Introduction to the Creative Team: Part 3, Stephanie Barnes.

It has been another crazy week for our crew (I was on vacation!), and we are about to launch a ton of new things on the web. So that’s exciting! Be on the lookout on your facebook and twitter pages, well be coming your way soon! As to our next interview; this week I had a chance to question Stephanie Barnes, our resident Art Director, and get a cool look into the life and mind of another one of our team members.

KB: What experience have you had in film/theater?

SB: Most of my experience has come from Costume Design, House Management, and some other tech projects for the Upper Room Theatre and Opera Workshop at the University of Mobile. I started out helping backstage and with small projects while I was a student, majoring in Education, and I was able to progress to different artistic areas after graduation.

KB: What drew you to film, and the area you currently working in?

SB: Film is not something I actually ever thought I would do. I have been involved in the art of stage theatre for several years, but never saw my talents transferring into the film industry. It is definitely God who brought me into this project.

KB: What would you say is your biggest talent?

SB: It sounds kind of funny, but I think my biggest talent may be manipulating fabrics :) If you put a pencil or paintbrush in my hands, and you're likely to get a project along the lines of a 4th grader's abilities, but I love fabrics. I enjoy combining textures, colors, and patterns to make new creations. I love that the tone or quality of a fabric or a costume piece can change a character or even a whole scene.

KB: Favorite actor/actress?

SB: My favorite modern actors and actresses are probably Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock, and Kristin Chenoweth. However, I'll stop about anywhere to watch or listen to Lucille Ball or Bing Crosby any day :)

KB: Movie?

SB: Hmm...there are a whole lot that I like but the good old favorites that I go back to time and time again are Beauty and the Beast (and many other Disney Classics), Singing in the Rain, Holiday Inn, and the Harry Potter Series

KB: What is your career and life goal? (They can be the same)

SB: I know that I want to stay involved with ministry and performing arts. I would like to complete a Master's Degree, probably in costume design. Beyond that I am seeking where God would lead me in the future.

KB: What made you want to be a part of the of the providence project?

SB: When the Assistant Director approached me about helping out with some wardrobe on a film, I thought it might be something interesting to do in some free time this summer. It was only after my first production meeting that I realized what a wonderful opportunity God had guided me to become a part of. With every meeting and every time of prayer that we share as a team, I become more excited and more invested in this project. Even through this pre-production process, God continues to amaze me with the way he places things in our laps and removes barriers if we just step back and let him.

KB: How does faith play in to your career?

SB: I currently serve as the Children's Minister for the People of Mars Hill in Mobile, and I love my job! The biggest challenges that I face when I am looking to become involved in arts projects are finding something that won't require me to compromise the convictions that God has laid on my heart and finding projects that I know I can recommend to the children and families that I minister to as a wholesome entertainment opportunity. I know that this is definitely one of those projects. We have the opportunity, through this project, to not only touch lives with the story, but redeem the arts that God has given us. Art doesn't have to be smut, and it's time for the church as a whole to step up and create quality art projects that draw attention to the ultimate Creator instead of ourselves.

Introduction to the Creative Team: Part 2, Keone Fuqua.

Another week has flown by, and the team has solidified into a rather large group. I walked in to our last team meeting and finally realized, “Wow, this is a lot of people.” And not only that, it’s a group of professionals and creative minds that should be amazing to work with. This week I want to introduce another one of those “creative minds” behind the providence project; Keone Fuqua, Assistant Director. I had a chance to catch up with Keone and ask him a few questions this week, and here is what he had to say…

KB: How long have you been working in theater? Did you go to school for it?

KF: Been working in theatre for 8 years, and in film/TV for 12 years. I went to school for both theatre and film, but got my MFA in the theatre from Southern Miss, with an emphasis in both acting and directing.

KB: What's your career goal?

KF: I've reached most of my goals...working as director, actor and jack-of-all trades in both industries, as well as teaching my passion. I would like to have a strong major acting role in a feature film, and direct film again in the future. I would also like to direct some opera.

KB: What made you want to be a part of the Providence Project? Are you excited about it?

KF: I was lead to the Providence Project by Tom Stout, who introduced me to Jeff Galle (Creator, Executive Producer). From there we discovered that we've actually heard a lot about one another, and Jeff and I kept moving forward. We shared discussions about our faith and passions, which lead to more team building and belief in developing a film guided by that faith and passion. Yes, I am very excited about it. Jeff calls Providence "God's little movie." We are taking on a giant. Producing and making a movie is no easy task, but it is being done by this team. We are not even little fish in a big pond...we are a speck of dust in a vast universe, but we can be carried by the wind and momentum. We move forward to be guided by God's glory, and hopefully make an inspiring impact in Mobile. And where it goes further than that, we give to Him. What's not exciting about that?

KB: And lastly, who is your favorite actor/actress, and your favorite movie?

KF: Sorry...there are too many actors and actresses and movies that I respect and appreciate for me to name an absolute favorite.

Still thankful,

Kyle

Introduction to the Creative Team: Part 1, Blake Hester.

Well, it’s been another week, and things continue to pick up steam. I wanted to use this week’s blog to start telling you guys, as promised, about the creative minds behind this project. The first guy I would like to introduce to you is the Producer, Blake Hester. Blake has been a part of the Providence project since the beginning, and has stuck with the movie through thick and thin, even when it looked like the idea may not be realized. We want to thank Blake for his continued work on this project and his commitment to making this movie as professional and creative as it can be. There’s no man around better suited for the Producer’s seat. I had a chance to ask Blake a few questions this week; hopefully they can shed more light on him and his story.

KB: What was your experience in Hollywood as an intern like?

BH: It was a very positive experience for me. I was able to learn the ins and outs of a major television network and was able to see a show develop from concept to air. I was able to see, meet, and sit in on interviews with some pretty major Hollywood stars, including Denzel Washington, Will Ferrell, and Gerard Butler to name a few. That experience, along with a few others where I have had a chance to work on some major Hollywood sets, have really helped me develop a feel for the industry itself. It was fun for that short period, but not a working environment where I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I want to be a part of productions that have true meaning and have the ability to change people for the greater good, that's why I'm a part of Team Providence.

KB: What drew you to film, and why production?

BH: I've always loved film. I have a huge movie collection of close to 500 movies and it's just been something I've kept up with and followed since I was about 13 or 14. I've always been intrigued by the creative arts and the ability to tell a story through the art of film. However, I never really considered working in film, or production of any kind for that matter, until my 2nd year of college. I had a chance to work on some major film sets that year and also took my first trip to LA and toured some big studios and sets. I guess all of that just kinda lit a fire under me and while it had always been an interest, after that year I knew that I wanted to work in production for good.
I really enjoy being able to see a project being built from the ground up and in being able to produce a film, I am able to work in many facets of the production at one time, although it can be crazy at times, it's something that I love doing.

KB: What would you say is your biggest talent?

BH: I would say probably the best thing that I have been blessed with is my ability to multi-task and organize. That may seem like an oxymoron because most of the time when you think multi-task, you think crazy, lots of things going on at the same time. But I have found that I can work pretty efficiently on a number of different things and stay well organized at the same time...without losing my mind... that's the key, and that's why I consider it a blessing. It definitely helps when youre producing a film too and there's a thousand different things going on at once.

KB: Favorite Actor/Actress?

BH: Tough question. I have a lot, not sure I can narrow it down to one or two. The main favorites are Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Natalie Portman.

Still Thankful,

Kyle