Jessie Stith – Film Factory Studios

Tampa Theater building and marquee sign in downtown Tampa, FL

Discovering the Tampa Theater

Jessie Stith / Leave a Comment / At The Movies

It’s been a while since I lived in a big city. I’d forgotten what it meant to really explore all the cultural nuances a city can offer. Until yesterday.

I had the good fortune of a friend who’s a Tampa area native invite me along to the kickoff of the summer movie series at the historic Tampa Theater. Since moving to a smaller town in the middle of COVID pandemic, it had been some time since I’d had the opportunity to enjoy a trip to the movies. I immediately and enthusiastically agreed.

I was excited about the outing, but having never been to the Tampa Theater before, I had no idea what to expect other than the obvious: a movie, popcorn, and a seat in a theater.

Upon arriving downtown, I realized immediately what a special experience this was turning out to be. A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I looked up at the marquee. I had either walked past, attended a screening or lecture, or performed in the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor almost every day as an undergraduate student. And now, here in front of me, was this previously undiscovered gem right in the middle of downtown. I couldn’t believe I’d never been here before.

As we headed for the door, we were met by an incredibly friendly and welcoming staff. Up the short walkway into the rotunda we emerged into the main area by the concession stand. The sight took my breath away. Designed to make you feel like you’re watching a film outside, the Spanish-style architecture instantly transports you into an immersive experience.

The soft, red glow of the neon popcorn sign was the only reminder we were still in a movie theater. I stood there gaping for a minute before I realized we were probably blocking the aisle. My friend, who knows me well enough to know how much I was going to completely geek out upon arrival, got us to the theater right as it was opening an hour before showtime so we had plenty of time to explore.

The organist, a throwback to the first days the theater opened during the silent era in 1926, began a delightful concert that ended to very enthusiastic applause from the audience. The Director of Operations came out to introduce the theater and their mission (you can read all about it here), and I was somewhat relieved to discover that I was only one of a few dozen first time Tampa Theater goers in the crowd.

I didn’t think the day could get any better. Then the movie started.

I haven’t seen Fantasia in…honestly, I don’t even know how many years. It’s been a really long time. I remembered watching it as a kid and not having the patience to get past the intermission, but really enjoying the story segment on the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” which is arguably the most memorable segment of the entire film since it stars Mickey Mouse.

Now the waves of nostalgia were positively crashing down on top of me. My Mickey themed room I had as a kid with decorative plates featuring scenes from the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Attending the Nutcracker ballet performance with my family.

Suddenly a child in the row behind us who was maybe four years old belted out a perfect imitation of the trumpet part during the Soundtrack segment while the waveforms were dancing across the screen and then giggled because she knew she’d nailed it. I chuckled slightly, finding incredible joy in her joy.

All the while, I’m gawking at the screen because I know for a fact I did not appreciate the intricacies of animation unfolding before me on the screen up until now. My passion for classical music since childhood apparently hadn’t been enough to hold my attention before, but this time I found myself hanging on every frame of animation in anticipation of what would come next.

The film ended in its brilliant, animated sparkle of a sunrise over the countryside with the last notes of Ave Maria fading into the background. I was struck and surprised at first by such a powerful visual as a subtext for optimism. Putting the film in proper historical context made it less surprising once I considered what an eternal optimist Walt Disney was (about practically everything) and that in 1940 the world needed as much optimism as it could possibly get.

I couldn’t have asked for a better film to see or a better overall experience for my first adventure to the Tampa Theater. It was a perfect reminder that not only are people of all generations eager to share these types of social experiences, but that as filmmakers it’s okay to try something new. Not everything we make has to fit inside of that “Hollywood” box we’ve all become so accustomed to. Like Walt, we just have to keep creating and sharing those creations.

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Why You Should Do Pre-Production for Corporate Videos

Jessie Stith / Leave a Comment / Pre-Production

Odds are you’re running around with a camera in your pocket all day every day. It seems like it’s getting harder and harder to find the line between home movies and professional content. In many video production jobs, especially in the corporate sector, efficiency is valued over quality.

