Director/actor Dallas Henry (left) and director of photography Jason Cantu - both raised in Kansas - have become one of the hottest new teams in production of country and rock music videos. They also represent the collaborative spirit among filmmakers in the region that is making eastern Kansas an exciting, new center for independent motion picture, HD documentary and television production, involving major projects with producers, directors and other production companies across America.

Dallas, who grew up in Kansas and currently lives in Los Angeles, is the head of Wheatfield Productions. Jason, a frequent collaborator on Wheatfield music video projects, is director of photography at Outpost Worldwide, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City.

Their distinctive style includes fresh approaches in the use of HD video and film technology with appealing concepts and great on-site locations to create award-winning music videos that tell a story and are authentically memorable.

For more insight, view this Interview with Dallas Henry and Jason Cantu.

Outpost Worldwide is currently in production with well-known producers Ron Lyon and Jenny Paschall of Big Cat Productions on a new series for A&E Television Networks. The high priority pilot/special, which we will announce soon, is expected to air this fall.  

Ron is seen center in the photo with Outpost Worldwide head Michael Wunsch (right) and Director of Photography, Jason Cantu (left).

Studio and on-location shooting for the pilot has taken place in Kansas, Missouri, Texas and Britain. But that should be no surprise since Ron Lyon has been all over the world during the last 30 years, having created and produced popular shows like “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!,” “Most Haunted in America,” “Would You Believe It!,” and “Beyond Belief.”

Ron and Jenny, who is also an author and journalist with a regularly featured column in England’s Sunday Express newspaper, are in Kansas City for part of the summer, working at Outpost Worldwide on post-production for the pilot. They are also actively co-producing a number of other projects in development with Outpost Worldwide.

While we at Outpost Worldwide have been working with well-known producers Ron Lyon and Jenny Paschall on an A&E program, we have gotten addicted to Jenny’s new book, “Stefi.” It’s a terrific read from this talented London-born author, newspaper columnist and television producer. Jenny has given us permission to share an excerpt of “Stefi,” published by Robert D. Reed Publishers:

Stefi is certainly turning out to be an unusual friend. After I woke up from my very drunken sleep, I decided to have a long soak in a hot, oily, deliciously smelly bath and wash my hair. Sometime during all this, Stefi must have called. Her message just said, “Glad you agreed to stop moping. I’ll meet you at 9.30 tonight at Julio’s Wine Bar.”

What? I didn’t remember making any plans with her, but I suppose I was pretty drunk when she left. Whenever that was. I looked at my watch. It was 8.15. I realized that I still didn’t have Stefi’s phone number, so I couldn’t cancel. I couldn’t stand her up either; that would be terrible. I’d never been to Julio’s (nor had I ever intended to go there), but I had passed it a few times. It was full of bored divorcees and guys looking for a quick fling. Not my kind of place at all. Still, I had no choice.

Read the full article

Outpost Worldwide is proud to have provided production support in the making of director Kevin Willmott’s (right) new independent motion picture, “Bunker Hill,” which is now making the rounds nationwide of film festivals and screenings.

“Bunker Hill” is the story of a former Wall Street executive who leaves prison after 9-11 and heads for the small town of Bunker Hill, Kansas, where his ex-wife and their children have started a new life. Soon after he arrives, an apparent massive terrorist attack against America darkens the town. Cut off from the world, the town’s militant past is reawakened and forces coalesce to protect citizens from an unseen enemy. The town’s fear leads to the creation of a posse of gunmen, torture, illegal searches and eventually, murder.

The film stars Emmy and Peabody Award winner James McDaniel (NYPD Blue, Sunshine State); Saeed Jaffrey the legendary actor from India who has starred in more than 150 films including Gandhi, Passage to India, My Beautiful Launderette and The Man Who Would Be King; and Laura Kirk, star and co-writer of the acclaimed feature film “Lisa Picard Is Famous,” which premiered at The Cannes Film Festival.
 

Country singer, Craig Morgan’s, new single, “International Harvester has soared to CMT.com’s Top 10 most streamed videos and Country Music Television’s Top 20 Countdown! Recently, the song had made it to #4! The single has also made it’s way into the Top 10 on the Billboard Country Charts!

Outpost Worldwide’s Director of Photography Jason Cantu (right) worked closely with director Dallas Henry for the on-location shoot of Morgan’s music video.

Outpost Worldwide was production partner and Outpost’s Jason Cantu was Director of Photography to team with Telemark Pictures on the dramatic production of “Through Martha’s Eyes.”

The award-winning film, based in part on historical events, is currently in national PBS distribution.

“Through Martha’s Eyes” - written by Chuck Cranston - tells the story of Martha, a young African American woman sold into slavery in 1856 to work and live at the Shawnee Mission Indian School in Territorial Kansas. Thinking there were no enslaved people in Kansas, and that she would soon be set free, Martha travels from Missouri to her new home at the school. She soon finds out things are much different than she thought. Martha is confronted with the culturalization of Native American children and is witness to early skirmishes in Kansas which ultimately lead to Civil War. Romance, friendship, and defiance all come together for a dramatic conclusion to this powerful story from the American frontier.

