"The Idea of You" by Hope Cassity Promo Video

The video I recently directed will be released at the premiere on January 11, 2013! There will be catering, live music, and the final cut of the video! Please join us! Here is the link to the Facebook page and the link to buy tickets. Please Support me and my crew! Thanks!

VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE! 
http://www.facebook.com/HopeCassityVideoPremiere?fref=ts

BUY TICKETS TO THE PREMIERE HERE!
http://www.showclix.com/event/3733390

VISIT HOPE CASSITY'S WEBSITE HERE!
http://www.hopecassity.co/ 

Lenovo. Sieze the Night...

This is a video for a competition through Campus Movie Fest that I helped produce. Out of hundreds of treatments submitted, Xavier Burgin's was chosen to be in the top 15! We need as many views as possible to win and beat the other 14 contestants. PLEASE watch and like this video! Thank you for your support!


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The Bean Trees

This is short film by one of my very best friends, Shelby Hadden. I was so fortunate to work with her and act in her film which was an adaptation of the book by Barbara Kingsolver, The Bean Trees.

The Idea of You- by Hope Cassity

This is Hope Cassity, an up and coming country singer-songwriter. She is extremely talented and I am having the pleasure of working with her. I am directing a music video to her song, "The Idea of You."

Please visit her website and check her out:
       http://www.hopecassity.co/#!

Check out her tour schedule and come follow her! :)

Please Follow Me on Vimeo!

https://vimeo.com/kstew

"Superstar" Music Video: Behind the Scenes

TCF Behind the Scenes Gifted's "Superstar" Music Video from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

I was the Producer for this video. My time as producer was a great deal of work, but it all paid off because of the friendships, memories, and the music we made! (More to Come)

Music Video Analysis

Taylor Swift- Mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPBwXKgDTdE

Taylor's performance shots are the money shots in this video. I love the beautifully lit set and vibrant colors. 

During the narrative part of the song, the colors are not as vibrant. It is as if they were in the past. I like how they distinguished between her performance shots and the narrative part of the song. 

This is another performance shot of Taylor. It is a wide shot revealing her surroundings. She has pictures hanging all around her of the memories she is singing about. This was a really cool way to include the parts of the story in the performance scenes.

There are a few silhouette shots throughout the video of intimate moments. This is a good contrast between the vibrant colors and the antique look of the narrative parts.

This is another money shot to me because the colors are beautiful, the framing is perfect, and the tones match up with the performance shots. To me, this represents the present.

 Shania Twain feat. Billy Currington- Party for Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzD0nd7tzNI

In this video, Shania invites Billy to a party that only includes the two of them. The first part of the video, they are on the phone and we follow them throughout their day while she tries to coerce Billy into coming to her party. I really like that they put the couple side-by-side so we can follow both at the same time. It's really your typical phone conversation set-up.

A close up of Shania with beautiful colors against the red brick. I like that they both have brick in the background. The entire video takes place outside, which is really cool.

Two-shot of their performance after the bridge when Billy finally does come to the party. I like how there is so much visual interest in these performance scenes. The Christmas lights really add a lot to the background. 

The interest in this scene is amazing. The antique table, the lights, the artwork, and the chandelier transform the night. 

They are swinging on the chandelier! My favorite part! They just look like they are having so much fun, which is the point. They're at a party for two and they are having a blast. The colors complement this fun mood. I've always loved this video because I've been jealous of them swinging on that chandelier. 

Reflection of Advanced Videography

       Advanced videography has taught me a great deal, not only about cinematography and the technical aspect of the look of film, but about myself as a filmmaker as well. When I began this class, I had no idea what exactly I wanted to do with my degree, but now I have come a few steps closer to knowing where I will be after college. 

One thing i learned is that every small detail that goes into planning has a purpose. From where the lights are placed to which camera is used, to the framing and composition. Everything has a purpose. Without even one small element, the film would not come out like the director envisioned it to come out. Most people do not understand how technical, tedious, and stressful it can be to make a film.

Camera choice is very important. I did not know about workflow and all the different recording formats. I thought you could plug any camera into a computer and it would work out. I'm glad to know that if I use a Sony HDV, that I'll need a capture camera as well. I might have chosen that camera for the beautiful colors and not paid any attention to how I would load and edit the clips. I learned a lot more about DSLR. I had done research on them because I knew I wanted one and I'm still saving my money for it. I'm glad I got the chance to actually work with them and learn more about lenses and the strengths and weaknesses of DSLR. I feel that as a consumer, I can make better decisions about what equipment to buy because of the class. I also know why I need certain equipment, which is also important because now I know what to save my money for. 

