Sunday, December 20, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Meet Joe
We met Joe recently during an interview for series of videos for Degage, an organization that helps homeless people in our neighborhood.
I’ll wait until the video releases so you can experience Joe yourself, but it was the single most moving interview we’ve ever done.
He’s likely in his sixties: he’s battled the ghetto of Detroit, Vietnam, the loss of his wife, and now cancer. He weighs 112 pounds; a walker is his transportation.
When we went to shoot additional footage, I had a minute or two with Joe.
He told me he was mugged by two guys a month ago on South Division.
“Did they get anything?” I asked, after he told me the story.
“Fourteen cents, one bus pass, and a voucher to Degage,” he replied.
About two dollars worth of loot.
Joe ended up in the hospital with fourteen stitches. Before he went to get help, he limped up to his room, fell down and bled on the floor.
The assisted living complex called a bio-hazard company to clean up the blood.
And kindly sent Joe a bill for $1,200.
It will be taken out of his monthly government checks until it’s paid in full.
“You know how much they charge for paper slippers?” he asked me.
I shook my head.
“Sixty eight bucks,” Joe says.
The assisted living complex won’t pay for it, claiming the assault didn’t happen on its property. And our hearts hurt to hear of this injustice.
If you want to help Joe, let me know.
I’ll wait until the video releases so you can experience Joe yourself, but it was the single most moving interview we’ve ever done.
He’s likely in his sixties: he’s battled the ghetto of Detroit, Vietnam, the loss of his wife, and now cancer. He weighs 112 pounds; a walker is his transportation.
When we went to shoot additional footage, I had a minute or two with Joe.
He told me he was mugged by two guys a month ago on South Division.
“Did they get anything?” I asked, after he told me the story.
“Fourteen cents, one bus pass, and a voucher to Degage,” he replied.
About two dollars worth of loot.
Joe ended up in the hospital with fourteen stitches. Before he went to get help, he limped up to his room, fell down and bled on the floor.
The assisted living complex called a bio-hazard company to clean up the blood.
And kindly sent Joe a bill for $1,200.
It will be taken out of his monthly government checks until it’s paid in full.
“You know how much they charge for paper slippers?” he asked me.
I shook my head.
“Sixty eight bucks,” Joe says.
The assisted living complex won’t pay for it, claiming the assault didn’t happen on its property. And our hearts hurt to hear of this injustice.
If you want to help Joe, let me know.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Video Conversation
There's quite the conversation happening about our video we shot and edited for ArtPrize.
Check it out on YouTube.
20,000 people flooded into downtown Grand Rapids.
Check it out on YouTube.
20,000 people flooded into downtown Grand Rapids.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wow
This video floored me at a retreat this weekend. It's video clips from the BBC's Planet Earth series, set to the sounds of Sigur Ros's "Hoppipolla." Wow. If you haven't seen it, please watch.
Friday, August 21, 2009
two cents on three years
Today is our third anniversary at the business.
We started as two young entrepreneurs working out of a room inside a rented house, touting around two portfolio pieces, video gear, an Internet connection, a few computers and phones.
In the beginning, each project saved the company.
They always seemed to arrive just in time.
Three years later, we find ourselves working in an up-and-coming neighborhood we love in downtown Grand Rapids, with a growing portfolio of clients and projects and relationships we’re proud to call our own.
It’s been a wild journey, one that has brought with it great highs and lows, joys and sorrows, laughter and tears, accomplishments and failures, new lessons and affirmation of age-old truths.
And we recognize that we're not an island.
We’re part of many communities, made up of specific groups of people—companies, non-profits and organizations—who have partnered with us in the common vision of storytelling and communication.
We’re fortunate to be alive and growing, and know we don’t take that for granted.
Thank you, to our wives, family, friends and supporters, for exactly that: your support, affirmation and encouragement along the way.
Thank you, to our clients, who believe in the work they do, and entrust us to show the world.
Thank you, Grand Rapids and West Michigan, for embracing us.
Thank you, to everyone who has made the beginning stages of this journey possible, who have helped us catch the vision for what’s next. The list of the people who have been good to us is too long to list, and has come in many shapes and forms, often when we need it most.
We hope to pay-it-all-forward in the future.
