Although we may be filmmakers by trade, we are storytellers by nature. Venture into our world and let us weave a tale for you. We will tell you about life and love and fear and pain. We will show you laughter and tears, the devil and God. The story is the lifeblood of our world and nothing matters more.
…So lean close, and let us tell you a story.
11:19AM by Brandon McCormick | Cetagories: Uncategorized
The following blog post is written by Alex Watson, Key Grip at Whitestone Motion Pictures.
I don’t believe there’s a way to define “being successful”. It’s different for every individual. Let’s say a high-class business man is driving home from work in his brand new Bentley after just making a profitable investment or ending on a high note on Wall Street. He passes by a homeless man who has been playing his heart out all day on a beat-up saxophone just to earn a couple of bucks. Before he packs up for the day, he looks into his case and realizes that he has earned a little more money than he did the day before. So who was more successful?
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4:18PM by Brandon McCormick | Cetagories: Uncategorized
The following post was written by Elizabeth Keener actor in Whitestone’s latest film Heartless.
We as actors rarely get to be involved in something great…something we truly believe in. So, when the opportunity presents itself, you jump on it! That is how I feel about having the pleasure and opportunity of working with Whitestone Motion Pictures. Someone had sent me the audition notice and I was like “Hey, what the heck?!” So, I went and it wasn’t until after that I looked up their work (Shhh! that’s a secret) I was stunned. Moved. Touched. All of these responses came to me as I panned through film after film. It was then and there that I knew I had to be a part of their very unique “family”.
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8:15AM by Brandon McCormick | Cetagories: Uncategorized
The following was written by Dana Konick, Costume Designer at Whitestone Motion Pictures and Fashion Designer at Scarlet’s Cord
Her name was Mary Poppins. She was the icon of my young imagination, the muse of its development. She introduced me to belief, to magic, to breaking into song at any given moment and to telling stories.
When I think of Mary Poppins I first think of her silhouette. From the flat topped hat with flower sticking out to the fitted jacket and full skirt. And who can forget the bird handled umbrella and that bag, that magical bag! From the second Mary swoops in with the East winds until she leaves Michael and Jane to fly kites with their parents, you know EXACTLY who she is and you anticipate all she can do!
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11:12AM by Brandon McCormick | Cetagories: Uncategorized
The following is written by Dan Marrero, Camera Operator at Whiteston Motion Pictures.
I started working with Brandon well before the inception of Whitestone Motion Pictures. He and I started working together using a Canon XL1, of which he would never let me touch by the way, and all I really did was grip. Then as we grew, we expanded our responsibilities, and we each wore more and more hats to fulfill all the needed areas of making films, everything from production manager, to assistant director to special effects to gaffer, all the needed positions. This continued through the infancy of Whitestone Motion Pictures until it was determined that a more formal organizational structure was needed. Once we started breaking down into various departments, I knew that I wanted to focus on the camera department. No pun intended.
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10:44AM by Brandon McCormick | Cetagories: Uncategorized
The following blog post is written by Charlie Wetzel, screenwriter at Whitestone Motion Pictures and published author.
I collect quotes on writing. I have for fifteen years—ever since God surprised me by letting me know I was a writer. I have hundreds, maybe thousands. Some are melodramatic: “Writing is easy; all you do is sit staring at the blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead” (Gene Fowler). Others are humorous: “It was easier for Hitler to start WW II than it was for him to face a blank square of canvas” (Steven Pressfield). I like these because they characterize writing as battle. It sometimes feels that way. But the truth is that writing isn’t life or death. It’s not war. Nor is it brain surgery. Mostly, it’s drudgery.
The problem with being a professional writer is that nobody can make you write. If something gets written, it’s because you disciplined yourself to do it. Somebody said that being a writer is like having homework every day for the rest of your life. I don’t know about you, but I hated homework and always did as little as possible. And I especially hated writing papers. Yet I write for a living. I’ve worked on over 50 non-fiction books—and I’m still counting. At times it’s highly rewarding, but mostly it’s just work.
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