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By Sarah Fish

My first assignment with Team Creative Fire was to help out on a video shoot with Chris Simons (above) from Diesel Pictures. Our goal? To capture the essence of Briar Cliff University – the students, the experience, their setting nestled into the Loess Hills.

I admit, when I received a text about the assignment, I was a bit nervous. The vision I had about Briar Cliff was limited. The campus was small; there couldn’t be more than three buildings on campus. Not to mention that this seemed to be a place that kept to itself. Private. Awkward. Distant. But I committed to the project with the determination that I would “make it work” (Thanks, Timm Gunn)

The next day on a warm and breezy summer morning, I walked into our first location, the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace. I was taken aback. The immediate feeling was ethereal. From the outside, the building stood tall and appeared almost like a dorm. It was easy to miss. Stepping inside, it was filled with warm light from the stained glass windows. Light colored original woodwork filled the chapel from floor to ceiling.

A group of students laughed and joked in the pews with Michael as they waited for Chris and Thomas to orchestrate the next shot. The crew greeted me quickly, and Thomas began to give instruction.

“Here’s a camera. Your other main job is just to talk to these kids, get them going, smiling. And help Chris out.” My work was cut out for me.

I’ll admit I was a little nervous. We were working with videographer Chris Simons, whose eye for detail and dedication to his craft are unmatched. He’s been behind a camera since I was in nursery school. I had limited photo experience. He was taking control of the shoot, but I’m a girl who needs direction. The panic began to set in.
My mind raced: How does this camera work? I know none of these people. I haven’t been in college for 5 years.

I thought this photo shoot was going to be a disaster in the making.

Ok, back to the chapel. As I approach the piano where we were setting up our shot, I feel the drop in the pit of my stomach. And then it happens.

“Hi, what’s your name?”

“I’m Sarah, I work with Team Creative Fire and I’ll be taking some shots today of you guys!”

“Awesome! I’m Clayton,” said the young man seated behind the piano. He proceeded to introduce me to the rest of the group. They made me feel warm. Included. Special even.

The students at Briar Cliff made the day pass quickly. We joked about writing music, terrible college roommates and other stories that made me laugh until I cried. I even received an introduction to THIS song, which has since gone viral. All the students we met were energetic and fun, and some even showed off for the camera.

The landscape of the campus was also picturesque. A huge gym nestled under the ground, acres of tall grass surrounding the University and a tech-savvy campus. Additionally, I found the faculty to be down to earth and full of their own stories. Many, in fact, have established a national footprint, which traces back to Briar Cliff University.

And the best part? I got to work on a pottery wheel. Me. Molding and forming a piece of clay like Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore from “Ghost” with another BCU student. (Don’t’ act like you didn’t like that movie. Wait. Were you born when that movie came out?) Don’t worry. We kept it professional.

What I thought would be a limited experience with students from a small campus on a hill turned out to be eight hours of education on community and culture with a side of warm fuzzies. Here, nestled in the hills of Sioux City’s Northside was an incredible community on “The Cliff” as they call themselves. Warm, caring, friendly students with supportive faculty dedicated to the success of their university.

In addition to bright and bubbly students, Chris was great to work with, and made me feel like part of the shoots. He said “Come here, look at this angle!” or “Check out this lighting.” The natural light provided amazing backdrops, the perfect bonfire, an incredible sunset and a clear blue sky. We both smiled as we could feel the excitement – within ourselves and the students.

When we approach and plan a video shoot for clients, the best we can hope for is great scenes, good light and active participants. What we got to experience with this shoot was the fabric of Briar Cliff University – a campus thriving with warmth, inspiration and encouragement. It’s the stuff dreams are made of.
Thank you Briar Cliff University for an amazing experience. We can’t wait to tell everyone your story.

Sincerely,

~ A Briar Cliff University Groupie[/vc_column][/vc_row]