Passing Planes Productions LLC

26/07/2024

Without further delay (I'm truly sorry I've been hiding for so long, but I do explain why), here's Dan's Quarterly Newsletter // 2024 Q1 & Q2!

You might be reading this and thinking, "Hey Dan, we're already half through 2024--what gives!?" Well, you're absolutely right that this latest newsletter is arriving super late. Not only have I been totally swamped with new broadcasting work, but the 2024 tax season was particularly headache-induci...

14/03/2024

The other week, a beloved teacher-turned-friend was laid to rest. That was incredibly tough to accept since Mr. Ouellette's mantra was, "Bring your highest energy to everything you do!" And no one had higher energy than him. He'd bounce off the walls in a controlled chaos, darting from his precious potted plants (placed along windowsills so they could easily access fresh oxygen--but not during a fire drill though, because "OXYGEN FUELS FIRE"); to transcribing his notes onto immaculately handdrawn chalkboard lines; to popping into the hallway and reminding all us awkward high-schoolers to "TUCK SHIRTS IN." He taught me and countless others to bring our best to the task at hand, no matter how small. That has served as a core value of mine since graduation. It's not always easy, but I try. Years later, I was glad to return a tiny bit of his energy and help Mr. Ouellette reorganize his seaside home when Hurricane Sandy hit. I was proud to include his words in my book. And I'm so lucky to have known him. Christ the King High School was surprisingly my last choice of the three schools we were allowed to select during the TACHS exam. But I can't--and don't--want to imagine how different life would be had I not ended up going there. Rest in peace, Mr. Ouellette. 🎹

11/02/2024

Throwback to my PA daze, locking it up with one of the best. ✊️ My next FREE PA WORKSHOP is coming up on February 15 at 6pm EST, hosted virtually by ! All are welcome to stump me with highly unusual questions--LINK IN BIO.

18/01/2024

For my film friends: go warm up this winter at 's Zine Zone! Lots of great reads (including one award-winning title all about PAs...) plus a mini museum filled with cameras from all generations. 🎞

01/01/2024

Happy New Year to my Facebook friends! Click here to read all the latest from the last quarter of 2023: Dan's Quarterly Newsletter // Q4

Happy New Year, friends! With 2023 having come to a close, I hope you take a moment to reflect on all the living you did in the last 365 days. Like most years, I bet there were some bad moments mixed in--hopefully many more good ones though! Looking back on the last quarter of 2023, the latest docum...

09/12/2023

Come on by Rogers Pub Rockaway tonight at 5:00pm for a free screening of our latest doc film, "Beach 116: Stories from a Rockaway Street"! Then it's onto festivals in the new year. Hope to see you there. ✌

Located on the seaside outskirts of New York City, Beach 116 is a key commercial street on the Rockaway peninsula, perched between the Atlantic Ocean and Jamaica…

22/11/2023

Thankful to be hosting my *final* PA workshop of 2023 this coming weekend! Share this with someone looking to learn about breaking into the film/TV industry. All attendees receive a complete copy of my e-book, "Gofers: On the Front Lines of Film and Television." Take a break this Thanksgiving weekend and join in: Saturday, November 25, 2pm EST / 11am PST ✌

A production assistant is considered the entry point for many careers in the film industry. This will put this role in the spotlight!

02/10/2023

Dan's latest newsletter is here! Despite industry strikes, this was a pretty busy and productive summer. Read all about it and signup for future quarterly newsletters via the link below. (That's right, quarterly as in I email you 4 times a year--no more, no less. ✊)

Fall greetings from Cameraman Dan! This latest edition of my newsletter comes to you via my newly updated website. My contact list was reformatted during the digital move, so I apologize if you've previously unsubscribed to this newsletter. You can always scroll down and click the button at the bott...

27/09/2023

I'll be running a Virtual PA Workshop on October 8! Hosted by the good folks at FilmLocal. ✊ We'll talk all things PA-related; from breaking in and finding work, to available positions and ranking up. Q&A session to follow, so please bring any questions. Also included for all attendees is a *long* list of resources & a complete digital copy of my award-winning book. Share with your friends!

