PROJECTS
GAFFER
Michael Scarnati has worked as gaffer, grip and AC on these student films from the Purchase Film Conservatory over the last four years. On most of these projects, especially, the senior thesis films, Michael worked closely with each director to map out the lighting design for each key scene in each film. Michael would then either work solely or with fellow grips and the DP of each film with all available equipment to bring each director's vision to life.
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Films
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A Nights Melody- directed by Dylan Scott
The Smell- directed by Lee Manor
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She's a Goddess- directed by Ericka Paparella
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Encore- directed by Noah Marthaller
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Trouble on Hanzelsphere-7- directed by Sebastian Montjuich
The Harbinger- directed by Christopher Regan
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Arty & Pen- directed by Anthony Ceceri
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Estrella- directed by Brandon Hugo Arroyo
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Luke- directed by Dylan Scott
Alice in Wonderland Adaptation- directed by Joshua Smirman
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The Assassination of Jesse James Adaptation- directed by Lee Manor
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Stranger than Fiction Adaptation- directed by Lee Manor
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The Ballad of Chester Valentine- directed by David Foley
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Michael has worked as a gaffer on over 25 student films from 2014-2018.
EDITOR/COLORIST
Michael has worked several freelance positions while simultaneously working on his films and other student sets. Most work has been done with Creative Minds Media, a startup social media content creation business that creates and promotes content for local businesses throughout the Westchester, Dutchess County and New York City areas. Michael worked as a videographer with the company firstly, helping plan a few video ideas for the clients for use on their Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts, but mostly worked as an editor and colorist in post production for clients such as The Beacon Bagel and Barton Orchards, while also occasionally assisting on set as an AC or gaffer.
The Beacon Bagel- Meet Candace Promo
Beacon, NY
Michael assisted in the pre-production planning and shot listing for this interview with Candace, the owner of a popular bagel shop in Beacon, NY. On set, Michael worked as an AC and gaffer to light a few shots, but most of his work was done in post. He solely edited and colored the video, while also selecting the music to use for it.
Michael helped plan a few of the shots to get for this promo video in pre-production for a popular apple orchard/pumpkin farm in Poughquag, NY. For one of the three shoot days, Michael was present to work as an AC. Finally, in post production, Michael colored the entire video using Adobe Premiere.
Barton Orchards- Fall Season Invitation
Poughquag, NY
Ment- How to Fly with Pets
New York, NY
Ment is a popular app that enables customers to check airport and flight status' to avoid delays and properly plan how much time should be allotted, while also giving important traveling tips and suggestions. Michael worked along with CMM founder Jon in generating a few ideas for a series of videos for the company, half of which where shot and beginning editing, until the series was eventually canceled by the owners. Michael worked on set however to light, AC, and record sound for the videos that were shot, including this one.
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CAMERA OPERATOR/
GAFFER/SOUND RECORDIST
Other Freelance Projects (Music Videos, Weddings, Films)
Salma Al-Shami and
Amin Alhilal's
Wedding
(Videographer, Editor)
2017
Michael worked as a solo freelancer on wedding shoot for Salma Al-Shami and Amin Alhilal on Saturday September 16th, 2017 in Mamaroneck, NY. He met with Salma several times to plan the wedding and ceremony details for the final video throughout July and August. Michael then filmed and recorded sound for the entire wedding day, from the photo shoot in Saxon Woods Park, to the ceremony in the couples backyard, to the cocktail hour and wedding guest testimonials, to the reception and party afterwards. The entire day was shot on a Canon 7D and a Canon Vixia HFR500 camcorder. Following the wedding, Michael also spent the next three months organizing, editing, and color correcting the whole wedding through Adobe Premiere. The final video was a 35 minute package cut to the music choices of the couple.
5 minute highlight reel coming soon!
In the spring of 2017, Michael worked with SUNY Purchase junior studio composition major Leah Woods on designing the lighting and colors of her upcoming junior music recital show. They had several meetings, and a long with fellow film student Brandon Hugo Arroyo, they developed a lighting design plan consisting of using China Balls, Edison bulbs, and warm fresnel lights with gels to add to the tone of each performance piece in the show. During the actual show in April 2017, Michael rigged the lights all around the performance space and made changes live during the breaks between each song. He also operated a 2nd camera on a Dana Dolly rig to film all of the show. The entire show ran for an hour; enjoy one of the songs from the show, "Going My Own Way", which was shared online by Leah.
Leah Woods'
Junior Music Recital
(Lighting Designer, Camera Operator)
2017
Click here to follow Leah Woods!
All Those Friendly People
Feature Film
(Gaffer, Sound Recordist)
2016
Most of the cast and crew of 'All Those Friendly People'
'All Those Friendly People' is a narrative feature film written and directed by Tristen Stafford. Michael worked on this film throughout several weeks in the late spring, summer and fall of 2016. He worked as the main gaffer for several key scenes, while he also simultaneously worked as a sound recordist during each take. Michael worked very closely with Tristen to figure out stylized lighting for several daydream movie recreation sequences, as well as bigger sequences like the party and concert scenes, and while using very limited gear to achieve each look for the film as a whole. The film was shot in White Plains and Purchase, NY in the late spring, where production then moved to West Islip, Long Island for a full week in the summer for the bulk of shooting. Production resumed and concluded in September/October in White Plains and Purchase and the film was completed the next year.
The Tundra
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Music Video
(Gaffer)
2016
The Tundra is a song written and performed by Safrah, featuring Danny Severance. Michael worked as a gaffer for Safrah's music video for the song. The video was shot in Brooklyn with a small crew for one day in January 2016. Michael worked with the DP and director to bring a very dirty, grimy feel to the space with the lighting, seeing the characters are in a drug den. The music video was well received on Safrah's YouTube channel.
Click here to follow Safrah's other work!
The Long Journey Home
Short Film
(Gaffer, Production Assistant)
2015
'The Long Journey Home' is a narrative sci-fi short film written and directed by Tristen Stafford. Michael worked alongside Tristen and a small crew of Purchase students and friends as a gaffer and general production assistant. He mostly worked with LED lighting for exterior night scenes for fill lighting, apart from bringing a warmer tone to the interior scenes. The film was shot entirely on the SUNY Purchase campus in the winter/spring semester of 2015 for several days over the course of a few months.
Click here to follow the film on Facebook!
Thank You For Syncing
Short Film
(Gaffer, Sound Recordist)
2015
'Thank You For Syncing' is a sci-fi short film directed by Rob Johnson and Eric Hahn, written by Rob Johnson from Guerrilla Coast Pictures. Michael worked on the film for two days in the Queens and Brooklyn areas as a gaffer and sound recordist. The film stars Marion Le Coguic, Amanda Tudor, Travis Klemm, and Nestor Garland.
Don't Fall
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Music Video
(Production Assistant, Key Playback)
2015
'Don't Fall' is a song written and performed by Maddy Ruff. The music video was her debut music video and was directed by Michael Oshins and shot by Alan Smith, where Michael Scarnati worked as the key production assistant/song playback person for the duration of the day shoot in the spring of 2015. Michael assisted the grip and electric department foremost, while also helping the DP and performing other important tasks on set. The video was shot in an entire full day and completed in editing and released in the summer.
Click here to follow Maddy on her website!