In other words, get it done quickly and cheaply, and then if there’s time you can do your best to try and make it better. And why not? We’re all running around with cameras in our pockets. Making video is more accessible now than it was even just five years ago. If you’re not a big brand like Apple, Nike, or Coca-Cola, you might not have the luxury of setting up an intentional, focused marketing campaign.

If that describes you, you’re probably more focused on product than building a brand. While building a brand is important (you can read more about creating a brand video here), and quality content is an important part of that equation, sometimes you just need to get something done simply and quickly. So why bother with pre-production in a deadline driven, corporate production environment?

Because you can’t afford not to get it right the first time. Taking a minute to explain expectations for content and execution can save you HOURS in post-production. If you’re so worried about it being done fast, doesn’t it make sense to make sure the work doesn’t have to be redone?

Whatever your budget is for a video project, remember it’s directly tied to the number of resource hours your using. That includes production and post-production. If your film crew doesn’t know what they’re supposed to be doing or you’re making decisions on-the-fly during production, you’re not only increasing the risk of mistakes on set, but setups and filming will take much longer. If things change last minute during production, there’s a good chance your video editor won’t be on the same page either.

Pre-Production can be as simple as completing a few statements.

1. We are making _________. Seems simple enough, right? Just fill in the blank. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Facebook ad or an event promotion. Be clear about what you need from your team.

2. Visually, it should look _________. In a few sentences or less you should be able to summarize what the visual tone should be. Is it bright and energetic, or dark and creepy? If we are trying to match existing branding, this becomes even more important.

3. We need to deliver it to_________. Is it going to a director for dailies or a digital media team for multiple platform distribution? There are multiple outlets for video (social media, website, email, etc.), especially in the corporate sector. They all have different dimensions and layout options, so understanding the intended destination before production is key. For example, you plan on using the video on IG Stories, but without that direction, your team films horizontally at a standard video ratio – which won’t work on the intended platform.

These statements don’t have to take hours. In fact, if you’re in a time crunch, and you can’t complete them in less than fifteen minutes, you’re probably not ready to initiate a video project.

Still feeling like you don’t have time for pre-production? If the deadline is THAT tight, treat pre-production as a quick briefing meeting instead of a formal process. The important thing to remember is your team and crew will need the information at some point. You need to focus on putting your team and crew in the best possible position to succeed by setting expectations up front.

There are exceptions to every rule, and sometimes you have to whip that camera out of your pocket and capture something in the moment. And that’s totally okay. However, if your goal with using video for your business is to establish a brand and build an audience, We’d encourage you to be more intentional with your content as much and as often as you can.

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What’s Your Story?

Jessie Stith / 2 Comments / Film Factory News

There’s a creative spark in all of us. We all need help organizing, nurturing, and even sometimes flaunting that spark. Sometimes there’s a lot of details to keep track of, we need inspiration, or it’s hard to find the courage to show your work to someone else. We get it. We’ve all been there. Film Factory Studios is here to help you take your Ideas to Action, to help the world of production be less intimidating for both aspiring artists and seasoned professionals alike.

What’s your story? Are you an aspiring creative? Looking for more info on video production? Trying to market your small business? Good video starts with good storytelling. At Film Factory, we start each project by figuring out what story we’re trying to tell.

We want to help you succeed with whatever your creative endeavor is – to help you tell your story. Whether you’re just starting out and trying to learn all you can, your making a project of your own and need to fill some knowledge gaps, or your an industry professional looking for a fun new source of info our goal is to provide a variety of content that will be helpful and informative to your film and video projects.

Expect real production stories from real film and video professionals. We’re committed to providing you insightful, useful information about filmmaking. Our hope is that this blog can help you learn about filmmaking, avoid mistakes, and have more fun being creative.

We’re looking forward to sharing our experience with you: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Expect honest opinions about the gear we’re using, breakdowns of shot setups, behind-the-scenes adventures, tips on filmmaking, and post-production challenges, solutions, and tutorials.

See you in the Factory!

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