Journal and Portfolio of Matthew Taylor Ruggieri

The second out of four lyric videos that I produced/directed/edited for Never Shout Never on Warner Bros. Records is online. FYI: it’s abstract… a relationship is only “cute” for so long.

The Used is releasing their new album later this year and I’ve spent the last couple of days rummaging through video footage shot by the band over the last year.  I’ve never seen so much snot and blood.  These guys have no sense of fear – so brutal.  Among all of the disgusting dares, there are stunning performances in arena size venues around the world.  Best yet, Quinn (one of the band members) owns a kick ass camera and documented everything really well.  I’m looking forward to editing some videos for the band’s upcoming release!  Stay tuned, my friends.

When I was photographing Evan Taubenfeld, one of his favorite photographs that I took involved himself and a porta potty.  He goes to no end to tell (and enact) jokes and never fails to have us laughing our heads off.  Even though our shoots tend to go twelve hours or more (and for some reason, I always miss some sort of family dinner), working with Evan is always a BLAST.  He’s bringing “badass” back and his album, With a Wink and a Smile, is coming out soon. So move out of the way JoBros and get ready to say hi to Evan Taubenfeld!!!

P.S. I’m going to take this time to say that “It’s Like That” is going to be HUGE.

Introducing Evan Taubenfeld

There were a few artists that I spent a large portion of my time with while working at Warner Bros. Records. Melee was one of the bands that I had an absolute blast with. They even forced me to finger a pie in their video! Find me in the video below. Ha! Have a good weekend and get some warmth for me!!!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axjYfFGHB8U&hl=en&fs=1]

After a week long – much needed – vacation to Maine for Thanksgiving, I spent three days in Boston and hit the road again.  On Wednesday, I ventured down to New York for a shoot with Peter Cincotti, a singer on Warner Bros. Records, for his new album, East of Angel Town.  We walked around the city, found our way to the New York Stock Exchange for a tree lighting ceremony that he performed at and headed back to the Warner Bros. office to film a more formal interview.

I spent Friday with some good friends from Warner at Michael Buble’s sold out show at Madison Square Garden.  Since the show was being filmed for an upcoming DVD, I spent most of my time in the director’s trailer filming behind the scenes and watching the massive production come together.

After the show, we headed over to the after party where I was forced into a photograph with Buble.  It was cool meeting him and his show was a lot of fun to watch.  I’ll conclude this entry with the humorous (and I think, extremely corny) photograph for your viewing pleasures:

Me with Buble

I have to say that it is extremely bizarre to start seeing my photographs and footage pop up all over the place and this is just the beginning!  Josiah was one of the first artists that I’ve worked with from the beginning.  I took a huge part in developing his image and story on film.  From the three months that I spent working with him, his family and Warner Bros. Records, I have to say that every time I see a new video pop up with my footage included, I get really excited.

MTV recently did a segment on Josiah, including clips from the documentary trailer in the piece.  They inch at the controversial and heart wrenching topics that will be confronted in the feature length.  You can view the MTV Segment here: http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/317717/the-only-thing-that-has-ever-been-on-my-mind-is-the-music.jhtml

Josiah’s EP was released yesterday and is currently at 52 on the Top Albums on iTunes. Not bad for a first EP.


[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJx0Y8J970&hl=en&fs=1]
Rachael Yamagata – “Elephants”

Throw yourself in the midst of danger, but keep one eye open at night.

I saw a trailer for Josiah’s Angels Undercover documentary this morning.  As many at Warner know (and those that read my blog know,) filming with Josiah turned into a lot more than just a video shoot for me.  The three minute trailer could have quite possibly made every moment, every emotion, every fear and all anxiety that I felt over the last four months TOTALLY worth it.

There is something extremely special and close to heart hitting the masses in early 2009.  I can not wait.