Before this class, I hated lighting and camera operating. I thought that I wanted to direct and produce, but after being in this class I've realized that I love cameras. I love framing up the talent and yes, even lighting. I do hate moving the lights and dealing with them but maybe one day there will be someone to do that for me. I can't wait to get a camera now because I love shooting so much. 

I learned more about sound this semester. In 201, I did not get to do sound very often and now I know how important and tedious it is. I learned about the software Pluraleyes. It makes life so much easier when you have a limited amount of time to sync music and edit. I am more interested now in audio than I used to be because there is so much you can do with it. Hopefully I can get a zoom recorder on my own and learn more about audio. A film is no good if you can't hear what is being said. 

Like I said in an earlier blog post, the planning a director has to do is very important. If the director does not have everything perfectly planned out, then they will not be able to communicate their vision to everyone else on set. I am already an organized person, but organizing for a film is different because there is creativity involved. You have to know how exactly to put your ideas on paper because no one can do that for you.

In conclusion, after this class, I have realized my true strengths, weaknesses, and desires. I'm glad that I got so much out of it and if I had to take it all over again I would. This is one of the classes I've taken that actually taught me a lot about what I am interested in. I feel like having this class helps me make better decisions about my future and my purchases. 

Artist Statement and Reel

Director/DP Reel from Katie Stewart on Vimeo.

      When I envision a new project, I envision real, beautiful moments in life. There are times when I wish I had a camera to document events or circumstances. If not, then I wish to re-create the moment and enhance it. I envision life as it really is to a person who is just a girl, or just a boy. Everyone is human. No one is perfect. People like to watch stories about people just like them. Why would we want to watch a film without a struggle? Life is a struggle and a story with perfection has nothing to root for or fight for. As humans we want to fight for love, root for the underdog, or strive for our biggest dreams. When I envision a piece, I envision a special moment or moments in life as they are, but  with better lighting and music in the background, of course. 

I love natural lighting because natural beauty is the most beautiful thing to me. I think every person is beautiful in different ways. My visual style is to portray a specific person's beauty in the way it was meant to be portrayed. Sunlight and candlelight is beautiful and natural just like people are beautiful natural.  Sunlight and a beautiful person are complements of each other. 

Because I am a musician, most of my ideas are inspired by a song or a melody. Whenever I hear a song, I imagine a story. I envision different shots with each part of the song. Every song can tell a story whether it has words or not because music conveys emotion. Any song can stir some kind of emotion in me and remind me of a past event, moment in time, or an imaginary story I've dreamed of. I can't imagine a world without music. I can't imagine my life without music. Lastly, I can't imagine my work without music. Music is and forever will be a part of my life, my dreams, and my work. 

My goal as an artist is to focus on the natural beauty of life in a way that displays life as it is, to just a girl, or just a boy through telling a story with music and truth. 

Inspiring Reels and Beautiful Shots

2010 Show Reel - Director of Photography from Marlon Torres on Vimeo.

      I searched DP reels on vimeo. I watched a few and I picked this one because it completely took my breath away. I love the colors from the DSLR cameras he used because everything feels so real when you watch it. I love the natural lighting and natural beauty of his shots. He uses a lot of outside locations to shoot. The beach shots are amazing. I feel like I am actually at the beach. I love his detailed shots. I am in love with tight shots that are very personal and show detail. He uses a great deal of these. The music went very well with his personal style which is very similar to mine. Personal, naturally beautiful, and breathtaking. I hope some day that my reel will be as beautiful as his.
      To me, a money shot is a shot that takes your breath away, a shot that makes you wish you were there where everything looks perfect and beautiful. Many of the shots in this reel are money shots to me because they feel real and beautiful.


 
MAMMOTH REEL 2010 from MAMMOTH on Vimeo.
      This reel is much different from the previous one. It is much more fast paced and incorporates many different genres. I love the use of graphics in this reel. It seems like they are used as transition points and they work very well. Even though the reel had many different types of shots, everything fit because of the way the clips were arranged with the music. I was entertained and wanted to see more. I like how the reel started with people and ended with people in the same type of shots. I love to see people laugh and I really like that they used people laughing to begin and end the reel. The movement in between is really awesome too.

Advanced Videography Scene Assignment: Adaptation of Red Riding Hood

Red Riding Hood Adaptation from Katie Stewart on Vimeo.

