Author: peterruocco

My first assignment for KQED Arts was a 3 minute piece on the abundance of Illuminated Art currently populating the Bay Area. The piece only touches on a few of the works that are out there and scratches the surface as to what might be behind the increase in public and private art pieces that feature illumination as a prominent element.

I shot it over a number of days. First attending The Exploratorium’s After Dark Event “Glow”, which featured a number of works of illuminated art as well as some talks and exhibits, which explored the science behind illumination and where it is found in nature.

Shooting a live event poses a few challenges, one of which is that it is more or less like shooting a moving train that you have no control over. I had a list of shots I felt would work in the piece as well as four interviews set up over the 3 hours of the event. Of course I kept my eyes open for the magic that just natural happens over the course of a night.

I also took a number of separate trips to some of the pieces at other evenings and shot two interviews with Christian L. Frock and Robin Marks.

For the shots of the art pieces I used a GH3, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and a GoPro4 for the time-lapse.

I stitched it up in final Cut Pro X.

George Grim is a teacher and musician I have the pleasure of working with. He shared with me some stories of his journey as a musician; his influences, styles and inspirations. He is an incredibly generous man and I’m very glad I got this chance to learn about how important music is to him and to get to record him doing his thing with his guitars.

I shot it over a couple of afternoons hanging out with him. The audio of him playing came from a line out of his system into a Tascam DR60. I also used a GH2 with a Lumix 20mm.

Shot and stitched up by Peter Ruocco

Cameras:Panasonic GH3 and GH2.

Original music by George Grim.

In 2013 Boxcar Theatre put on a unique production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” that rocked San Francisco. I was hired to document this groundbreaking production and take a look at the ideas behind the show. I interviewed the shows director Nick Olivero and attended three performances of the show. It was shot with a Panasonic GH3 and the sound captured with a Rhode Videomic Pro. Editing on this one was done with FInal Cut Pro X.

Shot and Stitched up by Peter Ruocco

Hedwig and the Angry Inch produced at Boxcar Theatre, San Francisco CA.
Book by John Cameron Mitchell
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask
Directed by Nick Olivero
Musical Direction David Möschler and Rachel Robinson