tokyo, Japan 

An evening under the neon lights of Shinjuku was the most viewed photo essay of 2021.


Jan 1, 2022

A Quick Look Back at 2021

Nothing was easy this year and that's perhaps the reason I did my best to see the good in 2021.

As I look back at the year that was all I honestly feel is gratitude. Gratitude for the people in my life, the steps forward I managed, and for the moments of calm where I was able to recognize that I was somehow figuring things out - or at least creating options.
 

Editing Luke Instagram 2021

Not willing to stop travel shooting this year I traversed the Canadian prairies - from the edge of the Rockies in Alberta to the centre of Canada billboard in Manitoba - I covered thousands of kms and shot just as many pictures.

I launched the Surreal Alberta series, released a record number of new photo essays, and sold prints around the world for the 2nd year in a row. I bought new-to-me vintage toys to film with, rebuilt a dream edit suite, and celebrated new collabs as my work appeared on postcards, walls in foreign cities, and in more places close to home than I can name. 

I was finally able to see friends I missed, built new relationships with travel partners in places like Montreal, Tokyo, Miami, and connected with familiar faces in a place called Medicine Hat that I hardly ever mention. I built a lightsaber, I ate inside "the castle" during travel shoots at Disney World's 50th, and I got left behind at the airport in Toronto in a real life series of Home Alone 2 mixups.

I welcomed the 50 millionth visitor to the Editing Luke website since it first launched, started walking 5km a day back in July, and in my ongoing Jaguar search I bought a Cadillac. 

2021 has been a time - and not nearly as organized or worry free as a few curated paragraphs might suggest. But, through the noise, it has been really fun.

Thank you for the incredible support and engagement this year. Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year ahead.

Dec 30, 2021

Announcing A New Documentary

So, a little news to share ...

In the spring of 2021, feeling like I was still spinning my wheels with everything going on, I went into development on some new ideas. I came up with a few concepts, pitched them around, and settled on one that I was really excited about.

I won't drag this news out ... this fall it all came together. Word came back that my latest film proposal received the greenlight

Luke Fandrich Filmmaker Documentary

With the treatment approved, funding secured, and the production agreement signed - I'm happy to finally announce that my next feature documentary project is going into production in 2022.

There will obviously be lots to share as everything unfolds in the months ahead - particularly as production kicks off next month - for now, just let me say how thrilled I am to have the opportunity to dive into an elaborate storytelling experience like this and direct another original project. Details to come.

Happy new year, indeed!
🎥😉🎬👌

Nov 30, 2021

Magic Kingdom 50th at Walt Disney World

Earlier this year an idea began to snowball around capturing the 50th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida in a brand new series of travel shoots. 

What was originally imagined as an escape with plenty of R&R morphed into one of the most ambitious multi-week travel shoots I've ever undertaken - complete with exclusive reservations, after hours events, and glimpses into Disney World that required months of pre-planning and special arrangements to execute. The idea shifted from a simple feature of Disney World during its 50th to a showcase of some of the top experiences a person could have in the Magic Kingdom. 

Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World 50
I summed up what this was to become a few weeks ago on Instagram:

When it came down to what location I would choose to jumpstart my international travel shoots again - you probably weren't thinking "oh, this guy is definitely headed to the swampland of central Florida" - but hear me out! 

Just a few short weeks ago Walt Disney World (specifically the Magic Kingdom) kicked off its 50th anniversary since the park's opening in 1971. With an avalanche of new events, exclusive experiences, and media attention, this created some much needed tourism buzz since ... actually, let's not rehash the last year and a half.

Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World 50

As one of the most visited tourist destinations on Earth, located in a country that just reopened to global travellers, during one of the most heavily promoted anniversaries in the history of Walt Disney World - well, you do the math.


Is it possible to be ironic, kitsch-obsessed, boujie, and totally embarrassing, all while still fully embracing the most touristy of tourist hotspots on the planet? 

I mean, of course, but stay tuned lol. Lots to come.

Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World 50

 

Oct 26, 2021

Limited Edition Postcards at Medalta: Vol. 2

Now back in stock at Medalta in the Historic Clay District, these limited edition cobranded Editing Luke / Medalta postcards completely sold out in the Medalta gift shop over the summer! For this 2nd print run we've brought back the favorites and introduced a few highlights from my "Hometown Series" featuring the Saamis Teepee and Finlay Bridge.

