Shooting Footage at a Quarry - by Mark Schulze

One of my more interesting recent video production gigs here in San Diego involved a local quarry with large earth-shifting machinery manufactured in Ireland. I was a Director of Photography hired by Miracles Productions out of Ireland. These great photos are by Producer and Director, Dave Johnston.

Those Were the Good Old Days - by Mark Schulze

Soccer Team, White Horse, Yukon, 1986 - Photograph by Patty Mooney

My wife, Patty, recently had some slides digitized. These particular slides have been in a binder on a shelf since 1986 when she and I sold or gave away everything, halted our video production business, rented our house out to some tenants, and set out from our hometown of San Diego for the wilds of North America in a small Chinook camper. We ended up driving 25,000 miles in the course of nine months. Along the way, Patty took some photographs and I shot video footage to document our adventures. I'm third from the left in the above shot, the guy with the lanky blonde locks (which are sadly no more).

On this particular day, after hanging out with some newfound friends in White Horse, Yukon, Canada, the soccer team invited me to play a game. As you can tell, they were quite fond of Coke.

We have since unfortunately lost touch with these wonderful, generous and hospitable people, but here's a shout out, 22 years later. Thanks for all the great times! Man, those were the good old days!

My Days With Mario Lopez - Before He Made It Big - by Mark Schulze

Mark Schulze and Mario organize Mario's cue cards - Photo by Patty Mooney

This little girl had a Chihuahua (pictured below); she was enthralled with Mario - Photo by Patty Mooney

Many people don't realize or remember that before he was the face of Extra, Mario Lopez was once Animal Planet's Pet Star Search "ringleader." He and his "dog and pony show" used to come to San Diego every Spring in search of the world's funniest, most talented and videogenic animals. The first year there was a horse that could stamp out the answer to various math questions. There was also this amazing dog that ended up winning the prize for best talent that year. After that, no more horses showed up, and the level of talent seemed to decline. All in all it was a good three-year run and we are happy that Mario has been doing so well with his career since those happy and innocent days.

Don't Shoot the Brewmaster! - by Mark Schulze

Mark Schulze, Jim Koch and Patty Mooney

Don't shoot the brewmaster! Okay, that's my little allusion to the old quote, "Don't shoot the piano player." It's an inference that you don't want to destroy something or someone that brings you pleasure. And I was being sarcastic, in that I DID shoot this particular brewmaster, Mr. Jim Koch, the CEO of Samuel Adams, but I shot him with my camera when he appeared at the Craft Beers Convention in San Diego last summer. If you've ever seen the Sam Adams commercials on television, yes, that really is Jim's voice.

This is a man who knows his beers! And why not? He is a third-generation brewmaster, and he and his forebears have been immersed in hops for decades. See the taps behind us? That is what they call a "perk" of the gig. It was one of the best video production gigs I have had the pleasure to be a part of.

Some of the finest beers on Earth, right there in that room. Well, as they say, someone has to do it! As someone who is part German, I certainly know how to appreciate well-crafted beers. And so does my wife, Patty, who is part Irish. 'Nuf said.

An Interview With Ced Dempsey - by Mark Schulze

Ced Dempsey and Director of Photography/Videographer, Mark Schulze - Photo by Patty Mooney

Now that March has roared in like a lion, it seems like a great time to talk about the day we shot a short interview of Ced Dempsey, who is one of the most respected men involved with intercollegiate athletics in the United States.

According to his bio on the Albion College website, Ced Dempsey, who has been President of the NCAA since 1994, "has championed athletic involvement as a means of enhancing international understanding. He provides leadership for the more than 1,200 colleges, universities, conferences, and affiliated organizations that comprise the association."

Additionally, "A nine-time letter winner in three different sports at Albion (football, basketball, and baseball), Ced was named the MIAA Most Valuable Player in basketball his senior year and was inducted as a charter member of the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. From 1959 to 1962, Ced served as Albion’s head basketball and cross country coach. The following year he was dean of men."

"Prior to joining the NCAA, he was director of athletics at four institutions, the University of Arizona, University of the Pacific, San Diego State University, and the University of Houston.
He earned a doctorate from the University of Illinois in 1963. A recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Albion in 1993, he was presented with an honorary doctor of laws degree from the College in 1995."

"He and his wife, June Luke Dempsey, ’54, recently funded extensive improvements in the College’s softball field. The Dempseys are the parents of three children and reside in Indianapolis."

It was a great pleasure for my wife, Patty, who is also my sound person, and I to meet Mr. Dempsey. It would be difficult to meet a more gracious man. Although Patty met the late, great Pete Newell a couple of years ago, just before he passed, and he, too, was fantastic.

The great Pete Newell - Photo by Patty Mooney

"The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans" Website

We are very excited to announce that the website for our multiple award-winning documentary, "The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans" has been updated with our latest awards. There's a trailer there and viewers can click on that and see the four-minute piece that highlights the plight of nearly a quarter of a million homeless veterans across the nation. Every American needs to see it. The thing is, those who served their country and performed the work that was required of them should not be disposed of like trash. There are veterans from every war, even going back to WW2, who are sleeping on the sidewalks. We have troops coming home now from Afghanistan and Iraq who are slipping through the cracks and finding themselves sleeping in cars and on park benches because they missed one payment on their home or apartment. After getting clued in by watching the trailer, you will realize how deluded someone like Bill O'Reilly is when he says "there are no homeless veterans." Yep, and I have some swamp land to sell you in Florida.

Premiere of "The Invisible Ones" at San Diego Public Library

This last Sunday afternoon was matinee time for around a hundred people who came to see the world premiere of our latest project, a documentary called "The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans. The reason we created this documentary is that we felt not enough people know about the plight of homeless veterans; they comprise around half the population of homeless on our streets. My wife, Patty, has written extensively about this topic, so if you are interested in learning more about veterans, and homeless veterans in particular, read these blogs by Patty Mooney. Here are the links.

Our Gift to Veterans

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

Steve Mason's "The Wall Within"

"The Invisible Ones" Wins Two Prestigious Awards