This is my scene assignment. I decided to do an adaptation or Red Riding Hood because I have recently been inspired by ABC's new series, "Once Upon a Time." I wanted to choose a fairy tale and it is very hard to do a fairy tale as a student project. I had recently seen Red Riding Hood's episode on the show and felt like it was a story I could convey and adapt without elaborate costumes and sets because it mostly takes place outside. I love natural light so this was definitely a challenge I was up for doing. I'm not completely sure that I pulled it off but I most certainly enjoyed being outside with a camera that takes amazing images.

Prepping for My Scene Assignment

       Prepping to do the scene assignment was quite a bit of work, but is well worth the effort in the end when you can watch your piece and know that you got everything you wanted. Nothing is ever going to be perfect, but properly planning reflects the result of the film. I came out of this experience learning the hard way that detailed preparation and communication is the key to success. 

I am already a very organized person but I had not done story boards or floor plans or a shooting script. Learning these things is valuable because this is how you tell someone else what vision you see in your head. The director-DP relationship has everything to do with the director's planning and preparation. If the director doesn't know exactly what they want and have it on paper, the vision will not be able to come to life because the DP will not have a clue what to shoot and a lot of time will be wasted on shots that the director does not even like. 

In my case, I think me and my DP got along very well. I feel like I could have done a better job drawing and explaining exactly what I wanted. I also wish I would have looked at each and every shot but it is hard with the small viewing window. We should have shot more than we needed because when you have less, it is harder to edit. 

I learned a great deal from this assignment because so much went into the planning, scheduling, and communication. Movies can't be made without hard work during pre-production and I'm sure it doesn't help if you don't have a good relationship with your director of photography.

An Inspiring Short Film

This is a short film from the Campus Movie Fest at the University of Indiana. It inspires me because a student made it and it looks so perfect and professional. It's such a good story and it flows really well. It is so creative. I love that it has a choreographed dance scene. The planning that went into that must have been difficult, especially since you only have a week to make a movie in campus movie fest. It inspires me because as a student I get discouraged and think that my movies won't ever look professional. This video proves that if other students can do it, I can do it. I love the cinematography, the editing, the story, everything. It's such a fantastic short film.

Scene Analysis: Sherlock Holmes

 This is the master shot in the scene that introduces the villain of the movie. He is very dark and mysterious because we do not know anything about him, but we do know he is up to no good. This shot is low key and dark because it is where the villain commits his crimes. There is a key-light on his victim because she is what he is focussing on. There is some soft fill light around them but there are still shadows and dark places. The fire behind him symbolizes his power as he tries to lure her into death.

 This is the first close-up of the villain. It is very dark and you can barely make out the features of his face. There is a small bit of rim light around the sides of his hood, hinting that if he'd take his hood off, we might see who he is. He wants to remain hidden while he does his evil deeds.

 After the first close-up, we now get and extreme close-up of his mouth. In this shot he seems to be speaking in tongues. One half of his face is lit while the other half is in shadows. His mouth is filling the frame because it is the focal point of his crime. He's using his words to coerce the victim into killing herself. His mouth is the weapon. Even though we cannot completely see his face, we can see that his front teeth are crooked which is the only identifier we have at this point.

This shot is a medium long-shot establishing that Sherlock Holmes is nearby to try and stop the villain and gather more information about the villain. The columns are lit more that Sherlock because it shows that he is hiding. Most of his body is in shadows because he does not want to be detected.

 The camera cuts to a medium close-up to intensify the action that is about to happen in the scene. His face is framed in the columns and the light on his face is just enough so that he is seen spying on the villain.

The next three shots are establishing shots of the men who have surrounded the villain to protect him. These shots are as if they were the view of Sherlock. The shots show that Sherlock is outnumbered. Each shot is cut quickly to intensify the overwhelming number of men Sherlock spots.

 There are some backlights lighting up behind the men and some soft fill lights above them, but there are soft shadows everywhere to convey the suspense and mystery. The people in the shots are difficult to make out because they work with the villain.

 This one is described above with the other two, but the shot only frames one person. In this shot, the person is walking in from out of the darkness. This shot shows that more people are coming in the room.

 A man is sneaking up on Sherlock but Watson suddenly attacks the man and Sherlock quickly turns to assist. The man can barely be seen because he is trying to be discrete. These shots are Medium shots and are still in the shadows because the people in the main area are still unaware of their presence. This light is soft and seems to be coming from the main area. There are key-lights in the men's faces just enough so we can see what is happening. In the second one, Sherlock seems to have a backlight from the larger area.

 This shot is a medium close-up of Sherlock and Watson taking out the attacker. Their faces are lit better than before because we can now see that the team is complete with Watson in the picture. More lighting represents that together, they are ready to take on the villain.