These mini art print postcards were all photographed and designed by Editing Luke and are available exclusively in the gift shop at Medalta Potteries in Medicine Hat, Alberta

Medicine Hat Postcards Medalta


Medalta is an incredible National Historic Site of Canada and was the focal point of my 2019 documentary Clay, Creativity, and the Comeback - all about how the clay district was saved from demolition following decades of tireless efforts from hundreds of artists, community members, and volunteers.

Stock has once again been limited on this collection, so please exit through the gift shop. Thanks once again to everyone who has snapped these up! I know for a fact they hold up really well in the mail and look great tacked on walls and fridge doors! 

Oct 11, 2021

Answering Your Questions: Instagram Q&A

Over the long weekend I asked my followers on @editingluke if they wanted to ask any questions regarding my photography, travel, film, past posts, etc. I was incredibly impressed with how engaged everyone was, so instead of letting all the questions disappear into the void I thought I'd recap and share a few of the highlights from this spontaneous Thanksgiving weekend Q&A.

If you have more questions be sure to send a message through the Editing Luke Instagram and I'll try to answer more of the most asked ones in a future Q&A.  













 

Oct 6, 2021

A Long Awaited "Welcome Back" to Co-op Place

Over the summer I had the pleasure of being commissioned by the newly rebranded Co-op Place to produce this "welcome back" commercial that just debuted during the Medicine Hat Tigers home opener for their 2021 season. As the premiere venue for concerts, hockey, and live events in Medicine Hat, Alberta it was a blast to have an entire arena to play in for this latest shoot.    

Coop Place Medicine Hat Arena

Medicine Hat Arena Coop Place



Sep 26, 2021

A Week of Travel Shoots in Manitoba

It's been a busy week of new shoots, experiences, and mapping out potential travel photography hotspots around Winnipeg, Manitoba. Of course, with this being another one of my lengthy road trips, there was also time for a lot of random roadside pitstops, backroad adventures, and even a few unplanned Saskatchewan detours on the way back home. 

Travel Manitoba Photography Winnipeg Instagram


This Winnipeg, Manitoba experience was delayed from plans that I had originally organized for last year, so it was great to finally make up for some lost time. As I've been expanding my Canada series over the last few years, I really wanted to get back to Manitoba as I hadn't formally documented anything on previous visits. This meant the itinerary was especially ambitious and I went out of my way to capture thousands of images for a variety of potential projects. 

As is always the case, I released a handful of previews and glimpses from experiences over this past week to share what was going on, however the release of this content and the final photo essays will continue over the months ahead. 

The beautiful autumn scenery really made this an ideal time for a Manitoba getaway. I had so much fun exploring the centre of the country and I can't wait to share more with you soon.


Sep 1, 2021

Saying Goodbye to the Lockdown Print Shop

When the Editing Luke travel photography and film projects took a pause during lockdown last year I never would've imagined that 16 months later I'd be reflecting on selling prints of my work. Sure, corporate commissions or the odd personal order weren't entirely uncommon in previous years, but what happened during lockdown was absolutely insane. 

I can't overstate this - I've sold more prints in the last 12 months than in every other previous year combined since I made my first artwork sale in 2012. 

What makes this a bit crazy is that it all happened through online flash sales - no brick and mortar location, no permanent ecommerce site to order from, no print business established before lockdown hit. I was following the same model as Supreme and dropping limited releases at random. I owe the success of this entire grand experiment to an engaged following and a few strategically run Facebook ads when the new prints went live.

Editing Luke Prints
How did this happen?

I took the Henry Ford approach to mass production when I had so much new content being released each week - you could have any size print you wanted as long as it was an 8x10" and any colour frame you wanted as long as it was black or white. 

Not only did the limitations work, but it made selections a simple, standardized process. It also meant that because the prints and frames were always the same size, it wasn't uncommon for people to keep coming back to add new prints to their collections as the months rolled on.

Where was all this new content for prints coming from? Well, there was already years of back catalog from previous travel shoots that many were happy to look through, but roughly 80% of all the sales over the last 16 months were driven by the new releases coming from my lockdown inspired "Hometown Series" shot in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Editing Luke Prints
From prairie landscapes and brick facades to epic sunsets and small town quirks, the series had me exploring my hometown again and sharing the novelty with an audience that was just as captive as I was. Interestingly, because of the nature of my work, that audience just happened to be a lot more spread out than I had actually realized. 

