FRED ARMISEN & DEF RAIN (2022) Excerpt 6 mins.

I’ve had the pleasure of filming Fred Armisen’s Comedy for Musicians (But Everyone is Welcome) show in numerous variations (SF Sketchfest 2020, 24). In Dec 2022, Fred brought his show to the New Parish in Oakland, along with musical guests Def Rain. He asked me to document the show with a multiple camera set-up capturing both artists taking turns on stage for a sold-out crowd.

Produced, Directed, Edited by Jim Granato
Videography by Jim Granato and Nick Berger

THE MUMMIES LIVE IN A JUNKYARD (2020) Excerpt 4 mins.

The Mummies were asked in 2020 by a concert promoter in Mexico to appear in an exclusive full concert livestream IRREPETIBLE (“Unrepeatable”) on Halloween that year. I had been working with the band off and on for years at this point on a feature film project. They asked me to oversee prep and production for this. We decided to film the show in true Mummies fashion, in B&W and in a junkyard. Here is an excerpt from the 65 minute show.

Produced, Directed, Photographed, Edited by Jim Granato
Additional Camera Operators - Christian Bruno & Mustafa Rony Zeno
Sound by Trent Ruane and Jim Granato

TOWER OF POWER: 50 YEARS OF FUNK & SOUL (2021) 30 sec. Trailer for PBS

I have been working with Chime Interactive for years. The Bay Area based production company hired me in June, 2018 as a cam op for two concerts over two nights at the Fox in Oakland to film legendary funk artists, Tower of Power celebrating their 50th anniversary. The program premiered on PBS and a blu ray edition plus vinyl soundtrack were issued.

Camera Operator - Jim Granato

KUGELPLEX LIVE AT THE FREIGHT & SALVAGE (2024) 93 mins.

Kugelplex is the West Coast's rockin’-est purveyor of klezmer and old-world music. I was asked to document their concert at the Freight and Salvage in Dec, 2024. Two camera set-up. One stationary and the other roving. The band would eventually leave the stage for a very cool and super lively encore in the venue’s lobby. They are an incredible live act that will keep anyone with a camera on their toes. Here’s an excerpt.

Videography and Editing by Jim Granato

SCAT-TER BRAIN (2025) Excerpt 3 mins.

Candace Johnson brought her brilliant one woman show to The Marsh in Berkeley in 2025 and called on me for documentation. Here is an excerpt from a 2 camera set-up. Shorter clips were made and aired on local news outlets for a story on the artist.

Videography, Sound and Editing by Jim Granato

LET MY LOVE OPEN THE DOOR (2017) 4 mins.

Here is a music video promo for Rogue Wave's 2017 album, Cover Me. I go pretty far back with these guys as a couple members here were huge collaborators with my feature length documentary, D TOUR (2009). The concept here is based on an idea by Zach Rogue and we filmed this in a warehouse studio in San Francisco.

Directed, Photographed, Edited and Produced by Jim Granato.

LOST (2018) 4 mins.

“Lost” music video promo for Sonny Smith and his label at the time, Easy Eye Sound (founded by Dan Auerbach). Sonny wanted a mellow “hang out” vibe for this one. We took advantage of filming scenes near our homes on the beautiful northern CA coast. Mike and I experimented in shooting this in an anamorphic aspect ratio (2.40:1)

Directed, Produced and Edited by Jim Granato
Co-photographed by Jim Granato & Mike Seely

HAPPY CARROT HEALTH FOOD STORE (2015) 7 mins.

My first music video for Sonny Smith (and his Sunsets) filmed in the outer sunset in San Francisco. “Happy Carrot Health Food Store” provided a fun cast of characters at Sonny’s local grocery. This was also a collaboration with artist/animator Teppei Ando (Murder Dollhouse).

Co-Produced, Photographed, Directed, and Edited by Jim Granato

SOUND EFFECTS: SF BAY AREA MUSICIANS RELIEF (2020 livestream) 145 mins.

I have been part of the video crew for the Sound Summit music festival since its inception (2015) to the present day. Produced as an annual celebration of Mount Tamalpais State Park by Roots & Branches Conservancy, Sound Summit has raised over $250,000 for Mount Tam to date. Here is an edit presented by NUGS from 2020.

Camera Operator - Jim Granato

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE EMPIRE (2012) 3 mins.

Ramon & Jessica's "Empire" riffs on themes of post-apocalyptic society, DIY culture, and political stagnation. Released just days before the 2012 election, "Empire" is timed to comment on the current election hype, while reflecting on the turmoils of the previous four years: climate change, Occupy Wall Street, economic uncertainty, and amidst all this, the continuation of everyday life by everyday people.

Directed, Co-Produced, Photographed, and Edited by Jim Granato

BRANDO: CARBON COPIES (2002) 4 mins.

Music Video shot on 16mm Tri-X film mixed in with 60’s Russian 16mm B&W animation found in a dumpster. Featuring the music of Brando, taken from the Luna Music/Recordhead release "Single Crown Postcard".

*Best Music Video Award winner at the 2002 Downstream Film Festival, Atlanta, GA

Directed, Photographed & Edited by Jim Granato

KICK THE FENCES DOWN (2011) 4 mins.

Mixing found footage with 16mm & HD elements, Pancho-san's Patrick Abernethy (formerly of Beulah & Rogue Wave) trips through a landscape where the horses must run free.

Produced, Directed, Photographed, & Edited by Jim Granato

HOT CITY BOY (1999) 3 mins.

I originally made this music video for HCB on Super 8 for The Bobbyteens in late 1998. Included on a self-released VHS compilation made by me and the band in 1999. The original transfer of the Tri-X and Kodachrome S8 was done on a very cheap telecine and outputted to 1/2" VHS tape. My original edit was performed on TWO 1/2" tape machines provided by City College of San Francisco finalized to VHS. Fast forward to more than two decades later where I had the original reversal film scanned digitally. I finally gave it a slight "redux" touch–sprinkling a few new moments throughout that I recently discovered again from the very funny outtakes.

Produced, Photographed, Edited and Directed by Jim Granato