It has been out for a week now and the feedback has been astounding. Thank you for watching!
“Shadowless – Official Music Video” for Hannah Epperson
Behind the Scenes #1
Brianne Nord-Stewart
“Brianne’s strength lies in bringing out the best in her characters.” – Maureen Levitt, Superchannel
Author Archives: bnordstewart
“The Provider” at Female Eye Film Festival
My short film, “The Provider”, co-written and produced with Andy Thompson, has been selected to play at the Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto in the Late Night Horror section right before Vancouver fellow filmmaker Karen Lam’s feature, “Evangeline“.
The screening takes place at 11:00 PM till 1:00AM on Saturday June 21st, 2014.
ALL Film screenings will take place at the Royal Cinema, 608 College Street, Toronto. Tickets will be available at the door.
Shadows and Ghosts
On this very Friday afternoon, I am exporting a one minute film that, a week ago I didn’t know I was going to make.
“Billy Crystal Fills the Silence”, 1 min 14 sec, 2014
I was asked by a University classmate of mine to make a no-budget film inspired by a piece of “un-illuminated news” – something I thought should be more represented – from spring 2014, for the Denmark based film collective, The Current. They asked nine filmmakers from around the world to make a film based on this premise:
The Current is 9 attempts at alternative journalistic modes of communication, and 9 never before seen explorations of the news media this spring, 2014…Based on the idea that our world view originates from our often abstract emotional life, rather than from our rational thoughts, it is our mission to add to news media an extra dimension across the spoken and written word – doing so via creative and artistic cinematic solutions.
My film, “Billy Crystal Fills the Silence”, was a culmination of many experiences and resources. It is much more serious in topic that all of my films, yet there is still humour and a question of the human experience.
“Billy Crystal Fills the Silence”, will be released on May 14, 2014 and will be available for free online. Check The Current’s FACEBOOK page for more information and to find more films.
In June, Hannah Epperson’s debut music video, “Shadowless“, directed by yours truly, will also be released online. But for now, you can enjoy 1 of 3 behind the scenes teasers – a taste of what it took to get the video made.
Have a great weekend!
NEW MUSIC VIDEO for JAYNE AVAUNT!
Living Sculptures on the set of the “Drowning in You” music video.
I got the call from Jayne Avaunt almost two years ago about making a music video.
She said, “Girl!! I am finishing my album and I want you to direct a video!” The chosen song changed a few times and when we finally sat down to brainstorm for “Drowning in You” – 18 months later – three things were clear: I could write any video concept I wanted, but it could not involved her singing on the beach of the ocean with a long flowing dress, and the weirder the better. Check.
Jayne and I know each other from drama class circa grade 7, and of our high school graduating class of 300, probably 100 of us are working in our chosen field in the arts: exactly as planned.
Jayne came up from LA at the end of October, we shot the video in Whiterock and on Commercial Drive in Vancouver, and most of the crew at some point asked me, “how do you come up with this stuff?” I don’t know. I secluded myself on Bowen Island for awhile so maybe that did something to me?
The video was finished after New Year and Jayne released it last week!
Drum roll please! Take a look and leave a comment or liket he video on Youtube!
Jayne getting ready to tear out your guts!
Music videos, Women in the Director’s Chair, and FARGO
A lot has happened in the last month.
I returned to Vancouver from a week of meetings in Toronto, to shoot a music video within a few days of arriving, to then prep for and take a 10 day workshop as one of 8 directors in the Women in the Director’s Chair (WIDC) Story Incubation module 2.0 (where I workshopped a feature I am slated to direct), only to fly out to Calgary the day the workshop finished to begin my first ever job on a union TV show (FARGO) as none other than the flashiest of jobs…The Camera Trainee.
The music video:
Amy Belling (DOP), Hannah Epperson (Musician), Brianne Nord-Stewart
Was a success. It is in the editing room right now. Being left to percolate as I make not very good money running batteries and cable while Calgary is determined to stay in Winter. It is a blizzard outside.
WIDC:
I didn’t really take any pictures except for this one.
