Dr.Pepper and The National Championship

The Dr. Pepper Tuition Throw Competition is finished! I am thankful to say I came in 3rd place and won a $7500 scholarship! It's definitely not $100,000, but I will never allow myself to be ungrateful whenever I receive help. 

I placed fourth in fourth in overall voting. Everyone signed up and voted for me were an invaluable help. I wouldn't have made it to the next step without all of you. 

Dr. Pepper contacted me after the voting competition to inform me I received a $2500 scholarship and an all expense paid trip this year's National Championship between Alabama and Notre Dame. Upon arriving, we competed in the tuition throw. I came in 3rd place, and Dr. Pepper decided to double our scholarships as well! 

As a student and filmmaker, I've learned creativity and monetary gain are synonymous in the struggle towards relevance. We yearn for artistic expression, but find ourselves hampered by the need to survive. We laugh about the characterization of the starving artist, neatly categorized under creative expression vs. realistic living, but it bears truth. 

I understand money is a necessity. More importantly, I realize it is an important, yet secondary piece in the expanding path towards my long-term goals as a filmmaker. This is a step, and I'm already searching for the next ladder to climb. 

If you haven't seen my Dr. Pepper video yet, here it is!

Thank You Dr.Pepper

Click to vote here: http://www.drpeppertuition.com/entry/63

I have great news! Recently, I received a $2500 scholarship from Dr.Pepper. They called me a week ago to congratulate me for my Dr. Pepper Tuition Video, I Want To Be A Filmmaker.

I Want To Be A Filmmaker from Xavier Burgin on Vimeo.

Now, I'm in a contest with nine other participants to compete for a $100,000 scholarship. So I need everyone's help who has watched my films or supported me in the past. Please go to this LINK to vote for me. You have to register, but it's easy using a facebook, twitter, or social media account. Once you register just press the "Vote For Me" button and you've helped me!

You can also give me an extra vote by tweeting #TuitionForXavier. You can do both of these once per day. I'm only one step away from competing for another step towards fulfilling my goals. Please support! So vote HERE!

Vote for Xavier at http://www.drpeppertuition.com/entry/63

Welcome to the #QueSystem

First and foremost, I'd like to tell everyone some great news. I am officially a magna cum laude, College of Arts and Sciences, New College, Telecommunications and Films, Beta Eta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi graduate of the University of Alabama. 

I'm an alumni folks. It feels great. Currently, I'm working on a few things. I'm getting a new demo reel ready for this year. You can check it in my post A Year in Review. I passed the footage for Beta Eta Spring 2012's probate to my editor, and I'm waiting to hear back from a company that may be hiring me when I move out to California. Finally, I'm going to be working on a video for the graduating class of 2012. I always make work for myself, but I'm at my best when I'm pushing my craft. 


Now, I'd like to share some work with you from Beta Eta Que's 2012 Week at Alabama aptly named "The Que System." We decided to base our week around The Kobe System, a collection of videos highlighting the arrogantly awesome entity that is Kobe Bryant. You can watch all of them HERE.


These videos led to the parody name of our week, "The Que System." Justin Streeter, probably the most well known Que on our campus, played the role of Kobe for us (I'll be linking some of my fraternity brothers that were in the videos as I say their name). 

In substitution of high-profile celebrities used in The Kobe System, we poked fun at the various fraternities and sororities on campus.  I also ended up producing a litany of other promotional videos for the week as well. 


We decided to shoot a parody of R.Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet" music dramedy based on campus greeks. My fraternity brother, Marcus Ayers, has a knack for impromptu hilarity so it ended up being one of the more interesting videos. 

Trapped in the Closet (Greek Edition) 

Part 1 and 2 were shot using the Canon 5D MKII along with a H4N Zoom recorder I held hear the rapper during his time freestyling. I used the method to make sure the music on site didn't overpower hearing the rapper's lyrics. 


Alabama Cypher Pt.1 

Alabama Cypher Pt.2

The ChoQuelate Factory was a invite only event we held for individuals who supported Beta Eta (The Ques of Alabama) during the year. We decided to let Errius play the role of Que Hefner in the video. 


