Jennie Lee Riddle :: Peoples and Songs
Posted by Joel Banta in The Making of... video on April 18, 2012
We were afforded the opportunity to work for Jennie Lee Riddle (author of Revelation Song) on her first album, titled “Peoples and Songs”. She wanted a very “non-slick” looking video… She mentioned she loved our work… but didn’t want a video that looked so nice & clean… [ side note:...I see myself on a journey up the beautiful hill of Glamour lighting & Cinematic photography...not there yet...but baby steps...that's kinda the direction I'm trying to head... ] So when Jennie came to us & asked for a low-budget looking video… well… we did our best! So if she wouldn’t allow us to light it up all glamourous… well… I couldn’t help myself but to boost the production value on the Motion Graphics side, especially since the Graphic Artist for the project had some AMAZING illustrations that were just waiting to come to life! Love you Jennie!!! (She is awesome to work with!)
5D Mark III low-light Staged Setup :: Florence Tourism Shoot
Posted by Joel Banta in Armosa Studios, DP on April 11, 2012
We’re supporting Armosa Studios as they continue to provide for the great team over at Aha Creative Ad Agency. We got to produce a scene over at the famous Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House in Florence, AL. Aha Creative Ad Agency brought in some young ‘talent’ for our cast from the Young Professionals of Florence. Alex Wittscheck & Joel Banta worked along side Aha Creative to setup the shot. This was the first crack at it using the 5D Mark III… Can’t beat the feeling of this camera, its wider & heavier, feels great in your hands, though we shot with it on Armosa Studio’s StediCam Rig.
Really loved how the evening shot turned out!! Here are some screen shots. You see the Rosenbaum House in the background, and our talent (who just met) in the foreground.
5d Mark III :: Canon 50mm f1.2 Lens :: Low-Light Shooting at 1000 ISO :: No Color Correction
5D Mark III :: Canon 50mm f1.2 :: Low-Light 1000 ISO :: No Color Correction BEAUTY
5D Mark III :: Canon 50mm f1.2 :: Low-Light 1000 ISO :: No Color Correction
CANT GET ENOUGH OF 5D MARK III !!!!!
Sola Fida!
Fuller Heating and Air :: Commercial :: Armosa Studios
Posted by Joel Banta in Armosa Studios, DP on March 21, 2012
Our Bilby Film’s team had the chance to support Armosa Studios in providing for Aha Creative Ad Agency in a full day shooting for Fuller Heating A/C Commercial for North AL. The Agency was looking for a “Angie’s List” look & feel… So we gave it to them. 
We did three setups in a house, pics are as follows, spent time flagging & such. Quite fun!!
Wes Wages, Alex Wittscheck, Joel Banta, Lighting Setup 1
Alex Wittscheck & Talent, Lighting Setup 2
Wes Wages, of Armosa Studios & Ray Methvin of Aha Creative Agency
Rachel Banta pulling double duty as Slate Girl, Talents, Lighting Setup 3
Here’s the first piece Wes edited out: Great Job!
Cinematography of Slow Motion Liquid in Glass (proof of concept)
Posted by Joel Banta in Production on January 30, 2012
Here is a Proof of Concept just finished off. Using the Canon 60D at 60 Frames Per Second on a Canon 100mm Macro f2.8, while in post using the Twixtor plugin for After Effects. Twixtor is a great tool, but it isn’t a “iSpeed 3″ or a “Phantom HD”…or even an “RED Epic” at 300fps. High Speed video clips involving contained liquid, would be far much easier…with…a High Speed Camera. There was too much action going on for the software to interpolate the missing frames. Hands down, Twixtor its the best in Time Frame Manipulation though! But none the less, atleast the lighting was a good step in the right direction.
