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BlackMagic Design Editfest 2020

09/02/2020
#EVENT

Blackmagic Design Editfest 2020

Inside the Editing Room

Money doesn’t make the man just as gear does not define the studio. But it sure does help make our ability to execute top-quality professional work that much easier! And like any good fanboy, you can bet that we have our favorites…

Last year, Blackmagic Design invited us to Editfest 2019 in Los Angeles to address other filmmakers on how their amazing editing software, DaVinci Resolve, plays a pivotal role in the production side of our creative agency. This year, we’re going one-deeper with a full-on, in-depth video presentation by filmmaker and CEO Joshua Miller to showcase their software’s ease-of-use and how we use their program unlike most any creative agency out there.

Before we dive into the specifics, you can watch our presentation for Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve online at Editfest Global 2020. Check it. If you’re interested in delving deeper into Editfest, you can find additional insightful presentations by fellow filmmakers and seasoned editors here.

Artwalk: Self-Projection

SELF-PROJECTION

ARTWALK: SELF-PROJECTION

Self-Projection was a transformative art exhibit that we conceptualized and executed live in front of the Fort Lauderdale community during Artwalk in July of 2018. The idea for this exhibit involved melding live modeling with live illustrations drawn digitally and projected onto our cyc wall.

The entire display was done in freehand with no planning. Our team of graphic designers took turns on the drawing tablet, pulling inspiration from their surroundings. We wanted the energy of the audience and the approach of the models to inspire the illustrations. This organic meshing elevated the performance and inspired fantastic imagery that practically transformed the personality of the models.

Overall, we were inspired to show how art impacts perception and identity. The models had no idea what was being illustrated on the cyc wall, which made their movements all the more natural and seductive.

It was not long until our models were replaced by audience members who wanted to take over the stage. This was an exciting turn of events that we didn’t plan for or encourage. And that just made the outcome that much more fantastic.

“Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art.”

— Leonardo da Vinci —

Crew Call: The Tattoo Project [Luke Adams]

THE TATTOO PROJECT

Crew Call The Tattoo Project

A new date. A new promo. Still quarantined.

Crew Call: The Tattoo Project was originally scheduled for March 21, 2020. However, the coronavirus events forced us to reschedule. From March 21st, we pushed the date back to April 18th. We’re staying optimistic, but with no foreseeable end in sight, we may have to move our date yet again.

It’s only natural that a new date should be accompanied by new promotional material. So, we harnessed the creative energy from our promotional shoot with Jaquelyn Puma — a local model and tattoo artist with Borrowed Time Tattoos in Fort Lauderdale — and reenvisioned Crew Call: the Tattoo Project with a male model.

Luke Adams was a perfect fit for this production. In a way, his mannerisms summarize how everyone in the world is feeling right about now… a little fed up, a little isolated… trapped in their thoughts. Yeah, we can relate.

We’re living in a boring dystopia right now and most of us can’t wait to get out of the house and socialize again. It’s only been 4 weeks of quarantine. How many more we’ll be forced to endure, we cannot say. But at least we have Crew Call: The Tattoo Project to look forward to once life returns to a state of normalcy.

We hope this promotion makes you want to get of the house; we hope this excites you for what’s to come. We’re all in this together. We just have to wait it out.

About the Artist | Luke Adams

Luke Adams is not a professional model. He is a tattoo artist with True Love Tattoo in Fort Lauderdale. But his style was perfect for what we were going for, so we invited him over to the studio to film this promotion.

No matter the production, what matters most to us is that the people we work with meet our expectations for the role we are casting. This goes far, far beyond how they look. Personality… demeanor… swagger. Those are what’s important. We could care less if you’re black, white, fat, skinny, gay, straight, short, tall, sexy or average. If you bring the personality and immerse yourself in your role, then we’re going to create something beautiful together.

Despite being an amateur, Luke Adams brought the personality we envisioned when casting this role. Even better than that, he showed up ready to work. And, you know what, we really appreciate that. All too often, we work with professionals who put their time and their needs before anyone else’s. Yes… people do that. So, collaborating with someone who was both considerate, professional, and in character was a great treat for us.

Stay in the know

We’ll keep you guys updated on the status of Crew Call: The Tattoo Project currently scheduled for April 18th. Follow us on social if you don’t do so already. If plans change, you’ll be the first to know.

Crew Call: The Tattoo Project [Jaquelyn Puma]

THE TATTOO PROJECT

Crew Call: The Tattoo Project

The first creative talent event of 2020 [ April 18th]

A lot of brands won’t work with models that have tattoos. They either hire talent whose body is a blank slate or force the model to cover their artwork. That way, they can modify their image to reflect their brand. We don’t do that…

We prefer to work with people with personality; people who embrace their artistic senses; people who wear their art on their sleeve (literally)… Because real artwork doesn’t compromise. And it most certainly doesn’t restrict the artist or the subject. Instead, it rallies the charisma of the outcast and encourages expression in its most wild and untamed fashion.

