Shot using a Canon 7D in Native 24P.
Edited with Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.
Color grading in MagicBullet Looks.
Rough, improvisational piano by Jim Bruno.
Created from B-roll footage shot on 26 August 2010 for "trompo," my short documentary film currently in development.
Frequent location for major feature films, to learn more about Elgin, Texas, USA see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin,_Texas
The Elgin Depot was built in the "Brick Capital of the Southwest" in 1903 making it a "thriving depot town."
From elgintxchamber.com:
"The Elgin Depot Museum is located in the Union Depot at 14 Depot Square. The Depot was built in 1903. It was named not for the Union Pacific Railroad which now operates trains on the MKT tracks, but because it was used by two railroads, the Southern Pacific and the Katy.
The award winning restored Depot offers changing exhibits throughout the year. It also offers permanent displays exploring the history of the railroads, agriculture, early enterprising and outlines the role of transportation in the developement of the city. The museum has three exhibit rooms, photo archives, photo copying, Elgin history, railroad history, genealogy help, a permanent Elgin Area Veterans display and a gift shop that sells books about Elgin."
What constructs need to be analyzed and designed to communicate the right information in order to produce the most successful outcomes?
What do human beings need to learn and do in order to be successful in their endeavors?
Jim Bruno, Ph.D., is a highly experienced, creative, and award-winning digital media technologist, educator, filmmaker, and thinker with a wide-ranging skill set in technology research, development, and problem solving, including online eLearning platform/general systems architecture and application development, project management, instructional design, courseware and training development, technical writing and support documentation; an exceptional 15-year track record developing award-winning media-based linear and interactive products; 10 years university-level research, teaching, training, and course coordination experience; bilingual in English and Spanish, with additional competencies in Portuguese, Italian, and French.
For more information, please contact: jimbruno@gmail.com or 512.680.2088
Professional Experience
INDEPENDENT CONSULTING | Jim Bruno Instructional Design and eLearning
Erin Ivey, Austin, TX: Music Video (Dir. Andrew Shapter) for "Amelia"; HDSLR/Canon 5D and 7D HD Video/Photography. July 13, 2010. Premiere TBD.
NanoInk, Inc., Skokie, IL: Curriculum Development/Lead Instructional Designer for Introduction to NanoScience 101 (College, University Science); Instructional Designer/Writer for 450 page Student Lab Guide and Instructors Resources (Summer 2009 - Spring 2010)
St. Edward's University, Austin, TX: Adjunct Professor, School of Business and Management / Digital MBA Program. Course: Technology Evolution in Digital Media with a focus on Disruptive Innovation (Spring '09)
Follett Digital Resources, McHenry, IL: Technology Training, Marketing Media Development and Enterprise Architecture R&D (Winter, Spring '09)
BearingPoint, Austin, TX: Technology/Technical Writing, Proposal Development (Fall/Winter '08)
Accenture/MicroAssist, Austin, TX: Technical Writing, Technology Training to Technology Trainers; Call Center Supervisor Curriculum Development ('05-'06)
(2001-2002)
Hewlett-Packard/Compaq: Technology Strategy Development
THE LEARNING COMPANY 1995
Learn to Speak Spanish 5.0
Writer/Producer/Instructional Designer
Ranked in the Top 10 Best Selling Educational CD-ROM Titles of 1995
Learn to Speak French 4.0
Writer/Producer/Instructional Designer
Learn to Speak English 6.0
Writer/Producer/Instructional Designer
Spanish Pronunciation Tutor 1.0
Writer/Producer/Instructional Designer
French Pronunciation Tutor 1.0
Producer/Instructional Designer
German Pronunciation Tutor 1.0
Producer/Instructional Designer
HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 1996
Ven conmigo!, Holt Spanish Interactive CD-ROM Program Level 1
Lead Producer/Lead Instructional Designer
Gold International Cinema in Industry (CINDY) in Educational Media (1998)
Silver Apple Award (National Educational Media Network, 1998)
Eddie Award, Best Software in Foreign Language (1999)
SciencePlus Interactive Explorations, Level Green
Lead Producer/Lead Instructional Designer
Honorable Mention, International CINDY in Educational Media (1997)
Silver Axiem Award (Absolute Excellence in Electronic Media, 1999)
1997
Communication @ Work Video Program
Lead Producer/Writer
Holt Presentation-Maker Software
Licensor of 3rd Party Software; Project Manager
Allez, viens!, Holt French Interactive CD-ROM Program, Level 1
Lead Producer/Lead Instructional Designer
Silver International CINDY in Educational Media (1998)
Silver Apple Award (National Educational Media Network, 1998)
¡Ven conmigo!, Holt Spanish Interactive CD-ROM Program, Level 2
Lead Producer/Lead Instructional Designer
SciencePlus Interactive Explorations, Level Red
Lead Producer/Lead Instructional Designer
Bronze International Cinema in Industry (CINDY) in Educational Media (1998)
SciencePlus Interactive Explorations, Level Blue
Lead Producer/Lead Instructional Designer
Bronze International Cinema in Industry (CINDY) in Educational Media (1998)
