At work, not really working.
At work, not really working.
30 second version of the stop motion commercial we made for Rambus through Compass Rose Media. It took roughly 25 hrs to shoot. Check out the making of.
“Ambitious young filmmaker charting a career from his home base in Santa Cruz.”

“In his work as a filmmaker, Jono Schaferkotter loves nothing more than to blur the distinctions between genres… He’s taking that same approach to his career.”

“… Schaferkotter used [“The Beginning”] as a springboard to make another film, this one a short he plans to use as a ‘calling card’ project… ‘Spaceman’ is a penetrating portrayal of where men and women often diverge as relationships mature and often fizzle.”

“His latest project comes from a script he’s been working on for three years. His first film, he said, cost him $500, out of pocket. The subsequent ones a bit more, and the latest project he estimates will cost $500,000.”

“With three feature-length films and one short under his belt, this budding auteur is attempting to create a vibrant career while living and working in Santa Cruz… where he spends his time surfing at Cowell’s and writing in downtown coffee-houses.”
- Wallace Bain (Santa Cruz Magazine - Fall 2009)
“Yellow Froot Loops Girl” - acoustic version of a song I wrote. I’m on the piano, Cole Medeiros on the drums with Alex Medeiros & Brian Musick on guitar.
Footage from some of my work was featured on the official Tiffen website. Tiffen is the leading manufacturer of glass filters. My DP Art Adams created this video from a spot we made together to illustrate Tiffen’s digital filters. To see the original movie check out the original article at provideocoalition.com.
Come support indie filmmakers on May 9th at the Santa Cruz Film Festival. Showing in the “locals only” slot at noon on Saturday, it’s only $9 for Spaceman and 9 other out of this world short films!
May 9 . NOON . $9
Riverfront theater
downtown Santa Cruz
Audio record session for Intuit’s new interactive flash recruiting site. We needed a few extra audio pieces so I jumped in as a backup. The site was done through CRM and I took lead as creative director.
• visit intuitcareers.com
“The latest short from local filmmaker Jono Schaferkotter is a 15-minute dream circling around the sun; an intimate, existential, space-romance drifting around weightlessly before plummeting into a dramatic crash landing right into the hearts of its spectators. Featuring Jennifer Allcott as the lovely lieutenant and Hamid Nayini as her not-quite-fearless captain, Spaceman reveals how each must struggle with reality and consequently live out a love affair with their head in the clouds. Accompanied by original music from Birds Fled From Me, and Tyler Parkford, this vague, private and lovely cinematic gem screens three nights in a row—all culminating in a full plug and party this Saturday night.”
- Written by Brian Echon, Good Times newspaper.

“IN local filmmaker Jono Schaferkotter’s Spaceman, time collapses and reality gets slippery, but one thing remains constant: the dedication to aesthetics. Beautiful shots are the hallmark of this 14-minute sci-fi film, which receives it’s premiere this weekend in advance of the Santa Cruz Film Festival later this spring. The music, by Tyler Parkford and Rachel Williams, is first-rate. Three nights of screening and parties feature guest appearances by the director and actors as well as outtakes and bloopers.
- Written by Traci Hukill

“Santa Cruz filmmaker Jono Schaferkotter is throwing a party to celebrate the completion of his new short film titled “Spaceman.” Back in the summer of 2007, Schaferkotter opened his feature-length zombie film “The Beginning” in Santa Cruz to a packed house.
… [Spaceman} is a fanciful vignette of a romantic encounter… Actors Hamid Nayini and Jennifer Allcott make for an appealing couple, and with nicely understated special effects and original music by Tyler Packford and Rachel Williams, Schaferkotter has created a resonant metaphor for the difficulties of feeling out a relationship.”
- Written by WALLACE BAINE
My Show Reel for 2009.
WRITER
DIRECTOR
EDITOR
DESIGNER
*Song - “The Tran5i5tor 5un5et” by Igliashon Jones ( a good friend of mine and brilliant musician, thanks Igs).

This is my pick of 2008. I made a lot of great videos in ‘08 with lots of amazing people and musicians, but this video just holds a special place for me. I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback for this video through vimeo and especially among co-workers and friends. Thank you again, everyone involved and supported. I hope you all enjoy it and for everyone out there that keeps asking - I do plan to finish the whole thing one day. Promise.
Rachel Williams
Under Bright Lights
Birds Fled From Me
Jono Schaferkotter (dir, editor, writer)
Laura Greenwood (producer, writer)
Art Adams (dp)
Jay Wertzler (crew)
Kathryn Koumatos (crew & photographer)
Ashley Craig (crew & photographer)
An incredible piece of work that took us roughly fourteen hours over two days to shoot. Each shot was carefully set up and cleverly executed. With a skeleton crew and no budget, I really think we out did ourselves on this one.
Check out an article Art wrote about the shoot at provideocoalition.com
Spaceman
behind the scenes
Jennifer Allcott talks about working with Hamid Nayini and what they did to pass the time on set.
Look for updates at beforenorth.com
Audio Doc piece talking about the music behind my next feature film, NightLight.
Katie Koumatos (documentarian)
Find out more about NightLight at NightLightTheMovie.com