I'VE MOVED!!!!

If you've come this far maybe you'd be willing to go one step further!

My blogsite has moved to www.isabelcinema.com. My company name has changed as well. It's now Isabel Cinematheque ... new name, same cool wedding films. :)

Please come visit me there. I'll leave the porch light on for ya!

Cheers,
Isabel

cathy + william | trailer

More often than not I’ll give you a back story as to my bride and groom’s wedding and the happenings of the day. In this case … hmmm, maybe not. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot going on – beautiful flowers, serene location, glowing bride. But as I edited this piece, I was drawn to what Anthony Yuro, the officiant, said during the ceremony. And what he said went beyond the “I Do’s” and the beauty and details of the day. It was about the couple’s future and the possibilities. As I painted this picture that is Cathy & William’s trailer, I’d like to think that I could see glimpses of their future … and let me tell you, it looks sweet.

I hope you see it too.







Lest me not forget about the stellar cast of characters …

Flowers & Planning: Stephanie Grace Designs
Venue: The Langham Hotel
Photography: Roberto Valenzuela
Officiant: Anthony V. Yuro
DJ: DJ Denkym
Cake: The Langham Hotel
Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Strings by Reiko
Hair: Shelby Pence shelbypence@gmail.com
Make-up: Lisa Le Lelisa1111@gmail.com
Linens & Chairs: Elegant Designs

summer + julian | trailer

Summer and Julian wanted to transport their guests to a different time and place … and that they did!

With the help of their event planner and designer, the ever-fab Amber Gustafson, we were off to the swingin’ land of cigar girls and pin up dolls. And the perfect backdrop for the festivities … well, Cicada off course. Everything turned out beautifully. From the bride’s gift to the groom – a necktie with an image of herself in pin-up attire to the vintage photo booth to Summer’s surprise performance with the singer/dancers of Satin Dollz. And you can’t go back in time without a little Super 8 film for that dreamy nostalgic feel, right?

It was oh so fun but don’t take my word for it. Check it out.






Cast of characters:

Planning and Design: Amber Gustafson - Amber Events
Venue: Cicada
Photography: Natalie Moser
Band: Dave Damiani & the No Vacancy Orchestra
Floral: Holly Flora
Cake & dessert buffet: Fantasy Frosting
Entertainment: Satin Dollz
Photobooth: Paper Moon Vintage
Lighting: Aspect Lighting
Cigar Girls: Ron Rubin Events

And a special thanks to guest filmmaker Kat Small.

sarah + gino | highlights

Sarah is cool.
Gino is warm.
Together they’re friggin’ awesome …
…. and darn cute!

Here’s a little sumpin’ sumpin’ I put together for them.

Some details about the shoot: The majority of the footage was shot with a Canon 7d. You’ll also see little snippets of lo-fi footage. Sarah and Gino wanted an ethereal, yet organic feel to their wedding film. Enter the Harinezumi toy camera! It’s not Super 8 film (nor is it supposed to be) but it was a cool way to weave in some fun, lo-fi footage.

What was also fun about using the Harinezumi was the reactions I’d get by shooting with this camera. It’s only about 3-1/2 inches wide and about 1-1/2 inches tall. Here I am shooting with a beautiful DSLR camera then I switch it out for a toy camera. I’m sure it had a few people wonderin’. ;)

But wonder no more. Sit back and enjoy.





Cast of characters:

Coordination: Amber Gustafson - Amber Events
Venue: Cicada
Photography: Callaway Gable
DJ: THC Electra, Mike Bocek
Floral & Lighting: Designs by David
Hair & Makeup: Fiore Makeup
Cake: Vanilla Bake Shop

khali + potsch

Hey izzy!!

Khali and I just watched our wedding video. I think the whole thing was out of focus. ... Oh wait that was me CRYING through every minute of it!! We loved it!! Thank you SO MUCH for capturing our most important day (to date) so beautifully and with such honesty and dignity.

Loved it loved it loved it.

-P



That's the email I received from the groom. Nice, right?

So what can I tell you about their wedding day? It was fun, sweet, full of laughter and full of tears. Khali and Potsch? Well, I love them. I straight out love them. They're creative, loving and incredibly open. Their day was full of whimsy and a down-to-earth-no-putting-on-airs vibe here.

There were lots of special moments ...

Such as the guests passing the wedding rings on a rope made out of fabric remnants all the way up to the altar creating a chain of friends or the processional song that includes lyrics like "she thinks all my jokes are corny, convict movies make her horny" or the sausage station for dinner ... it was all downright good stuff.

That's enough words. Enjoy the some moving pictures. (Super 8 film was the cherry on top.)



Don't forget to let the video load completely before watching for smoother viewing. Coolio?


Cast of characters ...

Bride: Khali
Groom: Potsch
Event Planner: Angel Swanson of Events of Love and Splendor
Photographer: Kelty of Steep Street
DJ: Ian of Red Shoe
Oh yeah .. and me! Isabel, Event Filmmaker. :)

Did I forget to mention that Khali and Potsch create and sell some really cool stuff online? Check it out ... HERE.

