It was an honor to be on The Second Sticks Podcast with Nick Brown. Give it a listen to hear how I have work on different film projects including .
Season 2 Episode 8 - Kent Smith
Edited by: Nicholas Brown
Mixed by: Sean Millsap
Music by: Azar Rahmouni
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“Reel Conversations” highlights filmmakers featured in the 21st Annual International Real to Reel Film Festival. On this episode of “Reel Conversations,” Thomas Manning speaks with filmmakers connected to the short film “Mike.” “Mike” is the story on an intellectually challenged man choosing to follow his dream by visiting a distant shore. Kent Smith (writer, producer, director), Patrick G. Keenan (actor – “Mike”) and Steve Saxon (cinematography) share the stories of the making of this Real to Reel Film Fest selection. The Cleveland County Arts Council will host nearly 50 films in a virtual festival format from Sept. 9 -Oct. 9. For over two decades, Real to Reel has showcased thought-provoking films from around the world and offers opportunities for cinema-lovers to embrace the independent vision of this unique art form. For more information on the Real to Reel International Film Festival, visit realtoreelfest.com For more information on “Mike” visit dreammike.com.
We are very excited to announce that we are kicking off our Seed & Spark Campaign for MIKE.
And you can help by following or contributing to our Seed & Spark Campaign.
MIKE is a film written/directed/produced by award-winning director, Kent Smith (The Last Passport, Homeland, Mr. Mercedes).
It features Patrick G. Keenan (The Blind Side, Tropical Cop Tales) as MIKE.
Mike is the story of an intellectually challenged man in his mid-50's, working for his only friend, Donald. When one dream propels Mike onto a course of adventure and splendor along the path of life, the dream mission turns out to be not as simple as it might have seemed.
Click on this link to help fund the film:
https://www.seedandspark.com/fund/mike-dream#story
IMDB page:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10928572/
Everyone loves their favorite teams; It's extraordinary that I have been privileged enough to work with my favorite ones over the years. Then when you get to work with one of your favorite players, it makes it even more special. That was the case when we I was contacted about doing a promo piece for the Charlotte Hornets for Lending Tree, and they told me the players that we would be shooting.
Going back to my days of covering All-Star games for the NBA, I have been a huge fan of Dwight Howard. I have always based pro athletes by the way they handle themselves around kids. Dwight is one of those rare people that is downright amazing with kids. He has a pure heart that makes everyone light up when he walks into a room, and if that doesn't do it, then the 6'11' 265-pound massive frame will do it for you (ladies).
The Hornets were about to announce a new multi-year founding level partnership highlighted by jersey patch with Lending Tree. We had a short amount of time with each player since they had just returned from an eight-day trip on the road, so we had to make it quick and to the point. Howard was not the only ones coming to the shoot, we had Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller, and one of the best point guards in the NBA Kemba Walker too.
Next up was Dwight, I can say that he brings a smile to everyone when he shows up. He instantly starts to market the jersey and the new Leading Tree logo. Before we knew it, the shoot was over, and the art director was super happy with all of the images. It was instantly downloaded and off to the press ready to go for the adds that would follow along with the press conference video. So when you see Dwight Howard at the next game, I would make sure to yell his name...he has been known to look you dead in the eye, and smile.
Dwight Howard of the Charlotte Hornets
Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets sports the new Lendingtree jerseys.
Oh, what a day with Freirich! When you have a chance to direct a commercial with talented people like cooking show host Claire Robinson, you have to be excited because you know that she will give you all the energy and excitement that she brings every day to her cooking show on the Food Network. Then you add the creative thinking and execution of working with the BD&H team and the Limerick Studios group; this was one of those times that it was so easy to say "Yes."
In a fun and exciting day on location, we created a "How to cook Corn Beef" video and commercial for Freirich that will air in Boston and New York City. It just shows that when you believe you can do something and have the right team all things are possible.
Watch as Chef and Television Host Claire Robinson demonstrates how easy it is to prepare Freirich Traditional Corned Beef. This was for the 30 second spot that was showcased in NY and Boston. This was directed by Kent Smith and produced by Limerick Studios.
Watch as Chef and Television Host Claire Robinson demonstrates how easy it is to prepare Freirich Traditional Corned Beef. What sets Freirich corned beef apart is the ingredients. Freirich briskets are infused with the family recipe of all-natural spices - you will taste and smell the difference!
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to work with some of the most amazing companies in the world. Working in the TV world is something that brings a lot of attention, but is sometimes hard to talk about until the project is out in the world (Top Secret).
This was the case with the branding shoot for Outcast. Outcast is tv show created by Robert Kirkman ("The Walking Dead"), the drama series stars Patrick Fugit ("Gone Girl") as Kyle Barnes, a man who has been possessed by demons since he was young. So when I was given a chance to create something special for the show, I saw it as a challenge to mix a lot of different light sources into one to create a compelling image with multiple images. It was also useful in helping to arrange the talent's time since we were shooting at the same time as some of the video branding shoots, and time was limited for the main actors.
Working along side some of the most talented creatives, we were able to blend images to make a compelling advertising campaign for the Cinemax and Fox show. It was an amazing experience working with the talented crew at Buster Ink. We capture some 4,000 images to complete a campaign that would reach millions of people on Billboards around the world. It's always wonderful when you are part of a great team effort, and everyone is on the same page.
