Boris FX User Story

Thurston Smith - Spartan Punk Productions, Inc.

Thurston Smith is an Emmy Award winning director, writer, producer and editor. Thurston received his Emmy while still in college for producing "The Richmond Rage - History in the Making" (1997) a documentary about a young women’s basketball team. Thurston currently works as a Producer and Senior Avid Editor at Getty Images. Thurston has created countless spots and award winning demos for companies such as Aquafina, Discovery and Quest. He co-directed and edited for Disney's feature length film "Illumination 2000 - Reflections of Earth" which aired at Epcot for one year.

"Whoa!", winner of the NY Film & Video festival
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"Whoa”, was originally planned as a one shot lock-down film, of a bored teenager looking at a painting, with no edits. The film took the POV of the painting looking back at this accidental museumgoer and thus tells the story of this teenager’s experience viewing it.

When the film previewed in New York, it got a favorable response, but I was not happy with it. I felt as though something was missing. The acting and shooting were strong but the film still felt somehow empty. So, I returned the film to the editing room and started looking for a solution to add more emotion and strength.

I had some Boris FX software that I had not used very often. I decided to add some filters in ”Whoa” using Boris FX. Right away, I was happy with the new look that these filters gave the film. I was amazed with Boris’s vast accessibility and ease of use. So I began pushing the envelope, by creating all sorts of new backgrounds and environments, to reinforce the characters’ experiences and emotions. After about two months of learning and playing with the software, I had created over 150 effects through Boris FX.

When I finished this new Boris edit, I once again previewed the film. This time I got a much different response. The audience could connect with the emotional journey of this teenager in ways beyond what I had hoped. People said, “that actor was amazing” and “what a performance!” It was Boris FX that brought out the full performance and emotion of the character!

Whoa recently won an award for best Short Film at the New York Festivals, and screens later this month at the Bermuda International Film Festival. “Whoa” has become a much fuller picture than I had anticipated, and great deal of that thanks goes to Boris FX, and their extensive software.

Three years ago, Thurston founded "Spartan Punk Productions, Inc" a small independent film company, which he used to produce two documentaries - "Silicon Alley Stories" and “Salvation for Siberia.” “Silicon Alley Stories” won best documentary (2001) at the New York Independent Film Festivals. Most recently, Spartan Punk Productions produced its first short film entitled “Whoa,” and is currently in production for another short film and a new documentary. Punk is also heading Post-production for “Sylvia’s Soul” a documentary about the famous Sylvia’s Soul Food restaurant in Harlem. Among the many awards Thurston has received, he has won thirteen awards at the New York Festivals (1998-2004) and five at the Chicago International Film Festival (2002-2003).