Frame and Sequence – Simple Narrative
This project is a set of 15 still photos in sequence that tell a simple, concise story with two characters. Visit the link below to view it.
Simple Narrative – Facebook Album
This was first short film project at NYU. The assignment was to use two characters and no more than 15 frames to tell a simple story. I wrote out a story, grabbed my roommates Andrew and Juho, and we set to work.
Writer, Director, Director of Photography – Jonah Best
With Andrew Garcia and Juho Rana.
Disparate City – Full Film
The full length film is now available here on YouTube.
Disparate City is a short film about growing friendships between youth in Washington DC as they confront the cultural tension created by gentrification, segregation, and prejudice in the city. A high school student named Eduardo, a native of the Columbia Heights neighborhood who was displaced to Northeast with the city’s gentrification, is dealing with the departure of a close friend leaving for college. Now exploring the possibilities for his own next steps, to leave, to stay, to go to school, or to work, he encounters Luz, who has just moved to the District and does not understand the city thriving in the shadow of Congress and the President. As the two wander DC, struggle with the city’s cultural divisions, and approach major decisions about their futures, they grow closer and discover a new depth to their city.
Credit for all music sampled is given in the end credits. The music is used only for non-profit and educational use.
Agape Soul Nation Logo Animation
I created the introductory animation revealing ASN’s logo, for these and other future videos from the organization.
Disparate City – Trailer
Here is the trailer for my senior project film, called “Disparate City.” Release is imminent, perhaps no more than a week away, so check back for updates.
“Disparate City” about growing friendships between youth in Washington DC as they confront segregation and cultural tension in their city, struggle with their own prejudices, and face major decisions about their futures.
Trailer Music:
“Blood Red” and “Any Other Name” by Thomas Newman
Such music is sampled only for non-profit and educational use.
Both the trailer and the film were produced by students for an academic project with oversight from teachers and industry professionals.
Graduation Film
This is the film that was shown during the Capital City PCS Class of 2012 graduation ceremony. As said in other places, this film is an exhibition of the class’s character and the class’s goodbye to the school.
I produced this film alongside Jared Perez, Daniel Reyes, Carlos Amaya, and Terell Giordani.
Capital City PCS – Class of 2012 Graduation Film from Capital City Pub. Charter School on Vimeo.
Why do I want to go?
This film won the 2011 Double the Numbers Youth Media Competition, earning a total of $2000. It was named “Most original and compelling video/visual product” and “Most compelling product and overall winner of YMC 2011,” and it earned Capital City PCS the title, “School with the most original and compelling product that reflects a high level of collaboration between staff and student.”
In this film, Capital City PCS’s Class of 2012 describes why it wants to go to college.
I produced, shot, and edited this piece.
Out of the Shadow of the Capitol
I created this short film as a part of my application for Chapman University’s film program. It’s a depiction of DC and my life here.
Chapman allows applicants to use music without licensing for these application films.
To Chance Upon
I wrote and directed this short film, telling the story of a girl’s encounters on a DC Metro train.
This film earned me admission to NYU Tisch and USC SCA, two of the most competitive and prestigious film production programs in the US.
Music: “Scattered Knowledge” by Revolution Void.
All other content copyright 2011 Jonah Best, Christian Sanchez, and Diana Sanchez
Jonah’s Reel: 2010 – July 2011
This is the reel I’ll use on film school applications if they want a sample of my work in this format.
Thanks to Marigold for the music.
Where have all the flowers gone? – Music Video for Peace and Love
Jesper Heed, the owner and founder of Peace and Love, worked with the Band of Peace to record a cover of Pete Seeger’s “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” and asked me to create a video to go along with the song. I accepted the assignment and assembled a video with footage I had shot in Borlange.
The video was mentioned in a post on Peace and Love’s online news feed.
Video Credits:
Produced by Mattias Kraemer and Jesper Heed
Directed by Jonah Best
Shot by Jonah Best
Edited by Jonah Best
Song Credits:
Performed by Band of Peace
Vocals by Hanna Turi and Anna Ihlis
Guitars by Ove Jansson and Jesper Heed
Percussion and Keyboards by Patrik Heikintieti
Harmonica by Hakan Sorle
Music and Lyrics by Pete Seeger
Recorded at Rekord Studio, Stockholm
Vocals recorded by Johan Nordin at Gamla Elverket Studio, Falun
Mixed and Mastered by Johan Nordin
Arranged by Ove Jansson and Jesper Heed
Produced by Jesper Heed and Ove Jansson
Copyright 2011 Peace and Love Artists
Construction
The Peace and Love Festival is the largest festival of its type in Sweden. There’s a lot of work to be done to prepare the festival grounds for the estimated 50,000 visitors this year. The Shaman jumped in and helped out with the construction project in this short promo.