 This shot is a medium shot of the team. It is angled upward to establish that the men are strong and brave. Also, they had just succeeded in taking out an attacker. They are both equally framed which represents a partnership. The lighting is still low because they are still unknown to the others in the building.

Lighting Styles I Strive to Produce

There are a couple of styles of lighting that I prefer. I love warm lighting with rich colors. Even, high-key lighting is a good example of this. I personally prefer to have everything on set lit because I come from a background of musical theatre. Whenever I think "production," I think of lights everywhere. Shadows can ruin the effect of certain stories.

I also love natural light where there is a good amount of sunlight, but not too much. People look absolutely beautiful in the natural lighting God has provided for us. Why not use it to our advantage? And it's free! I ALWAYS say yes to free.

This first picture is from the stage version of Hairspray,  which is one of my favorite productions. The only shadows you see are at the back of the stage and the floor. Everything is lit. Because it is a Broadway production, there is a lighting grid above the stage. There is a spotlight (key light) on each girl, back lights, and plenty of fill light in between. This lighting to me is beautiful because you can see everything. Nothing is left unseen. All of the colors pop no matter where your seat is in the theatre. The lighting is bright, bold, and beautiful, creating the glamorous effect of the stage.

 Both of these next two pictures are outside, using natural sunlight. Natural sunlight is always beautiful to me as long as it isn't right in my face or someone else's. (Right) This image is of Snow White from the ABC original series Once Upon A Time. She has a beautiful rim around her shoulders and her hair, which I love because she is a princess after all. It seems as though the shot almost completely relies on the sun because the light is brighter behind her than it is in front of her. I love the natural beauty of the way the sunlight really lights up the nature in the background, which creates a distinct outline around Snow and the bird.

(Left)This image is from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I love the way the sun is shining behind their faces creating a silhouette or a rim around the "almost kiss." This image is beautiful and romantic because the lighting is natural and the sun behind them in the center creates an intimacy because the couple is sharing the sun. It brings the outline of their faces together.

Portrait of Peace

Portrait of Peace from Katie Stewart on Vimeo.

This is my portrait of a person. She is my roommate and one of my closest friends. This is a portrait of the side of her life that I see day in and day out.

Planning the Portrait of Peace

For my portrait of a person I knew right away that I wanted to use my roommate. My goal in this project was to be make an artistic portrait of an artistic person. Andrea is my roommate and many of her hobbies fit together like clockwork. 

After asking her if she would be my portrait, I started making notes on things about her. I posed the question, "What is the gift of her story?". I thought about what I wanted to convey about her personality, and what things in her life would convey that the best. She is a beautiful person inside and out. She is humble, artistic, spiritual, and introverted. These are the things I wanted to convey in the portrait. That is why I used shots of her drawing, reading the Bible, and reelecting. These things really convey the person she truly is without saying anything. I took notes on these things and made a shot list and we went from there.

When it came to music I went straight to piano music because she has played piano in the past and piano music is played at church a lot. In God is where she finds peace and also in her drawing and reflecting. Piano music was most fitting.

I enjoyed planning this piece and so did Andrea. She gave me input about ideas of things to feature. Because Andrea is such a beautiful person and loves bright colors, I chose the Sony HDV because it picks up the most vibrant, beautiful colors. 

Early Reflections on Advanced Videography

I have learned so much about the different kinds of cameras and file types. Getting a second try at doing a "Portrait of a Place" was great because I learned how to use the Sony HDV. The colors are so beautiful and checking out the camera gave me a chance to play with all of the different settings. I learned more about the iris and shutter speed. I didn't totally grasp the concept in 201, but now I have a much better understanding and I spent some time on my own learning the different settings and what they do.

Lighting to me is difficult if you're going for a certain look. It's easiest to me to just light everything up. Lights everywhere! I am having trouble with grasping lighting when it comes to the breakdown of it all. Lighting would definitely have to be my weakness. My strength so far is working with the camera and the settings. If I have a vision in mind, I fell like I now have the tools to make it happen.

So far, I am learning so much in this class and I really enjoy it. Me and my roommate had a great time with the portrait project. She is so photogenic and she was so cooperative with my direction. I love directing! I hope to someday be a director.

Where do I want to go? Wherever there's film!

Telecommunications and Film is most definitely the right major for me. Looking back I came to the realization that I have ALWAYS wanted to make films. I started making up ideas for film in the fourth grade and I’ve been hooked ever since. There were times in my life when I tried to pick a route that ensured a safe life and job security, but I love what I do and I love what I dream of doing. That is what’s important to me.

