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.

l + michael | trailer

Oh the tears! The spectacle! The drama! … and that was just me! Ok, no drama ... but I teared up before the ceremony even started.

When L (yes, L) and Michael had their first look, I could feel the love. I got all mushy and teary-eyed. I’ve really got to learn to control that … can’t focus the camera if I have tears in my eyes. And the spectacle came by way of a beautiful day with the loveliest of sunsets.

Enjoy a tease of one of the most intimate ceremonies I’ve shot this year … only 8 guests.

CAST OF CHARACTERS ...
Bride: The Lovely L (for Laura)

Groom: The Dapper Michael

Ringbearer: Adonis the Dog

Photographer: Vanessa Preziose

Officiant: Archbishop David Cooper

Floral Design: Jenny Barker of Magical Blooms

Couture Bridal: Julie Jones of Encore Bridal

Hair: Ahn Tran

Makeup: Melissa Walsh

Cello: Hope Easton

Wedding Hostess: Alicia Kling

Yummy Eats: Personal Touch Gourmet

and me ... le video chick.

srivitta + steve | highlights

So, I’ve decided I want a Thai water blessing for my wedding. I’d also like a Hora and I’d like my Irish uncle to give us a nice blessing. Oh yeah, while I’m at I think the groom and groomsmen should wear kilts. Hot.

Seriously … does it really matter that I’m not Thai … or Jewish or Scottish or have an Irish uncle? Ok, fine … I’m not getting married either but come on! I’ve seen so many wonderful traditions over the course my career that I’d love to incorporate them all.

Srivitta and Steve didn’t quite do all that I listed above but they did have a Thai water blessing. Lovely.

Congratulations Srivitta & Steve! And thank you … every time I watch you feeding each other cake, I can’t help but smile. Srivitta, you are the loveliest of goofballs.

Coordination: Ida Gardner Events

DJ: Vox DJ's

Location: Shutters on the Beach

Flowers: Lily Pad Floral Design

Photography: Yoshi Ohara

Make-Up: Joyce Luck Style

The OC Fair | Lo-Fi Style

August. Event Filmmaking. Weddings.

Put all three together and that doesn't leave time for much. Shooting and editing is what I do in the summer (and spring, autumn and winter) months but that is my life and I love it. But sometimes, to keep those creative juices flowing, you just have to CTRL+ALT+DEL ... and that's what I did earlier this month. I packed up my retro-footage producing Harinezumi camera and headed off to the Orange County Fair. Of course, I wanted to see how my toy camera would fare at the ... uhm, err ... fair. And, I don't know about you, but when I think of a carnival or fair my mind switches to lo-fi mode. So what a perfect place to play with my toy camera.

The OC Fair | Lo-Fi Style from Isabel Gonzalez on Vimeo.

Maybe I'll head off to the OC Fair one last time before it ends this weekend. I hear deep-fried Oreos calling my name.

AVIA | A Rooftop Soiree

When I wasn't nibbling at the candy table at a fab little soiree on the rooftop of Long Beach's AVIA Hotel, you could find me shooting. Now, I was trying to be sneaky about dipping into the the candy jars. Of course, I'm sure I could have been sneakier ... Note to self: When eating a blueberry candy stick, your tongue and lips will turn blue. Well, so much for sneaky.

By the way ... the AVIA is a sexy little hotel. If you're ever in the area, check it out. For the time being, check out the video.

Congrats to Andrinique and Melissa Selmanson for a beautifully executed event.

Coordination | Andrinique Special Events and Melissa Selmanson from AVIA

Photography | Llanes Weddings (check out their beautiful images of the event)

Candy | Candee by Sandee

Cake | Let Them Eat Cake

stacy + clark | trailer

Voilà!

If this trailer doesn’t make you want to learn French, then I don’t know what will.

Stacy and Clark’s wedding was beautiful … absolutely and unequivocally. Every element was impeccable.

