Merci New York was thrilled to sit down with Drew to discuss his fresh and creative approach to stylish, discreet and tasteful wedding videography... As a native New Yorker with 20 years in music production up his sleeve, Drew has created a product that is trending like crazy in Manhattan weddings... We are so excited to share his vision in our Chic Vendor Spotlight today!
Drew: In the summer of 2009 I married the woman of my dreams {and even the dreams I never knew I could have} on the beach in Bridgehampton, NY. The wedding was a dream come true for the both of us both in terms of the location and the understated elegance it provided. Being a filmmaker myself I of course wanted "video" of the night, but really cringed {respectfully, of course} at the word "video". Having a videographer at our wedding just felt like the wrong fit for us, and the more vintage 50 Foot Films type of shoot, although incredible, was just prohibitively expensive. So not to be one for giving up without a fight, I decided to film my own wedding. How? Well I armed a buddy of mine with a Flip cam {super discreet as of 2009} and parked him at the best possible spot on the aisle in his corner seat with a list of shots I wanted him to get. I figured if I could just get the emotion of the looks on people's faces during the ceremony and our faces just as we said "I Do" then I could edit it all together later and have exactly what I wanted. All emotion and no fluff {like people getting in and out of limos, etc}. It would be short and sweet and a great surprise for my wife and a nice little gift I could email to our close friends a few days later.
Well lo and behold my buddy did in fact nail the shots and I took this incredibly charming footage and ran it through some filters in Final Cut to distress the look and slow down the frame rate to give it a vintage look . Then I matched it all to a song which {in my humble opinion as a music producer of 20 years} told the story perfectly. The end result was absolutely magical and still brings tears to our eyes. Nobody ever saw a videographer, there were no lights or interruptions and people weren't inhibited by a camera in their face.
The results were undeniable. It was exactly what I expected. What I didn't expect were the reactions I got from those who saw it. All of a sudden, my phone began to ring and I was getting calls to film weddings. I was humbled and completely surprised but nevertheless I launched forth into the great unknown of wedding films and Six Minute Stories was born.
Merci: Wow, we love that your business began at your own wedding! How has it evolved since then?
Drew: The business has obviously evolved and grown at
this point in that its always me doing all of the filming and
editing and that long gone Flip cam used at our wedding is now a Sony NEX-VG20
with prime lenses to avoid having to ever use lights and blow my incognito...
My films are 6 to 10 minutes in length and comprised of the pure emotion of the
day, from the bride and groom getting ready to the final spin on the dance
floor. My films are created to be shared and viewed over and over again and in
the age of Facebook, Vimeo and YouTube that's exactly what I see happening over
and over again. The 21st century attention span has shrunken {for better or for
worse} and the length of the films really play into this new consciousness. The
final piece of the puzzle is that I turn around my films 72 hours after the
event. I mean, who wants to wait to see the replay of the greatest day of your
entire life? I didn't!
Merci: Why should couples choose Six Minute Stories?
Merci: Why should couples choose Six Minute Stories?
Drew: Six Minute Stories offers an affordable option to
those looking to capture their wedding in a unique and one of a kind piece of
art. It allows the couple to have as much {or as little} creative input as they
like and the film is delivered in Hi-Definition in an unprecedented 72 hours
from the date of the event. Everything is always shot and edited by me and me alone, without the use of an assistant or any lighting to ensure nobody is distracted by a camera in their face. As a
lifelong New Yorker who got married in the Hamptons I really have an understanding of
what couples want, and what they don't.
Merci: What do you like most about your work?
Drew: I decided to launch Six Minute Stories after filming my own wedding and the weddings of friends. It really snowballed to life on its own and was something that chose me before I even had a chance to choose it! As a filmmaker, the most exciting thing about Six Minute Stories for me is knowing that I have been given the honor of capturing the world of that one day in two people's lives which they will keep like a time capsule to watch forever. Every little moment, facial expression, unexpected reaction, and even the obvious stuff that comes with a wedding make up something that the couple will carry with them into their future. They'll show their kids and their grandchildren. It will instantly transport them back to that moment for the rest of their lives and it's incredibly humbling to know that it's my eyes they've chosen to see those moments through. I always feel a connection with my clients, which I carry forever. It's an incredibly beautiful thing.
Merci: Where did the company begin? And where can we find it now?
Drew: My company began on the beach in Bridgehampton, NY. I'm now located in New York City and will travel anywhere for a client. I am also accessible at my website www.sixminutestories.com!
All photos courtesy of Six Minute Stories
Videos are such precious wedding mementos!
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