AbelCine's Brooklyn Open House

Highlights of our new 44,000 sq ft facility include a large, interactive sales showroom, spacious rental check-out bays, and a state-of-the-art equipment service center. Creative panels will be taking place in our new training theater, which is equipped with 4K projection and a 15-foot screen.

We're excited for you to come celebrate with us and explore our new space. Details of the day's events are posted below and will be updated as the date gets closer.

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Creative Panels

A distinguished group of production professionals and media creatives will take part in discussions on how changing technologies have affected their approach to the craft, as well as their experiences working in the New York production community. Panelists will include cinematographers, media creatives, and more.

Creating Killer Branded Content

Alec Morrison

Alec Morrison is currently the Executive Director, Content + Strategy at The Foundry, Time Inc.’s content marketing and creative studio, where he leads content ideation and execution for the Auto, Sports and Home categories. The Foundry produces native and branded storytelling across the company’s full portfolio of brands, reaching seven of 10 Americans across all channels and platforms. In the past year alone, Alec’s team has worked with clients such as Jaguar, Lexus, Motorola, Gatorade, KitchenAid and Holiday inn Express, helping them align their marketing objectives with the voices and perspectives of Time Inc.’s trusted brands.

Prior to joining The Foundry, Alec spent 17-plus years at Sports Illustrated as a writer, editor and, ultimately, director of branded content. In 2015 he launched the branded studio SI Overtime, working in close partnership with the title’s sales, marketing and editorial divisions to position SI’s branded efforts across a broader range of media. Follow Alec on Twitter: @MorrisonAlec

Kim Rittberg

Kim is currently the Vice President of Native Video, East Coast for PopSugar. She oversees the execution and ideation of client-funded video projects. Before PopSugar Kim was the Head of Video / Executive Producer at Us Weekly. Kim created the celebrity magazine's first-ever digital video unit; overseeing the strategy, programming and production for all digital video content, Kim grew Us Weekly Video views 40x in less than 2 years through innovative, shareable content distributed through a multi-platform approach. Kim supervised a team of 18 and constructed a live video facility and all the programming for Facebook Live, producing 300 hours and 700 videos over a year. Kim also created Us Weekly franchise video series like Out of This World with Coco Austin, Teach Us, and What's in My Bag. For Us Weekly's branded content, Kim created and launched the flagship Red Carpet Daily for AT&T. She worked hand-in-hand with Sales and Marketing to respond to RFPs and oversaw from ideation to execution successful programs for clients like Bloomingdale's, Clairol, Olay, Nutrish, and Walgreens across the style, beauty, lifestyle, entertainment, parenting and pets sectors.

A natural storyteller, Kim is a versatile writer, producer and director who has written and produced for television's top shows for many years, from hour-long lifestyle and re-creation shows such as The Fabulous Life of Justin Bieber and Top 100 Sand & Surf Hotspots to live daily news programs like On The Record with Greta Van Susteren and Inside Edition. At On the Record with Greta Van Susteren, Kim produced the 2008 Democratic National Convention, President Obama’s 2008 Inauguration and interviews with newsmakers like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She traveled to Peru to cover the arrest of Joran Van Der Sloot, which culminated in the show’s highest-rated two-night special. 

She graduated with honors from the Annenberg School at the University of Pennsylvania, with a major in Communication and minors in Art History and Spanish. She was an Order of Omega Honor Society member & Beta Eta Scholarship winner for leadership. She also studied improv comedy at UCB and spent a year traveling around the world. Follow Kim on Twitter: @kimrittberg

Sarah Semlear

Sarah Semlear is the Director of Post Production & Technical Operations at Vox Media, focusing on technology infrastructure and operations for production, post production, and OTT content. Sarah started off in the creative world as a video editor, which has given her insight into user based workflows and an understanding into how to build effective systems and infrastructure for creative users.

Sarah began her career at Comedy Central, as an editor for the digital platforms. Noticing issues with process and areas of improvement with user facing systems, she started working with the development team for in house systems to create a better user experience, eliminate bugs, and build new features. From there, she transitioned into a management and operations role, expanding her knowledge in video technology and infrastructure, and began her first media asset management project. Simultaneously, she coordinated digital media operations, working with the network operations and Viacom shows to facilitate delivery of taped, live to tape, and live content.