A production assistant is considered the entry point for many careers in the film industry. This will put this role in the spotlight!

11/08/2023

Dale Gribble does 2023. So saddened by the passing of Johnny Hardwick, the actor who brought Dale to life. This picture is of my first cosplay attempt at Dale from earlier this summer. He's one of those crazy characters I grew up loving... absolutely insane, but a genuinely loyal friend to his neighbors, wife and son. Megalo Dale S7E10 will always remain my favorite episode.

29/07/2023

Standing where legends have stood. ✊️ Oh, and the cheesesteak is the *incredible* vegan version available just a block away.

27/06/2023

My latest short film, the exciting conclusion to the "Evil AI Trilogy" is finally out! Have you watched it yet? "I DON'T UNDERSTAND!" 😄

The conclusion to the Evil Alexa trilogy. Will Dr. Ed find a way to contain the AI unleashed by Amazon?_____Video produced and edited by Daniel Scarpati.Deve...

03/06/2023

More pics from Singapore. First time in Asia. What a terrific, traveling crew to be a part of. ✊️

28/05/2023

I hope you and yours are enjoying Memorial Day weekend. Some friends and newsletter-readers know that I recently worked on a corporate shoot in Singapore. While on the island, I visited Fort Siloso--a pivotal point of control during the WWII Pacific campaign. These are a few photos from my trip, where I learned about Japan's treatment of Singapore's people--and the POWs who were captured there. May we never see a world war again.

03/05/2023

In case you missed, here's a link to last month's newsletter. Go read how I traveled to Texas, Spain and Singapore, plus a whole bunch of updates on "Gofers" and my latest YouTube video for fans of Xbox Game Pass. 🤘

Yes friends, you read that title right. For the first quarter of 2023, I've decided to introduce my all new, HOURLY newsletter. From here on out, you'll be hearing from me on the hour, every hour, 365 days a year. I'll be in closer in touch with you than I am with my own parents! Alright, alright......

01/05/2023

Cleared for takeoff at this morning's annual JFK 5K Run on the Runway! Of course I had to represent Passing Planes Productions. My dad showed up, too--and we both beat personal bests! 9:06/mile for me, placing 40/91 men in the 25-29 age group. But more noteworthy, I was passed by the first place female child runner right at the end. 😅 Was just happy to be there!

17/03/2023

Happy St. Patrick's Day, from the "Importance of Being Ernest" documentary family to yours! 🍀 Stay tuned for updates: https://www.beingernestfilm.com/ | The Importance of Being Ernest: The Life of Actor Jim Varney

☘️🎩🌈 St. Patrick’s Day style:

Jim Varney as Ernest P Worrell, posing with Shamrock Farms dairy products looking udderly ecstatic, KnoWhutImean? 🐄

31/12/2022

Happy Holidays & New Year to all! Care to know why I'm sharing a picture of my behind up against a boulder? Guess you'll have to read my final quarterly newsletter of 2022 to find out... =P Safe travels & see you in 2023!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa & Happy Holidays to all! ✨ Especially after these last few years, this feels like a pretty joyous time... no, nothing's perfect, but I keep reminding myself about the simple things. Being thankful for family, electricity, heat, food, health. Even if y...

24/11/2022

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! 🦃 Very excited to share this update with you all: 2022 is the year I went to my first . I met amazing people and won a copy of the ASC Manual in a giveaway hosted by the folks at . The timing couldn't have been more perfect, because I was just accepted into the an associate member! The work I've done this year has enabled me to travel, learn and earn more than years prior. I'm so thankful and look forward to all the ways I'm going to continue growing as a storyteller & filmmaker in '23. Hope to see you on set! ✊

11/10/2022

Happy anniversary to "Ernest Scared Stupid"! Time to celebrate with some AUTHENTIC Bulgarian miak, knowutimean?