Bart Millard Promo Video
Posted by Joel Banta in Fair Trade Services, Online Video Content on January 28, 2012
We had the opportunity to work alongside Fair Trade Services, in producing a few small promo video pieces. The pieces will be used across retail stores (Lifeway, Brason, etc) in promotion of Mercy Me’s album coming out in early 2012. This shoot was specially a treat as we shot it here in our house! Had a great team, Wes Wages, Alex Whittscheck (our new dedicated Audio Engineer), the beautiful Rachel Banta on MU/Hair & ofcourse, our favorite Fair Trade Services employee, the talented Nicki Silverman. Sola Fida
Couple pics below:
Rachel Banta : Hair and Makeup
Wes Wages :: aka Stand In
Alex : Audio Engineer :: Standing In :: Bart Millard Video Shoot
Bart Millard Video Shoot :: Nicki Silverman
Bart Millard Video Shoot :: Our House Studio
Demo Reel of 2011
Posted by Joel Banta in Curb Records, Fair Trade Services, Holt International, inPop Records, Integrity Music Publishing, Production, The Christmas Shoes Tea on January 16, 2012
Our Cinemagraphs: Still Photos with Subtle Motion
Posted by Joel Banta in Cinemagraphs, Curb Records, Fair Trade Services on January 13, 2012
Photos with motion…not just your regular animated Gif…these are “Cinemagraphs.” It’s really in some sense, going back to Photography in Motion, well isolated motion, or atleast the setup is, just supped up with some After Effects in post (how i love AE). Tricky to piece together, we kept our proof of concept simple & look forward to offer the capability to clients (as do all who’ve broken the code on these little fellahs). Here’s some pictures from a recent photo shoot we did for a client assembling a comp card for a few agencies. We took the liberty to shoot some Cinemagraphs of our own with the Miss Rachel Bedsole. The lovely Rachel Banta did all the Style / Hair / MakeUp.
We actually shot these a month after Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg first debuted their idea at the New York Fashion Week in 2011. Soon as we saw them on Pinterest, we knew they were going to sweep the marketing online arena…and they have! Though, still can’t figure why Kevin Burg and Jamie Beck went with the word “Cinemagraph”…I would’ve gone “Cinemagif”…too easy, I know.
Cinemagraphs:
Cinemagraph in the Waiting Room with Lovely Lady
Cinemagraph Mirror with Lovely Lady
Cinemagraph on a Rainy Day with Lovely Lady
If you haven’t seen the previous Cinemgraphs we’ve done for Clients Curb Records & Fair Trade Services:
Heather Williams :: Fair Trade Services
Cinemagraph Heather Williams
Plumb :: Curb Records
Plumb Cinemagraph
Sola Fida!
Phillips, Craig & Dean album promo video
Posted by Joel Banta in EPK's, Fair Trade Services on December 1, 2011
Our team recently had the chance to work with a veteran to the music scene, Phillips, Craig & Dean. We headed down to Montgomery to tape they’re EPK. Really enjoyed working/shooting the guys, really came away with some great images. Thanks again, to our team on this project: Rachel Banta (MU/Hair…the best) & Wes Wages. Thanks again to Fair Trader Services for the work!
Wes Wages and Joel Banta review b-roll of Phillips, Craig & Dean
Wes Wages, Phillips, Craig & Dean
Our wonderfully talented HAir/MU girl, Rachel, Philips, Craig & Dean
Montgomery Performing Arts, Center, Phillips, Craig & Dean
Joel Banta, Wes Wages, Phillips, Craig & Dean
Winter Jam tour : Promo Video
Posted by Joel Banta in Motion Graphics on October 25, 2011
Had the honor to work with Winter Jam creating their Promo Video for the 2012 tour. This piece was entirely an After Effects motion graphics piece, meaning a good chunk of time, but well worth the end result!!! This piece is used on the Winter Jam tour website, jamtour.com advertising the nations largest tour in attendance of 2010! Other elements created will be used as countdowns & background motion graphics at the 47 city tour. Shout out Thanks go to Troy VanLiere for lining me up the opportunity & being a great producer & friend!
Jaci Valesquez album promo video
Posted by Joel Banta in EPK's, inPop Records, Online Video Content on October 21, 2011
We had the opportunity to work with InPop Records taping an EPK for Jaci Valesquez. She really has a powerful testimony & fantastic voice! Shot the piece over at the famous “Sound Kitchen” in Franklin, TN! Really glad to have Alex Wittscheck our new Audio Guru!! Here are some pics from the shoot:
Jaci Valesquez shoot : (l to r) Andrew Patton (GM inPop) , Joel Banta, Chris, Jaci Valesquez
Jaci Valesquez
Jaci Valesquez shoot :: Rachel Stand-In
Jaci Valesquez shoot :: Audio Guru :: Alex Wittscheck
Haiti with Newsong
Posted by Joel Banta in Holt International on October 16, 2011
Our team had the privilege to travel to Haiti with Newsong to capture what Holt International is able to accomplish through the fans of Newsong & others on the WinterJam Tours. Haiti being the poorest country in the Americas, Wes Wages from Armosa Studios & Joel Banta found it to be emotional & spiritually difficult capturing such a impoverished nation. Working with Troy Van Liere of WinterJam/Newsong, the final piece is used to encourage the 500,000 attendees of the WinterJam tour 2012, to partner with the people of Holt International. Below are a few behind the scene pics from our trip.
