Steve Weiss

Steve Weiss began his creative journey at an early age.  He first learned about photography and shooting Super 8 movies with his dad. In 1980, with the advent of the home VCR, Steve was among the first to begin shooting and editing wedding videos. It was at this time that he began to hone his taste, knowledge and storytelling ability. Soon after moving to Chicago in 1983, Steve began 1st Generation Video.  He had a fresh new idea.  Steve wanted to make fashion videos that would play in department stores. This had never been done before.  Even the simple idea of putting TV’s in stores was innovative and exciting!  Steve attracted forward-thinking companies like I.B. Diffusion, Hartmarx and Christian Dior, and 1st Generation was soon displaying fashion videos in major stores across the country. The industry trend of multi-media at the point-of-purchase still thrives today.

In 1985, 1st Generation took on a new partner, Rick Shaughnessy. Rick and Steve moved into high-end corporate communications with a focus on niche marketing. Steve was never afraid of new technology and along with his DP Jens Bogehegn, pioneered new equipment. They were among the first industry professionals to use Hi-8 video, Betacam, Steadicam Jr., mini-dv, non linear editing systems, DVD authoring and eventually HD Cameras. Steve and Rick built 1st Generation into a highly successful production company.  They sold it in 1999 after sixteen years of innovation and achievement.

In 2000, Steve Weiss and Jens Bogehegn formed Zacuto, a high-end sales and rental company.  Zacuto specializes in HD camera packages and original accessories for the new, independent filmmakers market.

“We just weren’t able to find the products to do the things that DP’s wanted, so we decided to make our own. We decided we would only make products that were unique, different and a huge improvement over what was already available.” – Steve Weiss

Zacuto consistently introduces new concepts to the market.  Some have been subsequently adopted by other manufacturers and are now the ‘industry standard.’  Concept products like: ‘Quick Release’ components that can be attached without using screws, ‘Universal’ products that are adjustable for all cameras and components and universal assembly cases that safely carry a fully assembled camera kit are only a few of the original ideas that Zacuto has brought to the industry.  Zacuto products are also made exclusively in the United States and have a lifetime warranty.  Yes, a lifetime warranty!! 

By 2008, Zacuto USA’s product line had grown to over 140 items, making Steve one of the leading trendsetters in the camera package design. Now known as an industry leader, day in and day out, Zacuto continues to show how it can easily adapt its unique products to every camera on the market. Coming full circle, getting back to their roots of creating original content, film and video veterans Steve Weiss and Jens Bogehegn created their first Webisodic Series, FilmFellas, in December 2008. FilmFellas offers viewers a behind the scenes peek into the minds of influential and emerging filmmakers, “Where talking film is the family business.”  Since 2008 FilmFellas has had 8 individual casts and 40 webisodes garnering Emmy nominations in 2010 as well as 2011.

In August 2009, Steve and Jens launched their second webisodic series at Zacuto Films, [ critics ]. This new show, co-hosted by Steve Weiss and Philip Bloom (a well known London based Cinematographer,) candidly critiques web based video content. [ critics ] offers an eclectic mix of personalities, perspectives and laughter.  In 2010, assembling a world-wide cast of influential filmmakers and screened at Lucas Film Skywalker Ranch, AFI and in Chicago, "The Great Camera Shootout 2010" showed the world how a DSLR would fare against 35mm film in a battery of tests. The Great Camera Shootout has had over 2M views, was the only web series, along with FilmFellas to be nominated for an Emmy and then won an Emmy Award in 2010 for Outstanding Achievement in an Informational Program.  The "Great Camera Shootout 2011" received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement for Informational/Instructional Programming.  

Steve is passionate about his work but understands that even the boss needs a day off once in a while!!  You can often find him riding around Chicago on his 1948 Schwinn Panther, or working on his fine art photography portfolio, and, of course, playing with his little girl, Isabel.  Steve also has a keen interest in genealogy. His 17th Great Grandfather, Abraham Zacuto, was the court astronomer of Spain and an inventor.  Abraham was responsible for orchestrating Christopher Columbus’s mission to the new world.  Steve too, has that same passion for inventing, creating and discovering.  It seems to run in the family!!

In the fall of 2010, Steve Weiss and Jens Bogehegn created and developed bts: a web series "A Documentary About Making Documentaries." Launching in March 2011, the web series follows Director T.C. Johnstone, Producer Greg Kwedar and their entire film crew and documents their journey in the making of "Rising From Ashes,” a film about Rwandan's first ever national cycling team. In this upcoming web series, you will get a behind the scenes look at the process of filmmaking, see the pain and commitment of the crew on location and find out what it really takes to put a film together. “This is not a reality show.” The bts episode Hit the Ground Running was nominated for a 2011 Emmy award as well for Outstanding Achievement in Documentary Programs.  To watch the trailer, go to http://www.zacuto.com/bts-trailer

Both Weiss and Bogehegn have worked together as Director/Cinematographer since 1986, together they have created in both film and video over 600 commercial, corporate, documentary & fashion projects as well as web based program series and have been honored with a 2010 Emmy for Winning Series (Midwest Chapter): "The Great Camera Shootout 2010" and an Emmy Nominations for Best Program Series FilmFellas Cast 7: Masters of Non-Fiction, bts: Hit the Ground Running, FilmFellas: Commitment to the Craft and The Great Camera Shootout 2011: The Tipping Point.  Other awards for past work include: Bronze Star-Houston International Film Festival, 2 Chicago International Film Festival Winners, Chicago Film Festival International Certificate, NY Film Festival Winner, Platinum International AVA Award in Web Entertainment for [ critics ] season 2, Platinum International AVA Award in Web News & Information for "The Great Camera Shootout 2010," Gold International AVA Award for Web Program for FilmFellas Cast 7, AFVA Red Ribbon, 1st & 2nd Prize Beverage and Food Dynamics, Silver Triangle Award, 5 Silver & 4 Bronze Telly Awards and 2 Black Diamond Awards for Product Design.

Steve Weiss Directorial Work:  http://steveweissdirector.com
Steve Weiss Photographic Work:  http://weissfineart.com

In the summer of 1986 my new producer Rick Shaughnessy and I came up with this idea themed for a clothing line inspired by the African designs and the hit movie "Out of Africa". This was our fifth video for the clothing company I.B. Diffusion and our most ambitious to date. At the time, Point of Purchase (in-store) videos were a crazy new concept that had not been tested. Today it seems funny, we see TVs in every store. But we actually had to rent the TVs and VCRs for some stores back in 1987.

Director & Editor: Steve Weiss
Producer: Rick Shaughnessy
Cinematography: Rana Segal