The ChoQuelate Factory

As a chapter, we did a good amount of parodies and skit videos for the week, so Reggie recommended we shoot a video similar to VH1's "Behind the Music" series. So the idea for "Behind the Boots" was born. I wanted this to exemplify the other side of our chapter many individuals don't get to see. This was the favorite for a good majority of people. 


Behind the Boots- Beta Eta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi

Finally, I tend to only post videos that I shot on Que The Lights, but this next video is an exception. If you've ever heard of Phillip and Emmanuel Hudson then you know about the internet sensation, Ratchet Girl Anthem. It's an example of the internet at its best. A simple semi-freestyle over a beat pointing out the indiscretions of ratchet (ghetto or you can look up the term on Urban Dictionary) girls that went viral. Ayers along with UA football player, Bowman, decided to make a remix for Que Week. 


Greek Ratchet Girl Anthem

I hope everyone at The University of Alabama enjoyed Que Week 2012 since this is the last one I'll be working as an undergraduate. It's been a great four years. I wouldn't change anything. 


Also, you're welcome. 

Exposed: Diva Edition - Delta Week 2012

A few weeks ago The Lambda Zeta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta hosted Delta Week 2012: Exposed at The University of Alabama. As everything moves towards a graduation, my work has become more clientele based rather than personally charged.

I am by no means complaining. I've been blessed to say I'm one of the most well-known videographers on campus. When videos are in demand I'm one the first organizations, departments, or individuals

Saturday Night Promo-



Thursday-



Friday Party-


Next week's post will be packed full of videos from Que Week 2012 so be ready. I don't think I've worked this much in a long time, but the final products are going to be spectacular.

Reyna Murrell

These past few weeks I've honestly seen my work as a photographer progressively improve. 

I'm always working to hone my craft, but it's nice to see a defined difference. Click this link to see the first photoshoot I posted when my blog began. My work and presentation has matured along with my philosophy behind shooting.

I must admit, I really wanted to work with Reyna because of her fluid nature. I've known her since freshmen year and the best way to describe her perception of life is spontaneous and there. She's an "in the moment" individual willing herself to be as she is. She's never one to complain or let everyday necessities unravel her person. She doesn't walk into a room. She floats and I love that.   

I wanted honesty and natural life. There are a myriad of categories for the perception of beauty, but I have a powerful preference for direct aesthetic. No need for eye-liner, blush, foundation, or lipstick. Just you. 


Reyna gave me exactly that. 

To see more from the set check out the Photo Gallery on QTL's Flickr.

The Wedding of Joseph and Brittany Bradley

August 24th represents the beginning of my last year at The University of Alabama. I'd be lying if I said the anticipation of graduating isn't haunting my brain. I'm ready and it seems like everyone around me can tell.

Still, I take a step back every day and remind myself to treat life like a winding stairwell, one foot at a time. I'm looking towards the future, but there is plenty of work to finish now.

This summer I was given the opportunity to shoot my first wedding. The results were absolutely phenomenal. It's never easy walking into unknown territory as a filmmaker. A new challenge always feels like a mixture of fright and steady anticipation. This never stops me from accomplishing my goal.

Joseph and Brittany Bradley are friends. They are individuals above the meandering crop of every-day folk. I'm not saying they are better than anyone else. I am pointing out their day to day outlook on life is the embodiment of our nostalgic ideals of the world. They're the couple you want to be.  This isn't because of monetary stature or position. At their core they are just good people.

That's why I enjoyed every moment capturing their memories.

Be sure to follow Que The Lights on twitter and facebook!

Stephanie Jones

School is starting back up soon and I can feel the weight of another year looming over me. I decided to take a lighter load this semester to off-set the amount of projects I'll be working on.

Fellow photographer, Kevyn Bryant, has been adamant about me taking out the time to appreciate the philosophy behind being a strobist.

