Conversations with Blaine Harrington IV

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blaine Harrington IV.

Hi Blaine, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My dad, Blaine Harrington III, was a professional travel photographer, and his work was inspirational, professional, and unlike anything else. He really devoted himself to his work, and I don’t think there’s anyone alive who was as wise about photography as him. He inspired me in a lot of ways and passed on his talents to me. He taught me a lot about how to take photos, and I was lucky enough to join him on certain trips such as Alaska, and the CanyonLands. We were both lucky enough to go on top of Mount Rushmore. He also guided me on a lot of things.

Other than photography, I also have a passion for film. Not only was I lost in the stories, but I found it interesting to learn how much work gets put into it. It requires different techniques and talents to make a film. I started writing my own blogs on movies by the age of 24. Writing was something I didn’t think I would be good at, but I had all these thoughts and feelings that I wanted to let out, and the more I wrote the better I got at it and discovered I have a talent for writing.

The thing is because I’m autistic and wasn’t that good with school, hardly anyone believed I could have a successful career, except for my dad. My dad was disappointed my talents were going to waste, and he was concerned about how things have changed compared to how they were when he was growing up. He said everyone wants to be a photographer these days, which means there’s a lot of competition. Also, because things were digital and everyone was taking pictures with their phones they hardly needed photographers to take their pictures, and they weren’t selling as well as they used to.

My dad wanted me to have a future. By the time I was 27, he discovered a school called Exceptional Minds and felt it could help me get a career in the film business. Exceptional Mind is a 3-year school that teaches young adults with autism how to become either an animator or a visual effects compositor. They also teach 3D and motion graphics. A lot of that stuff was sort of outside of my area of interest, but compositing seemed no different from the post-production work I did for my dad’s photos. What you do is remove objects that no one wants in the shot. It was tricky learning how to composite footage because there are so many steps in removing just one object, but it also became addictive in a way.

The school is located in Sherman Oaks, California, and when I was accepted I moved out of Colorado in order to participate. A lot of the people who work there are very helpful, and what they do for their students is because they care. I had been working at a grocery store for 7 years, and Exceptional Minds helped restore my creativity again and gave me more things to be passionate about, compositing 3D modeling, and motion graphics.

EM also teaches you how to get into the film business. They help you look for the jobs you want. Steff Farrar, who is the Head of Career Services, had recommended I apply for membership at Academy Gold Rising. It helps support the rising talent. Steff helped me out a lot as I was applying for Academy Gold. They interviewed me twice, and out of 7,000 of the people who they interviewed I was one of the lucky 100 to be accepted.

Academy Gold has made a big difference in my life. I’ve gotten to experience things that I’ve always dreamed of doing. Going to film festivals, special screenings, and visiting studios, and I was also lucky enough to participate in the 95th Academy Awards.

I also met one of my role models, the legendary and talented Guillermo del Toro. I expressed myself with kindness to him and told him how much he means to me and what an inspiration he is, and he seemed moved by that. He seemed fond of me as well. He asked me what my name is and I told him “Blaine Harrington IV.” His response was “What a fu**ing name!” in a fascinating way. It’s an experience I haven’t gotten over, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.

I was also fortunate to meet Troy Kotsur, the Academy Award-winning actor from “CODA.” I saw him as a special guest speaker when I was graduating as an intern from Academy Gold, and then I saw him again at the Academy Awards. I went up to him, and he didn’t know who I was at first, but when I told him I was from Academy Gold, he took a shine to that. He was very kind to me.

What I’ve been through so far with the Academy Gold program is unbelievable and exciting. I couldn’t be happier than to call myself a Goldie.

Another great thing about Academy Gold is all the people I’ve met, my fellow Goldies. I was asked by one of them, Andrei Vasilevich if I could shoot behind-the-scenes photographs for a short film he was making called “Stefan the Vampire.” The project was in production for 4 months, and Andrei loved the photos I had been taking. This was a great new experience for me, to be involved on a set, and witnessing a film being made in person. I was also putting my photography talents to good use as well. One of the photos I took on the project was used for its poster, and that was an honor. It was also an honor to have my name during the end credits for behind the scenes.

I made connections through “Stefan the Vampire,” and was asked by some of them to take pictures of them to help promote themselves either for acting jobs or as a fitness trainer.

One of the crew members on “Stefan the Vampire,” Nasim Kiani, was really impressed with the photos I had been taking, and wanted me to take photographs for her short film, “The Last Unheard Words.” It was great to be involved with another project after “Stefan,” and also great to have a new subject to shoot because I had been taking pictures of vampires for 4 months. “The Last Unheard Words” is a drama, and its main character has cancer. I was supposed to be on that project during the entire shoot, but then a personal tragedy happened and I could only stick around for 2 days. It was a shame because I liked being a part of that project. I did manage to take many great photos during those 2 days.

