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JOHN E. TUCKER

Cinematographer | Videographer | Copywriter | Video Editor | Visual Effects Artist | Audio Engineer

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12+ Years of Professional Video Editing Experience 

 But that's not all. I also writes scripts, develops storyboards, creates shot sheets, captures dynamic footage, record dialog, design graphics, and build animations and visual effects. I wear many hats in my positions which lead to one goal; to meet or exceed the expectations of my clients

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Written, filmed, edited, graded, visual effects, sound design, and in some cases, voice over by JOHN E. TUCKER

Automotive Advertising

Ask anyone what they think of local car commercials and most will have the same response: cheesy, cringe-worthy, obnoxious. As you scroll through my body of work and you’ll find that my productions are neither of those things.  You see, when I started this gig in 2011 I fundamentally changed the structure of what was considered "normal." It took a few years but I was ultimately successful in moving my employer away from the cringe and towards a more on Tier II creatives.professional direction.

Edited, graded, visual effects, and sound design by JOHN E. TUCKER

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Professional tools. Professional results.

While my body of work is a testament to my skills, it's important to note that these results couldn't have been made without an extensive array of tools at my disposal.  For film, my current weapon of choice is the Red Komodo; for editing, I turn to Davinci Resolve. Of course, one can not have an immersive video without audio which is why I've amassed a wide selection of plugins and hardware from the industry's top audio manufacturer, Universal Audio.

Experienced with

 RED Komodo 

  Blackmagic Pocket 6K    Blackmagic Pocket 4K  

 XEEN CF 16 T2.6 XEEN CF 24 T1.4

Sigma 18-35 1.8 Sigma 50-100 1.8 Sigma 14-24 2.8

Davinci Resolve Studio

Adobe Premiere After Effects Photoshop Red Giant Trapcode Magic Bullet Video Copilot

Universal Audio Luna

Fabfilter  Arturia  Spectrasonics Native Instruments

Honorable mentions: Edited, graded, visual effects, sound design and some cinematography by JOHN E. TUCKER

Thirty Five Hundred Jobs.  Twenty-Eight brands. One purpose.

Acura | Aston Martin | Audi | Bentley | Ford | Honda | Infiniti | Jaquar | Land Rover | Lexus | Mazda | Mercedes Benz | Nissan

Porsche | Toyota | Volkswagen | Volvo |  Chevrolet | Buick | GMC | Chrysler | Dodge | Jeep | Ram | Hyundai | Lincoln | BMW | Cadillac

Filming car commercials is a tough gig. Not only do I have these massive, wall-sized, plate glass windows spilling natural light into florescent-lit showrooms, I also have to film during business hours which leads to less than ideal shooting environments.  What this means is that I have real customers buying cars or waiting for service; I have staff members answering phones and conducting business, and I have conflicting color temperatures from the natural light outside and the unnatural light of the showroom.  I also have to deal with the massive difference in exposures from the aforementioned windows and that of the fluorescent lights overhead.

 

Still, I have learned how to shoot around said customers and staff and how to capture usable footage amid a cacophony of conversations, ringing phones, and the subtle sounds of doors opening and closing, heels on tile floor, and papers rustling. To top it all off I mainly function as a one-man band, wearing the hats of director, cinematographer, set designer, sound tech, lighting tech, and everything else associated with the shoot. 

Yes, filming auto dealerships is tough. But the secret to my success is the ability to adapt and overcome all manner of adversity.  I am fully prepared for the unexpected and in that, I have the necessary skills to pull of a successful shoot in nearly any situation.

Personal projects: Cinematography and editing by JOHN E. TUCKER

All work and no play...

While Automotive Advertising pays the bills, it's not something I would call creatively fulfilling.  For that, I turn to personal projects. From the Holocaust Memorial in Miami, FL to Vizcaya and Morikami, these pieces showcase my abilities as a cinematographer and editor; for in these I am truly free to express the artistic side of my personality.

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Life before advertising.

Seeking an escape from my hometown in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan, I enlisted in the fall of my senior year of high school and served from 1986 to 1990.  Fast forward eleven years and the unthinkable happened: 9/11. As I watched the towers fall I knew I couldn't sit idly by so I sat my family down, told them my plans, and, with their support, reenlisted.

 

From Nov 2001 to July 2007 I utilized my skills as a computer programmer to build databases for the Family Readiness Group, troop movements, and inventory accountability. I won many awards and rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class before my time was done, but as we all know, all good things must come to an end. I was fortyish at the time and felt the need to finally finish up my Bachelor's Degree. So I closed out my contract and became a full-time student at Governors State University located in Chicago's south side.

In my line of work, traditional education is not really required. In fact, when I interview potential crew members, I'm more interested in their reel than their résumé.  Still, a proper education has its merits, which is why I hold an Associates Degree in Computer Information Systems and a Bachelor's Degree in Multimedia Communications (with Masters level classes in Film and Digital Imaging).  As a matter of fact, I was one trimester shy of earning my Master's of Fine Arts degree when I was offered the position here in sunny South Florida. Choosing the job over the degree, I packed my bags and never looked back.

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