1998
Komm Mit, Holt German Interactive CD-ROM Program, Level 1
Executive Producer/Consultant
Silver Apple Award (National Educational Media Network, 1998)
Komm Mit, Holt German Interactive CD-ROM Program, Level 2
Executive Producer/Consultant
Ven conmigo!, Holt Spanish Interactive CD-ROM Program, Level 3
Executive Producer/Consultant
Allez, viens!, Holt French Interactive CD-ROM Program, Level 3
Executive Producer/Consultant
En camino, Holt Spanish Interactive CD-ROM
Lead Producer/Lead Instructional Designer
Elements of Literature: 600 Web Page Resources for Middle and High School Literature
Producer
1999
Interactive Instructional Content Generator (Jupiter)
Oracle/NetDynamics 5.0 Brower-based content development/asset management application/system
Lead Project Manager of Research and Development
Holt Science and Technology Interactive Explorations, Levels 1-3
Lead Producer/Lead Instructional Designer
2000-2001
Elements of Language Web Site (Grades 6-12)
Lead Producer/Instructional Designer
GeoTreks Web Site (Middle School Geography)
Technical and Instructional Design Consultant
2002
Biology Active Learner Interactive CD-ROM and Website (University Level)
Harcourt College Publishers (Thomson Learning)
Lead Project Consultant/Manager/Instructional Designer (for Cortex Interactive)
Texas Education Award 2003
2003-May 2005
Holt, Rinehart and Winston (Harcourt Education)
eLearning Architecture/Technology Development
Holt Online Assessment Platform (Versions 1.0-3.2)
my.hrw.com Learning Management System Components
Diverse User (Teacher/Student) Experience-based Applications
District, School Administration Research and Development
Harcourt/Holt, Rinehart and Winston eLearning Accomplishments
ASSESSMENT PLATFORM CREATOR/DEVELOPER (2002-2005)
Led requirements analysis, design, development, versioning, and product development team for Holt Online Assessment Platform (Version 3.2) which supports integrated formative standards-based NCLB testing for 160 middle and high school textbook programs (approximately 750,000 current test items); in a 9-month period (8/1/04 to 4/30/05) 4.5 million test items were served to students; 60 to 80 additional programs (each with approx. 20-80 tests per product) are to be added throughout this year and next. LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CREATOR/ARCHITECT (2001-2003)
Led nearly all phases of LMS component development to support (per the 9-month period from 8/1/04 to 4/30/05) over 42,000 teacher registrants, 74,000 classes, and nearly 900,000 students, including Customer Registration, Student Information and Records (SIS), Class Manager, Assignment Manager, Student Notebook Manager, and Instructional Group Manager.
INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT AUTHORING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DEVELOPER (1998-2003)
Responsible for leading analysis, design, customization, and implementation of an online dynamic content authoring and delivery system, including technologies relating to 508 Compliance, product customization and personalization, dynamic scope and sequence, on-screen highlighting and annotation, and integration with other existing interactive content authoring/delivery applications. During the above defined 9-month period, a majority of HRW’s 22,588,681 visits (1.12 billion hits) were served by framework components that I developed or co-developed.
A quick note to let you know that I'mavailable for some new creative and challenging project, contract, or consulting work in the following areas:
eLearning, Training, and Consulting. One of my greatest experiences in 2009 was teaching Technology Evolution in Digital Media as an adjunct professor in St. Edward's University's Digital MBA Program. I learned more about innovation, disruption, and new ways to re-imagine information-based businesses from my students and our work together than I could possibly imagine!
Instructional Design (in 2009, in collaboration with Sento Design and Wordsmith & Company): My most recent project had me in the role of laying the groundwork for a one semester university-level course in Nanoscience and NanoTechnology. For more details, see http://www.nanoprofessor.net, especially http://www.nanoprofessor.net/CurriculumIntro.html. I spent two months laying out Phase 1 of the project as Lead Instructional Designer of an entirely new course which includes Student Edition, Student Lab Guide, Instructor Materials, Web Resources, and other ancillaries components. After Phase 1 set the project in motion, I moved into a curriculum development/writer role for the hands-on lab components. I did not ever imagine myself using an Atomic Force Microscope or doing design/build work at the nanoscale, but my life has asked me to take on some interesting challenges all along, and I was more than grateful to oblige. I find that one of life's greatest joys relates to coming up with language that connects the brain with the hand and its use of tools. I recently learned that language and the use of tools light up the same middle part of the brain in MRI scans. I now understand why I love to learn, practice, and make a living using languages... and I've been known to swing a hammer! I now understand why creating technical documentation relating to hand/tool use is one of my great passions.