That’s one of the reasons we use live models at Crew Call. It’s why we invite everyone and anyone to join in and do their thing…whatever that may be. If you want to model, no one will stop you. Seriously, at our first Crew Call event, many of the guests attending the event (who happened to be models by trade) joined in and activated some of our stages. Who are we to stop them? Our industry deserves more freedom like this. Rules are boring. You don’t have to follow them.

We felt it was important to start Crew Call 2020 with a theme that defies the industry standard. What better way to do that than invite the black sheep of the modeling industry to the studio.

EVENT DETAILS

Visual Storytelling Transcends Media

Tattoos are one of the most unique forms of storytelling. They’re abstract, vague, extremely direct, and deeply personal. They tell of moments passed and those we yearn to bring to life.

Each time someone adds a tattoo to their body, they’re adding a new chapter to their story. But the really cool thing is that the story isn’t linear like we’re accustomed to. It’s cyclical. It can be read in any direction. Front to back; side to side; top to bottom; and on and on. And with each reading, the message evolves…

The first tattoo that someone gets inked on their body is not always going to be the start to their tale, nor is the last tattoo the ending.

Tattoos are stories you can read to your own beat. And that’s how we hope you will treat Crew Call on April 18th. We hope you will make it your own and move at your own pace. We hope you will use your art to transform someone else’s tattoos into your own story.

We are a turnkey agency, in that we take each project from concept to delivery.

Because of this, we house a full creative suite of editing and post-production software. One of our most powerful editing software, which we used to put the final touches on Gio Henao’s artist profile, is DaVinci Resolve. This is a color correction and non-linear video editing application for macOS by Blackmagic Design.

Since editing is one of the most critical steps in our process, nothing is overlooked. DaVinci Resolve helps us zone-in on key points of interest to create maximum clarity and outstanding color harmony. In this phase, we take all the footage, audio, and additional assets and lay them on a timeline to arrange the absolute best narrative flow. This process is extremely time-consuming. According to the industry standard, every minute of shooting translates to an hour of editing, which makes sense since this is where true storytelling comes together.

After editing, the project moves to color correction and audio mixing. This is where we balance the footage for proper exposure and grade the footage to give it a look that improves the overall story. Audio mixing is similar to video editing. While video editing pertains to video only, audio mixing has to take all of the audio sources and blend them to broadcast quality sound. All of this is done by our very strong and talented post-production team, who work around the clock to meet our client’s deadlines.

Crew Call: The Tattoo Project [Jaquelyn Puma] 1

Black and white view from behind of tattooed woman Jaquelyn Puma wearing bikini and thong sitting on a wooden box under lights

About The Artist | Jaquelyn Puma

When we were searching for talent for this promotion, we decided that we wanted to work with someone in the tattoo industry. For us, it was more important that we had a model who was more than a model — someone whose life and career was firmly cemented in tattoo art. Turns out, our search was much closer to home than we expected…

Jaquelyn Puma is a tattoo artist at Borrowed Time Tattoos in Flagler Village, just a few blocks from our studio headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. She was trained in art in New York City at many prestigious schools, such as Pratt, FIT, and Pace University. This is where her unique style was born — a style that blends provocative imagery with twisting shapes and psychedelic energy. You can check out her gallery of art here.

In addition to being an artist, Jaquelyn is also a model, hence why she was selected for this shoot. Her style was perfect for this production. She emitted a strong, cavalier aura and mixed that boldness with shy, bashful postures, which really set this off. Her demeanor is almost inviting, yet so intimidating. It’s the ability to blend emotions like this that separates decent models from the talented ones.

Crew Call | Rain & Water

Crew Call

Rain & Water

To master the elements one must learn to bend water. Rain is not easily illuminated on film. An artist must understand their model as much as the element itself if they wish to turn their union into beautiful art. To focus on only one of the two would produce lifeless art; art devoid of passion and reason. Do you possess the will to create an ally out of water and rain; to see past the curtain and into the soul of your model?

Man with abs posing with a boxing punch under a shower of water

Black and white closeup of a woman with long hair posing for the camera

Closeup of woman with soap suds sitting in a claw footed tub posing for the camera

BTS with Sabela on Uncreative Stories

SABELA LIVE

A Live Performance of “Love Jones” at Artwalk

We were the original pioneers of the first Fort Lauderdale artwalk. You know, the one in FATVillage. We established this event because we wanted an outlet where we could show the community what we do when we aren’t working with clients. Every month, we create cool exhibits centered around art, technology, and good friends. Some of the exhibits are designed for the community to participate, like C&I Storm, while others are for their entertainment, like this performance by Sabela.

