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 :)

Desert Rendezvous: A Motion Brand Film

 

So remember the “less chronological, more emotion and mood” films I alluded to on Monday? It’s time to dive in.

photo by Jasmine Star

It started with an idea – a desire to highlight a brand based on how it feels. Or rather, how the brand wants you (the viewer) to feel.  I imagined collaborating with a team of artists and storytelling a brand together. I’m talking plenty of planning and professional styling.

photo by Jasmine Star

And what do we do with crazy ideas?! Make them happen!  Fortunately, Jasmine Star found the idea crazy enough to believe in it. When I mentioned the idea of bringing styled shoots to life – of bringing one component of her editorial brand into a motion piece instead of a talking piece, she rocked my world with a big fat “HECK YEAH.” 

photos by Jasmine Star

Fun. This is the word that Jasmine Star said she wanted the video to feel like in order to represent her, to represent her experience.  After coming up with a concept, I placed it in Alex’s hands to translate those elements into apparel. As the art director, she selected a team of hair and make-up artists, and a prop stylist that would realize the vision. The day of the shoot Jasmine and I tag teamed with our couple, filming and photographing them in ways that told a very specific component of her brand story.  It was thrilling to be shooting alongside Jasmine and playing off of her energy.

photo by Jasmine Star

Aaaaand, well, that is where Desert Rendezvous was born. This is that piece in motion:

photo by Jasmine Star // 

Photography: Jasmine Star, Styling: AVE Styles, Prop Stylist: Misha West, The Agency AZ, SN Makeup, Hair by Kim Cornwell, Location: Jennifer Bush

The amazing team up there :) You should check out Alex's perspective as a stylist and Jasmine's perspective on this project.

As Jasmine and I drove to dinner that night, I sometimes had moments of disbelief that she was there, sitting beside me in my car. She was so good about asking me questions that forced me to verbalize what I really wanted to be doing with video. On the way to dinner that night, I said, “this is it Jasmine. This is exactly what I want to do more and more of.”  You could TOUCH the energy that day. And I believe that comes from the power of a team over the strength of just one.  That is exactly where I want to be.

A Glimpse of Ale

For those of you that don't follow me on Facebook, I wanted to highlight this little "About Me" video I made a few weeks ago. Hopefully it really does give you a glimpse into the things that make me, me :)

the Lipstick Series video

So I warned you last week about my new Lipstick Series. Ready to watch it in motion?

Heck yeah!!


This song is called "Make a Noise." And that's what I intend on doing!

Love in Colorado Snow

One of my favorite memories from this past weekend. We drove in our little rental car to the mountains, ran out and played in the snow. Eventually I couldn't feel my hands and ran back to the car and Jose entertained me with chunking snow at the little Nissan. Seeing this much snow for the first time felt so magical that I had to film it...

Ike and Tash Promo Video

It's here :) Releasing my first promo video of 2013. And not MY promo video as in Imaginale Design, but one I created for Ike & Tash Photography. This is just the first of many more to come!! If you're an artist interested in creating your story through motion - let's talk!

The Craziest Video

So, Jose told me I should give you guys some backstory to this because this is unlike most of my Bella shoots.  Which I read as "WARN THEM" haha.

Here's the truth: I'm a little weird. And while my style is deeply rooted in all that is feminine, there's this part of me with videos that reveals my other side.  This thrilling, wild, and make-you-feel-ALIVE side. The side that used to believe as a kid she would be working with Nike or Gatorade to make commercials. You see, I love to tell stories that stir you up inside and MOVE you, or sometimes even creep you out. Either way, you will feel something.

Every year when we meet up during the holidays, Jasmine and I collaborate simply for the sake of creation. I called it "Pretending to Be" because it's about a girl who has a constant dream/nightmare that is reflecting her desire to be someone she is not.

So that's my backstory.  It's just another part of me that spills out on my work, and sometimes... comes out a little different ;)