On October 28th in Vancouver, BC, two of my music videos will be screening as part of the Film & Media Showcase by Women in Film & Television and in collaboration with DocBC and Cineworks.
These music videos are RYKKA’s “Movies” which was shot this summer in Switzerland, and Hannah Epperson‘s “Shadowless” which was released in 2014 and generously funded by Telus in collaboration with Public Records.
Want some trivia? Rykka and Hannah came in 1st and 2nd in the Peak Performance project 2013 with a combined cash win of over $175K. Money talks. These musicians are fantastic.
WHERE: Cineworks, 1131 Howe Street (back lane entrance) WHEN: 7 PM
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.
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.
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.
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?”
Hannah had a unique video on her bucket list. She was required to create a “viral video” by the 2013 Peak Performance Project, for which she is in the Top 20! This is neither a music video for her song “Murder of Crows“, nor for the unreleased track “Brother” of which you get a wee taste of at the end. This is Brianne’s first directorial collaboration and it was a good ‘ol time!
On October 28th in Vancouver, BC, two of my music videos will be screening as part of the Film & Media Showcase by Women in Film & Television and in collaboration with DocBC and Cineworks.
Brianne Nord-Stewart 