Edge of Discovery – CNN

Recently we worked on several pieces for the CNN series “Edge of Discovery” with producer Jennifer Wysocki (you have to check out her show that she is developing).

This one was about the underwater planes developed by a very smart guy out here in California. Check it out.

CNN Special Projects

The last two production days have been for CNN Special Projects. Day one was spent shooting Dave McGinnis from Expedia.com doing several segments for CNN on travel ideas and holiday travel tips. We shot at SF’s Dolores Park on a marvelous sunny fall day with perfect visibility and sunshine. [Had to hide Dave under some scrim to keep the heat down...]

Day two we were over at Genentech doing a profile on Susan Desmond-Hellman who is a senior VP and Doctor at the biotech giant. CNN producer Aikeem Hunter and I spent a nice afternoon getting the tour at Genentech and interviewing Ms Hellman. This is for a Fortune series on the “Most Powerful Women In Business”.

Week before that we were at On24 in SF to do a science and technology shoot about their virtual conference technology that lets trade shows create a virtual version of their exhibits to expand the audience and to help companies cut costs to participate and interact with show exhibitors.

CNNMoney.com

Spent last week shooting features for CNNMoney.com in the SF Bay Area. First day was up in Santa Rosa doing a profile on Amy’s Kitchen (makers of easy to prepare vegetarian meals), then down to Fairfax for a shoot on urban mushing (getting pulled around on your scooter by your eager dog) with Diggler(oh you just have to try one of their scooters, it is pure fun – not a razor experience if you know what I mean) and then over to Brisbane to profile Noel Lee the founder of Monster Cable the makers of all things high quality when it comes to audio,video and power cabling. Great stories that will complement features in Fortune Magazine in coming months.

Historic Day In CA As Gay Marriage OK’ed

The California Court ruled that same sex marriages are legal in the state. On June 16th at 5:01 the first of aw ave of gay marriages began in SF as the Mayor Gavin Newsom presided over the first ceremony. Spent the day shooting live shots and interviews for CNN as they covered the story from sun up to sun set at San Francisco’s City Hall. In the early morning Mayor Newsom came out and interviewed live on CNN’s morning show. At the appointed hour of five o’clock a large crowd of supports and protesters thronged the sidewalk in front of city hall and our location was surrounded by the crowd. Ted Rowlands provided on the scene reporting for CNN at our live location

Electric Dirt Bike?

Recently we did a shoot for CNNMoney/Fortune about an all electric off road motorcycle made by Zero Motorcycles of Scotts Valley. They make a lightweight, battery powered dirty bike that has so much torque I was shocked. This bike is amazing. Fast and quiet. No screaming engine of typical dirt bikes. The only noise is the chain. We had fun shooting this piece.

Zero Motorcycles, a startup based in Scotts Valley, Calif., began shipping a smaller, dirt-bike-like electric motorcycle in January 2008.

The Zero X ($7,450) is intended for off-road use. An eight-employee company founded by former NASA project manager Neal Saiki, Zero will soon offer the Zero S, a hybrid road/off-road dirt bike, which should be available in the next few months. A scooter called the Zero Way is also in the works, with an expected 2009 ship date. Saiki, 41, plans to compete with Brammo on technology as well as price. Zero’s patent-pending lithium ion batteries are three times as powerful and 31% lighter than those in the Enertia, while offering the same running time.