The Sun Makes Me Brave

It was last year when I first inspired to pair words with visuals. I started coming across some poems on Pinterest (most likely by Tyler Knott or Christopher Poindexter :) and they would just move me. I remember thinking how beautiful it is when someone can hold such intensity in such few words. So much meaning and emotion. All I wanted to do was translate those words into video - into motion.

So this Spring, I thought - why not? I partnered up with Kennedy Dawn who is a stylist for Free People and I decided to come from the perspective of creating this poem for the actual brand (Free People). Which gave me the idea to address: What does it mean to be free?

Malori of Hoot and Holler was the floral stylist - as most of you know I am drawn to fresh blooms :) Then I partnered with Dianne Tubbs who is an incredible singer/song-writer here in Phoenix.

I don't usually film without a very specific story in mind, but for this particular project I did. We were in a spot that had windows and dark spaces, so I basically just filmed her where the light looked most interesting. When I saw the window, I went to the other side and told Kennedy (who was inside) to walk towards the window longingly, as though she were yearning for something on the other side of it. I got chills because the room was so dark that it looked as though she suddenly appeared from the dark.

Once I had the footage filmed, the ONLY thing I knew is that I wanted to answer "What does it mean to be free?" and that I was drawn to the dark/light idea. Dianne came over to my studio office, and I showed her my timeline draft - full of clips that only made sense if they had a connecting story. I told her my idea about light and dark, and she asked me to keep playing the footage. She would listen to the music and just start writing down words. It was a pretty killer moment just watching it happen. We discussed the writings, and the story came alive. I was pretty emotional because these words meant so much more to us as believers. Here we were, inspired by a Free People campaign, but then the words became so much more than these 4 short lines. How many of us struggle with the comfort of the darkness?

What does it mean to be free?

To be drawn to the day.. and abandon the night.

For the dark brings me comfort,

but the sun... makes me brave.

And that's the first of my mini-narrative series. I realize that the beauty in the poems and words I've read is when the message, above all, grips me and speaks right to me. I don't know what that will continue to look like or evolve, but I'll definitely keep creating from that place. Whatever it looks like :)

Le Secret d'Audrey - A Paris Elopement Film

If you count the day that Audrey first contacted me, this has actually been a year in the making.

The story? Oh, that's been in my head for the longest time. I will always gravitate to a love story. But an elopement in Paris?!! ... I could barely wrap my head around this. Audrey and I communicated over e-mails and long distance calls. I remember when I first heard her French accent over the phone I could BARELY contain myself. I'm such a dork!!

Actually, after hearing her voice - it immediately occurred to me that we needed to incorporate her speaking in French. Her target market is American brides and if *I* was freaking out about her accent, can you imagine listening to her speak in French?!

And that's how it all started. I filmed on the plane, the story tucked away in my head, anticipating other moments to film while Jose and I made a trip out of it. In the car, I filmed the buildings, the people on the street, even the noises in the cafe. Though I had an idea of the story, I needed to have enough content with me to give me options when I went home.

Audrey teamed up an incredible group of vendors, and when we arrived on set, I knew that day would always, always, always live in me. This truly, no doubt, was a day I dreamed of. After getting back to the U.S., I committed myself to not rushing this film and executing every idea I had. Narrative, voice over, sound effects... all of it. And I know this sounds crazy and dramatic, but this film changed me - it changed me as an artist. I'll have to explain another day.

Here it is guys, my heart is in my throat. Turn up your volume, and enjoy...

I talk with my hands

We made quesadillas and they turned out sooo good.  Jose was back in town, we sat on the couch facing each other -- talking.  Our specialty.  I was recounting the girl's day at the pool on Sunday, highlighted by my delicious cheesy concoction.  Lord knows why I needed to tell him the details of these quesadillas... BUT I DID.  I wanted him to taste them.  On some of them I just put slices of the gouda cheese, slices of tomato, avocado, and sprinkled them with pepper.

Jose bursts out laughing.  "You..." -- he motions his hands twisting a pepper shaker. -- "sprinkled them with pepper?"  The boy was imitating me!  I didn't even realize that as I described this quesadilla... MY HANDS WERE MAKING THEM.  Like, I was literally sprinkling imaginary pepper on my imaginary quesadillas.  And I'm not talking about a one-handed pepper shaker.  I'm talking about the two-handed, twisting pepper shaker.

I sank into the couch, pretending to ignore him.  The extent of my talking hands are out-of-control.  I sighed, surrendering to my habits and gave Jose a face for STILL laughing.  But then I brought my hands to my face, rubbing my cheeks, and tried to hold back the smile that was forming.  Well... that's who you married! 

And, well... that's who I've always been.  Thanks to my upbringing, my experiences, and intrinsic behavior -- I'm destined to be expressive.  I've realized more and more why I can't help myself.  It's because I want people to feel something.  When I talk.  When I shoot.  When I write.  Which brings me to a very known, but very favorite quote of mine:

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou 

Goose bumps: the bumps on a person's skin which may involuntary develop when a person is cold or experiences strong emotions such as fear, nostalgia, pleasure, awe, and admiration.  Or as JLo would say -- goosies.  I LOVE THEM.  Because it is there, in that moment, when someone's way of expression has made your body involuntarily respond to an emotion :)