The view from our farewell brunch at WIDC 2014
I learned a lot. So much my mind was overflowing with information and ideas and some…feelings. Hence the needed brain break which made winter in Calgary sound very appealing. I am glad I am here though.
I do have a couple of cool bosses.
2nd Unit all the way.
Schane (1st AC) and Mark (2nd AC) – Camera Department
And then on top of that, I just used my day off to whip together a video pitch and application package for my short COUGARS CRUISING, to finally get made. Here’s hoping Optik TV’s Story Hive grants are stoked on the idea of COUGARS CRUISING, an adventure dramedy that follows Una, who when diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, will stop at nothing to find her orgasm for the very first time!
AND THEN…A music video I directed in Fall 2013 was released. Read all about that HERE.
You can expect a new music video with Hannah Epperson
Today marks an achievement. My first ever production grant. Ever.
I would like to extend a huge thank you to the folks at Public Records for offering grants of up to $7500 to musician and filmmaking teams in British Columbia and Alberta.
Myself and violinist and vocalist Hannah Epperson, have been awarded one of Public Records Winter 2014 awards. You can look forward to a conceptual solo dance video for her song, SHADOWLESS, to be released in early May.
You can also expect other delicious cinematic concoctions from us to follow up our first, “Where Do Songs Come From?”
Follow Hannah: @hannah_epperson www.HannahEpperson.ca
The comedic short, “Trolls” Finally available for streaming online!
Well it has been a long time waiting. My short film “Trolls”, a comedy about two young kids trying to navigate and define was “doing it” really means, is available online at the National Screen Institute Online Film Festival. Released to film festival audiences around the world in 2009, then distributed for TV and VOD broadcast ever since, “Trolls” is a film that launched me into the world as a comedic writer/director/producer/editor. I am still doing all of those things, and I am still making comedy.
The NSI Online Film Festival offers three awards to the film programmes quarterly: Best Film, Best Comedy, and the Fearless Female Director Award. “Trolls” is eligible to win all three. These are cash awards with the smallest being $500, and the largest at $2500.
Thanks to everyone who watched then, and to those who will share it now.
Head to the NSI site HERE, and watch the film for FREE! Leave a comment at the bottom of that page too!
Trolls (2009) 7 min.
Banff, Alberta here I come!
What better way to start of a new year of an emerging film career than by being 1 of 8 female directors chosen for the Women in the Director’s Chair: Aspects of Production & Post Production?
Woody & Dave, My “bosses” when I was a grip/electric trainee in 2008
I am lucky to be one of those 8 women.
Between January 15th-19th I’ll be hanging around The Banff Centre for one of the country’s best professional development workshops. In 2008 I attended the workshop as a “trainee” – an entry level position – while I was still attending university. I am thrilled to return as a director and workshop one of my upcoming scripts in development.
Wish me luck!
Drowning in JAYNE AVAUNT’s new music video
At the end of October I had the great pleasure to write and direct a music video for one of my oldest friends, Jayne Avaunt, an LA based singer/songwriter whose music stylings are a smorgasbord of dancey pop beats.
In December we’ll release the video for “Drowning in You” – the second track off her debut EP, March. Until then, enjoy a small glimpse at the shenanigans of our second morning on location at Vancouver’s own Charlatan pub, on Commercial Drive.
Jayne asked for an unconventional video that was kind of, “…well, weird”. You can look forward to everything from opera singing bartenders, to some very fishy circumstances. We definitely let Jayne get her hands dirty on this one.
Check out Jayne Avaunt on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and listen to her EP, March, on iTUNES.
Rising Star Rykka is campaigning because NATURE ROCKS!
Last week I had the privilege of what I hope will be a long relationship in making videos for a badass talented lady, Rykka.
It all started when Rykka saw the video I made with one Hannah Epperson, and then looked me up and asked if I could help her with a campaign video for the charity, The David Suzuki Foundation, she is supporting. Did I mention Rykka is in the Top 20 of the Peak Performance Project?
Head to her campaign page and check out all the musical perks for donating!
Brianne Nord-Stewart 