Curriculum/Courseware Development (I recently developed over 400 pages of hands-on lab work in Nanoscience in the form of a print-based Student Lab Guide and Instructors Notes). For more details, see http://www.nanoprofessor.net/Curriculum8.html. Student Guide and Instructor Notes excerpts are available at the NanoProfesor.net website). I was responsible for instructional design, curriculum development, writing, editing, revising, formatting/layout, executing final PDF delivery of both student and instructor materials.
Marketing Presentations, Tutorials (Flash, Camtasia, AfterEffects, Video) and Video Scriptwriting for Follett Digital Resources
Documentary Film Development and Production: You likely know of my Executive Producer role in Andrew Shapter's feature documentary, Happiness Is. You may not know that I also have HD photography and sound credits on the film as well. My film colleagues and I are working with some new digital HD Production-grade technologies and have a great deal of experience producing projects ranging from PSAs to feature-length projects.
If you hear or know of anything that sounds like a mind-bending, impossible challenge, let me know. My slate is free and clear starting in April, and I'm looking for something highly collaborative, compelling, and (hopefully) groundbreaking! Also feel free to circulate this note to anyone who might want to take me on as a collaborator.
Finally, and most importantly, I sincerely hope that 2010 is a year in which you're able to pursue your life dreams and aspirations. I'm working diligently on getting my lifelong dream project, María!, to Tim Burton, Guillermo del Toro, or Robert Rodriguez. If any of you can hook me up, I'll be more than grateful!
Kindest wishes and regards,
Jim
jimbruno@gmail.com www.jimbruno.com 512.680.2088
A life-long dream come true-- a Sept 2009 Trip to Buenos Aires!
from the top of my tiny mountain, i can see that...
• we're looking at screens – large, small, tiny – more and more. • we're looking a swatches of paper less and less (i'm contemplating NOT replacing the printer that broke down 3 months ago... big imac screen, a laptop, and a small iphone screen allow me to view or carry virtually any doc! savin' trees!) • we go online for news rather than wait for 5:30 pm cst and charlie gibson (sorry, charlie!) • we've all but given up on paper letters, landlines, newspapers, magazines, records, tapes, CDs, wait-and-watch t.v. • we're gradually giving up paper books for electronic ones (did i write that?) • when we don't know something, we get online • when we want to expand our networks, we go online • when we want to dialog at a distance, we go online • if we can get a book online, we go online and get it (when we don't have leisure time to enjoy the amazing walls of books at bookpeople!) • if we're smart about our shopping, we go online first • when we miss a broadcast and want to revisit an old one, we go online
while publishers slept, millions and millions more became digital publishers and that is only going to continue.
our lives are very different than they were a decade ago.
we work with every digital tool imaginable in our workplace, yet we require our children to pick up and enjoy the tools of the past? (something desperately wrong with that picture...).
A big day for all of us on the "Happiness Is" team, indeed!
The film takes up the meaningful exploration of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" and its relationship to giving, especially "giving of oneself toward the greater good."
We learned (and conclude in our film) that happiness is best achieved when folks engage in helping their communities through the simple act of giving.
We're excited to share what we've learned, and hope to help even more communities in need through our screening program across the country this year and next!
Our "Happiness Is" team is blessed, excited, and we hope to share our message with audiences across the country in 2009, 2010 and beyond.
Jim Bruno is Executive Producer of "Happiness Is."
Music video for Michelle Lewis, a Boston Singer/Songwriter. The track is from her upcoming EP, Broken, available at michellelewismusic.com.
Shot on a Canon 5D Mark II with a 50mm 1.2 prime lens and a 90mm tilt shift lens. Other equipment included a Rifa softbox, Lowel Pro Light and Flex Fill. Cut on Final Cut Pro, edited and mastered in ProRes 422.
A master of "walking in someone else's shoes," Juanes dedicated his song, "Sueños" to all who are held captive around the world, especially the two young 11 year old brothers who are prisoners somewhere in the jungles of Colombia. All this and more at yesterday's Paz Sin Fronteras concert in Havanna, Cuba.
The song and its lead in were moving, and I cannot imagine one dry eye among more than 1 million participants and countless others who watched or listened to the concert remotely.
One clear message: freedom, love, and hope are universal for ALL human beings, especially for those who have been denied their freedom unjustly.
The message has played out all around the world, and it had decidedly (and finally) made its way to Havanna, Cuba live and in-person.