Most people think we only do client work. But that isn’t the case. Not at all. We are constantly doing our own thing; making cool art to enlightment our generation. There aren’t many agencies creating the type of content we release every week. For instance, we have a series called Dailies, which we release Mon-Fri, that shows exactly what life inside the studio is like. There’s no sugar coating. It’s just us… beautiful, unedited, unscripted Us. If you like this video, you should check it out.

Also, click the button below to see more of Sabela’s work. We created an artist profile that speaks to her many talents.

Sabela’s Artist Profile

Crew Call-A Creative Talent Event

Crew Call is the only creative talent event in South Florida for enthusiasts and industry professionals.

Crew Call is an invitation to photographers, cinematographers, models, and anyone with a need for artistic expression to meet us in Studio A for a night of creation.

For each Crew Call event, we build different sets throughout our studio, providing lighting and impressive vantage points. We hire models and professional hair and makeup services to activate each set and keep the models at their best. We stage scenes in ways that will challenge our guests artistically — pushing them to employ new techniques to create beautiful art.

Nothing is beyond the scope of Crew Call. One month you could be photographing and filming models dancing through swarms of smoke and the next you could be shooting a model completely submerged in water. To become a proven professional in this industry one must learn to master the elements. Crew Call is an arena designed to help you do just that.

What started as a quarterly meetup will now become a monthly event. We encourage artists throughout South Florida to prove themselves in our studio. Follow @cistudios on Instagram for updates on the next upcoming event.

upcoming 2021 event dates

JUN 19

JUL 24

AUG 21

SEP 18

OCT 23

NOV 20

DEC 18

BUY TICKETS

RESPEK THE MIC! | 4.26.19

RESPEK THE MIC

4.26.19

C&I hosts “Respek the Mic!” open mic night live at Next Door! Bring your instruments and invite your friends to watch you play live in front of a crowd at C&I Studios. Join us for brews, tunes, and talent on Friday, April 26th from 7pm-11:30m. We’ll be serving up drinks while you serve up the entertainment! Whether you’re joining the crowd or jumping on stage this event is free!

You didn’t come here just to perform, you came here to respek the mic! It all starts here.

Darius Daughtry Burdened By This Art

Darius Daughtry Hosts Respec the Mic!

Burdened By This Art

“Self-consciousness is the enemy of all art, be it acting, writing, painting, or living itself, which is the greatest art of all.”

— Ray Bradbury

Darius Daughtry is Burdened by this Art

Art is action.

Art is living.

Darius Daughtry is a man of both.

Darius uses his art to empower those stuck in silence. Empowering them to speak up, speak out, and share their perspectives on life.

It’s not an easy thing to do. It takes a lot of bravery to say your peace without sugar coating the controversy. But art is controversy.

Without opinion we are lifeless. And we are lifeless… some of us — too many of us.

Our generation hides behind our computer screens and mobiles devices. We curate, edit, and carefully refine our every opinion, every photo, every video to optimize for artificial applause.

We tiptoe around syllables. We cast filters on our lives. We hardly share what’s true[ly you].

We don’t say this, we don’t say that for fear that it might lack…not meaning…not authenticity, but likes.

Because that is how we measure our voice today, isn’t it? That is how we grade our perspectives on life, sadly.

We moderate. We moderate. We moderate.

We tone down our lives to appeal to strangers — as many as possible — and hope they toss a “like” in our cup while scrolling by.

But there are those who say their peace — all of it — and listen to yours in return — all of it.

Call them crusaders if you want.

One thing is certain, they are enlightened.

They understand that humanity’s greatest asset is the mind; that no two individuals think identically; that we are all free to say and think, to learn and interpret, to be heard and to listen.

If you agree that our individuality is worth celebrating, spreading, and perpetuating then Respec the Mic!

Introducing your new host of Respec the Mic!, Darius Daughtry.

Darius Daughtry host of Respec the Mic! with red background

Dairus Daughtry is a guiding voice from the Art Prevails Project, which seeks to inspire and encourage artistic expression in its most enlightened forms.

The Art Prevails Project is a creative collective of poets, singers, writers, dancers, and performers.

Through art, they strive to teach us that it is alright to embrace our unique perspectives on life and to share those perspectives in the hopes of creating positive change on a local and global scale.

If you too believe in the power of art, first check out Art Prevails Project on Instagram.

Then join us Next Door on the last Thursday of the month for Respec the Mic! a monthly open mic night where we invite local artists to step into the spotlight to share their perspectives.

