West Coast's Beats and Best

Our man Wes Mapes of Oakademy let us know that he was preparing his Clinton Hill spot to be a serious audio production suite, and wanted a video to annouce its launching. We recently got with him, and following piece was created with footage we shot at his spot and one of his blazing beats.

Like us, Wes is from the West Coast and a good friend of our business partner and friend Jullien Gordon. As such, he's obviously a friend of ours. Even though we got our hands on a 5D for the shoot, we didn't charge Wes a thing. And you said we wasn't the video production company of the people...

Let us know what you think!

Police Academy to the Cuckoo's Nest: Guttenberg's Back!

Duck Walls: 'Under-coverage in America Mental Health Care at it's finest. Chef Mickey Beans serves up the chow and more at this unstable group home, while the owner Dr Stern touches bases with the patients. Just long enough to get his fix.


In an effort to expand our capabilities and reel, BSB took on a serious gig: editing a TV pilot with producers lined up to see it, which was shot on the RED camera and stars Steve Guttenberg. The writer/director/producer, Robroy Mountjoy, explained the footage before us: he was shooting his feature film 'Duck Walls', but halted production after day one. Things needed to be worked out somewhere...

He was able to shoot four scenes that day, and a lot of takes.  For months he sat on this footage, and finally decided to see if something could be made of it. That's when he found BSB. Mountjoy told us that he could find funds, as the footage suggested, and decided to test and see if BSB could be his first stop post-production company. Well, that's a test we are up for any day of the week, for anyone interested.

BSB didn't have narrative storytelling on the reel, so when we were told that there would be no/little pay, we swallowed hard and agreed anyway. Little did we know that this would turn out to be a job we'd charge well into four digits for if we were charging. My people, my people, what we won't do...

The following trailer was quickly made on I-movie from the original 22 minute TV pilot made on FCP 6. Mountjoy met with an ABC producer, and they put on some focus group screenings to see what people thought before taking it to pitch to the executives. It was decided that more needed to be shot, and some characters better developed, yada yada, but people were really intrigued by the story idea and cinematic editing.

Instead of re-shotting for what might happen, Mountjoy is moving on to the next production... and yes, BSB passed the test and will be editing that project as well. Duck Walls will be going into TV Pilot festivals, and maybe some cable network will have the brains to put it on television. For now, tell us what you think of the trailer!!!

Wedding Crashing in Connecticut

BSB was contracted for its first wedding in the middle of summer. We headed out to a polo ground in Connecticut to bring the wedding of Matt and Robin to cinematic life. We didn't charge BSB wedding rates, but they still got more then what you see here. Man, what we won't do for the people... Let us know what you think!!! Please!!!

Soul, Sisters, Summits

While we were shooting a videography event on finances with a panel full of investors and bankers, we were approached by an Akua Soadwa, a banker with a heart. Besides doing some big time banking for the city government, Akua founded and heads the non-profit Gye Nyame Empowerment Project. The organization is committed to the education and advancement of people of Pan-African descent, and to developing their neighborhoods and communities with conferences, workshops, and other mediums.

The organization hosts a yearly event  that takes place in March, and Akua had footage she needed edited. BSB met with her, learned what she wanted the video to accomplish, and gave her the following video. Tell us what you think, and give the Gye Nyame Empowerment Project a shout and your support!!

AcaciaTV Webisode 3: Finances are Forever w/ Kanye and Jay-Z

In this episode, LA Lyshaan talks about the importance of paying yourself first, big-ups the boutique The Brooklyn Circus, and discusses the money in the music of Kanye West's 'Diamonds are Forever.' If you're serious about your finances, you just hit play! Let us know what you think!

AcaciaTV Webisode 2: Bonnie and Clyde Banking w/ Jay-Z

In this webisode, LA Lyshaan breaks down life insurance and estate planning, big-ups the Brooklyn eatery The Spot, and breaks down the money in the music of Jay-z's 'Bonnie and Clyde.' Man, get your money right!!!

Get Your Money Right & They Can't Tell You Nothing, Right!!!

After Driving School for Life videos, BSB was contracted to make some webisodes for a videoblog series by  Acacia Unlimited, a financial service and consultation company based in Brooklyn. The purpose of the series is to entertain viewers while shedding some valuable light on everyday financial happenings. Each episode includes three segments: wealth building strategies, spending money in the community, and money in the music. Dopeness!!!

Lyshaan Hall, the CEO, needed nearly no acting direction, and his media consultants, Sallome Hralima and Ashley Mui, had most of the show already written out for us. This was great, as the budget was very low. BSB showed up with our GL2, lights, and sound equipment, and hammered out 4 videos in two shooting sessions. Man, what we could have done with more money and more time...


Let us know what you think, and stay tuned for the next two episodes!!!

DMV: The Infomercial

Next up for BSB, Gordon wanted something a little longer, and a little more comprehensive. We got together for a little talking head narrator footage, and combined it with footage we shot during our videographing of DSFL. Don't you wish your organization/event had an infomercial? BSB can make that happen!

As the budget was non-existent for the production end of this, we used our Canon GL2 and no lights for these segments.  Let me know what you think!!!

DMV: Drive with your passions in the passenger seat!

BSB's first project was creating a short commercial for the guru Jullien Gordon and his 'Driving School for Life.' Its a one-day self-development experience that uses a lot of the self-development wisdom out there in best-selling books, but its combined with games, videos, personal stories, and social interaction, and makes for an extremely fun time! Our west coast brother, Gordon is moving on to new projects, but stay tuned for the next DSFL near you!!!

For this project, BSB was contracted for videography and editing. We used the HVX-200B for the shoot. The bugdet was low, so some sound issues were ignored. Let us know what you think of it!!!