5 Hour Energy Hero

A few months ago a friend and I decided to partner together for a commercial competition sponsored by 5 Hour Energy Drink. We came up with the idea, 5 Hour Energy Hero, and based our commercial around the concept. It was one day shoot, three day post-production gig, but everything came out smoothly.

Taylor Stephens and I produced the commercial. Taylor directed and acted. I handled cinematography and editing. We didn't win the competition but I'm proud of the work we did.

I'm Alive

I'm moving ahead into my third semester at USC's School of Cinematic Arts this upcoming August. Finishing up my first year was quite an experience. For anyone who reads the blog and has questions on the subject feel free to contact me. 

Along with finishing my first two semesters, the music video I co-produced, DP'd, and edited, "I'm Alive," is available to watch!

The project started with musician, Matt Kabus. Justin Wood, a fellow Alabama alumni, directed. We started the production a year ago during the summer of 2012 in Atlanta. Matt watched one of my earlier demo reels, and devised an eclectic vision to accompany his song. Of course, production led to major revisions in comparison to Justin and Matt's original plan, but the finished product is phenomenal.

I want to direct, but I've realized cinematography has become a mainstay passion culpable to my penchant for stories. Honestly, isn't cinematography just visual storytelling when defined? 

I've received some amazing news on current projects I'll reveal as the summer moves forward, but I'd also like to share the story of a USC Alum whose realized the dream I'm pursuing. Ryan Coogler, Director of Sundance winner, Fruitvale, has been tearing up the festival circuit (and tear ducts) with his telling of the last few hours of Oscar Grant, an Oakland, CA native shot by the police in 2009.

I won't focus on the movie, it speaks for itself.  I'll focus on Coogler, a man who achieved a dream. This director found a story that resonated with his sensibilities, and brought a swath of raw emotion and talent seldom seen. I appreciate his story for one particular reason. He didn't grow up in films. He did not plan to become a director. When his life veered upon this course, he made sure to utilize his opportunities to the fullest. 

No individual's path to finality is identical. No one's success a mirror image. Still, his story gives me hopes that everyone retains the possibility to achieve. 

All I Do is Work

It's been a long time, but I finally finished up my work with Alabama rapper, Drama.



In my post, I Gotta Hustle, I talked about two rappers I met because of my affiliation with North Greene Records.

After sitting down to talk, both Drama and Trent showed interest in working with me. Trent actually came to me with the idea of working on a music video first, but Drama ended up being getting the process rolling.

Pre-production to post-production took around three months. I decided to downsize my role to Director and DP. I soon realized I was far too swamped with other projects to earnestly sit down and edit. Also, some of the stylistic choices Drama wanted were out of my editing capabilities.

That's when I decided to bring in one of my colleagues, Douglas Dillingham of Zombiesquid Pictures. Douglas' work speak for itself. When I first checked it out I was thoroughly impressed. The editing skill he displays at this level are far ahead of most individuals I know. Plus, I needed someone who could get the work done in an efficient and quick manner.

Doug definitely proved he was the best choice.



To contact rapper, Drama, you can DM him through his twitter page @MrNBADRAMA .You can also contact Doug for editing jobs through his website or by his twitter page @ZSquid.

Working on this project definitely taught me I'm more comfortable shooting over editing. I still love editing and I appreciate the necessity, but I'd rather be out in the world with my camera instead of sitting at a computer. I now honestly realize how important a good editor is for a production team.

When all you do is work, having a strong team behind you can make all the difference. Also, be sure to follow @QueTheLights and check out my updated portfolio page QTL Images.

11/22/11 Update: Music Video work featured on website This is Ham. Click HERE to see.

This Christmas

A trend I've noticed that has been happening repeatedly since I was a child was Christmas always trumping every other holiday, but who can complain.

I'm not implying that Thanksgiving and Halloween aren't awesome parts of our American lore and heritage, but they just tend to pale in comparison to Christmas. Halloween is like that creepy cousin in the corner who only nab chicks when it's in style to be goth or emo. Thanksgiving is that awesome Grandmother who brings the entire extended family together, but there is a reason why you can't stand to see everyone more than ONCE a year.

Christmas...Christmas is that super fun awesome time Uncle that everyone in the family wishes was their Dad, even his own Dad. Everybody loves to hear his stories. He rides a motorcycle not because he's going through a mid-life crisis. He's just a rebel that walks his own path. His gray hair isn't a sign of age, it's a sign of wisdom. He's invited to your home all year round, but only comes to your place once a year because his category of awesome is too tangy to indulge more than once.

That's Christmas and the media seems to agree. When Halloween is gearing up, you can already catch a few commercials touting Christmas.

America adores Christmas. I say all of this to give reason as to why I'm about to show you a video I shot nearly six months ago, but just got around to editing.

On a technical note, I believe photographers, filmmakers, cinematographers, etc...should take the time to walk away from a project when they are done shooting and give their brain time to detox from it. Coming back to a project a week, or two, or more later can give you an objective insight you may not have seen before.

It's easy to get attached to a certain photograph or shot you did. It seems awesome given you know the context of how and why you got it, but the audience who watches won't so you end up trying to force in a shot that just isn't necessary.

Anyway, I filmed my folks during Xmas of last year. I wanted to make something nice for the family, but the project got back logged till now.

"Never Enough"

Roo to the people

New vid-"Never Enough" Shot & edited by Xay B. (Me of course)




Just to let you know I don't have a specific bias towards my recording my fraternity (though I admit if I had to choose between my frat or another I'd pick mine). It's just the noticeable fact Ques tend to hop. Recording them gives me a good amount of footage to play around with in Final Cut. I'm still a novice to video editing game. I'm always looking for the next "thing" I can capture. Footage is footage. I need to learn & it just so happens my frat gives me the most camera time.

On this note, I've still got footage of my University's Block Party for the Greeks so I'll most likely begin editing on that and my short film Baby Steps soon.

Nu Epsilon's motto has really stuck with me though.

-Never Enough-

It's simple, yet declaratively powerful. So much can be taken from this declaration of strength.

Let someone take you out into the water. Close your eyes and allow them to take you underwater.
They won't let you up. As you struggle to emerge from the depths of the abyss they finally allow you to rise up.

They ask, "What did you want to do..."
You reply, "Breathe."
They declare, "Until you want your passion as much as you wanted to breathe you will never be successful."

I may not have explicitly recited this proverb as well as the person who first told me, but the message is clear nonetheless. Never enough. Hopefully, this message will not be lost on me.

---Xay B.