We’re Hosting | South Florida Event Planning

We're Hosting | South Florida Event Planning

Event planning in C&I Studios with various sets set up.

Event Planning - C&I Meets A2 Events

Community engagement through event planning has become a cornerstone of the C&I Studios experience. That’s one of the reasons we partnered with A2 Events. Our relationships with neighboring businesses, and our bond with the artists and people who come alongside us to further our shared mission is one of our strongest connections to the community.

When we first started this company we knew that the community would keep us honest. And that that connection would always bring us back to reality to keep us grounded. Together with A2 Events, we are able to support and reward our neighbors with cool experiences, like never before.

When we originally opened our doors in FATVillage, we recognized that Fort Lauderdale deserved art and technological districts that branch from Las Olas Boulevard. So we started hosting community-wide events, like the FATVillage Artwalk. And also offered our studio space to be enjoyed by others. But that wasn’t enough.

Mockup of event planning with purpose with makeshift video projector on a wooden stool with a chalkboard sign saying Now Showing with bulb lights,

Events with Purpose

As our community-wide outreach became more ingrained in our brand, so did the importance that C&I Studios become a venue. It would be pointless for our studio space to exist exclusively for us. So we decided to extend our home for everyone in Fort Lauderdale to enjoy.

Our events are becoming a standard in the community, but maintaining the status quo isn’t really our style. We don’t settle. We strive to push beyond what’s expected of us, because that is what an Idea Agency is purposed to do. If we do not inspire our neighbors to think towards the future then we are not doing our part to better the community. And if we are not bettering the community, we are failing ourselves.

With A2 Events in the equation, we are starting to make the impact we set out to accomplish. With their expertise in event planning we are now able to develop and consistently support the innovative nature of FATVillage as a multifunctional hub of art and culture in Fort Lauderdale. Better yet, we’re able to regularly offer our studio space to companies and artists who want to join in that mission, just as A2 Events has.

Food truck Friday event in front of C & I Studios.

Erin Branham, President of A2 Events

With Erin Branham and her team we continue to orchestrate some of the coolest events in Fort Lauderdale. Her ability to cater to brand-crafted experiences that reflect the marketing goals of each client, from the fine details to the overall message, makes her a great fit here.

Our brand pillars are solidifying on multiple levels, too. From our focus towards influencing and shaping the future development of South Florida, especially Fort Lauderdale, to the way we style and maintain a boutique image. Erin said it best, “We want to be lean and able to adapt to our client’s needs. But also good at developing our employees, and flexible in our work environment.”

A2 Events President Erin Branham and Joe talking about A2 Event planning.

The Big Picture

Take our most recent Taco Tuesday Town Hall event with Big Picture Broward, for instance. We invited our community and city commissioners to take part in an open forum discussion. Together, over free tacos and beer, we had a great political discussion about guiding the future development of Fort Lauderdale. And thanks to Erin Branham, and A2 Events, we made it so the logistics ran smoothly.

A2 Events has really helped us heighten our mission. There’s still a lot that we have to do if we’re going to change the artistic landscape of Fort Lauderdale and FATVillage. But with their involvement we’re seeing progress every week. So, whether you’re joining us for FATVillage Artwalk, First Friday, Culture Club, or taking over our studio space for a company event, know that you’re playing a direct role in creating a new, true downtown.

Brandon Dymon Baker Beard Project

04/26/2015
#EVENT, #PROFILE

Brandon is easily one of the most talked about C&I crew members. Not because he’s cool or anything…his beard is just considered the studio mascot and the topic of many late night chats. So, it was only right that we kicked off the Beard Project during Art Walk with the dopest beard this side of the Mississippi.

Brandon’s story highlights his most fond memories of a girl — Sasha Tjo — who ultimately was the reason why he decided to embark on a journey to growing his epic beard.

While filming, we stopped by Dennis J’s Barbershop; a local spot Brandon got to visit for the first time and will perhaps be coined as the secret remedy to his super-soft-must-touch-make-girls-swoon beard.

Franco hooked it up, so do yourself a favor and book him.

So fellas, what’s up with that peach fuzz?

Selfie-ish: An Art Showcase by Rasberry + Vasquez

Selfie-ish: An Art Showcase
by Rasberry + Vasquez

03/17/2015
#COMMUNITY, #EVENT

Artist Sierra Raspberry hosted an art show for a collaborative effort with her boyfriend. They’re calling the show Selfie-ish. The message inspiring their work comes from the observation that our society has been pointed in a direction that glorifies self obsession and vanity through our social media vehicles.

The show as a whole was looking to shine a light onto that particular facet of our cultural personality that wasn’t present in our lives as short as fifteen years ago. By way of paint on canvas, Sierra wanted to display the phenomenon in a positive light and as part of our natural evolution as human beings.