After joining Vox Media, Sarah immediately began working to improve technology infrastructure and operational process. She is currently in the midst of a media asset management project, and is looking to continue expanding efficiencies and capabilities within Vox Media’s constantly evolving system.

Andrew Scott Willis

Andrew Scott Willis is currently the Studio Operations Manager at Vox Media, where he oversees day to day resource allocation workflows for editorial, agency, and OTT content. For the past four years, he has taken strategic steps in growing sustainable practices that ensure smooth productions for each of Vox’s nine networks, while still remaining on the cutting edge of new technologies.

Andrew started in the camera and grip & electric departments of the NY film industry and quickly found a love of the ever-expanding world of production equipment. Numerous features, shows, and commercials bred an understanding of necessary technologies and how they interact with production as a whole. At Vox, Andrew strives to instill that same level of understanding in the companies constantly shifting production slate.

Andrew Zarick – Moderator

Andrew Zarick is the CEO & Founder of Digital DUMBO, a community of and an event series for digital and creative influencers in New York, London & innovative cities everywhere. Through Digital DUMBO, Andrew has produced over 150 events in 8 cities and 4 countries with global companies like Microsoft, Google, and Samsung, agencies like Huge and MRM//McCann, and emerging techcompanies like Kenshoo, Taboola and WIREWAX. He also has a consultancy called EXPLORERS where he works with companies who want to build communities of influence to drive marketing, business & digital transformation goals forward. Most recently he’s worked with the team at Kearny Point, a 130 acre former-naval shipyard being redeveloped into a modern hub for innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs. Prior to founding Digital DUMBO, Andrew was a digital marketer working on efforts for brands like MTV, Time Inc, Univision, and Michael Kors. He’s originally from Louisville and appreciates a good bourbon (or a craft beer!). Learn more at andrewzarick.com.

Live from NY: Backstage with the DPs of SNL

Charlie Gruet

Charlie Gruet has worked as a Director of Photography in Los Angeles, New York, and abroad since the turn of the century. Charlie’s work has brought him to all corners of the globe, and his experience as a Cinematographer in commercials and documentaries has created a unique, visual style that blends eye-catching imagery with the intimate and emotional content necessary for shaping powerful narratives. Currently, Charlie is shooting Season 43 of Saturday Night Live, working as one of three cinematographers in the show’s Film Unit. He re-teamed with Director Paul Briganti on SNL’s Season 42 after serving as Cinematographer for Briganti’s feature, Village People.

Charlie recently wrapped the Lionsgate feature film Most Likely to Murder. Gruet continued his role as Director of Photography on the second season of HBO’s High Maintenance, airing in January 2018. He re-teamed with Director Matt Ogens, to film the feature length documentary, Meet the Hitlers, which is currently airing on Showtime. Gruet was the Director of Photography and Producer of the critically acclaimed feature documentary Confessions of a Superhero, which had its domestic television premiere on the Sundance Channel.

Charlie has lensed a number of the short documentary films for both CNN Heroes and Stand Up 2 Cancer. Another feature documentary shot by Gruet, The Self-Made Man, was part of the PBS program P.O.V. and was nominated for two Emmy Awards in the journalism category (long format).

Charlie is a member of the International Cinematographers Guild, Local 600 and lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters. See more of his work at www.charliegruet.com.

Blake McClure

At an early age, Blake McClure found himself enthralled with "making of" clips found on VHS movies (especially the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). He comes from a world of shooting music videos, commercials and shorts. His work has been awarded with the Special Jury Award for Comedic Storytelling at Sundance, on the short The Arm (written and directed by Brie Larson, Sarah Ramos, and Jessie Ennis). His cinematography work in TV includes series such as FX's You're the Worst, CMT's Still the King, Comedy Central's Big Time in Hollywood, FL, and four seasons on Comedy Central's Drunk History, which earned him the American Cinematographers (ASC) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Half-Hour Episodic Series in 2014.

Blake's recent credits include a feature starring Taran Killam and Arnold Schwarzenegger titled Why We're Killing Gunther and a new series for NBC titled AP BIO (produced by Lorne Michaels and Broadway Video). He is currently in his second year with Saturday Night Live as part of their Film Unit, shooting shorts for their weekly live broadcast. See more of his work at www.blake-mcclure.com.

Jason Vandermer

Bio coming soon.

John Inwood – Moderator

John Inwood is an Emmy nominated cinematographer with work affiliations in both New York and Los Angeles.

