Hello,
Welcome to The Storybook Creative Blog! I plan to cover topics pertaining to storytelling and film and video production. You can expect to see reviews of productions and equipment. You will also find articles about theories and lessons on all aspects of video production, writing, exhibits, themed attraction design and other random things.
Storybook Creative is a Denver-based film and video production company passionate about the art of storytelling that started at the beginning of 2020 (fun, right?). But what are we all about?
So it begins…
For me it goes back much further. Some of my earliest memories are of asking my parents what time I had to finish my homework to be able to watch a movie before bed and sitting in front of the small CRT TV with the VCR built in.
I remember the first movie I really loved was Jurassic Park, but the first one that coincided with a desire to make movies was 2004’s The Alamo. Not necessarily the great film one would be motivated by, but to a young kid who thought Davy Crockett was the coolest (nope), it was inspiration enough. From the moment I got my hand on my parents old Hi-8 camcorder, I was sold on making motion pictures.
In middle and high school, I made many short action sports films and silly short narratives including a 40 minute spoof of Discovery’s Stunt Junkies called Stunt Hippies ( I don’t know). In college, I jumped straight into video production but transitioned after 2 years and got a degree in photojournalism. I went straight back to video production joining the Creative Services team at KKTV 11 News in Colorado Springs, CO.
Later, I worked at Compassion International in Digital Asset Management (DAM), graphic design, photography and video production. During that time, I also dabbled in luthier, piano repair, self-taught music and composing while maintaining the freelance videographer side-hustle. I learned I love to tell stories, am inspired by history and driven by music. Then, while working and volunteering at the USS Midway Museum, I uncovered a love for listening to others’ stories. With that, I finally jumped into storytelling and pursuing the dreams that floated around for years, full-time and with a passion for authentic story.
What makes a quality story-driven production?
One day, probably sometime in high school, I was driving through the Black Forest, north of Colorado Springs, with my dad and talking about what I wanted to do in the future, what would come after school. I had so many ideas, and I realized that it all boiled down to one thing: Entertainment.
That concept has stuck with me. Whether making an explainer video, a corporate announcement or informational video, it should be entertaining. It has to hold the viewer’s attention. Nobody takes in the information when it is presented dully, it has to grab and hold onto their focus. And it has to look and sound great. This starts at the very beginning.
I believe that starts with listening. This applies to both non-fiction where we have to understand the client or subject and fiction as we listen to and observe the world around us to understand it and create something worth sharing.
The next step is writing and planning. Storytellers can’t shoot anything good, put on a good show or create a good attraction without a well-done story to back it up. And a bad script is just not worth shooting. Beyond starting with good writing, every detail must be well planned so the production of the honed goes off efficiently and without a hitch.
Each step requires not just the knowledge of how to do something, but also why it is done a certain way and what will best serve the piece at hand. Then and only then can creators produce something that is done right, that is done well, something that is entertaining and useful.
Shooting a quality video requires the right skillset. Producers have to establish a crew that can carry out the plan. They must recognize their own weaknesses and when to bring in someone who can do it right. This follows all the way through post-production. And through out this entire process creatives are listening, continuing to grow their understanding and in turn, their work.
The Cast and Crew are People Too
This leads to an important part of every production: the people. Each production needs the right crew that fits the needs of that production. And every person on that crew is necessary. Everyone brings their own unique skill and perspective to their work, which can and will shape the final product for better or worse. That’s why working as a team to fulfill the production needs is huge in creating quality work.
Everyone deserves to be treated with love, respect and dignity. This is paramount to how Storybook Creative operates. Treating people with dignity can look like paying a crew fairly and respecting their time or encouraging diversity, inclusivity and growth for all those around us.
It is just as important to me that everyone involved in a project has a great experience as it is that the final deliverable is of the highest quality, and I think they truly go hand in hand. If productions subscribe to Aristotle stating, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” then shouldn’t better parts lead to a greater whole?
Well-made art is powerful, inspires people to act and moves them to empathy. It unlocks something new within the viewer. Art should bring joy to those behind the scenes, as well as to the audience.
Storybook Creative strives for the highest quality in motion picture storytelling. I’ve been inspired by some of the greatest (and not so great) films in history as well as the people around me. I hope to inspire you to create the best story you can.
If you’ve stuck around through this introductory ramble, thanks. I truly appreciate it. Don’t forget to follow this blog for new updates, I’ll do my best to make it worth your while. I have a few vintage lens tests planned to come out as well as some rambling on theory.