     Strobist - A person who habitually usues small, hot-shoe mountable electronic flashguns (or speedlights), off-camera to enhance the lighting quality of his or her photos. Anyone who attempts to generate professional quality photographs by using portable, lightweight and (relatively) inexpensive lighting equipment, creatively.

This is a quick explanation behind what it means to be a strobist, but it's best summarized through the photographic quality of a picture. There is a point as a photographer your camera, on-camera flash, and natural light will suffice. As a photographer, your ability to grow will be determined by your willingness to venture outside your comfort zone, critique your own work, and buy gear which will allow you to shoot beyond the capabilities of your camera.

This is where Stephanie comes into the story. We've talked about shooting together for nearly a year. Unfotunately, one incident after another kept us from doing so. I honestly thought fate was toying with my portfolio.

Surprisingly, fate was only prolonging the date till I was ready to bring the best out in her.

I can honestly see my growth as a photographer and I'm beyond ecstatic about this. A big thank you is in order for Stephanie for being so patient as I put these together.

To see the rest of photos with Stephanie click HERE. To learn more about Stephanie you can find her on TUMBLR. I'm on twitter now as well! Follow me HERE @XLNB as well as my photography account HERE @QueTheLights. Finally, be sure to check out the newest with Que The Lights on our FAN PAGE and TUMBLR.

The International Grand Finale

The results are in. I'm proud to say that my 3D Documentary "Portarit of the Storm: Tuscaloosa, AL" won Best 3D Film for Campus Moviefest's International Grand Finale.

Photo Courtesy of Campus Moviefest

Overall, The University of Alabama had a powerful turn-out at the finale. Together, we brought six films. Of the six films three of the these films were in the top twenty five of over seventy films at the film festival.

Of the three films one was nominated for Top 5 in "Best Comedy" and "Portrait of the Storm" won best film in the 3D category.


What made this occasion so phenomenal though, was not the films that won (though all of them were amazing), nor the celebrities and significant industry executives, producers, directors, and writers we met. It was the sheer amount of filmmakers my age that had the same drive, passion, and need to fulfill themselves through film. I found myself among a small community of like-minded individuals who I believe will make a significant impact for years to come.

I'd like to share a small preview of a write-up I'm doing for UA about the occasion in my eyes.

           "...campus Moviefest International Grand Finale was an amazing experience that was tinged with the faint signs of what it would one day be like if any of the individuals present made it to the Oscars. You’re treated as the best of the best. The brightest individuals from a culmination of film-work toiled over for an entire year. It’s an unbelievable high until you realize every person in the room has the same aspirations as you and some far more talented....

            I remember when they began the routine introductory speech for my category. My palms got sweaty, my legs shaked, and I could feel my heart pounding on the inside of my chest. It was literally all the cheesy ideas you see in sappy movies about making movies and bad Golden Globe or Oscar Award speeches. When my name was called for Best 3D Film a weight lifted off my shoulders and another rested atop my head when I realized I had to give a speech. I managed to trudge forward and give an outstanding speech on the devastation of the Tuscaloosa Tornado and the necessity of keeping our plight in the limelight of the media’s eyes.

        As I walked backed to my seat I honestly realized I won something significant to my heart. It felt like a validation of my work. My first film “Bottom of a Glass” didn’t win, but without it, I would have never worked on the 3D film which allowed me to move on to the next level. 

            After the awards ceremony there was an abundance of congratulations, handshakes, and exchanging of business cards. Overall, the feeling of validity through winning draws people towards you, whether it is out of genuine interest or their need to keep in contact with those who have garnered even a small measure of success.

            I got back to my room and counted up the amount of business cards I received. I had given out over 200 and received around 140. The next day I emailed everyone to keep in touch as well as join a networking group I created.

            This entire event felt like a microcosm of the industry. A smaller version where I (or any of us) could be if we are successful. I may not meet everyone at the top and I may not even make it to the top, but these were the people I would later shake hands with if I did. I was introduced to the industry in a sterile environment, but one that gave me a good glimpse of what it means to win and lose at the same time..."