After receiving a B.A. in English Literature at Vassar College, he attended New York University Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Film School where he received an MFA. He pursued a career in cinematography, following his work as a lighting electrician and gaffer, entering the NABET Union while still in grad school. After learning from established D.P.'s, including Fred Murphy and Frank Prinzi, John became a full time cinematographer.

Now as an established cinematographer himself, John has photographed a wide range of projects including television, feature films, commercials, music videos, and documentaries. He is well-versed in all formats of both digital and film mediums: Sony F55, RED DRAGON, ARRI ALEXA, 35mm, Super16, and all HD mediums. He made his marks in independent films in New York, on such films as: The Daytrippers, Face, and Six Ways to Sunday. His most recent film, The Best and the Brightest, stars Neil Patrick Harris. John has worked much of his career on television shows, such as NBC/ABC's Scrubs, NBC's Parks and Recreation, Fox's The Goodwin Games, NBC's The Michael J. Fox Show, and most recently Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

John's career to date includes over 200 episodes of television. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Best Cinematography for his work on Scrubs. See more of his work at www.johninwooddp.com.

Creative Forces: A Conversation with Claudio Miranda

Claudio Miranda

Claudio Miranda is a Chilean cinematographer best known as the Academy Award-winning director of photography on Ang Lee's film Life of Pi and as the director of photography on David Fincher's film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Though drawn to the world of film from an early age, Miranda's career began in the music industry, where he served as a lighting technician on the U2 concert film Rattle and Hum. Continuing to gain experience, Miranda performed duties as an electrician, gaffer and lighting engineer on a number of features, including Crimson Tide, with future frequent collaborator Tony Scott. Miranda also served as a gaffer on David Fincher's Se7en, which was the beginning of another colloborative relationship with the director. 

After alternating between work under directors Scott and Fincher as a lighting technician and gaffer on The Fan, The Game, Enemy of the State, and Fight Club, Miranda made his debut as a motion picture cinematographer on several shorts. Within three years, he had graduated to his first project as a director of photography on a feature film, Failure to Launch. In tandem with these larger endeavors, Miranda's work as a cinematographer on commercials for Nike, Motorola and Hummer allowed him to collaborate with several of the industry's more innovative directors. Miranda's work was frequently singled out for major awards and nominations, including a Clio for a spot for Xelibri and an AICP Honoree for his work with Fincher on a 90-second ad for Heineken. The following year, Miranda provided additional photography for Fincher's Zodiac before becoming the primary DP on the director's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. His work on the film earned Miranda a number of award nominations in 2008 and 2009, including Best Cinematography from both the BAFTA and Academy awards.

Having enjoyed his collaborations on various commercial jobs with director Joseph Kosinski, Miranda signed on as cinematographer TRON: Legacy. Having gained a reputation as an innovator unafraid of technical challenges, it was no surprise that director Ang Lee approached Miranda to act as cinematographer on his next film, Life of Pi. Based on the novel by Yann Martel, it was an adventure tale of self-discovery about a young boy (Suraj Sharma) who, after being the sole survivor of a harrowing shipwreck, finds himself stranded in the middle of the Pacific on a lifeboat alongside a Bengal tiger. For his work on Life of Pi, Miranda received multiple awards, including the Academy Award for Best Cinematography and the BAFTA for Best Cinematography. To see more of his work, visit claudiomiranda.com

Jeff Lee – Moderator

Vsit our Open House Schedule for the timing of these panels and other events.

Equipment Displays & Presentations

Equipment will be on display throughout the space, so you can get an up close look at the newest gear from manufacturers, including:

Additionally, manufacturer specialists will give presentations throughout the day, so you can learn more about their latest offerings. AbelCine technical specialists will also be on hand to answer any questions and give you a closer look at the equipment on display. Interested in owning any of that new gear for yourself? Our sales representatives will be available to work on a quote with you.

Silent Auction & Raffle

Bid on equipment packages and score a great deal on overstock, demo, and pre-owned gear in the silent auction. You can also enter a raffle for a range of prizes, from camera gear to free training classes and more. 

Community Partners

We'll be highlighting some of our great New York community partners throughout the space. Make sure to visit their tables and talk with them over the course of the day to learn more about their filmmaker resources, as well as upcoming events throughout the city. 

Food & Refreshments 

A celebration isn't a celebration without food and drink, so we'll be serving breakfast and lunch. The bar will serve a selection of beverages (to toast with, of course!)