Other times I have worked on set as a production assistant. The first time I worked as a PA was on a short film called “Our Late Father,” directed by Sylvia Ray and written by EP Cho. A friend messaged me saying they needed a PA on this project she was producing, and she said it would be great for me to have another experience on a set and make new connections. I said to myself “Why not?” What a production assistant does is help move things around on set, pick up lunch, and do whatever errands are needed.

I also worked as a production assistant on a web series after I was recommended by the cinematographer of “Our Late Father.” I did however feel more like security on that project because most of the time I was standing by the entrance making sure no one entered the building as they were shooting. One of the things that I have learned from being on a set is to make sure no one makes one peep as the camera is rolling. The only thing that the microphone needs to hear on set is the actors.

Sylvia Ray had asked me to help out as a PA on another project called “The Other Partners,” written and directed by Destinee Stewart. They were shooting the whole thing during the night, and it lasted 12 hours. I had to make adjustments to my sleeping schedule, and that was the only challenge. I told myself “You can do it,” and I was as helpful as I could be on the set.

Being on a set has become a new favorite thing of mine. One of the reasons why is that I love seeing everyone create something unique. You see them putting their talents to good use, you see how creative they are, and you see how devoted the director is. Other reasons are it feels good to be involved with something, and put my own talents to good use. Not to mention all the great and friendly people you get to meet. They have so much energy in them.

I was also involved with another short film called “FISH,” but not as a behind-the-scenes photographer or a production assistant. “FISH” was made by Jeremy Hsing, another member of Academy Gold, and he learned that I did visual effects compositing and he asked me if I could take out certain things he didn’t want in a shot. It was a great way for me to put those compositing skills I learned from Exceptional Minds to good use. I was supposed to work on 5 shots, but they decided to cut some of them out during the editing process and I was only left with 2. I felt collaborative as I was involved with “FISH.”

I also worked as an extra for another web series called “Joaquin,” created and starring Yubi Tubi. She needed an extra and I was available. I was only needed for 5 minutes, and all I had to do was look average because the actors were the main focus. I felt my work wasn’t done just yet. I brought my Nikon camera with me and took behind-the-scenes photographs as they continued shooting that day.

Whenever I go to visit Exceptional Minds or Colorado, I feel I am walking in as a celebrity because of what I’ve accomplished and have experienced. I even have relatives who say I’m becoming a legend. That’s everything I’ve been through so far, and I look forward to what else comes my way. My dad passed away this year, and this journey wouldn’t have happened if not for his help. He always told me to get myself out there. He gave me the push I needed in order to come out of my shell. Not to mention his full support.

I also owe my thanks to everyone else who has helped me along the way. I have my friend James Nevarez putting a blog together so my write-ups could have a home. The staff at Exceptional Minds for introducing me to new things, and helping me every time I needed it.

I also owe thanks to the people of Academy Gold, Bettina Fisher, Tracy Dillion, Dani Elle, Courtney Arguello, Michael Manuel, and Niti Shah for accepting me into the program, and the happiness I have received from it. I can’t imagine what my life would be like today without being a part of Academy Gold.

Lastly, my thanks go to the creative, talented, and passionate people in the film business who inspire me every day, Guillermo del Toro, Christopher Nolan, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Quentin Tarantino, Lana Wachoswki, Adam McKay, Roger Deakins, Emmanuel Lubezki, Greig Fraser, and more.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There have been challenges. Learning visual effects and 3D was not easy at first, and there were times I felt it was hopeless, but everyone told me not to give up.

It’s not always easy being a photographer because you don’t always get the shot you want and there are times you have to stay out of the way, and not interfere that much depending on the rules.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m always pushing myself to do my best with my work. There are times I feel a little pressure because I’m being relied on to do a good job whether it is photography or visual effects, but people believe in me, and most importantly I have to believe in myself.

There were some projects I did at Exceptional Minds that I liked doing more than others. One of my favorites was this info graph I did in motion graphics class. I had to work with 3 other students, and the subject of the project was movie makeup. We created these puppets in Photoshop and then animated them in after effects. It was challenging in the beginning to figure out how this was going to be put together.