Thank you Stacy and Clark for sharing your love with the world because, whether you know it or not, I believe your energy, your love, make this world just a little brighter.

Photographer: Meg Perotti

Venue: The Jonathan Club

Coordinator: Kimery Events

DJ: RedShoeLA

MY ADVENTURE – Le Update

If you haven’t read my last post, please do. I’ll give you a couple minutes. I’ll be waiting right here ….. (hip lounge music playing in the background) … Cool! You’re back. Please proceed.

Last month, I announced a 50-mile walk (give or take a blister or two) that I’d be doing soon. It would be a combination of adventure, mini-vacation and fundraiser … of course with camera in tow.

When I first looked at my calendar to determine the best dates, late June called out to me. Maybe it was the fact that my birthday was at the end of that week and I love to go to Disneyland on my birthday. Yes, it’s true, I am 12 at heart. And what better way to end a 50-mile walkabout then to be asked, “What are you going to do now?” then to respond “I’m going to Disneyland!”

I’ve since rethought, rethunk and revised. The end of June is right in the middle of my busy season. As much as I’d love to walk at the end of June, my priority at this time of year must be my clients. And so, I’ve changed the walk from late-June to late-October … October 24^th thru the 28^th to be exact.

And not only will that give me more time to get into tip-top shape, I also have time to harass you for donations! Oh joy, joy! All donations will go to the Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research. And if you don’t have a few bucks to donate, no problem … I’ll be keeping the Facebook and Twitter world abreast as to my location. So if you want to support by handing me a caffeinated beverage of some sort as I walk, you’ll be forever in my Y. Yes, I’m easy. Sue me.

To paraphrase the Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu, the journey of fifty miles begins with a single blog post.

Cheers!

MY ADVENTURE – Slightly Redux Le Deux

(a repost of Posh guest blog with a few minor changes)

I’m writing this blog on a pad of paper because typing at my computer seems too much like work …. and this isn’t work, this is an adventure. Adventures are written on paper … like a treasure map. Sometimes you can’t decipher the symbols, some parts of the map may be torn off, and sometimes it’s worn so thin because of the number of times you’ve examined it trying to figure out where the treasure is.

I recently guest blogged on the Posh blogsite, a site created to connect, educate and inspire women visual artists. How flattered was I to be asked to contribute? Well … very! Duh. But what on earth to write about? As the perpetual student (but I guess, aren’t we all?), I didn’t feel an educational piece would be for me. Something fun was a suggestion. Fun? Hmm, ok. What’s more fun than an adventure?

So here’s a story … my story … my little adventure.

A couple months ago I picked up a magazine. The cover story – an L.A. woman that decided to walk 38 miles along the ocean over the course of a few days. She stopped along the way, check out the sights and then moved steadily on. Hmmm. Interesting. What a cool mini-vacation without leaving town. Now, I’m not big walker but the thought of experiencing the city at a 3-mile per hour pace intrigued me. Granted, given L.A.’s infamous traffic sometimes a 3-mile per hour pace is exactly what you get on most freeways.

I Googled maps of Southern California and mapped out a walk. I like to call it a walkabout. Maybe it’s my love the show ‘Lost’ or maybe it’s because I plan to walk about 50 miles but a walkabout sounded pretty to me …. that, and I also didn’t know what else to call it. Now on ‘Lost’, John Locke took his set of knives for his walkabout. What I’ll be carrying is my backpack is a camera, a couple t-shirts, a toothbrush and a few pair of unmentionables.

Now, a walkabout refers to a rite of passage during which male Australian Aborigines undergo a journey during adolescence and live in the wilderness for an extended period of time. So I’m pretty much off the mark on a lot of different levels here. Aborigine? Nope, nah ah. Adolescent? Well, I act like one most of the time. Does that count? Live in the wilderness for an extended period of time? Come on, I’m walking thru L.A. I’d say it’s a wilderness of sorts. Rite of passage? I’m going to guess it’s not.

