Chelsea & Cory Love Story

I write during the holiday slow-down on this blizzarding third to last day of 2010 with a recap of a love story video I finished a few months ago.
Chelsea and Cory are good friends who together make the best example of partners in crime that I can think of. I was living in San Francisco during the time they met and fell in love but did witness a bit of their early affections while back in Reno for winter break, at Burning Man, and other occasions. Which is why it was great to hear the details of their meeting during a sit down interview. I will always have serendipitous magical feelings when I think about this video. But the number of magical movie moments that occurred that late summer evening I drove out to Washoe Valley with my camera (a bullfrog's home, purple potato harvest, finding a lizard, shooting bow and arrow) I get the impression is nothing out of the ordinary for a weekday night with the Canons. While I was looking for music Chelsea had mentioned they both love Johnny Cash so I googled "Johnny Cash love song." The first song that came up blew my mind! Not only is the sound perfect I had tons of footage of them together in the grass to work with. *Sigh* some things are just meant to be... Meet Chelsea and Cory Canon. Their love will last "As long as the grass shall grow."

Chelsea & Cory Love Story

Sheila Leslie

Perhaps I should have posted this video when I finished it about a month ago, but since early voting begins today, this seems more appropriate.

You know how sometimes you can be close to someone, but not really know much about the work they do? Being close friends with Sheila's daughter Emma, I have known Sheila for awhile now, but it wasn't until I sat down to interview her and work with her on this video that I really got to know her.

I can start by saying this video is one of the easiest I have done, and that doesn't speak to its quality. I actually think it is some of my best work. The thing is that Sheila is so well spoken, so genuine, and so thoughtful yet concise with her words that she made my job easy. According to Sheila she had to become skilled at speaking in a concise and thoughtful way while working for non-profits talking to news people. "When you work for a non-profit that is your only way of getting the message out, so it better be good," she said. It was refreshing to sit down with a politician who is not at all calculated or pretentious, but rather speaks her mind and her heart. She's smart, honest and loves what she does, so talking about it is easy. Thanks Sheila. Nevada needs you!

Meet Sheila Leslie. She works hard for Nevada. She is also running for State Senate. If you live in Washoe Senate District 1, it would be wise to vote for her today. Or sometime before Nov. 3rd.

Brad & Sara Love Story

Ever since I figured out I wanted to creatively tell peoples' stories through video, I have wanted to tell an engaged couples' story. I just always have thought what a cool time in your life it must be to reflect on love and life and the person you want to spend the rest of your life with!

I knew Brad from Project Moonshine was engaged to a mysterious lovely lady so I met them and asked if they were interested. I don't think they really understood what I meant at first, wanting to do their "video portrait" and maybe they thought I was a little crazy, but with open minds they gladly accepted the offer.

I shot this in two days: Day 1 we met at the Nevada Museum of Art so that I could get some nice B-roll of them to lay over the interview. The plan for shooting was that I didn't have much of one besides just to film them being themselves (with direction to try and ignore me and the camera) walking around this very cool building (designed by architect Will Bruder). It was fun to shoot them here because this is where they fell in love (watch video for details)! And the non- plan for shooting worked out well too because they were naturally embracing and being a cute couple the whole time-I hardly gave them any direction at all.
Day 2 of shooting was at their house, which is cool because the way their house is layed out is a metaphor. Brad has his "nerd lair" in the basement with all of his music stuff- instruments, playlists, computer, stereos, speakers, and tons and tons of CDs and records (Brad is one of the only people I know who still buys CDs). Then the middle floor of the house is the Brad & Sara floor- where they spend most of their time together: kitchen, family room, bedroom... And the top of floor has all of Sara's things: books, music, DVDs, pictures, and shoes. So naturally I interviewed Brad in the basement, Sara on the top floor, and them together on the main floor.

I thought this would be an easy edit into a 3 minute-ish lighthearted love story video, and I was wrong. I didn't know Brad and Sara really well before these interviews, and that's also what made it cool. I learned as I Interviewed, which made the story all the more real and genuine for the camera. Brad is very effusive and their love story is ever deeper than I imagined, so basically I fell in love with their story and was so inspired by what I captured on my camera that I spent a lot more time editing that I thought. (Which is becoming a theme for me...efficiency Lis efficiency!) The result, which I am very happy with, is below. Enjoy!

Meet Brad and Sara. They love each other. A lot.

Sara & Brad Love Story from lis bartlett on Vimeo.

Colin Loretz

In March I started working at Reno Collective, where I met Colin. What strikes me most about Colin is that as a web developer / entrepreneur he could live in any major city, but he chooses to live in Reno - because he likes it here. Not only does he live here, but he works hard to make Reno a better place. When I asked him why he does this, he seemed thrown off. "A rising tide lifts all boats," he said in our interview. He wants everyone to succeed at whatever they're trying to do, simply because he wants to live in a place like that. Colin is definitely a leader, having founded Reno Collective (with Ed Adkins), Reno Wordcamp, and Ignite Reno, but he doesn't ask for much spotlight. He seems to lead from the back- which makes him all the more interesting....Meet Colin Loretz.

Meet Jason Geddes

Jason Geddes is Environmental Services Administrator for the City of Reno. The City created that position in 2007, and Jason is the first person to have it. As Environmental Services Administrator, he serves as the environmental awareness / sustainability liaison for the city council. Prior to this he was the Environmental Affairs Manager at the University of Nevada, Reno. That position, and his current position as Vice-Chairman of the Nevada System of Higher Education's Board of Regents, allowed him to play an integral role in the design and building of the awesome new green building, the Joe Crowley Student Union at UNR. It was great touring the building with Jason, having him point out some of the key features that make the building green, and also reflect the great state of Nevada. Jason is a Nevadan through and through, who was born in Winnemucca, raised in Gabbs, went to Sparks for High School and UNR for college. Meet Jason Geddes.

Meet Daniel Gordillo, Galapagos Islander / Tour Guide