First, we needed a script, then each of us needed to do storyboards for the portion of the script we were given, and then we brought it to life using Photoshop and aftereffects. I was enjoying working on my portion and I had a lot of great ideas. It was better than how I storyboarded it. We had a month to work on this project, I really devoted myself to my portion. I was not only working on it in class but on my own time as well. I wouldn’t stop until it was complete, and I managed to succeed. I was exhausted by the time it was over. Months later, I received a Best of Award for the work I had done on that project.

Benjamin Maixer, who used to work at Exceptional Minds, knows how much I love cinema, and he once said that I bring a cinematic approach to the motion graphics and other projects I had been doing at the school. That’s one way of describing my work. They also have a photographic style. For example, the info graph I did starts off with Frankenstein, and I wanted to give the look of the shot a square frame and black and white look like in the 1931 picture. For 3D models, such as my desert planet, I like to position the 3D camera in interesting places, and at good angles, and I designed it in a way that looks like something you see in landscape photos.

Photography I take it seriously, and show a lot of passion for it. The people I have worked with have said they’ve never worked with another photographer who is as devoted, or as creative in taking photos as me. That’s because I had a father who loved nothing more than taking pictures, and he passed that over to me, along with his good eye. I’m always keeping an eye out for what to shoot. If I see something that would make a great photo I take it immediately. I don’t always get the shot I want, which is why I try to prepare myself for what is next to come. I’ll move around to see what would be a great way to capture the subject that is in front of me.

I take pictures of landscapes, people, objects, animals, activities, events, you name it. It’s nice to have a different subject to shoot. For the pictures I take for the behind-the-scenes, I want to have a cinematic approach.

There are a few challenges I have faced in taking photos. One of them is being in rooms with low exposure. It’s hard for the camera to get a good focus. I can use flash, but still, the lens needs to see the subject better. I recently figured out a way of working that out and that was by pointing a light at the subject so the camera can see it better. As an artist, you are always going to be faced with challenges, but you’ll figure out a way of making it work.

Some people are nervous about having their picture taken, mainly because they feel they don’t look good enough on camera, but I see something unique in them. I tell them not to worry and I do my best to make sure they feel comfortable.

As for my movie reviews, it’s a great way to express my love for cinema, but there are many reasons why I write them. Growing up, I felt people didn’t understand there is more to movies than they think. There were times they would say “It’s just a movie,” which I wasn’t fond of hearing. A lot of work and devotion goes into them, and they represent either something personal, inspirational, or special, they can stand for something, but also they are art.

Each movie has its own style, from the sets to the costumes, to the editing, and of course my favorite, the cinematography. My dad and I would watch movies and TV shows with great cinematography, and talk about the shots we liked. “Cinematography is like photography, only the images are moving and the cameras are heavier,” that’s what I always say.

I felt it was important for people to know and see things my way, and know what it takes to make a movie. I figured out how to express all of that through writing. A lot of times people kept calling my writing a hobby, which I didn’t like because it sounded like it was nothing the way they said it. It’s not a hobby if it feels special and you put a lot of work and devotion into it.

I study the behind-the-scenes, and I mix it together with my thoughts on the movie. People look at movies in a new way thanks to my movie blogs. They say how thoughtful and interesting my blogs are. They also tell me they’ve seen movies they wouldn’t think about seeing if not for my writing. There are times I also share what my dad and I have bonded over. Most of my blogs come with cinematography pages to give people visual examples of the shots they’ll see in the movie.

There are some blogs I have written on historical movies and it made me feel like writing a history report. I’ve also given great explanations on movies that can be challenging to understand such as “Cloud Atlas” and “Tenet” and I explain them in a way that makes sense. People say I have a good observation. I’ll do comparisons if what I see reminds me of something else.

I write each blog in a different way. I’ll have the thoughts in my head, and I’ll write them down so I don’t forget. I always get excited when something sounds clever to me, and I share something special with the movie I’m writing about.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Right now, I’m looking for a job as a visual effects compositor, and also I’m asking around if anyone needs a photographer. I would like to be involved with more short films, and other projects as a behind-the-scenes photographer. There are some who would like to work with me again.

My friend Andrei Vasilevich and I had a good working relationship on “Stefan the Vampire,” and he wants me to be involved with his next project. There are other members of Academy Gold who I would like to work with because I’ve seen the work they have done and it makes me want to be involved with a project they are working on. I also like to work with other creatives out there as well. I love what I have been through so far, I like for it to continue.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bharrington2022.wixsite.com/blaine-harrington-iv
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blaineharringtoniv/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaineharringtoniv/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeIb2JKSxl_DQhgU4RdXVg
• Other: https://blaineharriv.wixsite.com/mysite 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cT2zP3unoqbUttrWYVBspLVKHpSgcG0v/view