Tell us a bit about your organization and what your specialty is in the film and video space.
Verso Studios is a media resource and production hub, serving as an inclusive, empowered, future-forward, cultural and learning center. A library branch of the 21st century, Verso Studios provides programming, commercial services, as well as educational and content creation opportunities.
As a media resource, we facilitate and support access, literacy, learning and education in the creation of new media, video and sound recording.
As a production hub, we offer creative music and video production opportunities and commercial services for the Connecticut/tri-state and Northeast community at large, as well as in-house support for Verso Studios programming, the Westport Library and the Town of Westport.
As a cultural and learning center, we support, program, and celebrate original, undeniable, future-forward, film, photography, and writing from Connecticut, the tri-state area, Northeast, and always beyond. Our events feature intimate, knock-out, fan-friendly concerts, film screenings, photography exhibitions, and lectures (artists, authors, photographers, industry gadflys, archivists).
What is your organization’s ethos and how does it set you apart from industry competitors?
Verso Studios cultivates an environment of inclusion, creative freedom, and collaborative development. Where video and music production spaces have historically given some people more access and advantage, we endeavor to support the underserved as well as those with original, emerging and established talent. Developing interesting stories utilizing our studio spaces and world-class media resources, we invite the greater community to participate through their distinct voices. Verso Studios continues in Westport’s rich artistic tradition and overall library mission of enriching the intellectual and creative lives of all.
How can people join or learn more about what you do?
Checkout https://westportlibrary.org/services/verso-studios/studios/ and to sign up to Crew Call.
Tell us about your Telly Award winning piece. What’s the story behind it?
4 wins – all a credit to our Crew Call program that gives opportunity to everyday folk to work with our professional team on extraordinary productions with high end celebrity talent,
What are you most proud of about this piece? What was your biggest challenge during production and how did you solve it?
Our biggest challenge always is the unexpected off script moments that we handle with grace – drama happens on the stage, not in the control room!
Do you have any advice to other filmmakers based on your career or your team’s approach to work?
Create team including your talent, be conscious to nervous energy. Create a safe space for talent and they will deliver at their best. The equipment you are most familiar with gives you ability to focus on the work not the tools. Use checklists don’t just have them!
Can you share a behind the scenes story or fun fact about the making of your piece?
The Crew Call participants bring their A game to our productions – they are treated as professional and they rise to that expectation – I regular have tears in my eyes when we complete our productions
Tell us about the most memorable response you got from this work.
“The hippest damn library in the country,” by Talking Heads drummer Chris Franz.
Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’
… the story arc, which is in the writing, which in turn requires the old adage of tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them and then tell them what you told them.
