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Dean Peña

@dean_pena

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Husband. Filmmaker. Ultramarathon Runner. NYC

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Celebrating 5 years of marriage today. So many amazing new experiences with you this year. This was the best year yet. I love you @__hanpena ❤️ taken in Sleepy Hollow, New York by @dean_pena

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5 days ago

I put together a short film chronicling my 200 mile race back in August. I had no plans to do anything with the footage I captured during the race beyond the posts I’ve already made but I decided to make an edit with some availability I found.
There’s so many stories that didn’t make this film, so many runners I would have loved to tell you about. I wish this could have been more comprehensive and maybe I’II find a way to share those things in the future but until then you can watch
“Ain’t So Bad | Bigfoot 200” on YouTube in the link in my bio. #bigfoot200 #aintsobad by @dean_pena

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17 days ago

Some beautiful moments from my recent directing and editing work for @coe22 and their Saturated conference last week.

Shot by @calebclowe on the Sony Venice and Freefly Ember.

We pulled out all the tricks for these 5 videos. Textured panes of acrylic, props, live animals, 600fps slow motion, programmed lighting effects. Very happy with how these videos turned out. by @dean_pena

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25 days ago

Bonjour, y’all. taken in Paris, France by @dean_pena

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a month ago

Loved celebrating @jennifervbraaten & @trevorjbraaten at the palace in Sintra. What a beautiful weekend with some of our favorite friends. taken in Sintra, Portugal by @dean_pena

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a month ago

Part one of production on my next short film is wrapped. Grateful for a cast and crew that were so willing to do whatever it takes to tell this story. Excited about this one. by @dean_pena

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a month ago

Bigfoot 200 was more than an ultramarathon it was a life achievement. The days leading up to the race my mind was plagued with thoughts of “who do you think you are?” and “people like you don’t finish things like this.” But on the flip side two questions rolled around in my head. “Why not?” and “What if?” I had never been so nervous to attempt something in my life and so I decided to do it scared. I wish I was a confident, tough guy about it but I wasn’t.

Over the next 100 hours I experienced all the fun things that come with these events. Sleep deprivation, hallucinations, cramps, physical pain, negative thoughts. I slept for a total of 9 hours from Friday to Tuesday. It was really, really hard but we got it done.

Just know that if you sent me a text, video or audio message of encouragement, I watched, read or listened to it at least twice to help me get through the darkness.

When I run these ultras I’m not just running towards the finish line but I’m actively running towards God. I want to know Him more and learn from Him while I’m out there. Ever spent 100 hours in prayer? I have.

Two main scriptures were impressed upon me every day of this race. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” & “His mercies are new every morning.” Running at night, all I can see is my next step illuminated by my headlamp. A reminder of what it’s like to just trust the Lord with the next thing. And the next thing. And the next thing. One step at a time. Over night it got cold and I got so sleepy. I craved the sunrise. When the sun finally rose each morning I’d thank God for the gift of a new day and surrender the next 24 hours to Him. I was reminded of how good and merciful and full of grace He is.

There’s so many more stories and lessons from this race that I would love to share but this caption is already too long. Ultimately I’m just so grateful that I get to do these things and learn this way. I feel like I learned a decade’s worth of life lessons in just 100 hours. #bigfoot200 #aintsobad taken in Mount St. Helens by @dean_pena

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2 months ago

Really fun effect we did for this project that we shot in May. We attached this cheap dental teeth and tongue model to step up rings that screwed directly onto our lens for a shot from inside of someone’s mouth at the orthodontist. Once we were on set we realized the cheeks were too translucent so we wrapped the whole thing in black gaff tape to darken those. We sprayed the rubber tongue with hairspray to appear wet and glossy and I think we even had someone puppeting the mouth the open and move slightly. Some test shots included at the end slides too. Filmmaking is a weird job. by @dean_pena

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2 months ago

Still processing the Bigfoot 200 but I can’t go without highlighting my amazing crew. My wife along with @darrellmarkleong & @jillianlye (some of our first friends we made in NYC) flew across the country to help me with this crazy idea I had. Every aid station I was met with cheese quesadillas, ramen noodles, massages and lots of encouragement. They filled my waters, made me a makeshift bed in the back of the truck so I could nap and charged all of my devices. They stayed up all night long and drove some of the foggiest, sketchiest mountain roads they’ve ever encountered at horrible hours of the night and not once did they ever let me know how tough it was on them. So grateful for each of you as well as all of the @destinationtrailraces volunteers that got me to the finish line. taken in Cascade Mountains by @dean_pena

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2 months ago

200 miles ain’t so bad taken in Portland, Oregon by @dean_pena

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2 months ago

“Directing is surviving with enthusiasm.” This crew makes it easy to be enthusiastic though. by @dean_pena

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2 months ago

Best birthday ever. Thank you @__hanpena for making this one so memorable. And thank you all for all the nice messages too 🫶 taken in New York, New York by @dean_pena

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2 months ago