The Next Level

It's time to begin pushing my art to the next level. I have two projects in the works that will require a more artistic widescreen look than what I normally shoot for the kinds of documentaries I've been doing.

With that in mind I went on a couple of photographic expeditions to Valley Forge State Park and Manayunk in search of picturesque vistas to shoot. My Canon GL2 was set to interlaced 16:9 anamorphic at 60i (most of the time). Here are a few screen captures of my video. I plan to make a montage clip very soon to see how they look in motion set to music.


NATURE





ARCHITECTURE






URBAN DECAY

Stage Stormers are in rehearsal!

It's that time of year again! The countdown to the Stage Stormers' performances in August! I had a blast taping and editing the shows last year. Watching the joy on the childrens' faces while I edited the footage from our two cameras really made my job enjoyable.

Returning to shoot with me will be Jim Valentine for the Spring City show. My daughter Nicole (The Cat in the Hat from last year's Seussical) is also working with me this year and will be running the second camera for several shows and possibly helping with the editing. We also have Mary Crispin, a Communications major at Penn State, shooting and editing one of the shows (under my supervision, of course) for her portfolio.

I enjoy nurturing young talent. Both Mary and Nicole have already shown promise in videography and editing and I hope to be relying on their abilities in the future as Mike Pulcinella Video Productions expands.

I'll be posting stills and clips from the performances on this blog as the editing progresses so you might want to stop in here from time to time during the month of September and check 'em out. In the meantime I've set up Pre-Order buttons on the DVDs for Sale page. You can use a credit card and PayPal or you can get the order forms from me at the performances and pay by cash or check, if you are more comfortable with that.

Good luck to all the actors and I'll see you at the shows!!

A review of Beyond the Pain

My new documentary, Beyond the Pain is finally done and the reviews are starting to roll in! Here's a really good one! It was posted on the siouxcountry.com forum by Gina Fata.



“Beyond the Pain: The Vicki Nixon Story.
Review by: Gina Fata

Bodybuilding is a sport of discipline, desire, and dedication. Vicki Nixon possessed all three of these qualities under extraordinary circumstances for all 23 years of her bodybuilding career. “Beyond the Pain” is a documentary film directed by the talented Mike Pulcinella, who has gone DEEP into the pain, suffering, and love of Vicki Nixon’s bodybuilding career. Vicki’s story is not only told by herself, but by Brian (her husband), close friends, and others that have been inspired by her through the years.

Throughout the film, we are taken on a journey through Vicki’s career in bodybuilding, photoshoots, and current interviews with various supporters of Vicki Nixon. Vicki Nixon's husband, Brian is extremely supportive and stays by her through every aspect of her life. Vicki and Brian are true soulmates, and they consistently lift each other up in their life together.

While most bodybuilders must remain focused on diet, training, and posing to get prepared for a contest, Vicki did that while dealing with serious medical issues. Pulcinella directs the film in a way that goes deep into the soul of Vicki Nixon. He finds a way to capture emotion, integrity, and joy all in one moment. He also holds true to the dedicated person that Vicki Nixon is by showing the audience her passion for bodybuilding, and how supportive she is in fostering the success of other people. This is a unique quality that Nixon has, because bodybuilding can sometimes be considered a vanity sport.

In my opinion, Vicki Nixon is what female bodybuilding is all about. She deals with mental and physical struggles, hardcore dieting, precise training, and goes "beyond the pain." Although she has retired from bodybuilding, Vicki has proven herself to be a success in the sport. Her kind and giving spirit still continues to help others in the sport, which seems to give her much enjoyment. Vicki Nixon's story proves that will and passion to succeed is vital in bodybuilding, and your heart will take you "beyond the pain".

A great review of Raising the Bar!

I get many emails praising my bodybuilding documentaries Raising the Bar and Raising the Bar 2. I never get tired of hearing how much people enjoy my work! Today I received a review that I felt I must share with you. It's from a Natural Pro bodybuilder that I met at the NGA Mr. & Ms. Philadelphia competition. Joanne was one of the judges at the show. It was very nice to speak with her that day and it is clear from her email that she is a good judge of documentary films as well!! ;-)




Hi Mike, It's Joanne.,

It was a pleasure to meet you at the Mr/Ms Phila show. I don't know how to even begin to put into words what you have managed to create in the two documentaries about your brother Dave. The documentaries are the best that I have ever seen. I have Pumping Iron I and II, and they don't capture the real "behind the scenes" of what bodybuilder's lives are all about. I felt that somehow you took my life and put in into this film but just changed the actors so to speak.

