Billy and I have been making music now for half my life.  Wow.  Did anyone catch that?  Who can say they’ve known anyone, let alone worked with someone for half of their entire life?!  Up until very recently, I foolishly never really gave it much thought.  I’d even go as far to say that I took our relationship and our ability to create music together for granted.  I realize that’s a pretty rough statement to say about one of your best friends, but it’s true.  I thought Billy would always be around, and no matter what else was going on in our lives, we’d always stop and write a song whenever we wanted.  However, life has a sometimes harsh way of reminding you what’s important.

On July 31st, 2011, my two best friends, Billy Wilkerson and Ron Bailey Jr., were hit by a drunk driver.  I received a phone-call from Billy’s wife, Jill, around 4 AM telling me of their accident and that the paramedics had to intubate them both.  I didn’t know what intubate meant so I called my mother, a nurse of 30+ years, and asked her.  As I stumbled from bed trying to comprehend what she was saying, she informed me of the severity of their situation:

“Intubate means they can’t breathe on their own.  This is very serious.  As serious as it gets.”

I didn’t know what was happening.  I was scared to death.  I called my other best friend (yes, I’m blessed to have a few) Brandon, and we immediately headed to Grady Hospital in Atlanta.  When we arrived at the emergency room we were met by dozens of family members and close friends.  But when I saw the looks on their father’s faces, the look I now understand because, I too, am a dad, I realized that I might never see Billy or Ron alive again.

Up to this point in my life, when things like this happen, the outcome has been fairly benign.  There’s a close-call scare, but everything usually works itself out in a few hours.  As I sat in the waiting room trying my damnedest to control my tears, I realized this wasn’t one of those times.  I sat that in that awful waiting room for hours, trying to prepare myself for the very real possibility of having to say goodbye.

However, by the grace of God, they survived.  I mean that exactly as it’s read.

I don’t know why some people live and some people die, that’s not up for me to decide, but for some reason, they lived.

It’s amazing how fast your mind turns back to it’s selfish ways once you learn that someone is going to make it.  For days and days you pray “Please God! Just let them live!”, then when they do, you immediately begin to focus on “superficial” things.  Things like, “I hope Billy’s voice is ok.”  How pathetic is that?  I mean the guy is lying in ICU, fighting for his life, and I’m worried about his ability to sing  Who knows if he’ll ever walk or talk again, hold his kids or kiss his wife, and I’m thinking about dang singing!  Thankfully for me, I’m not the only “superficial” one.  Turns out EVERYONE was worried about his vocal chords, his brain, his face, his lungs, even his hair for Pete’s sake!

Why?

Because we all LOVE Billy and want to see him fully restored.  Not just have a breath in his lungs, but dance and sing and eat and love and all the things that make Billy who he is.

Now, by the grace of God, Billy is on that journey.  The journey of restoration.

________________________________

Enter ‘Jack and the Dustbowl’.

Before we started this film, as always, Billy and I talked about writing a song for the credits.  If there’s not room for a song in the film, then we will write one for the end credits.  It’s what we do.  When the accident happened, those plans flew right out the window.  Which of course, is no big deal.  ‘Jack’ didn’t NEED a song.  All of us at Whitestone were more than satisfied to still have Billy with us, songs can wait!

However, on Halloween night, Billy and his family came over to my house to go trick-or-treating with our kids and Billy dropped a bomb on me.  “Hey man, I know I have brain damage and all, but I’d like to try and write a song for the movie.  You know, to see if I still can”.  Now I’m not sure if you all are aware of this, but people that suffer severe brain trauma often forget loved ones, spouses, talents, etc.  Billy didn’t even know if he could still write.

- For a second, imagine what you do best, what you were made to do.  Now imagine that skill is gone from your brain, but the memory of having done it, along with the desire, remains.  Yeah… -

I can’t imagine the fear that must’ve been in Billy’s mind when he realized that what he loved to do most, now, may be an impossibility.  But you see, Billy is brave.  He’s tenacious.  He’s positive.  Maybe it was the brain damage talking (we joke now), but he decided to face his fear and overcome the adversity he was facing.

