john-michael scanlon

transmedia storyworld builder

Followed my muse.
Jettisoned the suit n' tie life.
Dove head-first into the creative work I love.

Digignite Studios (Dij•ignite) was once a bricks n' mortar biz on the Gulf Coast, where my team and I focused on meeting the video production, motion-graphics, web & print design needs of ad agencies & casinos.

A hurricane instantly transformed that business into a "virtual studio" that followed me to California and to wherever my lovely wife & I adventure-travel.

"If you're not busy being born, you're busy dying," so I challenge myself to be a multimedia swiss army knife, bringing new tech & techniques into projects while holding on to a "beginner's mind."

fun n' gaming

a few current & past clients

Whether it's creating "fantasatic reality" tv commercials featuring sword fighting pirates and Hollywood magic or responsive web design & development, my media production journey has been an absolute blast so far and I'm enormously grateful to every client I've had the pleasure of co-creating with, including...

WEB DESIGN & DEV
WEB DESIGN & DEV
BRANDING • LOGOS
MACROVIDEOGRAPHY
WEB DESIGN • PRINT & PACKAGING DESIGN
TV & RADIO COMMERCIALS
MOTION-GRAPHICS
VIDEO GAMES
TV COMMERCIALS
TV COMMERCIALS
DIRECT MAIL DESIGN
TV & RADIO COMMERCIALS
PRINT DESIGN

republic spine • branding & launch

logo design • rspine.com design & dev • package design • print & collateral design • macro-videography & photography

video • motion-graphics • web design & dev • print design

big visual concepts with modest budgets (mostly)
and a few recent quick n' fun personal projects.

Once upon a time, the vast bulk of my work was creating magic-in-motion, capturing the impossible on video. Hella fun to take that dare then deliver every time! Miss it so much. Hmmmm... stay tuned.

playin' with gear • workin' the craft

shooting at the eclipse

Youtube/Vimeo Reel • 2024 • 24 secs
Shot, Cut n' Color
Fujifilm X-H2s • Zeiss 300mm
Sound: The Runaway Club's "Shooting at the Moon"
wonder dynamics test

Live action/animation • 2023 • 5 secs
Fujifilm X-H2s • WonderDynamics
Exploring AI tool that animates, lights & composes CG characters into live-action scenes
dream-look test shoot

2023 • 32 secs
Z Cam F6 • Pinhole/no lens!
Exploring techniques for a short film I was directing
waves

Short Film for a contest • 2021 • 4 min
Writer • Director • Actor • Editor
Z Cam E2-F6 • Irix Cine lenses
7 days from spark to finished shoot!
Shout out to my wife Nimz: dream-gal, camera operator & solo crew
rollin' like a ragdoll

Quick bite • 2021 • 20 secs
Cinematographer • Editor
Kitten's straight up skateboard punk
Z Cam E2-F6 • Irix 15mm
tiny train town

Short Fun • 2020 • 30 secs
Cinematographer • Editor
Holiday season magic on Balboa Island
Z Cam E2-F6 • Irix Cine lenses

playing for a living

"fear, love & agoraphobia

Website • 2016
Web design & development
Alex D'Lerma Productions
agoramovie.com
Met my beautiful bride while co-producing & data wrangling on this indie film
you, me & one

TV spot • 2018 • 30 secs
Writer • Director • Cinematographer • Editor
Ad2 Inc. • Pav & Broome
cookin' up social media

Facebook video series
2018 • 1 to 2 min each
Director • Cinematographer • Editor
Island View Casino Resort
caesar's

TV spot • 2003 • 30 secs
Director • Co-Cinematographer • Editor
Caesar's Indiana
Trivia: Same camera used on Star Wars I.
Endless thanks to film/tv mentor, creative guru Gardner Compton
"insurance party"

Animated :60 TV • 2005
Director • Art Director • Editor
Denham Law Firm
Thanks Shane! (animation "gels")
diggin' up rocks

TV Spot • 2017 • 30 secs
Motion-graphics/Animation • Editor
Ad2 Inc. • Pav & Broome
penn gaming reel

Motion-graphics/TV
Director • Motion-graphics • Editor
Hollywood Casino Tunica
Years of fun going by in seconds.
casino magic

TV spot • :30 secs
Creator • Director • Producer • Song Writer (Lyrics & Melody)
Casino Magic Bay St. Louis
Huge budget! Thanks Dick Ford, Hummingbird & CAVU!
through the years

TV spot • 2007 • 60 secs
Director • Cinematographer • Editor
Ad2 Inc. • Pav & Broome
Thanks Shane (vfx) & Mollie!
jack palance • buffet

TV spot • 2002 • 30 secs
Cinematographer • Editor
Adventure Communications /
Boomtown Casino Biloxi
Thanks Jim & Francisco!
jack palance • slots

TV spot • 2002 • 30 secs
Cinematographer • Editor
Adventure Communications /
Boomtown Casino Biloxi
More awesome Jack stories :-D
neuro-spinal care

TV Spot • 30 secs
Writer • Director • VFX • Editor
Ad2 Inc. • Garden Park Med Ctr
Geez, such ground-breaking 3D animation for local tv at that time!
neptune

TV Spot • 2004 • 30 secs
Writer • Director • Cinematographer • Editor • VFX
Copa Casino
First time using Maya 3D!
al fresco

TV Spot • 30 secs
Writer • Director • Editor • VFX
Al Fresco Italian Bistro, Ocean Springs, MS
Thanks autotune! :-D

the cinema gym

every month, a new "actor's director" workshop scene

An amazing learning experience. While in a UCLA Film/TV "Directing Actors" class, instructor Alex D'Lerma told me about his weekly actor/director workout, "The Cinema Gym." Enjoyed the workshop and Alex's mentorship on directing actors so much I stuck around for seven years!

Each director works with two actors, casting, rehersing, shooting, editing & screening a scene each month to stay "in shape" and hone skills as an "actor's director."

75 minutes to prep, light & shoot each scene to simulate the stesses of production.

"tootsie"

Comedy • 2018 • 4:54
(My wife Nimz' acting debut ;-)
"in treatment"

Drama • 2019 • 4:27
"bloodline"

Drama • 2015 • 3:43
"southLAnd"

Drama • 2013 • 3:43

Apologies for the Jason Bourne-level shaky-cam & focus pull challenges LOL! No rehearsal or prep time for this lil' workshop scene so blocking was quickly improvised. The performances though – wow! Talk about authentically living in the moment – bravo!