No border should exclude that message from being delivered, and Cuba is no exception. Period. End of message.
Juanes works to focus the spotlight on the word's youth as the future, and this performance was no exception.
I did a quick translation of Juanes' song to English – certainly not an official translation of it – but a quick one for those who may not know Spanish.
No matter the language, it is a song we might all be singing someday.
Music and Lyrics by Juanes
Sueño libertad para todos los que están secuestrados hoy en medio de la selva y sueño con la paz de mi pueblo desangrado y con el final de esta injusta guerra
I dream of freedom for all who are kidnapped today in the middle of the jungle and I dream about peace for all the bloodshed and about the end of this unjust war
Sueño con tantas cosas que quiero que sean realidad sueño con morir de viejo y no de soledad sueño con ir a trabajar y mucho más con regresar cada noche a mi casa para estar junto a ti
I dream about so many things that I want to see real I dream about dying of old age instead of solitude I dream about going to work and much more about returning home every night to be next to you
Y que no muera nunca nuestro amor eso sueño yo y que se fundan balas para hacer campanas de libertad y que no muera nunca nuestro amor eso sueño yo
That our love never die I dream and that bullets are melted to make liberty bells that our love never die that, I dream
Sueño despertar en un mundo sin dolor pa’que el corazón no sufra más las penas y sueño caminar por las calles de mi país y solo encontrar paz
I dream about waking up in a world without pain so that the heart doesn't suffer any more of it that I'm walking through my country's streets and all I find is peace
i’m not as happy as my dogs are if i were i’d be soaking up summer’s day lounging at the pool or chewin’ on his brand new hiking shoes you know, the ones we can't wait for him to put on come on, man put the laptop down and put those suckers on! what do you mean 'no laces?'
really i'm not as happy as my dogs are if i were i'd be waiting just waiting for my next nuclear burst of exploding energy as i rip the door to shreds beat an unraveling path down the carpeted hall blow off the elevator opt for the fire escape race down eighteen flights of stairs all the while barking at the railing for kicks, mind you and never once thinking about a leash... hey, wait a minute where's my leash? hey, wait a minute what's a leash?
i'm not as happy as my dogs are i got too much yesterday in me too many pipe dreams too much world too much gravity a recession and not enough now not enough now? come on, man we don't care about now we don't even know what now is... ...but gravity? we know about gravity... grrrrrrrrrrrrravity!
i'm not as happy as my dogs are but i'm pretty darn close especially when i'm buh-bye-ing yesterday or unwrenching my pipe dreams or when i stop trying to see beyond what's right in front of me hey look! the sky! hey look! a poodle! hey look! he's smiling again...
these are true confessions: i'm not as happy as my dogs are but they are my dogs and i'm trying and they're starting to rub off on me the good one, lucy all heart all heart all heart and even the cunning one i affectionately call lestat or cujo or shadow or – lately – grinch are you done? put the laptop down put those suckers on and meet 'no laces' for a change!
yup, there you have it as i say it thrice: i'm not as happy as my dogs are i'm not as happy as my dogs are i'm not as happy as my dogs are
Nova Invicta, prompted by a flurry of enthusiasm relating to the release of even greater, better, faster, and cheaper digital video cameras, posted the following remark on the RedUser.net site which I've been following lately.
Since I'm not able to more eloquently state this idea myself, the full text of the post is below:
Better, smaller, cheaper cameras don’t make better films; better filmmakers do. The digital revolution will probably quadruple the number of feature films shot and edited in a given year, but most of them will still be garbage, just like most of them are now. Look at the first video revolution ten or fifteen years ago – when Beta SP and Hi-band 8 became cheap. What is its legacy? Porno flicks. There won’t be any more artists born in a given year just because movies become cheaper to make. That particular form of insanity is in your DNA, and you either have it or you don’t. Pen and paper are the ultimate low-budget technology, but how many great novels and plays and poems are written every year? I don’t see a stream of Shakespeares being produced just because writing is inexpensive. Emotional clichés still lurk like land mines waiting to destroy you.
So, once again we're back to content. Is there any real storytelling or story ideas behind the moving images? Are the characters compelling and of interest to the viewer? Are the ideas expressed through the medium worth expressing at all? Do we even care what happens?
That has been the challenge of the storyteller from the moment of the first recounted story: be it one told through gesture or dance, the painting of the hunt on the wall of a cave, the appearance of scratches on parchment so the juglar might remember the verses of the epic poem...
And this list will go on an on and on as the storyteller struggles to make real (realize) the moving images, sounds, and feelings that sometimes play in his or her head – a story, a message – until they are performed or "recorded" (put to heart, as in to learn something by heart) somewhere, somehow, sometime.
