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SHUTTERSTOCK | The Create A Fund| Article by Caitlin Abber

Stephen Small-Warner’s unique films are made for mobile devices. Here are his thoughts on vertical videos and advice for creating captivating content. 

Stephen Small-Warner wants you to turn content upside-down. His perspective? Vertical video—i.e. the way we watch Tiktoks, Reels, and ads on our mobile devices—is a much more human, intimate way to connect with the viewer.

Since 2007, the Howard University and NYU graduate has argued this point by creating captivating, complex film and video—all shot and delivered vertically—for companies like Vogue, American Express, Fedex, and Fendi. But, he heard no a lot before he got where he is today. 

Now that the rest of the world is finally catching on to the power of vertical video, Small-Warner is vindicated and excited to see more of the style he loves present in all aspects of our lives.

He’s launching his own vertical video picture company, Vertical Motion Pictures, and preparing to welcome his first child this summer.

SHUTTERSTOCK | THE CREATE A FUND GRANT WINNER

What is your craft?

Filmmaking. More specifically, Director/ DP. I enjoy translating visuals to tell stories and/or create experiences.

How do you want to challenge the stock content industry? 

More vertical, more culture. The stock content industry, like most, lacks diversity. Not just cultural but the actual content itself. Shooting the entire collection in vertical is my first challenge to the industry. The second was to narrow in on “generic moments” from a cultural lens. 

How would you describe your aesthetic style? 

I have a very docu-realistic style. I’m a huge fan of cinema verite—usually big, soft single-sourced lighting. While I love rich colors, I tend to focus on texture, especially skin & surfaces. My camera movements are locked down & very minimalistic. 

SHOUTOUT LA | Meet Stephen Small-Warner

“We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephen Small-Warner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephen, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“Walk by faith, not by sight”, I’m more spiritual than religious, so I didn’t first hear this from the Bible. Before I picked up a camera, I was thinking about dropping out of college. In discussion with my mother, she told me this quote, and as a person who visualizes everything, this just hit different at the time. I literally picked a camera up a week later. Eventually, I tatted this on the back of my arm as a reminder that you don’t always have to see things for them to exist. There have been times that it would slip my mind, and strangers would stop me and say ‘I like your tatt,’ instantly reminding me to leave room for faith. It bridges the gap to our most powerful visions.”

VoyageLA| Introducing Stephen Small-Warner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Small-Warner.

Stephen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Since I was young, I was given a lot of freedom, which led to an interest in many things. From building computers to playing soccer to running a car wash service on my block. I was into whatever would challenge me. This concerned my mother so much that she would always tell me: don’t be the jack of all trades and a master of none. She was both right and wrong. Right, that I needed a focus. Wrong, that I needed to stop engaging in many practices. I got good at being able to find principles that applied across various topics or activities.

TRIBECA FILM INSTITUTe| Introducing TFI's Filmmaker in Residence

Stephen Small-Warner is TFI's first Filmmaker in Residence, a new program spotlighting promising talent & harnessing their unique perspectives to help tell TFI's story.