We started as two young entrepreneurs working out of a room inside a rented house, touting around two portfolio pieces, video gear, an Internet connection, a few computers and phones.
In the beginning, each project saved the company.
They always seemed to arrive just in time.
Three years later, we find ourselves working in an up-and-coming neighborhood we love in downtown Grand Rapids, with a growing portfolio of clients and projects and relationships we’re proud to call our own.
It’s been a wild journey, one that has brought with it great highs and lows, joys and sorrows, laughter and tears, accomplishments and failures, new lessons and affirmation of age-old truths.
And we recognize that we're not an island.
We’re part of many communities, made up of specific groups of people—companies, non-profits and organizations—who have partnered with us in the common vision of storytelling and communication.
We’re fortunate to be alive and growing, and know we don’t take that for granted.
Thank you, to our wives, family, friends and supporters, for exactly that: your support, affirmation and encouragement along the way.
Thank you, to our clients, who believe in the work they do, and entrust us to show the world.
Thank you, Grand Rapids and West Michigan, for embracing us.
Thank you, to everyone who has made the beginning stages of this journey possible, who have helped us catch the vision for what’s next. The list of the people who have been good to us is too long to list, and has come in many shapes and forms, often when we need it most.
We hope to pay-it-all-forward in the future.
Monday, August 17, 2009
family at work
Great news! Today is Emily's first day at Young Life for East Grand Rapids. Keep her in your prayers in the coming weeks as she adjusts...more on YL later.
Also, anyone know of any GR job leads for my brother Justin?
He and his wife recently moved to the city for Kelsey's stint with Americorp. Justin's heartbeat is working with group homes or youth, but is ready to take on new challenges...if you hear anything, email me at aaroncarriere [at] gmail [dot] com.
Also, anyone know of any GR job leads for my brother Justin?
He and his wife recently moved to the city for Kelsey's stint with Americorp. Justin's heartbeat is working with group homes or youth, but is ready to take on new challenges...if you hear anything, email me at aaroncarriere [at] gmail [dot] com.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
wedding pics
Still processing the beauty of our wedding day and honeymoon, but many thanks to all.
Pics are available at Julie Harmsen's blog.
Pics are available at Julie Harmsen's blog.
Monday, July 27, 2009
pray for cam
Please read the latest post from my good friend Cam's blog.
We went to Europe together in '06, and now he's left a recent lucrative freelance gig in Nashville for a two-year stint with the Peace Corps on Cape Verde, an island in Africa. He's taking baths in buckets, learning a new language and feeling the pain of homesickness.
He needs our prayers; what a major transition. I'm proud of him for stepping out.
We went to Europe together in '06, and now he's left a recent lucrative freelance gig in Nashville for a two-year stint with the Peace Corps on Cape Verde, an island in Africa. He's taking baths in buckets, learning a new language and feeling the pain of homesickness.
He needs our prayers; what a major transition. I'm proud of him for stepping out.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
bachelor party
Saturday was my long-awaited bachelor party.
My future father-in-law Jack invited me to lunch on Saturday afternoon, a couple hours before it was slated to start. We finished lunch and started walking to the car, when a group of masked men dressed in black approached us.
I thought it was a bit strange, thinking, "That looks like Barry."
Soon, they grabbed me and told me to get on the ground (I obeyed without too much of a struggle, according to my brother Justin, I was pretty weak and tried to hide behind Jack).
By the time I was on the ground, I was laughing like a mad man, hearing Justin's best kidnapper impression. When I took the mask off, I found myself on the floor of a limo-van with loud music and fourteen chanting dudes passing out cold beverages.
It was a rich experience, pulled off flawlessly by the guys and orchestrated perfectly by best man Bobby Cheeks, inspired by the movie "Old School." There's a few obscenities in the movie clip, but you can view Will Ferrell's kidnapping here.
(Tingley caught the whole real kidnapping on video, so stay tuned for that. Cheeks' also made his own video initiating the guys on the day's six objectives. Very clever.)
We arrived at our destination, the "Bounce Party," a large inflatable playground. We played for an hour and a half like grown men in McDonald's, having a blast collecting floor burns on our elbows, pretending like we were American Gladiators, and of course, hitting each other with objects.
