Designer for Hire

Film shorts


-- Download Film shorts as PDF --


Here’s a selection of videos and radio stories we’ve done so far. The radio reports were produced in association with NPR station Arizona Public Media and its radio magazine show Arizona Spotlight. The videos are produced by Gillian Drummond and directed by Ricardo Bracamonte.

Video stories

The secret perks of beekeeping

For Andrew Eshelman, beekeeping is about more than just getting home-made honey and a flourishing back yard. Being with his bees brings him a sense of calm. And it’s led to a new home-based business for him and wife Hilary. Read our feature here.

In this 3 Story short, Andrew shares his story. Interview by Gillian Drummond. Filmmakers: Lilly Ruiz, Danilo Castro, Christopher Boladeres. Music composed by German Higuera.

 

My Space – Sonoran Glass School

The Sonoran Glass School is a little-known Tucson gem, despite its national reputation. It is executive director John-Peter Wilhite’s task to get Tucson residents excited about the glass art on their doorstep, starting with the school’s annual Flame Off competitionon February 6th.

John-Peter shares his plans for the space in our 3 Story short.  Interview and photos by Gillian Drummond. Video by Ricardo Bracamonte. Music by Zachary Reid.

My Space – HiEndTight Barber Shop

Chris Willhoite gave up a career in car sales to open HiEndTight, an old-fashioned style barber shop in Tucson that’s making a name for its hot towel treatments and straight razor shaves.

As the male grooming market continues to grow and classic haircuts make a comeback, Chris shares his up-and-coming business in our 3 Story short.  Interview and photos by Gillian Drummond. Video by Ricardo Bracamonte. Model: Raymond Colon.

My Space – One young entrepreneur and his grandmother’s sewing machine

Qmulative started as a blog, with Quinlan Wilhite sharing his interests – cars, skateboarding, hip hop music and street art – with friends. Today it is a brand, producing hats, T-shirts and accessories carrying the Qmulative logo.

When Quinlan appeared at Tucson Fashion Week 2014, it was after an intense 18-month journey of learning how to sew – on his grandmother’s machine. He shares his story in this 3 Story film short.  Interview and photos by Gillian Drummond. Additional photos courtesy of Quinlan Wilhite/Qmulative. Video and music by Ricardo Bracamonte.

My Space –  The Hive Hair Studio

Sarah Tyler has wanted to cut and style hair since she was five years old. “I was braiding my dolls’ hair, cutting Barbies’ hair. They got real ugly, these Barbie dolls,” she laughs. This year she took over as owner of The Hive Hair Studio, located in Tucson’s Hotel Congress and known for its retro hair styling.

In this 3 Story short, Sarah explains why her space not only transforms her clients, but has transformed her.  Interview and photos by Gillian Drummond. Video by Ricardo Bracamonte. Model: Veronica Stice.

My Space – Adventures in coffee roasting

Scott Gilliland dreamed of roasting coffee beans for decades.  Then be bought a tiny coffee roaster and started appearing at farmers’ markets in and around Tucson.  Today, Adventure Coffee Roasting occupies a small warehouse and is a supplier to restaurants, coffee shops and stores around the southwest.  In this 3 Story short, this former software executive explains why, despite the company’s growth, he’ll never quit farmers’ markets.  Interview and photos by Gillian Drummond. Video by Ricardo Bracamonte.

 My Space – a welder and the space that Spiderman built

Stephen Kimble created Tucson’s Metal Arts Village as a place for him to weld, and for other artists to come together. It’s the space that Spiderman built; the money came from a seven-figure settlement with Marvel over a Spiderman toy Stephen says was his invention. More on that here. In this 3 Story short, Stephen tells how the space has given more meaning to his days. Interview and photos by Gillian Drummond. Video by Ricardo Bracamonte.

My Space – Tales from the roller derby rink

Roller derby player Carolyn Van Hazel came to the sport late, aged 41 and a working mother of two. Now she’s a  member of Tucson Roller Derby’s VICE Squad under the name Van D. Lyzer.

In this 3 Story short, she talks about the freedom and focus she finds out on the skating rink. Interview by Gillian Drummond. Video by Ricardo Bracamonte. Music by Gazzze, a three-piece indie band from Tucson, AZ. For a link to their downloadable EP click hereWith thanks to Tucson Indoor Sports Center.

Radio reports

Click on the photos for audio.

Hard knocks are all in a day’s design work at Children’s Museum Tucson

Designing a museum for children is tough; you’ve got to appeal, entertain and survive hard knocks. The newly revamped Children’s Museum Tucson gave us an exclusive look at how they do it. Here’s a radio story we had tons of fun producing. And here is the feature that inspired it.

The giant mouth, and troublesome uvula, at Tucson Children's Museum. Photo by Gillian Drummond

Open wide for the Children’s Museum of Tucson. Photo by Gillian Drummond. Click on this photo for audio.

Planet Rabbit: an art gallery on wheels

They do it with food trucks and libraries, so why not art galleries? Tucson’s latest art gallery stretches just 8 feet high by a little over 5 feet wide and is the baby of David Aguirre, a mover and shaker in Tucson’s arts scene now for decades. Here’s our radio story on the Planet Rabbit launch in downtown Tucson. And here’s the 3 Story feature that inspired it, a profile of David by Joan Calcagno.

planet-rabbit-entrance-portrait

Planet Rabbit. Photo by Gillian Drummond. Click on this photo for audio.

The Power of Circus Amperean
Pouring_glow

Wendy pouring electro-elixir. Photo by Ruben Palma. Click on this photo for audio.

It started in a High School science club: some lads playing around with electricity. Today, one of them is behind an electrifying performing arts group. Listen to the radio story here. And here’s the feature that started it all.

Tucson Fashion Week welcomes Betsey Johnson

How Tucson Fashion Week grew from a gig in a parking lot to attracting the wild child of fashion – the iconic Betsey Johnson. We talk to Betsey, the organizers, and more. Listen to the radio story here. And read our feature here.

IMG_2570[1]

Betsey Johnson’s designs on the catwalk at Tucson Fashion Week. Photo by Gillian Drummond. Click on this photo for audio.