Hey everyone I'm back with a couple blogs this week. I'm going to be playing catch up on some stuff for awhile because a lot has been going on! For this week I'm leaving a two part blog to pay homage to everyone I've meet near and far along the way in my career so far that I owe a definite thanks to for being such great influences, family, friends, and mentors. Enjoy!
I was looking back on how the hell I wanted to pull this lighting thing off without abandoning my education. Thank heaven for the rise of video integration with live production. Having I major from Electronic media and film I felt torn in some respects because it was either do one or the other. Of course at that time I wasn’t hip to the progressive movement video has made in live production especially with lighting. Once I studied up on it and got to research what was out here I knew I was going to be heading the right way especially once I met EastonAshe. Since working with the band it has allowed me to start plotting not only a killer light rig, but a grand video scheme I want to put into the light show someday. I also get to do independent video work for them. Myself and two other guys collaborated to put together a great concept music video for the EastonAshe song “Sheep Dog” for their new album “Can I Drive It?” and also a montage of “Paid in Full.” Plug time!!! You all can purchase their new album via I-Tunes, our website, and on myspace. Just take a look at the URL links below. We also have the album and merchandise available on http://www.merchsquad.com. The music videos can be found on Limewire, our myspace page and the website.
Now I'll get on with it! To start I’ll mention my brother Brian Caporale and another brother (not related but might as well have been) Craig Monahan. Toward the end of high school Craig had been developing into a tremendous cameraman starting out working for the Baltimore Orioles and eventually moving his way up the ladder to doing NFL Sporting events. In that line of work getting a full time gig with the NFL was a goldmine for a professional cameraman. Unfortunately Craig passed in that time period which was not only a loss of a great guy but a big brother of sorts to me. He will truly be missed and recognized as a guy who influenced me to work in the world of entertainment. After Craig’s passing my brother had really taken hold of his camerawork and had a great career leading him around the globe eventually landing him the honor of winning an Emmy for his work with NBC’s coverage of the Olympic Games in Greece. Starting out I followed in Brian’s footsteps attending Duquesne University majoring in Communications as he did after awhile I became restless trying to find classes that I would enjoy in the major. I couldn’t really find my place so I ended up changing to a graphic design major where I took on some cool classes learning about html, flash, illustrator, etc. I must admit it was useful knowledge and it was fun to learn, but it wasn’t my bag. So I soon got to speak with a family friend and excellent video director of WWE Entertainment Tim Walbert (a relative of Craig’s) was the man who turned my sights to Towson Universities Mass Communication/Electronic Media and Film department at Towson University where he is alumni. I put in for my transfer and took my final semester with Duquesne abroad in Italy. In my studies at Towson I took on several subjects learning online/offline, digital, linear/nonlinear editing, film writing and directing, radio production, and TV production which was my primary focus. When I was wrapping up my bachelor’s degree I worked at a bar/music venue. This is where I’d like to mention Buddy Hilsberg the production/staff manager of The Recher Theatre in Towson, MD. If it wasn’t for him letting me run lights for somebody that had no experience I got to understand it a lot more from that point on… Next was obviously EastonAshe when they came to the club and hired me afterwards. It’s been a wild ride ever since. Thanks guys! Baltimore Stage Lighting was the first company I hooked up with and get products from when I was back in Maryland still. If you’re in the Baltimore area those are the guys you want to talk to especially their manager “Ransom.” That does it for the East Coast! Next will be about the Southwest and beyond… Stay tuned and thanks for reading! Remember you can always email to talk more exclusively at tonycap22@hotmail.com
Best ~Tony