After that, fifteen of us piled into a limo and went back to Cheeks' house to shower. They made a bachelor shirt for me with photos of my life, including this exploding fire photo from years past.
We traded our man smells for civilian scents, and piled back into the limo.
I was also fashioned with a ball and chain, with two handcuffs and an ankle brace, complete with a beach ball wrapped in duct tape.
(It is very clear on video that it has nothing to do with my view of marriage or my lovely wife-to-be Emily.) It was a joke.
We ate dinner at the Bob, where I was penalized for taking off the ball and chain to use the restroom. That was pricey.
After that, we headed upstairs to the comedy club, which was a ton of fun listening to three solid comedians. One of the comedians noticed the ball and chain, and we exchanged a bit of a public dialogue.
He asked how long we knew each other, and I said "11 months" for the whole relationship, to the applause of the crowd and a self-deprecating comment by the comedian. He also asked why I'm marrying her, and I simply said, "Because she's fantastic."
He gave me some licorice, we enjoyed the comics and headed back to Cheeks' house in the limo van, with a quick stop on the way. The rest of the night was hanging back at Cheeks' pad with cards and Wii and whatever...
It was an honor to be the recipient of such a crazy, amazing day with the guys, and I'm grateful for the strong friendships in my life. And if you ever have the chance to be kidnapped and tossed into a limo van by your good friends, savor it.
Thanks, Cheeks, Barr and the rest of the dudes for an epic send-off!
My future father-in-law Jack invited me to lunch on Saturday afternoon, a couple hours before it was slated to start. We finished lunch and started walking to the car, when a group of masked men dressed in black approached us.
I thought it was a bit strange, thinking, "That looks like Barry."
Soon, they grabbed me and told me to get on the ground (I obeyed without too much of a struggle, according to my brother Justin, I was pretty weak and tried to hide behind Jack).
By the time I was on the ground, I was laughing like a mad man, hearing Justin's best kidnapper impression. When I took the mask off, I found myself on the floor of a limo-van with loud music and fourteen chanting dudes passing out cold beverages.
It was a rich experience, pulled off flawlessly by the guys and orchestrated perfectly by best man Bobby Cheeks, inspired by the movie "Old School." There's a few obscenities in the movie clip, but you can view Will Ferrell's kidnapping here.
(Tingley caught the whole real kidnapping on video, so stay tuned for that. Cheeks' also made his own video initiating the guys on the day's six objectives. Very clever.)
We arrived at our destination, the "Bounce Party," a large inflatable playground. We played for an hour and a half like grown men in McDonald's, having a blast collecting floor burns on our elbows, pretending like we were American Gladiators, and of course, hitting each other with objects.
After that, fifteen of us piled into a limo and went back to Cheeks' house to shower. They made a bachelor shirt for me with photos of my life, including this exploding fire photo from years past.
We traded our man smells for civilian scents, and piled back into the limo. I was also fashioned with a ball and chain, with two handcuffs and an ankle brace, complete with a beach ball wrapped in duct tape.
(It is very clear on video that it has nothing to do with my view of marriage or my lovely wife-to-be Emily.) It was a joke.
We ate dinner at the Bob, where I was penalized for taking off the ball and chain to use the restroom. That was pricey.
After that, we headed upstairs to the comedy club, which was a ton of fun listening to three solid comedians. One of the comedians noticed the ball and chain, and we exchanged a bit of a public dialogue.
He asked how long we knew each other, and I said "11 months" for the whole relationship, to the applause of the crowd and a self-deprecating comment by the comedian. He also asked why I'm marrying her, and I simply said, "Because she's fantastic."
He gave me some licorice, we enjoyed the comics and headed back to Cheeks' house in the limo van, with a quick stop on the way. The rest of the night was hanging back at Cheeks' pad with cards and Wii and whatever...
It was an honor to be the recipient of such a crazy, amazing day with the guys, and I'm grateful for the strong friendships in my life. And if you ever have the chance to be kidnapped and tossed into a limo van by your good friends, savor it.
Thanks, Cheeks, Barr and the rest of the dudes for an epic send-off!
engagement photos
Emily and her sister Stef's very talented friend Julie took our engagement photos. You can view a preview here. Julie is from the GR area but lives in Seattle, and will also be shooting the wedding.
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