Produced by Mattias Kraemer
Directed by Jonah Best and Mattias Kraemer
Edited by Jonah Best
Cinematography, color grading, graphics by Jonah Best
Construction Promo from Peace & Love TV on Vimeo.
Stockholm Central – P.A.S.S.I.O.N. Shaman
Mattias is the Shaman of the Peace and Love Festival, and we have featured him in several promotional videos for the Festival. This is one rather abstract promotional video that we shot in Stockholm while traveling to Borlange.
Produced by Mattias Kraemer
Directed by Jonah Best and Mattias Kraemer
Edited by Jonah Best
Cinematography, color grading, visual effects, graphics by Jonah Best
Stockholm Central with the Shaman from Peace & Love TV on Vimeo.
Human Peace Symbol
One of our tasks at the Love and Peace Festival is to create massive human peace symbols. Mattias and I have been working hard to organize the events, which will take place during the festival next week.
This page on the Peace and Love website has all the information.
Here is the promotional video we created for the event:
Peace Sign Promo from Peace & Love TV on Vimeo.
New York Chilling – Visiting Ke$ha
Chris and Jonah chill in New York waiting for the concert.
Music from “The Rain Book” by Digi G’Alessio
All other material copyright 2011 Jonah Best and Christian Sanchez
How Washington Really Works: The Life and Times of Charlie Peters
I created the title graphics and animated illustration shots for this extended trailer by Ellie Walton.
Columbus – The Hidden History
Columbus – The Hidden History from Nonchalant Filmmakers on Vimeo.
A documentary I created for National History Day (nhd.org). It explores several individuals’ educations about Christopher Columbus and his arrival in the Americas.
This film won at the Capital City PCS school wide and DC city wide levels of the NHD competition, and was an official selection for the national competition.
Because of the impact of this film, Jared Perez, our teacher, and I were chosen to speak alongside Cornel West, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Marion Wright Edelman, Barbara Ehrenreich and others at the Howard Zinn Dedication at the restaurant Busboys and Poets.
This film has been posted in multiple articles on the Zinn Education Project Website, and it has now been used in classrooms.
National History Day allows its participants to sample music, photos, and videos so long as credit is given to the original creators.
The Hero’s Journey
A film I created with Mattias Kraemer for a show at GALA Hispanic Theatre called “The Color(eds) Are Talking Again.”
On youtube it was split into two parts, but here it is full length. By the way this was created in August 2010, I was just slow to post it.
US History – The People’s History Film
A short film I created with Luis Rumbaut and Amari Witherspoon for my US History class. We took a number of historical events and explained them as simply and clearly as we could, sort of.
We sampled music by Christian Bjoerklund and Revolution Void. All other material copyright 2011 Jonah Best, Luis Rumbaut, and Amari Witherspoon.
Tougher than Ward 3
Save Our Safety Net wanted to embarrass Mary Cheh, the DC Ward 3 council member, on her stance on Mayor Gray’s tax increases, by showing how out of touch she was with her constituents. So my friend Aaron Jones and I helped them out. I shot the video, while Aaron recorded the audio. We also edited the video and added all of the motion graphics. Another group added in the music and finally published the video.
Journey to New York – Visiting Ke$ha
This is the second video from our trip to New York City, focusing just on the bus trip from DC.
The music is “The Professor’s Lab,” from the album Skapmat by Christian Bjoerklund.
Trailer music by Christian Bjoerklund. All other material copyright 2011 Christian Sanchez and Jonah Best.
Preview – Visiting Ke$ha
Chris and I went to New York in April to chill with Ke$ha and her family. We filmed a lot, so here’s a sneak peak.
Trailer music by Digi G’Alessio. All other material copyright 2011 Jonah Best and Christian Sanchez.
Attribution link:
Displaced
Another short film inspired by nice warm spring day.
Written by Jonah Best and Israel Nuñez
Directed by Jonah Best
Starring Christian Sanchez, Israel Nuñez, Terell Giordani, and Carlos Amaya
Video copyright Israel Nuñez, Carlos Amaya, Christian Sanchez, Terell Giordani, and Jonah Best
Exception
My Inception spoof. I worked on this for a good month and a half.
Story by Daniel Reyes
Written by Jonah Best and Luis Rumbaut
Produced by Aaron Jones, Luis Rumbaut, and Jonah Best
Starring Jonah Best and Terell Giordani
Cinematography by Aaron Jones and Jonah Best
Editing, Sound, and VFX by Jonah Best
Video copyright Jonah Best, Luis Rumbaut, Aaron Jones, Terell Giordani, and Daniel Reyes
R2 Interrupts and Sphere Interrupts
So, one afternoon, I’m chilling with Christian Sanchez, an old acting/filmmaking buddy of mine, when we have a great idea. Lets make a short film! We made two that day.
Written and Directed by Jonah Best and Christian Sanchez.
Cinematography, Editing, and VFX, and Sound by Jonah Best
Videos copyright 2011 Christian Sanchez and Jonah Best