I did have a rite of passage at one time however ... an unconventional, non-traditional event that could constitute a rite of passage … at least in my book … and definitely for this sake of this story.

As a junior in college, I was diagnosed and treated for ovarian cancer. It’s pretty rare for someone of that age to get that type of cancer but I got it. Long story short, it kicked my butt for a couple years with two major surgeries, a year of chemotherapy and the wonderful side effects that go along with. The prognosis wasn’t great but my reaction was (prep for another ‘Lost/John Locke’ reference), “ Don’t tell me what I can’t do”.

I’m now cancer free and have been for many years. It’s not something I think about very often but it dawned on me as I was mapping out this walk how many charity run/walks there are out there … many of them breast cancer related. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about the boobies. Go team boobie! But if I’m going to walk why not raise money? And why not make this a walk about the ovarian, the female gonads … the she-nads! … the mental and physiological ones. The mental ones that tackle obstacles and the physical ones that help create life.

So on the last week in June*, I’ll be walking from San Pedro to Malibu. Making many stops along the way, enjoying a good meal … or two … or a lot, sleeping a good sleep and documenting as I go. Much of my time recently has been about capturing the lives of others. And for that I feel incredibly lucky. But on this trip I’ll be turning the camera around and documenting my adventure … and for a good cause. And for that, I feel incredibly blessed.

I’ll have a map with me but I’m not out to look for a treasure, I’m in it for the adventure … and for an amazing foot massage at the end! Woohoo!

I’ll be walking for myself.

I’ll be raising money for The Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research.

Anyone wishing to donate may go to www.firstgiving.com/isabelgonzalez. NO amount is too small. Just know I will find you, unabashedly ask for a donation and if that doesn’t work I’ll bludgeon you with silly tweet after tweet until you give. :)

Go team she-nad!

*Since the original posting of this blog on the Posh site, I’ve solidified the dates of my walk. Read my next posting for more info.

A Styled Shoot with Heather Kincaid

Recently, photographer Heather Kincaid invited me to shoot Something Old into Something New: A Styled Shoot. Well, stylish it was. She did an awesome job at capturing the images. She's got talent. No doubt. Check out the photos on her blog .... but before you do, watch the video I put together for this cool shoot.

Cheers!

cassie + robert | trailer

Before I begin the editing process, I like to get a little input from my clients as to the overall style and vibe they’re looking for in their video. Cassie and Robert’s instructions were, and I quote, “We want the video to capture the excitement and joy of our day, so that when our hair is white and our faces are wrinkled (more than they are now) we can watch the video and feel warm and fuzzy.”

Well, number one … what wrinkles now?

Number two, the wedding was so full of joy and laughter, it made my job way easy. So, to Cassie and Robert … thank you. And fifty years from now, as you’re watching your video, take a self-shot/facebook-style photo and send it to me. It would bring a smile to my wrinkly face to see your wrinkly faces and know there’s some warm and fuzzy stuff going on there. :)

Photography: Jason Q Tran Photography

Venue: The Ebell Club, Long Beach

Officiant: Alan Katz

DJ: Station Identification

Kick Ass Cake Bash

What do you get when you combine Fantasy Frostings' cake and some Broke-Ass Bride? Broke-Ass Cake Collection but of course!

And what do you do when you have a launch such as this? Have a Kick Ass Cake Bash … duh!

Catch Dana (The Broke-Ass Bride herself), Hunter (The Fresh Hubby), Leslie Maynor (Fantasy Frostings queen) and Earl Anderson (Mr. Frostings) BRING. IT.

Enjoy!

For those amazing vendors that didn’t make my subliminal messaging in the video, here’s a list of those involved.

(in alpha order)

Alfred Angelo

Beth Helmstetter Events

Bride & Bloom

Cakes & Kisses Wedding Photography

Family Industries Los Angeles

The Flash Dance DJ

The Food Matters

For The Modern Bride

Luscious Libations

NTA Talent Agency

pinkberry

Shannon Lee Images