Candice and Steve | Noodles, Soccer and Gnomes

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Creative Save the Date Session

I can not take credit for the idea behind this session, I am behind it's execution. Candice and Steve came up with the concept. They aren't your typical "beautiful sunset," holding hands, kissing by the lake, kind of couple. They wanted something that shared their personality as a couple. Avid Chicago Fire Soccer Fans and season ticket holders, soccer is a daily part of life in their household. Steve spends much time screaming at the television while watching soccer games. Candice has loved noodles since she was a kid and often has them for breakfast. The gnome is how they met. While at a party Steve was walking around with the Gnome. Candice, who is usually shy, had to know what that was about. So she approached and learned that the Gnome had a name: Sven. Sven is responsible for Candice crossing a crowded room and stepping outside her comfort zone. This is a snapshot of what an evening looks like in their household. Steve, screaming at the television, Candice eating noodles and their various pets trying to get their attention. We didn't plan for Gino to steal some noodles, but turns out it was pretty true to real life. 

The Ladies Three

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I am obsessed with eyes. I remember they were the first doodles I ever made. It seems to be popping up more and more in my portrait sessions as of late. I think the eyes tell us so much. This was a quick test of a new lens with the interns of fig media inc. Loved how they turned out! 

Currently Re-Watching Silence of the Lambs + 2001 Space Odyssey

I am currently in the middle of simultaneous productions and feeling stretched thin. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I take a minute to remind myself why I started out on this journey as a filmmaker. So this week I revisited some old favorites to keep me inspired.  

I LOVE REWATCHING MOVIES AT DIFFERENT AGES. I GLEAN SOMETHING NEW EACH TIME. 

Today I marvel at framing and color. I won't even try to tackle my opinions of 2001 Space Odyssey. It is a beautiful, confusing, cerebral experience albeit masculine view on birth, death and space. That is as far as I will go.  I DROOL over the framing and mise en scene. Makes me want to shoot an entire one point perspective film. Symmetry is satisfying. I will forever have a cinematic crush on Kubrick. 

 THAT COLOR THOUGH... 

HELLO EYE CONTACT - I NEVER NOTICED YOU BEFORE. 

Silence of the Lambs is one of those films I avoided for a long time. Anthony Hopkins = Amazing. That's all I needed to know. Because of it's popularity, I stayed away. Last night, I could not sleep. The film I am currently editing is swimming around in my head. So unlike most normal people that would get up and put on something soothing to calm the mind... I put on Silence of the Lambs. 

I never noticed the eye contact and point of view. Consequently, the film I just shot uses this technique quite a bit. Just where my brain is calibrated at the moment. Hannibal Lecter staring straight at me, I want to look away but I can't. No wonder this gives me the willies. Wonderful use of breaking the fourth wall. Knowing what this must have taken to direct and perform, I am now officially impressed. I may be tardy to that party but it doesn't make it any less cool. After enjoying said discovery for a few scenes, I drifted off into a deep sleep. Luckily, without any unwanted dinner guests. 

Both films now streaming on Netflix. Inspiration achieved. #alwaysinspired #inspirationeverywhere

Currently Watching: HUMAN

LOVING this series. I highly recommend this to give you some inspiration. Beautiful, emotional and rich with wisdom. (New goal: Standing ovation from United Nations.) 

Watch everything here: 

https://humanthemovie.withgoogle.com

ABOUT HUMAN

Turn on the Closed Captions (CC) to know the countries where the images were filmed and the first name of the interviewees. What is it that makes us human? Is it that we love, that we fight ? That we laugh ? Cry ? Our curiosity? The quest for discovery? 
Driven by these questions, filmmaker and artist Yann Arthus-Bertrand spent three years collecting real-life stories from 2,000 women and men in 60 countries. Working with a dedicated team of translators, journalists and cameramen, Yann captures deeply personal and emotional accounts of topics that unite us all; struggles with poverty, war, homophobia, and the future of our planet mixed with moments of love and happiness. 

Watch the 3 volumes of the film and experience #WhatMakesUsHUMAN. 

The VOL.1 deals with the themes of love, women, work and poverty.

HUMAN by Yann Arthus-Bertrand - An exceptional premiere at the United Nations General Assembly Hall - New York City On September 12, 2015, thanks to the the support of the French mission and to the UN Secretary-General M.

On Location | Charleston; South Carolina

I never expected to end up in Charleston as many times as I have over the last few years for work. It was not on my list of "must have," places to visit but I am glad the opportunity presented itself. The air literally smells like barbecue. Every corner is dripping with historical significance. I fell in love with it's cocktails, horse drawn carriages and charm. It is easy to romanticize the big beautiful homes, huge bridges and local art scene. 

SUNRISE, BARBEQUE, WHISKEY, WHISPERS AND HISTORY.

