Dee Dee’s Video Biography

Client: Joe Cannata
Work Performed: Video Biography

"This is, and I cross my heart, the greatest gift I've ever gotten in my 50 years of life..." - Dee Dee

Behind the Scenes

This film was shot in 2 locations, Delaware and New York. The client asked us to produce some elements from the hit TV show, "I Love Lucy" as the subject was a huge fan. We reviewed the opening credits of the TV show and recreated the entire opening using Adobe After Effects. We learned 2 things about Denise through shooting this film: She loves to cook, and her relatives love to eat her cooking. We finally met Dee Dee on the night of the premiere. She hugged me like she had know me for years, and I frankly felt like I've known her for years.

Fast Facts

• The shots we got at the New York location were not color-corrected at all. Those stunning images came straight out of the camera, a Sony HVR-Z1U.
• Out of 21 people we interviewed, they all talked about Denise's cooking, specifically her Rice Balls.
• The "ventriloquist" sequence at the end of the movie was brilliant, and ended up being the only way we could get Ray to appear in the scene. I wish I could say it was my idea. Ray stole the show and happened to also be the last person interviewed that day.
• My father-in-law, the subject of a different Pixeldust Film, helped with the lighting on the New York shoot. He also provided a face to look at for the subjects while they were being interviewed. He's credited as a "Key Grip" and a "Lighting Assistant" in the end credits.
• On the evening of the premiere, Gino had to pretend he didn't know any of Dee Dee's relatives, as it would have given it away that we had somehow met before the evening of the party. Her relatives played it beautifully, and, for the most part, ignored me completely until we rolled the film.

Watch a film of the client talking about the process of making a videobiography with Gino behind the camera. below!

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