Outcast Season 2 Art Work
One of the great things that I get to do is work on great TV shows and incredible movies. It's an interesting part of what I have been able to do over the years. With it comes a family like an experience that is nothing like anything else you can experience as a freelancer.
The crews that I have work on over the years have helped me in so many ways. These are the best of the best, but more importantly is the fact that they willing to pass useful information on about the process of filmmaking and motion images. It's almost impossible to think that I have been able to work with some of the most incredible directors, writers, actors, gaffers, designers, camera crew, and many more departments over these years. With each project, you continue to learn from the best Directors of Photography and the incredible Directors who each bring their styles to the tables. Thanks to each person that I have had the privilege to work with over the years.
When you are a photographer, you can have all kinds of request for photo shoots. Some of them are exciting, and some just get to the point type of shoots, but for me, I have found that you shouldn't do a shoot unless you are committed to the shoot.
When you get a call to create the cover image of a major magazine, it always gets your attention, and this was one that will reach into my backyard. American Banker was looking to create an image that was business like, but also beautiful. The cover shot had to be simple, but able to have a place for lots of text. Bank of America Executive Michelle Moore was the recipient of the highest award, and she was named the Digital Banker of the Year by the magazine.
It was our goal to capture something that would look appealing for the magazine, but also show her personality, and also her strength as woman banker. Well, it helps when you a beautiful person, and someone who was willing to take direction, but also show here style on the shoot. The hardest part for the art director was choosing the right images from all the different selections that we shot that day. We are so lucky to have been a part of this great project with the talented crew at American Banker.
Bank of America Ad for Digital Banker of the Year, Michelle Moore
Each of us has our own style, it's what makes us who we are and how we others perceived us. Often times we are limited with our style by the people who matter the most to us, our clients. We are often put into shells because they only believe because you do one type of style, but sometimes this is very misleading.
Working to create work that is meaningful in a new line of work is one way to prove that point to the clients. At the present moment, we are working on a new concept for images that will surprise some, and make other take note. Dare to created your own STYLE!
The one thing that most successful people do is stick with something while others move away from it. Photography is no different. When I started thinking about photography as a career, photographers informed that you needed to take 1000 pictures on slide film before you would be even considered an average photographer. Now that was in the days of film, but the point still stands in some way. Today with digital, I would think that number would be more around 25,000 images.
What's the difference? The difference is that it cost you money for the film and processing. For every 36 frames, you would spend on average at least $15 for the slide film plus the processing. This caused you to think before just pushing the trigger on anything. It forced you to think about what was best in the image and what was not right with image. Digital has changed the way we shoot since it cost us a little less in the cost of film, but the digital cost is a misleading when you consider the cost of the cameras and the storage of data. It now cost more for professional cameras and the cost of hard drive space is something that is over looked.
Some of you will say that digital is cheap, but it's not that cheap. More images shot cost you more time and energy to view and process. The cameras are more expensive and wear out faster due to the action to shoot more, plus they become outdated so quickly since we are only talking about a computer. So I would recommend newer photographers to think before taking an image to find the most important part of the image, the story.
It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. -Albert Einstein
Working photographers love when they have an image posted, but it has now become the standard to not give credit on images especially when it comes to social media and websites. Credit is a nice pat on the back, plus it shows the difference between your work and a interns or non-professionals photographers work. Also, that doesn't mean that you give the company credit and not the person that created the image. It should go to both.
Give credit to the artist... More important than that is to pay the artist for the work they created.
More important- Pay the Artist!
Photo: Kent Smith/Kent Smith Photo and Video
One of the questions that I get from students all the time is how do you create images that stand out from the others. First, It's always a compliment to hear this from photography students who are looking to become better photographers. My only response is that it didn't happen over night.
I recently when back to some of my first images, and realized that I was way off in my approach to lighting and style, but I did make a few interesting images by accident. The more images that I created there did become a sense of style that started to show up in my work. As I changed as an artist, I found out more about myself and the people who I was photographing. It became more about what message that I was trying to create with the images and less about the distractions.
All I can say to new photographers is that it will not happen until you push the button, and I plan on continuing to push the button to find more and exciting images over the years.
Ad campaign for Visit Charlotte.
“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.
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It's very interesting to go back through your images that you have shot over the years to check what you have done, and decide what you want to become in the future as an image maker. I find myself looking at the images from the past, and remembering the times, but also looking at ways to make better images.
Photography is about telling stories to me. It's about taking one concept or idea and transcending it into an image that speaks thousands of words for you and the client. The photography world has changed so much over the last fours years, mainly because of the internet and social media. The first images out are in most cases to the social media platforms. It's my thought that it should be the other way around. It should first come out on the necessary print or ad, and then it should hit the social media platforms. It's time that we get back to quality and leave the other on the side for afterwards.
Quality first and everything else second!
When you start a blog, it's because you have something to say. On the day after a good friends passes away, it always causes us to think about our own thoughts for living. Brian "Sandman" Sanders was a guy that we all liked, and admired for his smile. No matter what kind of day you were having, it was a smile and laugh that would bring you back to reality.
The image has always been that one thing that brought me back to lighter moments. Looking through a lens can transport you to another place, and every once in a while you get to step out and make more impact with it than even you expected . With the start of this new blog, I hope to showcase some of those moments that bring me back to the fun of photography and video. Who know's what will show up on this blog or even who might show up. Let me know what you want to see, and we might make it happen.
Brian "Sandman" Sanders will always be remembered for his friendship.