**************

alice + dennis | highlights

It's a big responsibility to document a couple's nuptials.

It's exciting to piece all the footage together and create a wedding film.

And when you've shot the older sister's wedding a year earlier and now you're shooting little sis' wedding and you know that she and her new husband will be moving to Shanghai only two weeks later ... well, gosh darn it, you just feel all mushy inside. 

Alice and Dennis got married on March 5, 2011 at Cravens Estate in Pasadena. I shot Alice's older sister's wedding - Janice and James -  in 2010. So when it came time to shoot and edit Alice and Dennis' highlight reel, I felt like I was watching a friend get married. I'm lucky the Meng sisters found me. Too bad there aren't any more. Sigh. 

I'm so excited for them. What a wonderful adventure they're embarking on. And thank goodness for Facebook. 

P.S. Did I mention Lawry's The Prime Rib catered the event? I was in carnivore heaven.

alice + dennis | highlights from Isabel Gonzalez on Vimeo.

Cast of characters ...

Coordination: Priscilla Valere 

Photography: Sara Allen - onelove photography

Catering: Lawry's The Prime Rib

Venue: Cravens Estate

lauren + nick | highlights

Lauren was just the cutest, silliest thing. There was no hiding her enthusiasm during her vows. And why should she? She's in love! Yay! Shout out to the L-O-V-E. 

She and Nick had plenty to be happy about on their wedding day. Hmmm, where do I start? The location was stellar - The Grand del Mar in San Diego. She didn't have to worry about coordinating anything because Gianna SanFilippo of Chic Celebrations had everything moving smoothly ... like buttah. Photographer Jonas Peterson flew in from Australia to shoot the event. If you haven't seen his work, I highly suggest it. The flowers? Tres tres chic and designed by JL Designs. Musical prowess by Blue Skies Entertainment. The party - bangin' thanks to Martin Felipe & Victor Guiseppe of Invisible Touch Events. The pièce de résistance was a performance by the Jersey Boys ... yup, aha ... as in Broadway's Jersey Boys. 

With all these talented folk milling about, I had to remind myself to close my mouth as my jaw was in constant drop mode.  :)

lauren + nick | a grand del mar highlights from Isabel Gonzalez on Vimeo.

Cotton Club Party

Around Christmas time as a child, I’d sit near the brightly lit tree and squint my eyes slightly as to make it all a little out of focus so the lights would glimmer just a little bit more. I’d imagine I was swimming amongst these twinkling lights.

Recently, I shot a birthday party with a fun theme … imagine Harlem’s Cotton Club of the 1920’s and 30’s. In piecing the opening sequence to this video together I was trying to come up with a way to help squint your eyes so you can imagine being elsewhere. Although, I don’t typically grunge up footage the way I did with this video, I thought I’d have a little fun and help transport you to a different time.

Also, I’d love to take you into the party a little bit more but once you see who threw the party maybe you’ll understand why I have to keep it on the DL … fo shizzle.  ;)

Coordination: Andrinique Events
Sweets: Candee by Sandee
Location: The Kress Hotel
Invitations: Richie Letterpress & Design
Dessert: Christopher Garren's Let Them Eat Cake

J + A | Trailer

Texans J + A chose Southern California for their destination wedding and they nailed it. They must have called ahead for perfect weather because the day couldn’t have been any nicer. From their ceremony site at Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes you could clearly see Catalina Island. From the reception site at La Venta, you could see all the way up to Malibu on the west and downtown L.A. to the east. It served as quite a backdrop for their first dance … and the surprise flash mob.

Of course you say flash mob and you don’t exactly think shy and reserved. Quite the contrary … this wedding had fun written all over it … and I hope this trailer reflects that.

J + A: Congratulations. If your first day as a married couple is just a fraction of what you’ll have in the future, I say you’re gonna have a good ol’ time.

Cast of characters:

Coordination - Resha Zazueta, Something To Celebrate

Ceremony Location - Wayfarers Chapel

Reception Location - La Venta

Photography - Craig Davis, Studio 563

DJ - Tribe DJ

Hair/Makeup - Design Visage 

Clark's Dad & Tons of Smiling

I recently edited a wedding video. There is nothing unique in that since I edit often and for many hours …

                      but there was something that struck me on this edit. It was a moment that under most circumstances may have gone unnoticed.

Attention was on the action - the bride and groom being hoisted up into the air during their hora. They clumsily reached out for each other's hand as one chair was being going up and the other was going down. Lovely, lovely moment. Off to the side, however, there was another camera rolling. What it captured, in my eyes, was beautiful and sweet. The father of the groom … a man not strong enough to dance around the dance floor is in the foreground, slowly waving his arm at his son who was a good 20-25 feet away on the dance floor. Whether it was to get his son's attention or simply to celebrate and join in his son's joy, it doesn't matter. It was a sweet, simple moment.

And the rest of this party sequence is an exercise in smiling. Everyone is smiling and, I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but smile myself. It’s like a virus. That’s the kinda virus I can get behind.