The experience has been amazing and humbling at the same time. My 3D film did well, but I can only imagine how well "Bottom of a Glass" could have been if I had put more time and effort into it. This only motivates me to do even better next year when Campus Moviefest comes around. At the same time, I cannot allow myself to get comfortable. I don't know the progenitor of this quote but I believe it holds true to me and any filmmaker.

"You are only as good as the last thing you made. No one cares beyond that." 

There is more to be done and I'll have time to relax when I'm gone from this world. 

Also, be sure to check out check out The Emerging Magazine Feature highlighting my win at the first ever 3D Student Film Festival. 

Campus Moviefest: International Grand Finale

It's an interesting phenomena when you find yourself in a situation which embodies itself as the culmination of an entire year's worth of work. It feels as if I've been gradually building up to the moment I made it back to California..

June 17 passed a few days ago. This marked the one year anniversary of Que The Lights. From the beginning I set a simple, yet honest goal, establish myself as a legitimate filmmaker. What do I mean by legitimate?

Honestly striving to create a powerful body of work uniquely my own. I wanted to produce my own web of artistic design which displays a quality of work capable of standing on its own.

I believe I've done this to a degree. I still have a bevvy of work left to finish, start, and create, but this year has been a significant kick-start. Where I am gives validation to the words I set forth over a year ago.

Two of my films are in competition at CMF's International Grand Finale. The first is "Bottom of a Glass" and the second is "Portrait of the Storm: Tuscaloosa, AL."

"Bottom of a Glass" will be competing in the Best Drama section while "Portrait of the Storm" will be competing in the 3D competition.

Along with my own, others films from Alabama such as "Sugarbaby", "Blue Barry", and "A Certain Woman" will be in competition and screened. You can find more info here.

CMF is also providing student's with another great opportunity, the ability to meet with Hollywood executives, agents, and directors. This does not guarantee any individual a ticket into the inner-workings of the industry, but it does carry the potential of garnering valuable experience when we're thrown into the real world.

This is why they asked us to not only bring our resumes, but be ready to show our demo reel if asked. A demo reel is essentially a compilation of your best work edited into a single piece. It's your calling card to the industry and signifies the strength of your work as a filmmaker.

Check out mine and let me know what you think,


Director/DP Reel 2011 from Xavier Burgin on Vimeo.

This is why this moment truly signifies a round-up of this year. All of my best work tightly wrapped in about two minutes. It seems so small, yet every drop of sweat, long night story-boarding, headache induced irritation via shot listing, and carpal tunnel-esque bout while revising a script is somewhere simmering within this reel forming my hopes for a successful future.

Wish me luck this weekend. Hopefully my work won't need it.

QTL Images

Good news once again.

Portrait of the Storm has been featured on the website, Confessions of a City Girl.






Sherine Patrick (founder and author of Confessions) recently covered me as her Artist Spotlight this week for my short documentary, Portrait of the Storm.

Sherine has been on the blogging scene since July 2010 (not too far from my own start) and has amassed a large following dedicated reviews, fashion forward thoughts, and interesting epiphanies on the world around us. Check out the feature as well as getting to know the city girl behind all of the confessions.

Still, there is even bigger news for Que The Lights! One of the biggest reasons behind creating this site was to maintain an online portfolio capable of presenting my work to the public in a professional manner. Que The Lights has evolved from a simple portfolio site into a full-blown center for my creative work, writing, and ideas.

This wasn't a bad thing, but I still believed the best way to reach clients and individuals interested in my work is through a site that centers solely on the work.

I'd like to present the newest addition to Que The Lights, QTL Images.

The portfolio site highlights my best work in a clean format anyone can comb through with ease. I'd been thinking of this idea for long period of time, but I only went to action when I realized my trip to California for the CMF Grand Finale Film Festival was nearing.


I wanted to make sure my was presentable as possible since I'll be in California for the Film Festival as well as scoping opportunities for the next year. Be sure to check it out. You can find the link by clicking the Portfolio button at the top or click HERE. Finally, with the success of Portrait of the Storm I'd like to say thank you to some of the people that helped me out with it.

