Stembridge Mill | Cinematography, Video Production, Design, and Photography
The Work
Photography: Portraits
Worth Producing
Worth Producing is a 10 minute long making-of documentary I produced, shot, and edited for the short film Worth Saving. 15 hours of behind-the-scenes footage shot during the film’s production was condensed into a 10 minute fast-paced documentary. It was released by Insignia Pictures and Block One Studios on November 22, 2011 as a special feature on the DVD.
Worth Saving is available for purchase on Amazon.com
Sforzando
Sforzando is an hour-long documentary about Sforzando String Camp, a summer music camp hosted by a church in Chicago. It was the first feature-length film produced by Stembridge Mill. Besides being an informative documentary about the music camp, the film is also educational and inspiring.
Stembridge Mill handled every production aspect about this project: planning, directing, shooting, editing, and post-production design. The DVD was released July 24, 2011, and is available for purchase on Amazon.com. The film will be screening at the 2012 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.
Misc. Design
Over the years, I’ve honed and sharpened my skills as a designer. To date, I’ve designed 16 DVD covers, art for multiple music albums (three of which are available on the iTunes Store and Amazon.com), several film posters, web graphics, and much more.
More samples of my DVD artwork design can be seen here (and film posters here!).
Cinematography Reel 2011
-
Photography: Portraits
-
Worth Producing
-
Sforzando
-
Misc. Design
-
Cinematography Reel 2011
About
Hi! I’m Chad Stembridge. I’m twenty-two years old, live in Central Illinois, and have been in the video industry for over five years now. Most importantly I’m a follower of Jesus Christ. Do you know Him?
I’m probably different than many of the twenty-somethings you’ve met before. People have called me a “man of few words.” I was homeschooled, have never had a girlfriend, and love playing viola. Family is important. Truth is important. Growth and learning in life is important.
History
The Stembridge Tower Mill is the only thatched-roof windmill left in the England. My ancestors the Stembridges (who coincidentally have the same last name as me), lived in England and Wales before three brothers immigrated to what was then the thirteen British Colonies, circa 1740 A.D. I’m descended from the youngest of those three brothers, Thomas Baker Stembridge.
Professional
Filmmaking began to fascinate me sometime around 2005. At first it was more of a hobby, but then it grew on me. In 2007 I wiped out most of my savings account to buy equipment, produced my first short film (which subsequently screened as a semi-finalist in the 2007 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, or SAICFF), and was hired for my first video job (covering a major 200+ person production of a live animal Christmas play).
Soon after came my second short film (Precious Treasure, a semi-finalist in the 2009 SAICFF), a short documentary (Shell Bluff, the re-edit of which was a semi-finalist in the 2010 SAICFF), and working part-time for a homeschool resource company to replenish my funds. 2009 became a huge year of learning: operating camera on a feature documentary, directing photography for a 40-minute short film, writing my first feature-length screenplay, and more. That year, my friend Geno DiMaria and I founded Block One Studios.
Since becoming a full-time freelancer in 2010, work’s taken me all over the place: Phoenix, AZ; Mare Rouge, Nord Ouest, Haiti; Mason City, IA… Just a few of the places. I’ve produced two feature-length documentaries, some TV show pilots, written three novels (published one), and have worked on a bunch of exciting projects.
Needless to say, I like my job.
Stuff I’ve Worked On
Father Who Art (2008 short film) — Director of Photography | Bros (2009 short film) — Director of Photography, Score Composer |
Bros: the True Story (2009 documentary) — Director of Photography, Producer | The Crazy One (2011 short film) — Cinematographer | The Entertainers (upcoming feature documentary) — Camera operator | Grand Canyon (2010 documentary) — Score composer | Rite of Passage (2011 feature documentary) — Director of Photography, Co-producer, Designer | St. Matthew Passion (concert video) — Producer, Director of Photography, editor | Sforzando (2011 documentary) — Director of Photography, Producer | Shell Bluff (2010 short documentary) — Producer, Director of Photography, Editor | Worth Saving (2011 short film) — Behind-the-scenes Director of Photography, editor | Easter Oratorio and Motet III (concert video) — Producer, Director of Photography, editor
People I’ve Served
Berkeley County EMS (Charleston, SC) | Block One Studios (Charleston, SC) | Charleston Property (Charleston, SC) | Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (Charleston, SC) | Insignia Pictures (Peoria, IL) | JetMedia (Lancaster, NY) | Life Compass International (Hickory, NC) | Marion Avenue Baptist Church (Washington, IA) | Michael Bronco (Charleston, SC) | Peoria Bach Festival (Peoria, IL) | Planterhouse (Phoenix, AZ) | Reel Story Productions (Chicago, IL) | Rite of Passage Productions (Crestview, FL) | Sforzando String Camp (Chicago, IL) | U.S. Courts System Public Affairs (Charleston, SC) | Wut Wut Alma (project in Peoria, IL)
Hire Me
I’m available for hire as a freelance videographer, cinematographer, designer, and photographer. How about contacting me to discuss your project and get a price quote?
Video & Film Production
I love bringing a unique, in-the-moment style to unfolding stories. Striving for excellence and aesthetics is extremely important to me, both shooting and editing. Multiple projects I’ve worked on have had DVD releases and screenings at film festivals.
Any video project is important—documentaries, short films, weddings, concerts, you name it—and deserve to be given a high level of detail, no matter what. My clients are always impressed by the skill I bring to each project, and the results they get from my work.
“I have really enjoyed working with you on this. It is really a blessing to have an editor who is also a musician.” — Dr. Martin Dicke, Director of the Peoria Bach Festival
“I wasn’t sure how it would all turn out just because we didn’t exactly have the best [behind-the-scenes documentary] circumstances – but you totally blew my socks off!!!” — Director Hannah Victoria, Worth Saving
Design
The cover of a book or DVD is what a person sees first when he or she picks it up. Fantastic first impressions are crucial whether it be a large film poster, a book’s interior typesetting, DVD cover, or sheet music score. I believe even the simplest design projects should be given a high level of attention to detail. From elegant to casual to dark & epic, these are my goals when I create any design element.
“You are a a gifted person. I’m definitely keeping you on my team for all future design jobs.” — Eric van Pyrz, Jet Media
“Thanks for all your hard work, it looks a million times professional than anything I can do or get anyone I know to do.” — Director Dana Elise, Cagin of Chrysaint
Photography
With over six years of photographic practice and learning, I’ve developed an eye for aesthetics in the art of making pictures. I love telling stories through images, creating beautiful portraits of life. It’s not only portraiture work I approach with this attitude; I believe that even in event and photojournalistic photography, it’s important to pull the view into the moment with a story and quality.
Contact
Need to get in touch? Use this form to email me:
If you don’t get a response within three business days, try sending an email directly to the address listed below instead.
chad [at] stembridgemill [dot] com
Alternatively, feel free to call or text me between the hours of 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern Time: 267-270-2423.
