For the fourth year, Whitestone Motion Pictures is inviting individuals interested in the making of films to apply to its Protégé Program. This year’s areas include of Directing, Screenwriting, Film Scoring, Visual Effects, Costuming, Branding, Web Development, and Crew.

The Whitestone Protégé program is an intensive one-year apprenticeship that requires talent, discipline, consistency, and thick skin. Protégés learn by doing, and most are asked to produce content on a consistent (often weekly) basis. They will also be required to purchase and read books and attend monthly all-staff development meetings. We teach the things you can’t Google and learn on your own!

More details and applications are on the protege page.

Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy.  He saw the townlands and learned the minds of many distant men, and weathered many bitter nights and days in his deep heart at sea, while he fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home… -Home, The Odyssey

Takashi Doscher is the writer and director for the Whitestone 2nd Unit, a division of the company dedicated to crafting original short films and stories.  Led by Producer Brandon McCormick, Takashi and his team of artists live by the mantra of “high concept and low budget.”  Drawing on his fascination of cutting-edge science and his love for timeless myths, Takashi is continually striving to create unique concepts that maintain an emotional and human core. It is not enough to communicate information nor invoke emotion. Moving another human being to question, to action, and to change is the ultimate goal.

Takashi began making films while in undergrad at the University of Florida.  After switching his major from Physics to English in his senior year, Takashi found his true life calling in the art of storytelling, producing 45 minutes of content for a live audience of 50,000 students and alumni.  Shortly after graduation, Takashi spent the next 2 years co-producing and directing the documentary “A Fighting Chance,” which premiered on ESPN in November 2010.  A veteran of the Whitestone Protege Program, Takashi found his home in 2011 as writer and director of the 2nd Unit.

Takashi now lives in Atlanta, GA drawing inspiration from his family, his close friends, and the many talented artists and artisans he has the privilege of working alongside at Whitestone Motion Pictures.

She is a dedicated educator of 10 years, but costumes and fashion have been her secret passion since she was a little girl.  Costuming has only become a part of her career since beginning her work with Whitestone 4 years ago.   She has worked on every Whitestone film since then and has grown into her position through experience and self-teaching. Her time at Whitestone has taught her the value of costume in film.  She believes it plays a powerful role in telling the story by giving the audience a visual connection.

In her spare time, Dana likes to research and design fashion trends, read, travel, serve in her community, cheer on her beloved Texas Longhorns, and spend as much time as possible around a table filled with faces she loves, great food, and really fantastic wine!  She is deeply moved by the restoration of lives and hopes that she will make every life decision based upon a commitment to offer hope.

After 15 years with State Farm, she left in 2005 to do event management for a collegiate organization that gathered tens of thousands of college students.  In 2008, she left to pursue her own business called Gravity.  A friend of hers who is an actor, Jackson Walker, said….”Masi, you should do movies!”.  After laughing a while…he convinced her to try.

Masi’s first production and exposure to the film industry was with Whitestone Motion Pictures in 2008.  She stated, “It was my ‘drug’….I had found it!  The drug that gives you a HIGH and doesn’t destroy anything.  The adrenaline, the pressures to problem solve on the spot and create brain space for the Director is my thrill!  I am hooked!  I love the thrill of bringing order to chaos, bringing structure to the disheveled and creating brain space for the creatives!  Then the end product…..incredible story…told well….shown with brilliance….and an audience moved to emotion in moments!”

When asked her greatest experience in filmmaking…..Masi replied, “it’s working with incredible creatives and an awesome family of friends.  I’ve learned (the hard way) that managing a movie set means managing people and to manage people RIGHT & WELL is the best thing you can do for a film or organization.  I love when our Director says, “I wish we could ______”!  That’s my favorite quote….fill in the blank and I’m going to try my hardest to make it happen!”

Besides movies, Masi loves family, friends, travel, coffee, camping and crackling fires.  She loves people groups. culture. serving others.

I joined Whitestone in January 2007 and have worked on… how ever many films we’ve made since then. My experience has taught me that making movies ain’t pretty, but I’d fight to the death for my chance to do it every day. While at Whitestone I’ve been taught a love of story and been challenged by a great team of people. And discovered that I don’t know nearly enough about filmmaking.

In my spare time I enjoy time traveling, ghost hunting, fighting bears, and reciting Poe and Shakespeare. I also have a slightly more than healthy amount of love of anything (classic) Disney or Tolkien – related.

Chad got his start in production at the time he moved to Atlanta. Experience has taught him to always be open to learn new things. Whitestone has influenced his life both mentally and spiritually for the better. In his spare time, Chad enjoys the outdoors, fast cars, firearms, his friends, and serving at 12Stone Church.

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Speed Racer Magic Marker!!

My name is Dan Marrero, and I am Camera Operator at Whitestone Motion Pictures. I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. Graduated with a BSEE at DeVry Institute of Technology / Columbus, Ohio in 1984.

Employed with Hewlett-Packard Company since 1984

I have worked in production of over 50 films, most of every Whitestone Film, as well as some feature films such as “Zombieland” and “Stomp The Yard II (The Homecoming)”. My experience has taught me to always reach beyond perceived limits and I have changed in my confidence behind the camera while at Whitestone.

In my spare time I enjoy the time with my wife and kids. I enjoy playing sports games on the Sony PS3. I enjoy contracting out my time on camera, including specialty cameras such as the Weisscam and Phantom cameras. (High-speed cameras used for HD super slow motion.) I’m married to my lovely wife Darlene, and we have 3 kids: Ariana (13),  Lorenzo (10), and Javier (7).

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Joe, we’ve got roosters, airplanes, trains, and lawn mowers all around us ruining our audio. Make them go away.

I’m the Location Manager for Whitestone. I’m a native of Columbus, Ohio and have an educational background in Communications.

I have worked in production of over 15 films…with Whitestone, churches, and student productions.

My experience has taught me that almost everything I know right now has been through the “hands-on” work approach. It’s impossible to know the equipment and the people without actually using them and getting to know them individually. Reading books about film production helped me too; which I bought or rented from the library. I didn’t go to school for it but have been in a unique position with Whitestone and will be forever grateful for it!

I have changed in the way I think about stories; what really makes a good story a good story, while at Whitestone. I’ve also learned to develop thick skin so I can accept criticism without being offended and knowing that my mistakes lead me to that thing I’m trying to conquer.

In my spare time I enjoy playing ultimate frisbee, Halo on Xbox 360, reading blogs about current/future tech, and spending time with my golden retriever.

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Alex has worked in film production and motion graphics since 2006, partnering with various churches and other organizations. Alex joined the Whitestone family in 2008 during the production of “That’s Magic”. Alex currently works as a Graphic Designer while Assistant Directing for Whitestone.

I am married to my lovely wife Andrea and are enjoying married life before we decide to have kids.

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