BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: 10 Questions with Videographer Stephen Tuplin

Originally posted in two parts in January 2011.

Stephen Tuplin is working on his last semester at Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy, a digital media arts school located in Chicago, Illinois.

He has agreed to film the Bryony trailer; a music video for James Onohan (http://www.jamesonohan.com/), the composer/pianist for Bryony; and a series of interviews with the Bryony team. 

Last summer, I had asked Stephen if he'd like to jump on board because his passion for movies was just the vision I needed for the Bryony trailer.

Stephen also regularly posts in-depth movie reviews on his Facebook page. Below is the first of a two-part interview with Stephen.

Connect with Stephen at echowhitefox@yahoo.comecho whitefox@mac.com http://flavors.me/echowhitefoxhttp://www.facebook.com/echowhitefoxhttp://twitter.com/#!/echowhitefox.

 1) Have you always been a movie buff? Why?

"Movies have always been in my life. Some of my best childhood memories involved watching movies with my family with a roaring  fire in the fireplace. Every time I would watch a movie, I would always get something from it. I don’t do my homework with the TV on cause I need to watch what’s on. The way I see it, movies are about entering the world of another person’s personal vision. Whether it’s a good experience or a bad one, I still respect all film; someone had the guts to pull it off.

2) When did you first try your hand at filmmaking? What did you film?

"In the summer of 2003, my friend Luke and I started production on a film called, “the Squirrel”. It took us about four months to do. The production had no script; just a handicam and some terrible actors: Us. Needless to say, this film doesn’t get shown often. Good times though.

3) What made you pursue a filmmaking degree?

"I knew I wanted to go into filmmaking in high school. People regarded me as the “movie guy” so I knew it was just in my blood. To be honest, I consider this question done; I was always going to make movies no matter what.

4) Why did you choose Flashpoint Academy?

"In my senior year of high school, my dad told me about a new school in Chicago that was all about media arts and filmmaking. He sent me the link to the website and I signed up for my newsletter. The next day, after coming home from JJC doing my annoying Gen. Eds, Flashpoint personally called me. Their policy is to contact everyone who joins their site; this was encouraging for me. After going on their tour, there really wasn’t any other school that could satisfy me. Tribeca Flashpoint Academy is an all hands on school that doesn’t waste my time. Students from Columbia room with students from Tribeca, and they are always surprised at all the things we get to do. Word of mouth can contain exaggerations; Tribeca doesn’t need to."

5) Which do you enjoy more, filming or editing? Why?

"The highlight of my year last year was directing. I get no greater pleasure than working with actors and collaborating with fellow filmmakers. Editing is just one of the many facets that Tribeca was able to teach me. Editing is something I enjoy thoroughly, but it’s not something I would call myself a pro at. The film is crafted, and sometimes saved in the editing room, but the actual shoot is where my adrenaline is."

6) Where do you hope to use your skills after you graduate?

"I hope to either work for a production company, or do PA work on shoots happening around Chicago. I’m really open to whatever opens up. God’s brought me this far; I don’t worry about tomorrow."

7) It's ten years from today. What are you doing?

"I hope to be directing at an independent film company, perhaps my own."

8) Is creating a compelling book trailer more difficult than creating a movie trailer? Can you elaborate?

"Well, a trailer consists of footage from a movie that has already been shot. Since this is a book, it’s more about making it into a movie and then making a trailer. Since I don’t have the means to do this, it’ll be more about thinking up specific shots and sequences to film. So, this is going to be more difficult than a movie trailer; but it’ll still be a blast."

9) After agreeing to create the Bryony trailer, you offered to film interviews with members of the Bryony team? Why are these extras important to have?

"I proposed this because it sounds like your website for the book is in need of content. Since you’ll have a video for the book, it only seems more convenient to have face-to-face interviews with those responsible for the book. Knowing the faces of the people behind a novel causes a connection for the reader. I find I respect a film more after watching behind the scenes footage of the filming; a book is no different."

10) What feeling will people have after viewing the Bryony trailer?

"My goal is to tease the audience with ambiguity and wonder; but also some surrealism. If the footage is the book's cover, it’s my goal to make them want to open it."

Josh Siegers of JKS Productions, Part 1

Josh Siegers of JKS Productions is assisting filmmaker Stephen Tuplin with the Bryony trailer and Bryony music video. Today he talks about his company and how he became involved with the Bryony project.

For more information visit http://www.jksproductions.com/.


1) What is JKS Productions?

"KS Productions is a Production Company serving Orland Park, Illinois and surrounding South Chicago Suburbs. We specialize in Wedding Videography & Portrait Photography. No event is too big nor small for us to document! If you are looking for South Chicago Suburbs Wedding Videographer, we are just what you are looking for!"


2) When did you form your company and why?


   "JKS Productions started in 2009 when I was getting work experience in the South Suburbs of Chicago for videography and portraits. I decided instead of me saying, 'Josh Siegers will do the job for you!' I wanted to have a name under me to look more professional. After trying to come up with a business name for way to long, I finally went with my initials and called my company, JKS Productions."


3) When and how did your zeal for videography begin?

   "I started my filmmaking career when one Sunday, I was asked to substitute for someone’s technical directing shift at my church. I was 15 years old, and I had only worked the switcher once before. I sat down five minutes before show time and played around until I finally got the hang of it. Six years later, I am still involved in the audio and video team at the church, and it has given me many opportunities to work live shows, which has helped me hone my craft. At the age of 10 I was taking using my parents camera to film things around the house or family events. This is where I started my career in videography."