It seemed like much of Kansas City turned out for the live Fox broadcast of the David Cook Watch Party and celebrated as the hometown man won American Idol by a landslide. Kansas City television coverage for Fremantle Media was handled by Harvest Productions with assistance from Outpost Worldwide cameraman and jib expert, Jason Cantu.

These photos show how Jason was able to get dramatic reaction shots of the audience in downtown Kansas City using a 30-foot jib as Cook won by a margin of 12 million votes out of the record 97.5 million cast by viewers.

From the outset, the ex-bartender provided soaring vocals and just enough outside-the-box behavior to keep viewers cooking up votes for Cook every week.

The watch party took place at the new Kansas City Power and Light District, an exciting new entertainment area of Kansas City, Missouri.

The nationwide telecast of American Idol went live to Jason’s shot several times during the two-hour finale broadcast. The finale drew 30.7 million viewers. American Idol is the number one network television show.

As more than five weeks of location shooting wrapped on “Last Ounce of Courage,” the media came out to cover the event, including The Kansas City Star. The story by feature columnist Robert Butler spotlighted executive producer Rodney Stone, writers/producers Gina and Richard Headrick and Outpost Worldwide head Michael Wunsch.
(Left to right in photo: Rodney, Gina, Richard and Michael.)

As with all of Outpost Worldwide motion picture, documentary and commercial shoots, “Last Ounce of Courage” was shot using Panasonic Cinema VariCam HD cameras.

“Courage” stars Jennifer O’Neill and Marshall Teague. Locations included the picturesque community of Paola, Kansas.

It is the story of Bob Revere, a Vietnam veteran and mayor of a small town where Christmas has all but disappeared. Inspired by the return of his daughter-in-law and his patriotic grandson, Bob decides to bring Christmas back! But when a crooked lawyer threatens to sue the town, Bob’s mission is put in jeopardy. Will Bob have enough courage left to save Christmas?

George Ciampa, at age 18, served in World War II in the 607th Graves Registration Company of the U.S. Army. His company had the solemn task of gathering, registering, and burying dead comrades in France, Belgium and Germany.

Six decades later, Ciampa, now age 81, has taken another tour of duty. This time he was armed with an HD documentary crew, from Outpost, to shoot “Let Freedom Ring.” The mission is to emphasize the real cost of freedom and share with young people today, and in the future, the enormity of those costs.

“Memories of France” is a documentary following four WWII Veterans, two teachers and a journalist who travel to various World War II historical sites in France. It is similar to George Ciampa’s first film, “Let Freedom Ring” however this new film observes the French perspective of the War, and has a very personal, first hand feel. To learn more, visit www.letfreedomringforall.org.

As with all of Outpost Worldwide motion picture, documentary and commercial shoots, “Let Freedom Ring” was shot on location using Panasonic Cinema VariCam HD cameras.

View the trailer of “Let Freedom Ring” online

Action and drama collide in an Outpost Worldwide production of “RIGGED,” the story of a female boxer fighting her way through the dangerous world of underground boxing.

Kat “Kid Vixen” Parker and her sleazy manager, Dublin, have a scheme that can’t be beat: a fighter no one will bet on, but who always wins. As they work their way up the ranks, Richter — the godfather of illegal boxing — is determined to stop them. Soon Kat and Dublin learn that the most dangerous fight of all is the one outside the ring.

“RIGGED,” is directed and produced by Jonathan Dillon and written by Ian Shorr.

As with all of Outpost Worldwide motion picture, documentary and commercial shoots, “RIGGED” was shot using Panasonic Cinema VariCam HD cameras.

Check out the official Web site of “RIGGED” to watch the trailer

It was 1990. A historic year in classical music. Two major world events happened that summer, both in Rome. And, Outpost Worldwide head Michael Wunsch and independent producer and communications strategist David Henderson were there to capture both on digital video. It should be noted that even 18 years ago, Michael was already a leader in digital video.

Henderson’s client, Polygram Worldwide, had asked him to produce a behind-the-scenes video of the first Three Tenors concert with Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras under the baton of Zubin Mehta at Rome’s ancient Baths of Caracalla. At the same time, the CEO of Polygram asked the crew to shoot a music video to debut a little-known mezzo-soprano, Cecilia Bartoli.

Ms. Bartoli is today an international superstar in the world of opera.

Here is an exclusive screening of the video with Ms. Bartoli in July 1990

In a time before any thought of the Civil Rights Movement, when race riots erupted across the Midwest, many blacks fled to safety and better jobs in northern cities. One man remained with his family in the small Illinois farming town of Altamont. He was the last black man in town, braving the daily threat of race-related violence. He stayed because he was the town barber. “The Barber’s Diaries,” tells the remarkable story of Charles Everett Ellis.

Outpost Worldwide executive producer Michael Wunsch and author David Henderson recently were on-location in southern California to shoot HD interviews with Ellis’ daughters about their father as part of a developing documentary project.

Ellis protected his family, kept quiet, and cut hair but his voice soared in his diaries. What’s revealed is the intellectual and inspirational mind of a philosopher. When he died in 1971 at the age of 84, his diaries contained more than 2,600 pages in six volumes spanning more than 40 years of world events, his family and his own philosophical and spiritual journey.

Click here for a seven-minute video story treatment of The Barber’s Diaries