student projects
Glenbrook North High School - Northbrook, IL
- Intro. to Broadcasting Final Project: Siskel and Ebert, Winter 1994, SVHS color video. Position: Actor/Writer Mark Hamill (played by myself) appears on the Siskel and Ebert Show. Hamill then starts hallucinating and thinks he is back in the Star Wars Trilogy. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Introduction to Broadcasting, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, Illinois.
- Back in the USSR, Spring 1994, SVHS color video. Position: Editor/Director/Cameraman Music video constructed using the music from the Beatles song "Back in the USSR" off of "The White Album." Music video combined stills and live action. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Television 161, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- The Artusfarts, Spring 1994, SVHS color video. Position: Actor/Editor Educational project attempting to prove that the dark ages were not really dark. Proven through humorous dialogue and situations. It was produced for a unit relating to the middle ages: Honors World Civilization, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- The Search for the Basketball Trophy, Spring 1994, SVHS color video. Position: Editor/Director Footage of the struggling basketball team attempting to go down state mixed in with scenes from Monty Python and the Search for The Holy Grail. Done to the music of popular alternative bands. It was produced for a unit relating to quests: Honors English 1, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Interviews: Band and Track, Spring 1994, SVHS color video. Position: Interviewer/Editor A series of two interviews: One with a member of the track team, the other with a trombone player in the band. The purpose was to try to get kids to join up with these organizations. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Broadcasting 161, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Bicycle Safety Show, Spring 1994, SVHS color video. Position: editor/actor/director/writer A bicyclist rides down a hill twice once with a helmet and once without. The bicyclist crashes at the bottom of the hill, and is not as severely hurt when wearing a helmet. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Broadcasting 161, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Spring Fest, Spring 1994, SVHS color video Position: Cameraman Highlights of the annual festival, Springfest, showing clubs and other organizations in the school. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Broadcasting 161, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Fat City, Spring 1994, SVHS color video Position: Actor An attempt to teach kids that exercise through rollerblading can lead to weight loss. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Broadcasting 161, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Summer School News Casts, Summer 1994, SVHS color video. Position: host/writer/editor/anchor Daily news casts produced over the summer highlighting the days top stories. Students were given 6 hours to produce one newscast each day. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Summer School Television, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Alex the Clown, Fall 1994 SVHS color video. Position: actor/editor/director/writer A washed up clown, Alex, tries to find his long-lost adopted son. However his search is made difficult by his arch nemesis Erik the Evil Clown. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Broadcasting 261, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- The McCarthy Trials, Fall 1994, SVHS color video. Position: writer/researcher/host/editor/director The blacklisting of Edward G. Robinson and Mervyn LeRoy and the reasons behind their blacklisting. It was produced for a unit related to blacklisting and the McCarthy Trials: Honors English 2, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Chemistry Scenario Video, Spring1995, SVHS color video. Position: researcher/cameraman The "case of the blue baby" is solved. Many babies are turning blue because of a chemical defect in their surroundings, and through the use of a highly educated source the solution is found. It was produced for a final project in Chemistry: Honors Chemistry, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Organ Donor Interview, Spring 1995, SVHS color video. Position: interviewer/writer/director/editor A series of two interviews, with the intent of persuading sixteen year olds to sign the back of their drivers licenses and become organ donors. One interview was with a member of the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois, the other with a recent organ recipient. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 361, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Disney and The American Dream, Spring 1995, SVHS color video. Position: writer/researcher/editor/host/cameraman A combination of clips from Disney animated features and hosting segments with the intention of proving that love, happiness, and achieving goals are all themes in Disney movies. Thus, Disney characters live the America Dream. It was produced for an English project related to "The Great Gatsby": Honors English 2, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Tony Sarabia Interview, Spring 1995, SVHS color video. Position: Interviewer/writer/director/editor An interview with a professional, Tony Sarabia of 91.5FM WBEZ National Public Radio in Chicago. Interview illustrates what it takes to be a radio broadcaster, and shows what WBEZ studios look like. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 361, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Spring Fest, Spring 1995, SVHS color video Position: cameraman/editor/host The annual festival highlighting clubs and groups throughout the school. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 361, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Alex the Clown 2: Erik Strikes Back, Fall 1995, SVHS color video Position: actor/writer/director/editor The second in the series of "Alex the Clown" movies. Alex walks to a forest and begins to tell jokes, Erik finds him there, they fight, and Alex kills Erik again. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Inside GBN: Episodes 1-3, Fall 1995, SVHS color video. Position: editor/actor/host/director/writer Shows highlighting students and clubs at Glenbrook North. The third show was a Halloween special produced by myself and a partner. They were produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- The Bathroom Club, Winter 1995, SVHS color video. Position: actor/editor A mockery of the John Hughes classic film "The Breakfast Club." Instead of taking place in high school detention it takes place in the boys washroom. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook IL.