Sumerlin Brandon- the musician who composed the score for Portrait of the Storm.
Trey Moe- One of the testimonials as well as great comedian in his own right.
Kevyn Bryant-Que The Light's Partner and photographer in the Tuscaloosa area.
Dr.Rachel Raimist and Professor Adam Schwartz- My professors and friends who have made it possible from the beginning when I entered The Telecommunication and Film Department at The University of Alabama.

Hard work sometimes pays off.

Portrait of The Storm: Tuscaloosa, AL

It's been over a month since the city of Tuscaloosa was hit by an EF4 tornado that tore across the landscape. The lives and futures of many found themselves in a standstill paralyzed from the physical and mental shock induced by the events of April 27, 2011.

I was lucky enough to only see my current work brought to an abrupt end during that period and nothing else. Thankfully, when one opportunity closes another usually opens.

My opportunity was being given the chance to document the lives of the individuals who survived the tornado in my own way.

This is the final product, a five minute short documentary shot in 3D. For the past month I've been working on this project. I went in and out of the remains of houses documenting what humanity is left in their remnants. I  jumped back and forth between storm chasers looking for those willing to share their personal footage with me.  I recorded testimonial while working with musical composer, Sumerlin Brandon, to bring together a score that captures the intense melancholy of Tuscaloosa's current situation.

Overall, I'm happy with my work and I hope the time placed into finishing this project can be felt by anyone who watches. You can watch this in 3D as well, but I'll provide the 2D version on the blog.




* For best viewing presentation change dimensions to 1080p

Director: Xavier Burgin
Storm Footage: Ryan Chandler, Jason Rosolowski, and Nate Hughlett
Photography: Xavier Burgin
Testimonial: Katie Brantley, Johnny Hanna, and Trey Moe
Musical Composition: Sumerlin Brandon

The Digital Imaging Diaries

One of the things I've come to appreciate about the atmosphere of blogging is the sense of community you gain with other like-minded individuals. I've found a multitude of cinematographers and photographers whose work I highly enjoy.

I've still found an acute interest in blogs whose main focus doesn't deal with photography, cinema, or video work. The common theme I've found in the majority of sites I regularly engage is passion.

There is a waning line between the throes of passion and the wilds of obsession. I believe many of the individuals I regularly read teeter on this fault. They are so thoroughly immersed within their field objectively splitting their career and personality is near impossible. If anything, their career is their personality or a major piece. I consider this the highest example of enjoying your given career.

So this brings me to the highlight of my day.

Rick Sammon, a veteran photographer whose style flows in a plethora of directions, asked readers of his blogs to send links to photos they took which resonated the theme of patriotism.

One of the big things I like about Rick is the fact he listens and answers. Much bigger blogs who gain tremendous notoriety tend to neglect their audience, but Rick is able to keep a happy medium.

I decided to send him a link of this picture from my Flickr account.

A few hours later, to my surprise, I checked back on his blog to find my picture had been featured as a representation of patriotism he liked. Pretty awesome surprise, especially considering how much I admire Rick's work as a photographer.

To check out the feature click HERE.

Quiet After The Storm Part.2

The conditions around Tuscaloosa have slowly progressed from the terrible scene that was brought on by the April 27th tornado.

The National Guard has been brought in as well as FEMA. President Obama also visited Tuscaloosa to personally address the residents who have lost everything. Since April 27th Tuscaloosa has been under strict curfew. Individuals without relevant purpose past 8pm are asked to return to their homes if they are near areas that have been badly damaged.

This measure was approved by Mayor Maddox and Governor Bentley when looters started to descend on damaged areas during nightfall. Hopefully, everyone is taking this serious since there has already been a few deaths from police encounters with looters in restricted areas.

Overall, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done for Tuscaloosa and the state in general.

Here are some more photos from the devastation,

To see more of the photos that hasn't been featured on the site check out our Photography Gallery or click here.