MITÚ JOINS US ON SET
Photographer & Dugud Lab co-founder, Zack McDowell, was featured on mitú for our recent collaboration with Dior Vargas' mental health photo project. He handled key photography for the book, The Color of My Mind: Mental Health Narratives from People of Color. Check out the teaser video and learn more about the individuals involved in this project.
STUDIO REEL
Summer is officially here! Things are heating up in the city and for all of our clients that like to stay cool inside we've put together a reel of our best studio work. Featuring work from Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, Kim Dawson Agency and many others. Drop us a line and let us know what you think -- hello@dugudlab.com
THE COLOR OF THE MIND
Dugud Lab has partnered with Latinx feminist and mental health advocate, Dior Vargas, on an exciting new photography project. Dior has worked over the past few years speaking and leading conversations about the intersection of race and mental health. She is the creator of the People of Color and Mental Illness Photo Project and we have teamed up to expand that message into an artistic exhibit that will be released early next year and a book in the near future. Dugud Lab and Dior will be working over the next month to capture portraits and stories of 60 people of color in NYC who share stories of their health experiences.
We’ve already began conversations and capturing the beautiful lives of individuals in the Bronx and Brooklyn but are hoping to cover more territory. Currently we have a few slots open for those who want to participate in our studio shoot taking place May 27th & 28th. If you’re interested and available in joining this project, live in the NY metro area and fit any of the descriptions below - sign up online at Dior's site.
Asian or Native American
Male, trans, or gender non-conforming
Live in Queens
Couples, friends or family members also dealing with mental illness (group interview)
People with physical disabilities
***Update: the book has been completed and published. The Color of My Mind: Mental Health Narratives from People of Color is available for purchase now.
STRONG: A SHORT FILM
As Halloween approaches, most people are thinking of goblins, ghouls, and any other thing that strikes fear in them. Fear of what lies beyond, underneath, and most importantly within. For this season we decided to create a beauty film that tells our own tale of a haunting. Paying attention to the skeletons left unseen in a relationship, Zack McDowell creates a dark tale on what it means to supported by a partner. Like a bad dream where you're falling, forever panicked of just when you'll hit the ground, models Laurie Bing and Devin Way lift one another in various AcroYoga positions - not knowing if and when they should let go. This film is accompanied with an original composed piece by Jason Arias who set the mood with his darkly romantic melody. This film begs the question - is it fear or love that keeps us in tumultuous relationships?
Director: Zack McDowell
Talent: Laurie Bing and Devin Way
Director of Photography: Nick Sherman
Assistant Camera: Justin Scheidt
Hair and Makeup: LB Rooser
Location Provided by: Doug Vousin
Music: Jason Arias
OUR TRIP TO KENYA
The fog of jetlag has lifted. We’re back in the New York office catching up on all that we’ve missed while out of the country. Over the past couple of weeks, we were in Kenya creating a series of remarkable videos for a non-profit organization, Empower Dreams, that’s working to fund a waterline project in the Rift Valley Area. This water is said to service a world-class school that is sure to radically change this region. It’s been amazing to witness all the challenges that the folks in the town of Mai Mahiu have been tirelessly working to address so they can get back to creating change for themselves and their community.
LensRentals.com was great partner in this trip. We have used them several times over the past couple of years but when we told them what we were working on they were extremely helpful in setting us up with the gear we needed. We captured footage from this trip using the Sony Fs7 and Sony A7s. The dynamic range and high frame rate made it a perfect match for all the dreamy inspirational footage we were looking to get. We also rented a Movi M10, which has surprising become a workhorse for us. Every time we rent one of these we are blown away by its capabilities. This trip we pushed its ability is by using it as stabilizer during a bike-riding scene. Looking through the footage it’s pretty impressive what it was able to handle. While some view the Movi as a toy, it has been eye opening to see how it changes the way we shoot - really causing us to get into the action from a first person perspective oppose to shooting a scene as a passive viewer.
We had a small but mighty crew this trip. Zack McDowell directed while Nick Sherman acted as the Director of Photography. He did a phenomenal job really pushing what could be visually accomplished out in rural Kenya. We had a great driver that turned out to be an aspiring gaffer. Through out the trip Victor was great set of hands and eyes while keeping out of danger. Lana Adams was sent from the Empower Dreams Marketing team. She photographed the entire trip, helped keep us inspired, and made sure we started each day with a smile. Megan Haynes was our on the ground producer which was imperative to coordinate all fluctuating details and schedules throughout the two weeks. Paul Staudacher, founder of Empower Dreams, joined us half way through the trip. He was a great client to work for as he helped build expectations then allowed room for creative freedom. With a small crew it’s important that everyone has a team spirit and has creative synergy. This crew defiantly hit both marks consecutively.
This was Zack’s third time traveling back to this area and it seems that each time he goes new relationships are formed. Mary is the principle of Cornerstone Academy, the school receiving the waterline, and she was monumental to the production of these videos. Acting as a translator and assistant director, her level of leadership and wisdom was truly motivating. We could go on for days for how much of an impact she had on uplifting our spirits for those two weeks but for now we will say that she is truly a lifetime friend of Dugud. While there, we spent sometime with a group of people that have been displaced from their homes after the 2008 Post Election Violence. Their settlement called Mwi’ Hungiri translates to “a people who fend for themselves”. Their stories while vast, all captured the triumph of the human sprit and just how far a community will go to thrive through opposition. While we didn’t have enough time to shoot a video dedicated to them they will be on our hearts for many years to come.
Currently, we are in the trenches of post but we look forward to sharing these inspirational videos mid-November. In the meantime, check out the rest of our pictures from our trip below. If you are looking to donate or get involved with what is going on in the Rift Valley head over to EmpowerDreams.org and learn more about the great work those guys are doing.
KIM DAWSON'S MODEL SEARCH
Recently we had the honor of creating some promotional videos for the Kim Dawson Agency's upcoming model search. Since 1997, KDA has hosted a contest that’s attracted thousands of potential models from around the country. Through their search, they’ve discovered some of today's top talent like Erin Wasson, Ali Michael, and R'el Dade. To announce the upcoming search they reached out to Dugud Lab to create an interview video series that features their top New York models.
Our favorite part of this campaign was being able to create videos from a social first perspective. Composed of interview outtakes, these short square videos would direct viewers to the contest guidelines and follow to the full length interview on their blog. Roaming the streets of NYC and showcasing the beauty that’s all around was a fun way to re-introduce the world to their talent.
THE LIBERTY PROJECT
Zack McDowell made his editorial debut on the Liberty Project with two articles about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Liberty Project is the modern revival of Liberty Magazine, an iconic american lifestyle publication that dominated newsstands from 1924 to 1950. Much like the original magazine, The Liberty Project shines light on aspects of liberty that touch people's lives through an array of thought-provoking, first person perspectives on popular culture, world events, and societal issues from today's great writers, artist and thinkers. We are honored to join the ranks of many great writers and thinkers. Click on the articles below to read, leave a comment and let us know what you think.
JCPENNEY | SPRING TRENDS
One of our favorite clients, JCPenney, tapped us to shoot some of the hottest new looks of the season. During their New York showcase, we were able to work with their designers and Style Expert, Nina Garcia, on what people should aim to buy this season. Whether you’re looking for bold graphics or sport-chic, JCPenney has it all under one roof. Check out some of our digital spots that ran online and on JCP’s social.