EAT: THE RAREBIT; CHICKEN + WAFFLES + MOSCOW MULE or NICKS BBQ; PULLED PORK or 82 QUEEN; SHE CRAB SOUP + SWEET TEA

BUY: SWEETGRASS BASKETS FROM ARTISTS FROM AN OPEN AIR MARKET

STAY: THE FRANCIS MARRION HOTEL

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On this trip I was filming a wedding for a good friend and coworker. He filmed my wedding day and I was delighted to return the favor. It took some convincing to get the newlyweds up at sunrise. It meant an early morning after little sleep for all of us. But I am so glad I pushed for it. This was by far my favorite part of the weekend. Our relaxed couple enjoyed their first sunrise as husband and wife while we documented the glowing occasion. Can not wait to share the teaser!

DO: THE OLD SLAVE MART MUSEUM

No visit is complete without making a stop to the unspoken undercurrent of the city: The slave markets. If this were civil war era then I am a Yankee from the land of Lincoln. So I felt a little out of place reading placards for the mansions of Confederate generals who have been known to enslave many. On top of the old slave market, sits a confederate museum. On my first trip to SC, the confederate flag was everywhere. Thankfully on this trip, it was no where to be found. I was surprised to see how much of the history of slavery for this area, one of the largest slave ports, refused to honor the upsetting history of its former residence. The one slave museum I could find was small and contained no more than a few relics and oral histories. This museum was next to the historical museum row, whose houses were home to the daughters of the confederacy and plantation owners. That is when I realized I was standing in a city that was built on the backs of its slave population. Letting that reality sink in, hurt my soul. Any history of slavery, began in Charleston. This is where the ships unloaded their cargo. The romance and charm disappeared into the chasm of an expunged horror that had been reduced to no more than a whisper. It would be nice to see more dedication devoted to this history but the sad reality is that after the civil war ended, many documents and history was destroyed to release the owners from the stigma and persecution of owning slaves. Therein lies the unspoken undercurrent current of the city. A historical tension that once felt, can not be unfelt. 

Noted: I have not had time to enjoy the beaches. The Citadel sounds cool but is just a military school. There is such a thing as He crab soup too. Cobblestone is hard to walk on. The south has more humidity than I can handle. My northern accent sticks out like a sore thumb. There are more churches then Starbucks. Uber will not pick you up at the airport. The bed and breakfasts downtown looked amazing. The light becomes harsh earlier and longer then in the north, so ideal filming conditions are sparse. Fort Sumpter looked small. Many sailors walk the streets in uniform, as a Navy Base is nearby. 

Reflection Friday

Reflections in water never get old. #reflections #water #watercolor #VSCOcam

A photo posted by Melissa Fox (@melissafoxmedia) on May 24, 2015 at 8:20am PDT

How To: Five tips to nailing a thoughtful, emotional and story rich interview.

In documentary filmmaking questions are king.

I could write for days on this subject. Interviewing people is a beautiful privilege. Recording someone is transformational. Leading people to their emotions is not only healthy but it serves the deeper hunger that we all have to connect. It is such important work.

Stories matter. People matter. I believe that if people told more of their stories to one another that we could create a more compassionate world. Anytime one can humanize an issue, we are one step closer to creating understanding across cultural, social and economic boundary lines. Have you ever asked the homeless man you pass every day to tell you his story? If you did, how might that change your view of that person? This is why I love my work. I get to ask these questions. I get to be curious for a living. 

Storytelling is an ancient art. We have evidence of it's impact on ancient societies through language, art and artifacts. Ancient cultures passed down their traditions through oral storytelling. I think stories are part of what makes us human. It is a form of expression. We love storytelling so much we have made whole industries out of them. Film, photography, social media are all bi-products of our desire to tell stories. Stories start with questions. 

In screenwriting class my instructor, the kick ass female director Jennifer Reeder that you should totally look up, always told us that if you feel stuck, start with a question. "What if?" If that didn't lead you anywhere, become an expert eavesdropper. Listen to people. Ask questions. 

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When I first set out to be "filmmaker," I thought I was going to make narrative films. Before that I thought I was going to be an "animator." I wanted to make disney movies. It took years for me to arrive at the conclusion that what I actually wanted to do was to tell people's stories. It was the stories that inspired me. When I arrived at working on documentaries for clients I discovered that I felt most alive when I was asking questions and letting my curiosity guide me toward getting to know someone. It just so happened that I had a wonderful product of that curiosity in the form of a film. 

So ask questions. Ask lots of them! 

Then think about the kind of questions you are asking. They set the tone for your film and your relationship with it's subject. 

Here are five tips to nailing thoughtful, emotional and story rich interviews. 

1. Research, Write and Prep. The internet is an amazing place. Google your subject. Chances are there is public information that you can find out before the cameras come out. This will save time and help give you information to go deeper with your subject. Find out about their passions, tastes and lifestyle. Use this information to craft thoughtful questions that help your subject relax. I will sit down and make copious notes on a persons interests. I may or may not use all this information in my interview session but I will hold it in my mind in case I need it. Knowing if someone is a middle child versus an older child can help you discern personality traits and styles of questions. Then put together a plan for your interview and start writing your questions. In my work with clients I go as far as to write a script. I won't be focused on getting my words exactly, unless I run into a jam, but I will be able to see my whole story at once. 

