Creative City Podcast

Film Director Brandon Faris co-founded video production studio LEAPFrame in 2013, but his real first love is music. After studying sound production, he took on stints engineering music for commercials (he wrote a song a for Ford Truck ad!) and as a youth minister before learning to edit video by creating classic spots and mini-documentaries for Current TV. We talk about how he got his first videos on air, why he started his own podcast (Filmmakers Drinking Bourbon), and how he’s really a fashionista at heart.

We also discussed:

- Why getting a job as a used car salesman literally made him cry

- Realizing his sweet spot was between somewhere between editing in a dark room and new business development

- Product-izing and packaging the video production process

- How he always has multiple books in circulation (how?)

- Why he converted to a 15-piece capsule wardrobe (again, how?)

Visit:

brandonfaris.com

leapframe.com

@bfaris on Instagram

@brandonfaris onTwitter

fdbpodcast.com

thelineup.nyc

thestylesample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

To listen, head to www.creativecitypodcast.com or download on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher. Please share, subscribe and rate on iTunes.

Friends Suzy and Brittney met in the first day of class during their 2nd year in college, and have been inseparable ever since. They started Handzy (hellohandzy.com) as a graphic design studio, creating branding for small businesses and stationery for craft fairs before embarking on a new venture: retail. We talk about working with other independent creators, how a more visually holistic approach to design has streamlined their process, and why Instagram Friends are (almost) as good as IRL ones.

We also discussed:

- How having a shop started as an inside joke that quickly turned into a reality

- The process of creating and curating their rad Instagram images

- How wedding invitations are the bridge between client work and stationery design

- Why networking is not nearly as effective (or fun!) as friend-making

- How they approach blogging as a small business

Visit:

Handzy Design Shop + Studio, 15 W Pike Street, Covington, KY

hellohandzy.com

hellohandzy on Instagram, Pinterest & Facebook

CityFlea.com

PleasantryOTR.com

HotelCovington.com

BraxtonBrewing.com

TheHannaford.com

DurhamBrandCo.com (aka Boy Handzy)

Head to CreativeCityPodcast.com for links and previous episodes, and sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives.

Music by The Passion HiFi

Designer Chris Glass (chrisglass.com) intended to go to school to study film, but wound up in Visual Communication, transitioning from analog to computer-based work on the cusp of the digital revolution. We talk about how he progressed from creating CD-ROMS (remember those?) to designing the logo for the Obama administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, how taking daily photos turned into a motivator to lead an interesting life, and why the Beliebers came after him on Twitter.

We also discussed:

- How being attracted to a “rock sensibility” led him to design everything from album covers to t-shirts

- Finding the rhythm and the beauty of having mundane rest days

- His Haile Foundation Fellowship focused on learning more about photography and celebrating the way it can bring people together

- The importance of physically meeting in a space and exploring it together

- Launching the new PhotoScouting Cincinnati book (available April 3rd!) and Pixels & Ink co-working space

Visit:

chrisglass.com http://chrisglass.com

PhotoCorps.org http://www.photocorps.org/

pixelsand.ink http://www.pixelsand.ink

wireandtwine.com http://wireandtwine.com

@glass on Twitter

@thephotocorps on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thephotocorps/

PeoplesLiberty.org

Head to CreativeCityPodcast.com for links and previous episodes, and sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives.

Music by The Passion HiFi

We’re back for Season 4! In episode #31, I talk to Pam Kravetz, an Artist and Art Educator with a penchant for "tutus, big wigs, and faux furs.” She’s done everything from performative art and yarn bombing to teaching children and radical puppetry. We chat about how she found her voice as an artist, the importance of connecting with people through public art, and earning two college varsity letters as the University of Cincinnati Bearcat mascot(!)

We also discussed:

- Celebrating what you’re good at, and pushing yourself in areas you’re not

- How volunteering as a docent helped her realize she enjoyed talking about and teaching art

- Why teaching has made her a better artist and vice versa

- The need to say something different with her work in today’s political climate

- Letting go of the idea of perfection

Visit:

pamkravetzart.com

Pam Kravetz on Facebook

@pamkravetz on Instagram 

artworkscincinnati.org

brazeestreetstudios.com

www.pendletonartcenter.com

thestylesample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

Head to CreativeCityPodcast.com for links and previous episodes, and sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives.

Music by The Passion HiFi

For the final episode of Season 3, I talk to Project Manager Extraordinaire Janet Hill (janethillevents.com), who’s a pro when it comes to finding the path to get things done. She’s worked on everything from ArtWorks’ 21 Candles anniversary celebration to location management for the Marauders movie filmed here in Cincinnati. We chat about the reward of seeing a vision come to life, why collaboration is SO important on large-scale events, and how working at Kenner Toy Co was just as fun as you think would be.

We also discussed:

- How being a Girl Scout led to gaining experience organizing things and events

- How working on the opening of Sawyer Point Park and the Cincinnati bicentennial helped her quick start her career

- The secret to keeping up with all of the moving parts of a large-scale project

- Being more collaborative than competitive

- How to take advantage of unpredictable scenarios and go with the flow

Visit:

janethillevents.com

LinkedIn - Janet Hill

thestylesample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

Head to CreativeCityPodcast.com for links and previous episodes, and sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives.

