Tom Skerritt - Actor, Writer, Director
Posted by cass | Filed under The Natural Gifts Project
“Working with Cass, you know you’re in good creative hands.” - Tom Skerrit
When I think of the shoot with Tom Skerritt, I think of just how nervous I was to meet him. Here is a guy who’s been in dozens of movies and television shows, and has probably been photographed as many times. So what’s he like? He’s very cool - completely humble, a little bit shy, but a great conversationalist. His life sounds like a movie in itself. I found out that the first film he did, he worked for free, and was cast alongside Robert Redford. He also helped cast Bud Cort, and had a bit part in my personal all time favorite film Harold and Maude.
The thing about Tom, is that he is so open and down to earth, that he quickly makes you feel comfortable. Not to mention the fact that he is amazingly inspiring - at 74 years old he is directing his first film. This has been what he’s always wanted to do in his life and now at 74 he is living his dream. Like I said - amazing.
This is the handwritten piece from Tom that is incorporated into the 4×5 portrait.
Bio:
Forty plus years a film actor, Best Actor Emmy Award, “Picket Fences” ‘93, Best Supporting Actor , “Turning Point”, National Board of Review ‘77. Sometimes playwrite, ongoing screenwriter/director, co-founder of The Film School, painter, father of five, grandfather of five. Lifetime Achievement Award, Wayne State University ‘07, Laureate Award, The Rainier Club, ‘07. Educated Wayne State University and UCLA Film School.
First acting job WAR HUNT with Robert Redford and Sydney Pollack ‘62. Other films include MASH, ALIEN, TOP GUN, A RUVER RUNS THRIUGH IT, CONTACT, TEARS OF THE SUN, currently WHITEOUT with Kate Beckonsale. 16 Emmy Award show PICKET FENCES ‘93-’97
Tags: Actor, Tom Skerritt
Unveiling the Natural Gifts Project
Posted by jess | Filed under The Natural Gifts Project
“Working with Cass, you know you’re in good creative hands.” -Tom Skerritt (actor/writer/director)
“The experience was inspiring, fun, provocative and joyous!” - Anna Bergman (Broadway musical star)
“This is the most fun I have ever had on a photo shoot.” - Adam Guettel (Tony Award winning composer)
The Idea
In the spring of 2006 I took a workshop called Natural Gifts taught by my business coach Andrew Barber Starkey. He challenged me to discover just what my innate natural gifts were. I’ve been a professional photographer for over 10 years, so it’s no surprise that I love my job. But, it wasn’t until that moment that I realized I hadn’t gone after all of my dreams in the field of photography. I very quietly admitted to myself that I wanted to do a celebrity portraiture book. I then dug a little deeper into the idea for this project and realized it wasn’t just well known people that I wanted to meet, but inspiring people of all walks of life.
Natural Gifts Project
A natural gift can be many things. Generally it is the thing we do with our lives that we were meant to do - what we are passionate about, what we would do wether or not we got paid to do it. For me, photographing people is one of my natural gifts. Wether they’re shy, outgoing, powerful, intimidating, you name it and I’m able to help them relax in front of the camera and capture their best self.
The people involved in the Natural Gifts Project are from a wide range of arenas, from artists to musicians, to innovators and athletes. Some gifts are more readily noticeable, such as those with remarkable talents of painting or singing, while others are gifts of character such as courage or compassion.
I hope this collection of stories helps to inspire us all to explore and find our own natural gifts. This project is about dreams, inspiration, and the real people who’ve found and mastered their own natural gifts.
Why the Blog
This project really began to build up momentum in 2008. I decided that beyond wanting to make a coffee table book of these portraits, I could envision an ongoing project. This is my chance to share with the world all the inspiring people I’ve had the honor of meeting and photographing.
The Twist
It can be challenging to find a way to make a connection with someone in a very organic way. Even more so with people who are well known. I wanted this project to be stripped down of the usual trappings - no art directors, no shot lists, without any agenda other than to get to know the real person better and to capture an honest photograph in the moment.
It’s rare to find an image that truly captures the soul of the sitter. My hope with this project is to re-frame the way we see the famous, to increase our awareness of people who are inspiring in largely unseen fields, and shine a light on the leaders of tomorrow.
The Process
I decided that for this project I would step out of my normal way of seeing and shooting. In the digital age of speed and instant gratification, I wanted to create a more process oriented style of photography, reminiscent of the old studio shoots of the turn of the century. The photo session itself is very intimate. Using an old 4×5 view camera I can slow down the fast paced photographic experience to a pace that is more revealing and unique. When I’m looking at a subject through the view camera they appear upside down and backwards! I take 3 to 7 shots per person, which is a slow enough pace that it allows the sitter to get comfortable with the process.
To keep the project focussed on the individual people, I give each person an opportunity to write (in their own handwriting) a piece of their story that their story, which I then incorporate into the final portrait image. I also capture an assortment of images from the experience with my 35 mm digital camera, as “out-takes” using them to round out the experience and to help show my subjects as multi-dimensional individuals.
Technical
The actual finished photographs are presented in sepia and black & white. Each person is photographed against the same hand painted back drop made especially for this project. I take one shot from the 4×5 view camera (on Polaroid Type 55 film), scan it and layer the handwritten story in post-production. A selection of the digitally shot “out-takes” are presented on the opposite page in a film strip style.