In Haiti Filming for Holt International & Newsong
Wes Wages shooting in Haiti
photo credit: Wes Wages
Joel Banta shooting in Haiti
Setting up the Glide Track in Haiti
Sunset TimeLapse in Haiti
Marie Miller: Music Video Shoot
Posted by irvinbuffalo in Curb Records, Music Videos on September 9, 2011
Our Bilby Films team had the awesome chance to work with Curb Records, Directing/Producing a music video shoot for their artist Marie Miller. We really had a strong crew that day, really came away with great imagery! Capture the early morning magic hour, to the setting sun magic hour.
Solo deo Gloria
Marie Miller: Shooting on the RED EPIC
Marie Miller Music Video: Hunter, Bill Schweikert, Wes Wages
Joel Banta, Marie Miller, Rachel Banta
Barn Scene of Marie Miller Music Video: The Crew
Marie Miller Music Video:: 6AM:: Adam Oldacre, Alex, The Crew
Marie Miller Music Video : Alex and Adam Oldacre
Marie Miller Music Video :: Red EPIC hovering over the pond...
Sara Groves album promo video
Posted by Joel Banta in EPK's, Fair Trade Services on August 4, 2011
Thanks to Fair Trade Services in bringing us back to produce the EPK & Performance pieces of the very talented Sara Groves. Filmed on location at Charlie Peacock’s Arthouse America outside of Nashville, TN, a beautiful 100 year old church renovated as a creative place, location was strikingly beautiful. Steve Mason, of Jars of Clay, provided Sara Groves with some BGV & guitar to her performing four songs off her album. Thanks to Rachel Banta for providing her amazing gifts in Hair & Makeup for Sara. Thanks also to Wes Wages from Armosa Studios, always invaluable.
Below are some pics from our shoot:
Sara Groves Shoot Wes Wages and Joel Banta
Sara Groves Shoot Joel Banta
Sara Groves Shoot Wes Wages, Dan Michaels and Joel Banta
Sara Groves and Steve Mason (Jars of Clay) Shoot
Glory to God
Phil Wickham “Response” album promo video
Posted by Joel Banta in EPK's, Fair Trade Services on August 3, 2011
We were afforded the opportunity to work again with a very creative talented singer/song writer Phil Wickham, for a ‘Behind the Scenes’ look / ‘Press Kit’ of his album “Response”. Thanks to Fair Trade Services & specifically the planning by Nicki Silverman (who regretfuly wasn’t able to attend the taping), Dan Micheals & our Bilby Films team (Rachel Banta, Joel Banta and Wes Wages (from Armosa Studios), were really able to capture some beautiful images & touching stories for Phil Wickham’s worship ablum ‘Response.’ Props goes out to Derek West, for allowing us to tape in his amazing studio!
Phil Wickham and Wes Wages
Phil Wickham and Dan Michaels
Wes Wages with Stedicam rigged for Canon 5D Mark II
Joel Banta running boom Phil Wickham
Glory to God for answering prayers in getting us the magic hour. Like my father says “Timing is Everything”.
Cinemagraph :: Heather Williams
Posted by Joel Banta in Cinemagraphs, Fair Trade Services, Online Video Content on July 8, 2011
Just recently completed our second Cinemagraph, props to Rachel Banta for the great hair & makeup for our wonderful talent (who will remain unnamed until released). Props to Wes Wages for grip’n the shoot & keeping us sharp.
What’s a Cinemagraph?!…simple, a Cinematic photo with motion. I prefer to call them Cinemagifs, as they are GIF files, not videos.
very talented artist....who will remain unnamed until released by her label
some BEHIND the SCENES pics:
Rachel working the magic!
Wes Wages jamin to some good tunes!
Wes Wages: best stand in
great job team!
Sola Fida!
Defining Moments: Auburn Documentary: Punt Bama Punt
Posted by Joel Banta in Editing, Flashlight Media Group on July 5, 2011
We just finished some time outside of Memphis, TN in Germantown, hired to do final edit on a soon to be released DVD Auburn Football Documentary, titled “Punt Bama Punt”. One of three DVD’s going to retail, Flashlight Media Group the producers & creators of “Nick Saban, Gamechanger” feature film, and the “Defining Moments” football series of which is now focusing attention to the 2010 National Champs, Auburn Tigers. ”Defining Moments” takes one key play and documents the history/makings of that moment. Should be finished just in time for the 2011 football season. This first 45 minute DVD, titled “Punt Bama Punt” focusing on the defense team of 1972′ Auburn football, and specifically Bill Newton, whose key blocks, help the Tigers win their Iron Bowl game. The second DVD will be about Bo Jackson and the last DVD will be Cam Newton & the 2010 National Championship!