So the question is pressed, “What do I want to ultimately want to do with my future in film?” My answer is everything. I love all aspects of film so I will break down my favorite parts of the art and why they are my favorite.

I have always been an organized-minded person, and producing requires a great deal of organization. I took production management last semester and I absolutely loved it. I love organizing and planning. It would be my honor to someday produce something loved by many people. I love working with people, and a producer has to interact with many different kinds of people to make the whole production work.

I have wanted to be an actress my entire life. I know that sounds childish, but I STILL want to be an actress. I found in video production last summer that I love to direct as much as I love to act. I feel like I can be creative as an actor through directing. After the class, I did a skit for my sorority’s rush week. It involved several people without acting experience, and it involved scheduling. However, I had the time of my life because I was in my directing element.

 I love being creative in as many ways that I can, and I believe producing and directing can encompass my love for people, organization, and creativity. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t do anything else because I love it all. 

I am taking advanced videography because I want to expand my knowledge of the technology used to create films. I feel like I have the creative “filmmaker’s eye,” but I lack the technicality of direction. I want to learn how to transfer my creative image from an idea to something concrete. I love technology and I am really looking forward to learning more about equipment and different kinds of cinematography.

Pictures to Excite the Senses

This is The Band Perry. I love the overhead lighting because it creates a soft mood. It gives off a cozy, artistic feel. I like the mixture of the brown tones behind the small bulbs because of the contrast. The lights are not only lighting, they are part of the photograph and part of the art. I like that about this picture.

I really like the depth of this picture. I can see Harry helping a hurt Ron in the background while Harmione is casting a protection spell. The lighting is dim, which goes along well with the film. The lighting seems dim but it is also even, high key lighting. I like this combination.

This photo is from How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. I like the natural light in this scene. There are other lights being used, but the combination of natural light is perfect because it is a sunny day. They are obviously happy here and are falling in love. Sunny high-key lighting works perfect for a romantic comedy.

I love the sunset on the beach. Most other people do too because the sun is our source of natural light and it is beautiful at sunset. I am all about natural and beautiful. I like this photo because it captures nature. I like the reflection the water gives off some of the light. I like the shadows on the sand. In this setting, it is still light outside but the sky is dimming. This makes for a romantic mood.

This is a painting by Monet. I love how there are so many shades of different colors. The sunlight through the trees brings demension to the painting by creating shadows in the garden. This painting is so beautiful and colorful. I could look at it all day.

This is the Opera House in Paris. The low lights scattered throughout the room recreate the way the building has been lit for years. I love this lighting because it sets the mood for theatre along with keeping the history of the building alive.

This photo is from The Help. The movie was set back in the 1960's when movies were not high quality like they are today. I love the high-key lighting with this set. All of the colors really pop out at you. I like the bold colors. The way this scene was lit and decorated makes me want to go back to the 60's.

This photo says one thing. Romance. The close up with dim lighting creates an intimacy between the characters, and between the audience and the characters. I like that her hand is highlighted as it gently touches his face and how her hairand face have a rim light. This picture is beautiful. Without the shadows and highlights, the wrong mood would be set.

This photo really excites me because I can see suspense in the eyes of the actors and in the colors of the poster. High key lighting is used here, but the grey brings in a sense of mystery and excitement. I love how there are so many ways you can use high-key lighting.

This photo says a lot to me because it represents a special moment and possibly the last moment between a couple. The photo is well lit, but because it is black and white, there is also a darkness to it because of the contrasting colors. I know black and white was all that was available when this was taken but it can still mean something. The light is shining on his face as they embrace which is romantic and gives a sense of hope that he will come back home after the war.

!O ThInGs AbOuT mE

Blue is My favorite color because it is tranquil and beautiful.

I love vintage-inspired clothing because there is always Something from the past I can find to express myself on a particular day.

Collecting quotes is a past time of mine. I get my inspiration from other wise, inspirational people.

Music makes my life complete. Playing, writing, and hearing it frees my thoughts.

Acoustic Guitar is my favorite instrument to play and hear.

Comedies are the best medicine on any day, no matter what the circumstance may be.

I am an addict of shopping and sweet tea. The first step is admitting it, but I don't want to take any steps further in curing myself.

Emma Stone is my new favorite actress. She is amazing!

Mac or PC? Both! Never heard that one, have ya?

I absolutely cannot live without surrounding myself with the people I love. My friends and family are very important to me. Life wouldn't be worth living without them.