Invisible Arts was created by
Beau J. Leland to facilitate a need for a hub in the independent film and music world in Oklahoma City. With work ranging from music videos to documentaries, Invisible Arts works with other collaborative-based facilities in the area to create compelling work.
Primarily working as a post-production facility, it’s our belief that the best editing should go unnoticed. Film editing is often referred to as an unseen art, where the best artists remain invisible.
© 2009. Invisible Arts, Inc.
Aug
26
This is a ridiculous little video by my friend over at FieldGuide, Alan Novey. This is the result of being bored, having access to a Red One camera, and the need for a shave.
The man featured is Mr. Novey himself, camera by Mr. George Salisbury, with the occasional frame shot by yours truly.
Aug
19
Things are changing in the entertainment industry. The internet is providing almost unlimited access to just about anything, and as a result of this audiences are expecting more and more access for less and less commitment on their part. This translates to “We want the same content, but we want it for free.”
The film industry is learning this from the music industry, and while it can be very depressing for those of us who have chosen this career path, it’s also somewhat exciting to be on the forefront of change. What’s going to happen next, and how can we make it work. Perhaps this is a sign that art shouldn’t cost anything. You make it to make it, and give it to the people is like paying it forward. Yet, like Karma, making your art available for free may have it’s benefits.
Lance Weiler of workbookproject.com is a prime example of this mantra. Every day he shares his knowledge with those of us willing to listen (which I’m trying to be more disciplined in doing so), and this video is no different. From his DIY Days conference, here’s a video of the Tribeca Film Institute’s Brian Newman on “Free (plus fee).”
Aug
5
Those who know me know that I do a lot of work for the rock band, Hinder. I’ve been doing work for them off and on since they got together, back in April of 2001. A lot of people have a problem with Hinder, particularly those involved in the music scene in Oklahoma. I’ve never really fully understood this. As most of the guys in the band know, I’m not particularly fond of their genre of music, but they know I appreciate what it is that they do, and that they do it well. There is no denying it. And I’ll be damned if they don’t have some catchy tunes. They have been great friends to me, and are some of the nicest guys out there. They have been an insanely successful band, and in my opinion, they have earned every last bit of it. That’s not to say that there aren’t other bands out there that don’t deserve success just as much, but it’s important to know that their success wasn’t just handed to them.
As I mentioned above, I’ve been working with the band since the beginning, contributing to many of their early endeavors, and they’ve remained loyal to me throughout the years. And it’s in this respect that I find one of the more exciting reasons to be working in video production in this day and age. My production office is based in Oklahoma City, yet I have been able to create content for Hinder and Universal Music based in New York and California time and time again without having to travel (unless I travel to acquire footage, of course). There have been little to zero issues working in this way. I’m able to work on a draft of a project, shoot low res approval versions to the label in an email, and FedEx final copies overnight once approved.
Using this workflow, I’ve been able to produce 16 Webisode shorts, a 30 minute behind the scenes video, and the band’s music video for their recent single “Up All Night” (featured above), all without leaving my office in Oklahoma City.
I’m currently working on a new viral video for the band’s new single that, with a little luck, should be released soon.
Aug
2
Last week I went on the first shoot for the wife’s new documentary film currently titled “Where Did the Horny Toad Go?” This was the first of what is to be many trips as we make our quest to find out just exactly where this famed lizard has gone? Among our destinations were the small town of Kenedy, TX which has been dubbed the Horny Toad Capital of Texas; Kingsville, TX near the King Ranch where Texas A&M has a small wildlife preserve, and perhaps the most interesting place of all, the Island of Matagorda. Matagorda, which is off of the gulf coast of Texas, is a 38 by 2.5 mile island that serves as one giant wildlife preserve filled with rattlesnakes, wild boars, endangered birds, and what else, Texas Horned Lizards. AKA, Horny Toads.
Why the documentary on the Texas Horned Lizard? Stefanie grew up in Western Oklahoma, where looking for horny toads was a favorite pass time, as it was for just about every child. And not just with our generation, or geographical location. The more people she talked to, the more stories she heard about how much these little buggers are adored. And just about everyone asks the question, “Whatever happened to the Horny Toad?”
For as long as I’ve wanted to make films, I’ve wanted to make a difference, and two times now, my wife has been the one to make that happen for me. Who’d a thunk it? With her first film, Food For Thought, which is about farming and local agriculture, and now with the making of this one, I finally feel like I am starting to feed that romantic desire to change the world.
This film will be a long journey, but I know the final product will be well worth it. Keep checking in for more updates about our journey.