You see, this is why I love this story.  This story is ‘Jack and the Dustbowl’; get it?!
Billy had every right to recuperate in peace, without the worry and stress of work, but he chose to face the giant head on and defeat it.  Anyone in the wide-world would’ve understood if he said “Sorry guys, not this time, I’m gonna sit this one out.”

But he didn’t.

Not only did Billy rise to the occasion and help write a brilliant song, but he sang the damn thing as well, WITH A TRACHE IN HIS THROAT; a friggin’ hole in his throat, covered by a piece of plastic.  And not only that, but I’m a real a-hole of a producer and did not for one second take it easy on him.  I told him if we’re doing this, we’re doing this all the way, no cutting corners.  So Billy sang a brilliant vocal, utilizing a lot of falsetto (which is made damn-near impossible by the trache) and singing a wall of harmonies.  If that’s not turning adversity into opportunity I’m not sure what is.

So here we sit today, the newly christened ‘The Brothers Bright’.  Why the new name? Because after an event like this, it changes you; you’re not the same person you used to be.  We’ve emerged from the fire with a strengthened brotherhood and a brighter perception of our lives and our work.  There is darkness in this life and our purpose is to try and shine a light.

As for Billy, he’s still on the road to recovery and has several surgeries left, but he’s looking better and becoming more like himself with each passing day.  There’s still a long way to go before he’s 100%, before he arrives at his destination, but we’re all invested in the journey with him.

And with friends and family that love you by your side, the journey never seems as long and the destination is always just around the bend.

-Nicholas Kirk

The Brothers Bright: A Song Treasury

The Brothers Bright are proud to present their first album entitled, “A Song Treasury”. This is a compilation album from the films of Whitestone Motion Pictures.

Want to support Billy’s journey? Then buy this album!

Download from iTunes here.

Here is some information about how costumes come about at Whitestone:

I loved creating costumes for Heartless: The Story of the Tin Man.  I most enjoyed dreaming up the look for the maiden. Everything about her was whimsical and young, yet we added steam punk details. She was completely in love and her innocence was displayed through her opening wardrobe pieces. However, she transformed throughout the film just as the Tin Man did.  We were able to communicate her hardening toward the Tim Man by adding more structured pieces and stiffer materials to the soft and playful movements of her initial look.  These images show how the innocent young maiden became stronger and somewhat self-protective as she walked away from her once beloved woodcutting dreamer.  We paid close attention the textures and movement of materials and used images to help guide us as we designed each piece.

At Whitestone, we consider every detail–in music lyrics, color grading, motion graphics, acting, and costuming, even down to the placement of a hat on an actor’s head.  By far I am most proud of the costume for the wretched shopkeeper played by Doug Jones in our film The Candy Shop.  It wasn’t fun to sit down and think how we might portray a man completely left to his own depravity, but as an artist it was satisfying to know that we could construct a look that communicated his inward grotesque character so that you know who he is before he ever says a word or moves.   Everything mattered in this costume: the width of his stripes, the length of his coat, even the varying colors of hair ribbons that hung from his pocket. (That was my favorite detail, and the average person may not have ever noticed it!)  Details matter in telling a story, and creating them is my favorite challenge for every character I help develop.

Not everything we create here is fantastical. Sometimes it is the reality of history that connects with the heart more than anything we could dream up.  Such is the case with our next film, which centers around a story of courage and humanity set during World War II. Maybe one of the biggest challenges for a costumer can be when things have to be exactly right.  In researching for this film, I read that the mini-series Band of Brothers ensured that the soldiers’ uniforms were exact replicas even down to the stitch count originally used to create the “screaming eagle” patches!  This is the difference between good and great when working on costumes that are meant to represent the truth of the past:  do the work to learn the purpose of things in the past and then replicate it because you know the value of  it even if no one else ever realizes it!

Want to learn more about costuming and be a part of the Whitestone Costume Team? You can apply to the Costume Protege Program now!

Dana Konick
Costumer Designer

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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