There were moments where I laughed (the food scenes in part I) and your brother's sense of humor, I became nervous for your brother when he was cramping (I have experienced this too), sadness, excitement and exhaustion. I can relate to the family functions that you can't take part in, how your family doesn't understand why you do what you do, the training, long days preparing, all the sacrifices made, etc..

You have captured what most people, other than a bodybuilder, will never see or experience. Sure most people see the glory of the end result when the competitors are on stage, but to live with a bodybuilder or to be one, well it's a very different life style we live "all year" round. I was also born in 1964 so I understand the joint pains, injuries, etc that Dave has experienced. I have watched both DVDs twice already and they are truly motivating. I will watch them over and over as I prepare for my upcoming shows.

Mike, your commentary, interviews, music selection, and how you put the film together is truly amazing and done very professionally. I would recommend that anyone who is a bodybuilder, lives with one, or knows of a bodybuilder should see this video to truly understand "our" lifestyle and the rigorous months, weeks, days, hours we go through to prepare for shows.

I hope some day I get an opportunity to meet your brother. Dave is an inspiration and it's obvious he lives for the sport and to keep his physique in top condition. I have my pro card with a natural organization but have never competed nationally. I did qualify for nationals, but may see what I can do in 2009. I'm anxious to see your next documentary.

I'm so glad that I ran into you at the show and that I purchased the documentaries. Mike, you have done an incredible job and you should be very proud of your work.

Joanne G
IPFA Professional Bodybuilder
http://www.myspace.com/musclegal

The Mr. & Ms. Natural Update!

The NGA allows props and encourages creativity in competitors' posing routines. Here's a brief taste of what went on at the Philly Nat this year!

The disks are ready and will be shipping early this week!

The Mr. & Ms. Natural DVD is nearly done!

I'm putting the finishing touches on my two DVD set of the contest video for the 2008 NGA Mr. & Ms. Natural Philadelphia show that I shot on May 3rd. In the meantime here are a few stills from the video.

Warren Egebo runs a tight show and he always tries to make it interesting. This year was no exception. He had a skit and a parade of competitors to open the show and his guest poser was the inspirational Johnny Quinn, a victim of a motorcycle accident who would never use the "v" word to describe himself!

Congratulations to Adrianna Aliotta and Luther Bradford, the overall winners!

I'm taking pre-orders right now on the "DVDs For Sale" page of my website and expect to be shipping by the end of next week, if not sooner!

What makes a photograph "artistic"?

I think this is one of the best explanations of what makes something artistic that I've ever read!

It was posted by "chubs" over at unrealmuscle.com. Thanks for letting me repost this, chubs!

If a photographer takes a straight shot with good exposure, that's composed pleasantly, we don't generally refer to it as photographic art. He has competently recorded nature and gets credit for skill at a craft, as in this photograph of Mavi Gioia.



If a photographer takes consistently accurate, nicely framed shots for an extended period of time, he may earn credit as somewhat of an artist, but still more a craftsman.

As soon as there's intervention from the photographer, a manipulation of realism, the term artist becomes easier to apply. Here, the viewer starts to think of things other than the depiction of nature, thanks to a rearrangement of elements by the photographer.


People look at that picture of Colette and say, that's an "artistic photograph" because it's more than just a recording of nature. If someone consistently produces images like that, over time is considered more an artist than a craftsman.



Taken to a further point, like in this wonderful example by Patrick of his lovely wife Emery Miller, the photographer imposes his vision to elicit strong emotional reaction, a hallmark common to all things considered "art" by current societal standards.



This is Mike again...I'll take it a bit further and say that the third pic is especially artistic because it begins to abstract nature.

The photographer is asking us not only to appreciate the subject for what it IS, but also for the basic geometric play of light and shadow that is occurring. We begin to enjoy it on multiple levels and that also is the hallmark of art.