Music by The Passion HiFi

Katie Fraser & Jacob Trevino founded Gorilla Cinema (gorillacinemapresents.com), a creative experience company. What started as a pop-up pairing cocktails and movies led to opening immersive bar environments (The Overlook Lodge, Video Archive) that are playful, approachable, and incorporate the element of surprise. We talk about the importance of building trust among your community of followers, their plans to create other large-scale immersive experiences, and how convenient it is to be able to store random stuff in your own bar.

We also discussed:

- Their mission of projecting wonder via guerrilla marketing

- Doing something that seems crazy with the intent of making something magical

- Bringing extra life to neighborhoods by being approachable and considering what works best for each area

- How they hope to foster a community of people who will bring their own creative ideas to life.

- Why they decided to give The Overlook Lodge's biggest fans keys to the bar

Visit:

- GorillaCinemaPresents.com

- GorillaCinema on Facebook

- gorillacinemapresents on Instagram

- @gorillacinema on Twitter

- gorillacinemapr on Pinterest

- thestylesample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

Head to CreativeCityPodcast.com for links and previous episodes, and sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives.

Music by The Passion HiFi

James Avant IV started Obsessive Cake Disorder (ocdcakes.com)

to make mental health more approachable by associating it with something positive—like cake. As the winner of the 2016 ArtWorks’ Big Pitch, he’s using the winnings to grow Bakeologie (bakeologie.co), a community kitchen with the goal of getting friends and neighbors around the table to eat, build, and create community. We talk about his background as a culinary instructor, the versatility of baking, and why he didn’t bring any cookies to share during our interview :-(

Also discussed:

- How he practiced for the ArtWorks Big Pitch and what he did with the Big Check

- Why his experience with multiple therapists led him to pursue a degree in Neurobiology

- Creating a class experience that is accessible, affordable, and social

- His current baking obsession (hint: it involves eclairs)

- What it’s like working at the Findlay Kitchen

Visit:

OCDCakes.com

Bakeologie.co

@jamesavantiv on Twitter

@ocdcakes on Instagram and Facebook

@bakeologies on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

@thestylesample on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat

Head to CreativeCityPodcast.com for links and previous episodes, and sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives.

Music by The Passion HiFi

Fashion Designer Jenifer Sult is the founder of Cut + Sewn (www.cutsewn.com), a multidisiplinary studio that provides design and sewing services in addition to a full product development package for fashion and soft-good product designers. Jenifer’s love of sewing started at an early age, when she started making her own clothes in elementary school(!), and hasn’t waned since. We talk about launching a collection of home-sewing patterns called Daughters of Style, how she helps clients get from the idea stage to the product stage, and why Cincinnati is the perfect place to start a fashion business.

We also discuss:

- The intuition and understanding that go into the art of pattern making

- Why 50% of her fashion designer clients come from New York City

- How she connects with small factories right here in the USA

- Being part of Artworks Big Pitch and launching a product with First Batch

- Opening the SHOWROOM storefront to showcase goods from independent designers

Visit:

www.cutsewn.com

Episode 19 featuring Cosette

Showroom independent designer showcase ([email protected])

cutsewncincinnati on Instagram

@cut_sewn on Twitter

@thestylesample on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat

Head to CreativeCityPodcast.com for links and previous episodes, and sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives.

Music by The Passion Hifi

Artist-Designers Janet Creekmore and Ben Neal focus on branding for retail, restaurant, and mixed-used lifestyle centers via creative studio Eye Candy (creativeeyecandy.com), but their passion can be summed up thusly: they design for place. We talk about their mobile gallery project POPPED ART, the benefits of being nosy, and how they bring high art into the design process.

We also discuss:

-How they initially partnered up and joined forces

-Becoming part of a community by activating underutilized spaces

-What they’ve learned working with People’s Liberty

-Why art and artists are crucial to economic development

-Tips for combining art and design

-The beauty of whiteboards and kanban, a visual process-management system

Visit:

creativeeyecandy.com

poppedart.gallery

@eyecandydesign on Instagram

@poppedartgallery on Instagram

@thestylesample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

Head to www.CreativeCityPodcast.com for links and previous episodes, and sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives.

Music by The Passion HiFi

Spoken Word Instructor Jori Cotton and Teaching Artist for music Nick Rose work with Elementz (elementz.org), an youth-focused organization dedicated to social and emotional development through the arts. We talk about poetry slams and music performance, the upcoming Artist Showcase, and the rewarding work of helping young people find their voice.

We also discuss:

-The Elementz Artist Showcase on Thursday October 27th, featuring music, dance and youth poetry

-Louder Than a Bomb and the new Poetry Out Loud program via a partnership with Ohio Arts Council

-Providing a space where young people can grow and ask questions

-Open community dance classes on Mondays (!)

Visit:

elementz.org

ElementzHipHop on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, SoundCloud, and Vimeo

TheStyleSample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

Featured music by Elementz artists:

“Brazilian" by Alex Stallings

"Callin’ Me" by T Rock

Head to CreativeCityPodcast.com for links and previous episodes, and sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives.

Intro & outro music by The Passion HiFi