2. Word questions carefully. Language matters. Use questions that inspire people to answer with a story. Be aware of your own bias in a question. This will show up in how you word the question. You can still choose to use your bias toward the goal of your film but be aware of how it works. 

• DO: Describe to me what it felt like to ________. Tell me about ___________. What drives your passion for _________? 
• DON'T: Were you upset? Do you like ______? If you can answer a questions with "yes" or "no" it is not a good question. 
• DON'T:"How do police infringe on peoples rights when they scan cell phones during a riot?" Leads the subject to answer based on your believe that they are in fact infringing on rights. 
• DO: Describe how you feel about police listening to cellphone scanners during a riot?

Wonderful TED talk on conversation analysis. 

I love listening to smart people talk about their work. This talk applies to interviews and communication. There is so much information in how you ask a question and how one responds. 

Prof. Elizabeth Stokoe takes a run on what she terms the "conversational racetrack"-the daily race to understand each other when we speak-and explains how to avoid hurdles that trip us up and cause conflict. Elizabeth Stokoe is a British scientist. She studies conversation analysis. She is a professor at Loughborough University.

3. Ask subjects to respond using "I" statements. Third person storytelling only works if there is a narrator talking about the subject. If you are letting your subject tell the story, they should use the phrases "I feel," "I think," "I know," versus "You feel," "You think," ect. With upsetting subject matter I like to remove myself from the upset and I might start to speak in third person. Good storytelling asks the subject to say "I." It is a small tweak that can make the difference between a story that inspires and one that falls apart. 

4. After you ask your question, listen carefully and pick out themes. Scan for words that are repeated. Listen for words that create feelings. Notice when the person across from you decides to not explore a topic. It is all data. Listening is a key element to getting a great interview. If I can pick out a theme from a story I can lead my subject deeper and gain trust. It is like getting a wonderful gift - it is affirming for the subject to understand that you care and are paying attention. This creates trust. It will also allow you to see where you can lead your subject deeper. 

5. Ask about feelings. I consider this to be the most important tip. Try this at home and with friends: Ask about feelings. While you are listening to your subject pay attention to your own emotions. Chances are if you are feeling something, your subject is feeling it too. Ask about them. "I noticed when you talked about ________, I felt sad. Is that true for you? Why do you think that is?" This is a skill, you can learn it. Notice and ask. You will be amazed with where this simple tip will lead you. 

BONUS TIP: Did you notice that only two of my tips are about writing the questions? The other three are about how you behave when you ask them. 

Yes, you need questions that are crafted to get the type of stories you are looking for. However, the key to getting a thoughtful, emotional and story rich interview is how you are with that person. How you feel listening to them. Feelings and relationships are a big part of my work. Don't run from them. Embrace them, feel them and talk about them WITH your subject. If you haven't "fallen in love" with the person you are interviewing by the completion of your film, you have not done your job and you can not expect your audience to fall in love with your film either.

And seriously, look up Jennifer Reeder and her new film #crystallake  

A grand adventure...

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As Winnie the Pooh once said, "A grand adventure is about to begin."

There is something so beautiful about an in home baby bump session but this one was made even sweeter as it is a gift for my friends. These two not only have the sweetest story about how they met but they maintain that simple sweetness throughout their lives. You can feel it when you sit with them. Delighted to call them friends, can not wait to meet your little one! 

Walking through moss.

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Myakka State Park, Florida 2014

Creative Blocks

I know the feeling. The one I get after booking a cool project. The money is in, contracts are signed and now it is time to get to work. I pour myself a hot cut of tea and look over my notes. I read interviews, creative briefs and brand statements. When I think I am ready, I open up a new document and get ready for the genius to flow. 

The cursor then sits there. It blinks in defiance. It begs me to put down an idea. I am stuck.  This happens to me at every project. Be it a painting or a script I am writing. I am both thrilled and daunted by the blank page. 

 "Just start," I tell myself. Even if I have the intention to throw it out later, at least it will be a beginning. So I start. I fall in love with my first few ideas and then pat myself on the back for being so clever. The words are flowing out of me until they hit a brink wall with the weight of a thousand caffinated hang overs. At this point I hate myself. I hate my ideas. My genius is stupid. I give up and walk away for an hour. No use forcing work. 

I end up sleeping on it and come back to the computer renewed. This process happens a million times over the course of a project. I both fall in love my work and loathe it at every stage. That part of my work never goes away.  

Editing is the worst. Watching footage can be painful. It may be my best work to date. But it might not match the high standards I have set for myself. The footage represents all the choices made on a set. Editing is the process of wrestling with those choices while still seeing the big picture. I have to let go of what could be and focus on what is. I make little happy discoveries as I go. One minute I adore it the next I curse it as rubbish.  

At some point I call the work finished. I come to the conclusion that I have done the best with what I have. Months or maybe a year later I watch my work and finally aprreciate it. Creating is vulnerable. I don't think that will ever go away. I often call the same process: wrestling the beast. A blog for another day.