The Winner Is….

First of all we want to thank all the ladies for submitting their videos. They were all very good and we have heard from all our judges it was a difficult decision. Without further delay, the winner of contest is Stepheny Keith of Black Sheep Filmworks.

We want to send a huge thank you to DP Slider for providing this opportunity for POSH 2012. A big thank you to SongFreedom for sponsoring the songs for this contest. We also want to thank all our judges for taking the time out of your busy schedules.

Filmmaker Feature: Rochelle Morris of Sauvignon Media Creations

Starting out as an assistant to her husband Dean in their wedding video business, Sauvignon Media Creations, Rochelle has become a force to be reckoned with in the Australian video producers’ scene. As this year’s Australian Video Producers Association (AVPA) Vice President, Rochelle is also the Public Relations officer and has been dedicated in her quest to promote the industry through her AVPA work. Her commitment to the development of our industry was recognised when Rochelle was named one of EventDV 25 Top 50 finalists for 2009.

The efforts of Rochelle as a founding member of the Exposed | Down Under team brought some of the great international & local talents together in 2010. We have seen a national unity among wedding video producers with a motto of collaboration not competition. 2011 will be even greater with a schedule that has been well planned and contains as much value in learning and networking that is possible.

“I feel that what occurred in EDU 10 was breathtakingly inspiring. When I stood at the bottom of the theatre and looked up among all those who came, I could feel my heart busting with joy – not only for the success of the event but what it has achieved for all those who have attended. I am honoured to be a founder of Exposed | Down Under.”

What is the craziest thing that has happened to you while filming?
The craziest thing to happen is when I watched a bride abuse her new husband during the reception evening – she was drunk. First I saw her standing on tables & chairs dancing but din’t think much of it…thought she was having a good time. But once she started falling off them then I knew something was wrong.

What is your favorite gear?
At the moment, I would say that my favourite piece of gear would be the slider. We have had the Glidetrack for sometime now and will soon get the DP. I’m looking forward to getting the DP because we are getting the smaller version. When we first chose the Glidetrack we were the first in Australia and I’m glad that we took Alistair’s advice about the size – we got the 1 meter. The DP slider will be smaller which will make it more portable to travel with.

My favourite piece of gear may change once I transition from video camera to DSLR – I am a firm believe that all gear are tools and it’s their use in storytelling that is more important than it being the latest available.

Here are a few wedding film clips:

Craig & Hannah ~ Trailer from Sauvignon Media Creations on Vimeo.

Ante & Rowena ~ Same Day Edit from Sauvignon Media Creations on Vimeo.

Filmmaker Feature: Megan Hill of Hello Super 8

Bio/background:
I learned the art of film making at Boston’s Emerson College back in the early 90s. Making my first super 8 film was pure magic… setting up the shots, cutting and splicing, picking out the soundtrack… I LOVED everything about it! After 7 years working in Hollywood jobs that never suited me, I decided to go back to school for graphic design. And after running my own design studio in New York City for several years, I was ready to reinvent myself again.

Inspired to take out my old super 8 camera, I filmed my dear friend’s wedding as a gift. The couple was thrilled with the finished product and I knew I was onto something. So in an effort to wed my skills and passion into one business, I started Hello Super 8 in 2007.

I absolutely love what I do and the job fits me perfectly… from my film making background, to my identity and branding design knowledge, to being a true “people person”… it all just makes sense.

About Hello Super 8:
After much thought and debate, I decided to keep my company a niche business and focus on FILM only. Though I love what DSLR’s can do, I’m a film purist at heart. I made it a point to brand my company to like-minded people who appreciate the qualities of real film. It’s not always an easy sell (the price! the short length! no audio!) but I absolutely adore the clients that go for it. I have managed to attract couples with a fun with a quirky side, a fondness for good design and lovers of great music… just my kind of people.

Inspiration:
I’m first and foremost inspired by women entrepreneurs. I come from a long line of women who built their own businesses from the ground up, so it’s in my blood. As far as aesthetic inspiration there are TONS! Filmmakers like Wong Kar-Wai, Stanley Kubrick, and John Hughes. Musical greats like Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Ella, Billie and Nina to more recent favorites like Fleet Foxes, Beirut, and Iron and Wine. Amazing photographers with a sense of humor like Martin Parr and William Eggleston. Mid-century designers like Charles and Ray Eames, Josef Muller-Brockmann and Saul Bass. And then of course anything analog (turntables and vinyl records, silk screens and letterpress, and of course super 8 cameras and film!)… artistic mediums that you can physically touch just looks, feels and sounds better in my book.

At the end of the day, as the other amazing women on this blog have mentioned, the best part of the job is seeing two people totally in love (I frequently cry at ceremonies and fog up my lens!) and taking part in such an intimate and momentous occasion in their lives is the greatest inspiration of all.

Feature: Kolby Akamu of ARIA Studios

1. This is Kolby.

2. This picture is about 2 1/2 years old.

3. She hardly ever wears scarves (she lives in Hawaii).

4. She has never played the drums (just decided to bang on one at the Experience Music Project).

Why the random picture? Well… not so random, actually.

This picture was taken in 2007 while Kolby Akamu and family-friend, Jay Kaneshige, were on a spontaneous Thanksgiving weekend trip to Seattle. After visiting some churches, museums, having blue-sky coffee talks about career goals and purpose in life…an idea was born. That idea quickly turned into ARIA Studios.

Prior to opening ARIA in 2008, Kolby worked in Television News for five years (KGMB9, a CBS affiliate) and produced Hawaii’s #1-rated evening newscast. This is where she learned the importance of good storytelling and developed a desire to tell stories that really matter.

With ARIA–she gets to do that. Besides the thrill of telling love stories and getting to know and work with some amazing couples… she and business partner, Jay, donate a portion of their time and revenue to support some incredible non-profit organizations around Hawaii and the world (Zoe Childrens Homes, Thailand // Seattle Against Slavery // New Hope Leeward, Oahu // New Hope Seattle).

ARIA Studios is a boutique studio with a family feel. Kolby’s righthand man is her baby brother, Kash (well, not so baby, anymore). Jay’s wife, Karin, is the studio mom and #1 cheerleader and everyone–from photographer, Christine, to the interns–are like family. This is how they like to treat their clients. They pride themselves on getting to know their couples, become friends, and through their film and photos–tell their story.

What inspires Kolby:

1. love

2. light

3. laughter

4. the little things that make our couples uniquely awesome

In case you were wondering: “Aria” is an operatic term which means “a stunning solo performance.” More importantly, Aria is the studio princess (and Jay’s daughter). She loves bunnies and ballet and she inspires the ARIA team in ways she could ever imagine.

Jacque + Cameron // kicks, belly laughs, soul from ARIA Studios on Vimeo.