- Tabern Live: Episodes 1-4, Winter to Spring 1996, SVHS color video. Position: actor/writer/editor/cameraman Live television shows lasting about an hour a piece. Shows involved many prerecorded segments mixed in with live hosting segments, and live call-in's. I portrayed Ringo Starr, and Alex the Clown on the four shows. A favorite segment is called "A John Hughes Retrospective". This involved traveling to places throughout the Chicago Land area where John Hughes had filmed his movies. They were produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Alex the Clown 3, Spring 1996, SVHS color video. Position: actor/writer/editor/director The supposed final end to the "Alex the Clown" movie series. In this edition Alex travels back in time and so does Erik. Erik puts on a Darth Vader costume and has a great light saber fight with Alex. In the end it is revealed that Alex is actually a girl. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- CNN Report: Yankees win World Series, Fall 1996, SVHS color video. Position: writer/anchorman/editor/director This was a project created for a contest held by CNN. It involved footage which came off of the CNN news wire and also incorporated stories from the AP NewsWire. This project also featured an interview with Mike Westervelt (Mike's father played in the Yankee farm leagues with future major leaguers...including Joe DiMaggio's brother). It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Organ Donation: Life Goes On, Fall/Winter 1996, SVHS color video. Position: Writer, Producer, Director, Editor, Interviewer, Cameraman This was a follow up to the organ donation project which I completed in the spring of 1995. It featured an interview with the then-Secretary of State for Illinois, George Ryan. It also included interviews with a Heart Transplant Recipient named Aimee Zabrin, and the PR person for the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois (ROBI). This video also incorporated PSA's for the Organ Donation program in Illinois. It sent the message, through the many statements of the three participants and some hardcore facts, for people to sign their driver's license and become an organ donor. Its original intention was to be shown in Driver's Ed classrooms. It aired on the District 28 Channel as well as the channel for which it was produced. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Tabern Live: Episodes 5-15?, Fall-Spring 1996-1997, SVHS + 3/4" color video. Position: actor, co-host, writer, producer, editor. This was the continuation of the previous Tabern Live shows. The thought of producing a Live show became too difficult. Most often these incarnations were pre-recorded. They did culminate in a LIVE one year anniversary show. They featured me dressing up as Ringo Starr, Alex the Clown (grand prize game and all), Darth Vader, and myself (Alexander Rubinow). Some of the special guests included an intern for FOX thing the Morning, local radio personality Greg Brown of Oldies 104.3 WJMK, local CBS-TV anchor Dave Price, and a host of others. Some of the video segments produced for these shows were "The BathroomClub 2" and the almighty "John Hughes Retrospective 2". The shows ran from 30 minutes to an hour in length. They were produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- Alex the Clown 4, Spring 1997, SVHS color video. Postion: actor, editor, director, producer, camera. This was the final installment in the "Alex the Clown Saga". All the parts were played by myself, Alexander Rubinow. It involved someone being a clone, Erik the evil clown plotting to destroy Alex and Alex's son (who makes a surprise return). Alex eventually melds with a computer and blows up Erik and everything else. Alex the Clown, as we know it, is dead. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- The Salacious Crumb Show, Spring 1997, SVHS color video. This was a variety show, and the last thing produced for Glenbrook North entirely by Alexander Rubinow(me). It involved the segments: -John Hughes Retrospective Part 2: A more in-depth look into the Hughes locations, concentrating less on Hughes footage and more on original on-location footage. -Star Wars Bloopers and Practical Jokes: a video showing all of the errors in the original Star Wars Trilogy. -Road Kill Commercial: a commercial showing a bunch of road kill...sort of a mock PSA. -Skateboardin' : a black and white experimental segment of people skateboarding. It makes use of the fish-eye lens. -Ska Band: a concert of a ska band at the FireSide Bowl in Chicago, IL. There are also interviews with the band. --It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