Until the print shop I really had no idea how varied my following actually was in age, location, and interest because I hadn't ever been selling to them directly. The moment I always reflect on when I mention this to someone is that I remember during one of my first flash sales I had two matching orders but one was shipping to a university dorm and the other was going to a retirement village. That's some broad appeal!

Editing Luke Prints
People sometimes think I'm joking when I say that the print sales really did become an elaborate operation when the production company was on pause, but the reality was chaotic. At its peak I had hundreds of boxed frames lining my walls, hundreds of prints cataloged, a framing station, a parcel station, regular deliveries and shipments happening every week, and bi-weekly day trips up to Calgary for restock.  

To my amazement, it turned out I had years worth of people who had been interested in my work or who had wanted to purchase a print from me but simply never knew how to go about it because I had never made it an option. There had just never been time. So with everything on hold and then nothing but time, everything just kind of lined up to give this a go.

Editing Luke Prints


After 16 months it really was a wild ride. 

In addition to the unbelievable amount a prints that were delivered locally, my framed prints were shipped all across Canada to all 10 provinces + the Yukon territory, to over 30 U.S. States, and to 8 countries - including orders as far away as France and Australia. 

To have seen so much of my original work released and hung up in the last year, it's absolutely the silver lining to what would have otherwise been a devastating year for my business. I can't express my thanks enough to everyone who made this happen, who supported my work, who purchased a print, and who engaged with all the new content that was created. 

Unfortunately, the print shop was always meant to be a temporary diversion until things started up again - and today that time has come. As new work has started, the lockdown print shop has wrapped and the last orders have been shipping out this week.

Is this the end of original prints from Editing Luke? Not by a long shot. But, after 16 months of this, I'm looking forward to welcoming a little reinvention again. 


Aug 23, 2021

About the Medalta Documentary

I have social media to thank for reminding me that two years ago this week I completed "that Medalta documentary" called Clay, Creativity & the Comeback. Late 2019 only feels like 5 years ago given the weird time loop we've all been in, but as I'm currently in the middle of finalizing several new contracts it's exciting to look back at a project that by all accounts was a success.

As a quick recap, this doc tells the story of the industrial ruins and abandoned factories of a once booming clay industry in a small prairie city and how a group of volunteers helped to transform the area into a National Historic Site of Canada through efforts that spanned decades.

Medalta Documentary Editing Luke
I think more people have found this documentary in the last year as a result of having more time, but I also attribute it to more house cleaning and organizing. No joke, the number of messages I've received about this documentary because someone found a random piece of pottery that lead to them discovering this film is amazing.

While I really don't have more to say about this project that I haven't already said in previous posts, I'm always happy to recount what a great experience it was and have a reason to share it again. Given the incredible amount of work that went into this and all of the efforts from so many amazing individuals, I will gladly keep promoting it. 

The entire documentary is free to view online here   

May 17, 2021

Limited Edition Postcards at Medalta Potteries

For the last couple years, particularly since the release of my documentary, I'd had a few discussions with Medalta Potteries, the National Historic Site and museum in Medicine Hat, Alberta, about releasing a collection of limited edition postcards inspired by the photo essays I'd shot around the clay district as part of my Around the Hat series.

Despite us both wanting to make it happen, it essentially took a year when everything else slowed down for us to finally find the time to pull it all together. The result is this brand new, 10 piece collection of mini art print postcards, designed and photographed by Editing Luke, and available exclusively through Medalta in the Historic Clay District.

Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta

These 4x6" premium postcards are Medalta and Editing Luke branded, and professionally printed on a thick cardstock with a soft matte laminate on the image side. The idea was to produce something brand new that felt like a vintage throwback. A uniquely local postcard that could be mailed, or simply a small souvenir print that could be collected or framed.

I'm especially proud to see how this collaboration came together, particularly because these postcards encapsulate so many different projects I've produced around the clay district over the years. Be sure to pick up a few of these as you exit through the gift shop. Not only do they look great - they're also the most affordable Editing Luke prints I've ever released lol. 
  
Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta

Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta

Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta

Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta

Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta

Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta

Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta

Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta

Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta

Medalta Postcard Medicine Hat Alberta