Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Stone.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Carly. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always had an interest in filming. As a kid, I would shoot cooking shows or extreme home makeovers in my treehouse in the backyard with friends. Then in my teenage years, I started pursuing the passion more seriously by taking film classes, attending camps and seeking out mentors. Growing up homeschooled really gave me the freedom to dive into my interests which were all of the arts: writing, dancing, drawing, speaking French, playing instruments and of course filmmaking. But besides the arts, my life has revolved around the beach, my dad surfs and my whole family is a total typical California beach family so it was only natural that I wanted to combine my love for the ocean with my career!
I entered a few student film festivals as a teen and won some awards (including a student surf film fest) and that’s what really drove me to keep filmmaking. I took film classes through Open University at CSULB and during that time reached out to my favorite surf filmmakers and asked them questions about what it’s like working in the industry. They gave me some of the best advice I’ve ever received and talking with them was a huge stepping stone on my journey. Most of them suggested I apply for an internship at a surf magazine or company, so that’s exactly what I did and I ended up landing an apprenticeship with the videographer at Rip Curl. Things really took off after I worked with him and I was able to get my foot in the door. Now, two years later I can proudly say that I am so happy with where I am, doing what I love. I have a dream job as a videographer!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was a struggle just getting into the industry when I was looking for internships I was turned down many times so I had to stay persistent. I would say the main struggle currently is having enough stamina for long days shooting on the beach, and then sorting through hundreds of clips to narrow it down into a short video.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I create promo videos, event recap videos, online streaming videos and music videos for companies, foundations and individual clients. I love working with artists and athletes especially and highlighting their accomplishments as well as their unique skills and talents! One thing that sets me apart from others is that I have a musical background (I play three instruments) and music has always been a major part of my life. When creating edits I thoroughly enjoy searching for the perfect piece to set the video too. I think that combining music with visuals is such a powerful aspect of storytelling and it really makes the film connect with the audience.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel like the quality that is most important to my success is just being a kind human being, as well as being hard-working and reliable. You can count on me to show up, do my job and get it done in a timely manner. I am also great at documenting special moments (that some people might not notice) and I have an eye for composition and framing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.seastoneproductions.com
- Email: seastoneproductions@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seastoneproductions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seastoneproductions
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