- The Glenbrook North Awards Assembly, Spring 1997, SVHS color video. These were some video segments produced for the huge end of the year awards assembly. The involved the people who sat on the Student Activity Board. The video was supposed to bring all of the hosts of the assembly together in a wacky way, and then somehow have them find their way into the high school auditorium. It was produced for Cable Television Channel 27: Advanced Television Production 461, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, IL.
student projects
the university of iowa - iowa city, ia
- Fall 1997, Better Off Said, VHS Color Video, 30 minutes. Position: cameraman/producer. A weekly television variety show in the same vain as "Late Night with David Letterman." It featured guests ranging from the president of the University of Iowa to a drag queen. A short parody of The Shining and a parody of the theatrical trailer for Face/Off highlighted my work on this show. Produced for Student Video Productions, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Exhibited on University of Iowa Television.
- September 1998, "Project 1." VHS Color Video, 1 minute 20 seconds. Position: editor/cameraman/director/producer. A short project combining silent video footage of children playing in a fountain with non-synchronous sound of ducks quacking. Produced for Introduction to Media Production Class, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- October 1998, "Port-O-Jonny." VHS Color Video, 3 minutes 44 seconds. Position: editor/cameraman/actor/director/producer. This video explores two rooms owned by two separate people, but disguises the rooms as being totally self contained with in a portable toilet. This project required the use of a three track audio approach, escaping the confines of the two audio tracks usually given for VHS. Produced for Introduction to Media Production Class, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- November 1998, "Editing Exercise." VHS Color Video, 1 minute 35 seconds. Position: cameraman/editor. This video was an exercise in sound and video advances, and in a studio shoot with one camera. Each student was required to take the 20 minutes of footage and edit it to script, while incorporating the techniques above. The scenario was a guy and a girl meeting in a bar. The student was also required to gather ambient sound from an outside source (a restaurant) and lay it under the edited scene. Produced for Introduction to Media Production Class, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- December 1998, "Rule of Three." VHS Color Video, 2 minutes 33 seconds. Position: writer/producer/director/actor/editor/cameraman. A final independent project for the introductory production class. This video featured many things happening three different times: a guy answering the door in three different dreams only to be hit over the head with a chair the first two times, a final fight scene with his adversary where a wrestling move is done and is shown three different times and then broken up into its components three different times. Produced for Introduction to Media Production Class, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- February 1999, "Carnival." SVHS Color Video. Position: Everything. A beginning project which involved editing together footage from file footage of a Fair in Iowa. This one concentrated on the rides and spinning. The piece started off very far, then got very close, then became quite distanced from the fair again. Produced for Electronic Field Production 1, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- February 1999, "Freshman to First-Year." SVHS Color Video. Position: Interviewer, Writer, Editor, Director, Producer. This video concentrated on the move by the University to change all literature using the word "Freshman" so that it used the word "First Year Student" instead. It included interviews with Dean of Liberal Arts Linda Maxim and Dean of Students Phillip Jones, and also some students for their feedback. Produced for Electronic Field Production One, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- March 1999, "Introducing Jeffery Wiseman." SVHS Color Video. Position: Interviewer, Writer, Editor, Director. This was an interview with a grown up child actor and student at the University of Iowa named Jeffery Wiseman. He appeared in the films Overboard (as the youngest son), Home Alone (as the neighbor who asks annoying questions to the van driver) and The Babe (as a kid who the Babe punches when the Babe is a kid). It basically combined footage from his films with footage from my