4) Why did you choose Tribeca Flashpoint to further your education?

   "I chose Tribeca Flashpoint because of the one day I was in my fathers car and on the radio, a comercial for the school came on and after they said what they did, me and my dads eyes both lit up and we looked right at each other with big eyes. We knew that this was the place for me to start my future!"


5) How did you become involved with the Bryony project?

   "A fellow student of mine from Tribeca Flashpoint, Stephen Tuplin, asked me to help him with a project he had a passion for. I tend to be picky with things that I work on, but when I heard about this project, I knew right away it was something different, and I needed to work on it! I am blessed that I got the opportunity to learn more about Bryony and the work that was put into it."

Making the Bryony Videos, Step One: Stephen Tuplin

Book trailers, in general, turn me off. They're too static and dry. I wanted something more visually exciting for Bryony.

Enter Stephen Tuplin.

Stephen is all about movies. Growing up, he'd invite a dozen kids to his house for the sole purpose of watching a movie together. The events were so well put together, and my son Timothy enjoyed them so much, that we offered similiar affairs at our house all the years we ran The Higher Ark youth group.

No one was surprised when Stephen was accepted into Tribeca Flashpoint Academy in Chicago as a film student. We had seem some of his childhood endeavors (His squirrel movie was a cult favorite at our house), so we all knew he had talent, and I enjoyed watching his progress from the clips he posted on Facebook.

I explained the project to Stephen, then sent him the manuscript and the illustrations. Soon afterward, he explained his vision for the trailer, along with a mention that he had an actress interested in portraying Bryony's main character Melissa Marchellis and some location ideas. Really, all he needed to do was film it.

That, I thought, was that.

Then, in December, when Bryony's web administrator, Sarah Stegall,  was in town, we had a Bryony "Meet and Greet" so everyone on the team (thus far) could shake hands round and put names to faces. At the meeting's close, Stephen leaned over and said, "Your website needs more content. I'd also like to make a music video and shoot interviews with members of the team."

The music video would feature James Onohan, the pianist and composer, playing the Bryony theme song he had created for our upcoming Bryony CD, The Best-Loved Compositions of John Simons. That CD will also feature Onohan's original music.

I agreed to Stephen's suggestion, with an idea of my own. "Let's dress up James in period clothing and shoot him at a concert grand piano in a Victorian mansion," I said.

Stephen loved the idea. Of course, now we needed to find appropriate costumes, a concert grand, and an old mansion, or at least, fabricate a reasonable facsimile.

After much thinking and prayer, I'd found the answer.

Stephen Tuplin, Close-Up. Part One

Stephen Tuplin is working on his last semester at Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy, a digital media arts school located in Chicago, Illinois. He has agreed to film the Bryony trailer; a music video for James Onohan (http://www.jamesonohan.com/), the composer/pianist for Bryony; and a series of interviews with the Bryony team. Last summer, I had asked Stephen if he'd like to jump on board because his passion for movies was just the vision I needed for the Bryony trailer. Stephen also regularly posts in-depth movie reviews on his Facebook page. Below is the first of a two-part interview with Stephen. Connect with Stephen at echowhitefox@yahoo.comecho whitefox@mac.com http://flavors.me/echowhitefoxhttp://www.facebook.com/echowhitefoxhttp://twitter.com/#!/echowhitefox 1) Have you always been a movie buff? Why? "Movies have always been in my life. Some of my best childhood memories involved watching movies with my family with a roaring fire in the fireplace. Every time I would watch a movie, I would always get something from it. I don’t do my homework with the TV on cause I need to watch what’s on. The way I see it, movies are about entering the world of another person’s personal vision. Whether it’s a good experience or a bad one, I still respect all film; someone had the guts to pull it off. 2) When did you first try your hand at filmmaking? What did you film? "In the summer of 2003, my friend Luke and I started production on a film called, “the Squirrel”. It took us about four months to do. The production had no script; just a handicam and some terrible actors: Us. Needless to say, this film doesn’t get shown often. Good times though. 3) What made you pursue a filmmaking degree? "I knew I wanted to go into filmmaking in high school. People regarded me as the “movie guy” so I knew it was just in my blood. To be honest, I consider this question done; I was always going to make movies no matter what. 4) Why did you choose Flashpoint Academy? "In my senior year of high school, my dad told me about a new school in Chicago that was all about media arts and filmmaking. He sent me the link to the website and I signed up for my newsletter. The next day, after coming home from JJC doing my annoying Gen. Eds, Flashpoint personally called me. Their policy is to contact everyone who joins their site; this was encouraging for me.After going on their tour, there really wasn’t any other school that could satisfy me. Tribeca Flashpoint Academy is an all hands on school that doesn’t waste my time. Students from Columbia room with students from Tribeca, and they are always surprised at all the things we get to do. Word of mouth can contain exaggerations; Tribeca doesn’t need to." 5) Which do you enjoy more, filming or editing? Why? "The highlight of my year last year was directing. I get no greater pleasure than working with actors and collaborating with fellow filmmakers.Editing is just one of the many facets that Tribeca was able to teach me. Editing is something I enjoy thoroughly, but it’s not something I would call myself a pro at. The film is crafted, and sometimes saved in the editing room, but the actual shoot is where my adrenaline is."