What a great promo shot, courtesy of The Importance of Being Ernest: The Life of Actor Jim Varney.

That moment when you realize was released 31 years ago today and you are, in fact, old.

15/09/2022

Thank to JP and the entire team at Fresh Pond Crematory for producing this lovely 9/11 memorial video. "Never forget." If there are any NY'ers who haven't visited Fresh Pond in person, this is a lovely, historic facility that's worth the trip.

28/08/2022

So exciting! Planning to attend my first ever NAB event this year--pending health conditions and work schedule. =P

Register now

26/08/2022

Now this is cool! It's my pleasure to team up with the wonderful duo, Robin and Hanna over at Film Neighbor Network to help create a series of showbiz glossary entries. Stay tuned for more. Apple boxes, ADs and "gofers," oh my! 😅

31/07/2022

And for my second entry in 's 2022 , anyone who knows me could've guessed I'd go with "Jurassic Park" (1993). 😅 Being on a kick with all of the collectible cans released for Dominion, I figured I'd grab my prop cryo can and recreate Dean Cundey's blue-ish, tech-inspired colors and camera work. Shout out to Jerry Moss and his prop team for designing this iconic prop.

17/07/2022

Happy National Yellow Pig Day! 😆 Thanks to Justin Lloyd for the great behind-the-scenes still from the set of The Importance of Being Ernest. www.beingernestfilm.com

It’s apparently !

We couldn’t help but be reminded of Vern’s yellow piggy bank! (You may remember him as Mean Ol’ Mr. Gravity’s enemy in various Ernest commercials.)

Subscribers! Watch your email for an update on "The Importance of Being Ernest" Jim Varney documentary progress later this week!

Not subscribed to email updates yet? You may do so at BeingErnestFilm.com!

14/07/2022

Using the end of Prime Day 2022 as an excuse to reminisce on when I camera operated for Amazon. Slides 2 and 3 highlight the importance of finding time to stretch in between standing on set for 12+ hours, as well as my failed attempt at growing a mustache. 😅

11/07/2022

In case you missed it, my latest quarterly newsletter was emailed out next week! Take a look & sign up via the link below. 😃✌️

Hello all! Daniel here. How's the summer treating you so far? We woke up to live another day, so that's not too bad of a start. Right? Lately, I find myself humming a favorite tune from the musical Avenue Q... "It's only for now..." (Side note: Before sending this newsletter, I had no idea the cast....

09/07/2022

Could it really be that Ernest Day was one month ago this weekend? Can't believe it... I had the good fortune to travel down to TN; pose with Auntie Nelda on the spot where they filmed Ernest Goes to Camp; meet incredible folks with lifelong passions for the late, great Jim Varney; all while working to help begin production on 's upcoming documentary about the importance of being Ernest--see what I did there, Vern? "EHEWWW!"
(Thanks to some of my new friends for taking these photos!)

06/06/2022

Okay, this is AWESOME: My good friend Amber at Beyond Film School has assembled an incredible "Set PA Kit" for first-timers looking for the complete starter package! I wish this existed when I was starting out, as it would've save me some money--and more importantly, TIME! Only other thing you'll want to buy on your own locally is a lighter (for cast/crew who smoke and *will* ask you to for a light). Oh, and a signed copy of my book is included--no big deal. 😎✊ https://www.beyondfilmschool.com/shopbfs/Set-Production-Assistant-Kit-p461957067

Set Production Assistant Kit Be 100% prepared and ready when you step on a film set! This kit has everything you need to have a great first day. It will elevate your Set PA skills to make your day easier and more comfortable, and for you to look more professional on set! These kits are limited! Spec...

13/05/2022

Congratulations to all honorees for this year's Mental Health News Education Leadership Awards! It was an exciting experience filming and producing this virtual YouTube premiere alongside the wonderful team at MHNE. 👏

Mental Health News Education, the nonprofit organization that publishes Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News, is celebrating and bringing awarenes...