interview with him. It sort of culminated in the fact that he is just a normal guy, and no one makes too big a deal about his acting roles. Produced for Electronic Field Production One, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- April/May 1999, "Star Wars Episode ONE." SVHS Color Video. Position: Host, Writer, Director, Interviewer, Editor. This was an "out on the street" French styled film of a guy going up to random people on the street and asking them questions about Star Wars Episode 1 and whether or not it will live up to the hype. The interviews also lead to "favorite character questions" and the like. Produced for Electronic Field Production One, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- August 1999, "John Hughes Retrospective 3" Super 8 color/sound film. Position: cameraman, writer, producer, director. This was the third installment in the Hughes Retro. series. It included a few locations which were not covered in the first two, but also covered every location previously covered. It ran about 3 minutes, which is the length of a role of film. Robert Tabern hosted. Produced for Salacious Crumb Productions, Northbrook, IL.
- September 1999, "I Me Mine" SVHS Color Video. Position: Everything. An Explorational piece into the life of Alexander Rubinow. It involves a series of short shots with a specific pattern of specific frame lengths which gets repeated over and over. The visuals are of a voyage through Alexander's apartment, and the images of video boxes, posters, and CDs that are discovered along the way. The audio for this was Beatles song fragments and the constant pulsing of "number 9, number 9." Produced for Electronic Field Production Two, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- October 1999, "A Scene" SVHS Color Video. Position: Everything. A piece about a guy who is looking for an address. He finds it, but upon entering, he is killed by an unseen predator. The piece is a combination of point of view shots done in black and white, and color shots of the guy walking towards the place he will eventually get to. Produced for Electronic Field Production Two, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- November 1999, "Garth Volbeck Presents" SVHS Color Video. Position: Interviewee, actor, writer, director, editor. An interview between Garth Volbeck and Ringo Starr. I play Ringo, and resurrect the character for the first time in over two years. Ringo just answers basic questions, and plays along with Garth's "hard day's night" style of interviewing. Produced for Electronic Field Production Two, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- December 1999, "Wrestling Trailer" SVHS Color Video. Position: everything but camera. This is a preview for the final project to come in the class. It is about interviewing people about wrestling, though the trailer barely hints at that. The music from Dr. Zhivago plays in the background. Produced for Electronic Field Production Two, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- December 1999, "Pro. Wrestling" SVHS Color Video. Position: everything but camera. This video is the final project for the current class, and it involves going around and asking random people and dogs about professional wrestling. It seems most people do not watch it, but are somewhat opinionated. Produced for Electronic Field Production Two, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- Spring Semester 2000, "Quest for Star Castle" SVHS Color Video. Position: writer, editor, camera (part-time), set design, director, producer. A man is on a quest for the elusive arcade game Star Castle. He sits in a dungeon-like atmosphere and monitors a TV. On the TV appear three "prophets" if you will. They are Ringo Starr, A Beggar (like the one in the Disney version of Robin Hood), and the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons. These three eventually lead him to the game. He gets to the game, but it overtakes him. When he realizes that he has lost all sense of reality, the game disappears, and he is left alone in a huge black void..the huge void which housed the game. He started with nothing, and he ended just where he had begun. Produced for Theory and Practice of Media Production: Drama, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- July 2000, "Tabern Live Fifth Anniversary Show" VHS Color Video. Position: host, etc... This is a compilation of the college efforts of Robert Tabern and Alexander Rubinow. It also features some new segments such as a fourth John Hughes Retrospective and some interviewing segments. Produced for Salacious Crumb Productions, Northbrook, IL.