Here’s a screen shot of Final Cut Pro loaded up with about 50 minutes of Glory! 
Thank you to my wife, for traveling with me to Germantown, TN!
-Sola Gratia
Battle of Crooked Creek
Posted by Joel Banta in Cullman County Museum, Production on June 25, 2011
We just finished off an intense full day of filming for the Cullman County Museum, the Battle of Crooked Creek. Really created a solid team for this shoot consisting of: John Kelton (Producer), Adam Oldacre (A Camera), David Boyett (ATV Stedicam Driver), Joel Banta (Director/Stedicam Operator), Tony Scott (Grip/Driver) and Bob McLendon (Wrangler/Historic Wardrobe provider). Shot on location of the Historic site of the Battle of Crooked Creek.
Created an ATV Stedicam rig to capture epic cinematic shots of Union & Rebel horse/mule mounted infantry chasing each other. Used the Stedicam Pilot unit, bolted on to a Sportsmen 700 Polaris ATV. Gear used: Canon 5D MarkII, Nikon D7000 & GoPro.
Thanks to: Elaine Fuller, Bob McLendon & the Boyetts for help pulling this production together.
See Below for pics from the shoot:
ATV StediCam Adam Oldacre, Joel Banta, David Boyett
Rigging up ATV Stedicam unit, prepping for take
Adam Oldacre (A Camera Op) with his Nikon D7000 on his Jag35 Follow Focus Shoulder Rig
Rigging up the GoPro on a Gun
L-R: Jackie Spiegle as Streight, Adam Oldacre, John Kelton (Producer) cameo as Nathan Bedford Forest
Currently this footage is in the edit room: Here are some screenshots of the RAW footage below:
SCREENSHOT from FOOTAGE: Confederate In The Saddle at Night
SCREENSHOT from FOOTAGE: Rebel's chasing Union on Trail
SCREENSHOT from FOOTAGE: Union running ahead of Rebels: Bob McLandon leading the pack
SCREENSHOT from FOOTAGE: Union Infantry mounted on Mules
SCREENSHOT from FOOTAGE: Union Mounted on Infantry
SCREENSHOT from FOOTAGE: Through Crooked Creek
POSTED JUNE 9, 2011: Location scouting for the Battle of Crooked Creek filming. On location to the original site within Cullman County where the battle took place. Took some shots from the location from different angles where we’ll be staging 10x fully dressed out mules/horses with riders.
“Plumb” Cinemagraph
Posted by Joel Banta in Cinemagraphs, Curb Records, Online Video Content on June 6, 2011
Plumb cinemagraph! These are gif files, so they are light & quick to load best suited for a website or online content. This is one we did of the artist Plumb!
Plumb Cinemagif :: size:: 640pixels
Joel Banta
Bilby Films
‘The Christmas Shoes’ TEA
Posted by Joel Banta in Holt International, Online Video Content on June 6, 2011
Some, maybe many, dare I say mostly all have either seen or heard of ‘The Christmas Shoes’ song, book or movie. Well this Christmas, the author of The Christmas Shoes book series will be touring her “Christmas Tea”. We had the wonderful opportunity to help Troy & Donna VanLiere create a promo for their upcoming Christmas conference. It’s so great to have the chance to work for such a creative & awesome team, love the event they’ve put together for Women’s ministries across America. Wes Wages from Armosa Studios came & brought his ‘A Game’ & my beautiful wife made the talent look stunning! Through God’s great architect, we also had the opportunity to bring in a talented Voice Over from LA (once from Franklin). Some may remeber him from the Gaither Vocal Band or as a prolific writer (Steve Green & Sandi Patty), Jon Mohr. Glory to God for the opportunity to produce this piece!
Here’s the piece:
Below are some pics from the shoot:
The Christmas Tea promo set :: VanLiere Home
The website:
http://thechristmastea.com/
Plumb with Dan Haseltine
Posted by irvinbuffalo in Curb Records, Online Video Content on May 26, 2011
Had the awesome opportunity to work with Plumb (Tiffany Lee) and Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay) for a “Story Behind the Song” piece. Wes Wages brought out the new SteadiCam & shot some broll of the photo shoot. We all loved having the chance to work at Craft Studio in Nashville watching Caleb Kuhl work aswell Samantha Roe from Max At Creative.
Wes Wages || Rachel
Joel Banta on 5D MKII, Wes Wages on audio