- August/September 2000, "Untitled" 16mm Color Reversal Film. Position: writer, editor, camera, director. A short silent exploration into a man running. This is the very first assignment in 16mm film shooting and editing. The man runs down the block until he reaches his house. Produced for Film Production One, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- October/November 2000, "Eggs" 16mm Black & White Reversal Film. Position: actor, writer, editor, foley, director... The second assignment. This shows the juxtaposition of something cut up using montage and something shown as a long take. The subject at hand is eating eggs. The montage cross cuts the subject eating with the eggs being cooked on the grill. Sounds of cooking eggs, restaurant noises and eating are heard. The long take follows a waiter while he takes the plate of eggs of the counter and carries them to a table. Produced for Film Production One, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
- November/December 2000, "John Hughes Master" 16mm B/W + Color Reversal Film and Super8 Color Sound Film. Position: actor, writer, producer, director, editor, foley..... This is an exploration into the head of Alexander Rubinow and his love of John Hughes. It combines a song and recreations of scenes from Ferris Bueller's Day Off with musings and strange images about Alexander's distant ties to John Hughes himself. Produced for Film Production One, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Spring Semester 2001 - Digital Animation (university of Iowa)
- "Homer Draws" - Adobe PhotoShop and Final Cut Pro. A Pencil erases a character of my creation and then it is revealed that Homer Simpson had the pencil. He walks across the screen whistling. 10 Seconds.
- "Pepsi Spot" - Adobe PhotoShop and Final Cut Pro. This is a mock-commercial for Pepsi that was shot on mini-DV. It features two guys sitting on a couch. One of them is drinking Pepsi and proceeds to turn into a cartoon character, while the other character (me) watches in amazement. It runs 30 seconds and is set to A-Ha's tune "Take On Me."
- "THAW BUMPER" - Adobe PhotoShop and Final Cut Pro. This is a promo for a film festival at The University of Iowa called THAW. It features a bear who has been sleeping, thaws out of ice, urinates "Thaw 2001" on the wall of his cave, and laughs like Muttley from "Dick Dastardly and Muttly." 10 Seconds.
- "Coaster" - LightWave 3D and Final Cut Pro. 3D rendering of a camera view that starts in the sky and slides down through many Pinocchio-like men who part as the camera view moves through. It finally settles on the man standing at the end of the line and ripples out. The sounds of a roller coaster ride are heard because it is similar to the movement of the camera. 10 Seconds.
- "Bottle" - Flash5 and Final Cut Pro. Rocket J. Squirrel and Fred Flintstone float across the screen and "tween" into Fred Flintstone and Bullwinkle Moose. Fred and Bullwinkle are then sucked into a bottle in the middle of the screen. The musical theme song of "I Dream of Jeanie" is heard. 10 Seconds.
- "Xander TV Promo" - Adobe After Effects, Final Cut Pro, LightWave 3D, and PhotoShop. An X is shown with spotlights running over it, then the picture cuts to full screen shots of the projects, Coaster, Thaw Bumper, Pepsi Spot and Homer Draws. The projects are squares floating around in black space with other things appearing behind them. The floating ends, and the word Xander is spelled out in 3D with the letters TV appearing in yellow and handwritten. 20 Seconds.
- "Final Project" - Final Cut Pro, Flash5, LightWave3D, and PhotoShop. Mr. T is spying on a DeLorean being carried on a freight train. He is caught and lead over to one of the box cars. Rosie O'Donnell comes out of the box car and waddles over to Mr. T. Mr. T grabs the heart out of the chest of one of her henchman and feeds it to O'Donnell. He then kicks away one of the other henchman, grabs O'Donnell, shoves a grenade in her mouth and blows her up. He then summons the DeLorean from "Back to the Future" and flies away. 1 Minute 20 Seconds
(times of animation projects are approximate)
If there are any questions about any of the projects above, or if more detail is needed, or if you would like to make a request for a copy of one of the fore mentioned projects....please e-mail alexander@arubinow.com
This list was last updated on 7 June 2001.