Musical Theater Pivot – The Lion King

Over one year ago, when everything shut down and all of our events postponed, we were in total shock and were really bummed to be taking a forced sabbatical. Most of the events that were postponed were weddings, but one musical theater company we work with also had to postpone. Eventually the performance got canceled but since the students were completely finished with their show, the director and I started talking about how we could pivot the situation for the kids.

The plan was to film parts of the show on location and create kind of a movie for the kids. I loved what the director said about the whole situation. On the one hand, everyone had to lose out on things last year, and learning to cope with loss is a good skill to learn. But on the other hand, if there is an option to pivot, that is also a good skill to learn. We went with pivot!

The musical was Shrek and we filmed everything outside with students 6 feet apart, lip syncing the songs and all the adults involved social distancing and wearing masks. We only had about a week to film everything but it turned out really cute! The students enjoyed a new experience and they didn’t have to throw away all the work they had done.  The only bummer about this whole event was the lack of the event. There was no show!

Now a whole year later, the director reached out to me again to chat about doing another show but actually planning for a movie this time. We knew that the students would likely not be able to perform once again since we were still on a pretty strict lockdown. So we decided to do a full show and just take more time with it. So we spent our entire April on location filming for the Lion King! It’s been quite the adventure. We’ve been all over the place to find the perfect locations from Anza Borrego desert and Glamus to Santee and just in our own backyard in Escondido. The students, parents, choreographer, and director are all such a joy to work with. I am just in awe that these are middle school kids. And they got a show! They rented out the brand new Ritz Theater in Escondido and had movie times throughout May to show it. They also had some performances with live elements, with the students dancing along with the movie. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience for all.

Here’s the teaser trailer and some behind the scenes.

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://vimeo.com/544026668″ lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=750 videoheight=422 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://sidebysidecinema.com/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

 

Risa + Andrew – Japanese Friendship Gardens

We have filmed a lot of weddings over the years, but this was our very first leap day wedding! If you had a leap day wedding, would you celebrate on February 28th or March 1? What a fun day to choose! We had such a wonderful night (despite being blissfully ignorant of what was about to happen to the world just a couple of weeks later) at this wedding enjoying the breathtaking cherry blossoms at the Japanese Friendship Gardens.

After the two got ready with their wedding party, they had a first look and then enjoyed some glorious photo time with all the cherry blossoms. The gardens are just so beautiful this time of year and they were able to take advantage of all the nice areas. The arriving guests could also check out the koi ponds and enjoy lovely weather.

The ceremony was in a spot we hadn’t done before at the Japanese Friendship Gardens, so it was a fun change! They got married on the bridge over the beautiful water feature. The ceremony was so sweet with a song performed by family and The cherry blossoms were out of control beautiful, and if you’re local to SD you should get to the JFG in Balboa park and see them for yourself. They are currently in bloom as the couple just celebrated their one year anniversary!

The reception was really fun. They had everyone’s name on a hand folded paper crane and the table names were all postcards and memories from places they’ve visited. The food was absolutely amazing. There were three food stations with delicious options for everyone. The first dance was super fun because the couple had a choreographed routine which was so fun. They had a photo booth and lovely speeches and family dances. There was also a beautifully displayed dessert table, so delicious!

Sometimes we will run into past couples and they always ask if we remember them. We usually do because we have spent so much time working on your wedding memories. But I think this wedding I’ll never be able to forget because it was the last one we filmed before the whole world shut down. It has been a year now and it brings up lots of feelings for us. We miss weddings and can’t wait until things are back to normal.

For now, enjoy the memories!!

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://vimeo.com/413324082″ lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=750 videoheight=422 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://sidebysidecinema.com/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

Japanese Friendship Gardens

From the couple:

My husband was on the fence about whether we needed a videographer for our wedding and thought that having a photographer would be enough. One year later, his family still asks for links to our wedding videos. Our photos are treasured by us, but nothing could capture the exact energy and tone of the night like our partners at SidebySide could. We found Danielle and Jared to be wonderful partners through the entire process. They explained everything we needed to do and were patiently in the background for all of the most important highlights of our big day. The end result is just so impressive to us and is something we keep going back to one year later. Their sense of timing and framing is impeccable. Our wedding was exactly one year ago. Many of our vendors told us we were the last event that they worked for a long time. As we look to a brighter future, here’s hoping you have the opportunity to work with Danielle and Jared at SidebySide to capture your own incredible memories.

Music – Lumineers – Licensed through Fyrfly

Venue – Japanese Friendship Gardens

Planner – Events Inspired

Film – SidebySide Cinema

Photography – Heidi-O Photography

Catering – Culinary Concepts

Flowers – Tess Fresh Flowers

DJ – Dancing DJ Productions

Desserts – Extraordinary Desserts

Hair & Makeup – Meleah and Co.

 

 

Wedding Party Gifts

We loved teaming up again with Groovy Girl Gifts! Looking for something fun for your wedding party? These bags are so cute and well made! They have a variety of different options, take a look!!

Handbags
Everyday Totes

Chandra + Jack – Intercontinental Wedding Film

Oh where to start with these two. This is the last wedding we filmed in 2019 and it was such a beautiful event. Now looking back, it feels so weird to see images of such a large wedding, oh boy do we miss events!! We cannot WAIT until things are back to normal.

Ok, back to Chandra and Jack! If they seem familiar, it’s because we filmed their love story video earlier in the year and then debuted it on the wedding day to all the wedding guests. It was so lovely to spend time working on that video and then also seeing them again on their wedding day.

Jack got ready at his awesome yellow house in Little Italy. Chandra had a wonderfully calm getting ready time with espresso, champagne and beautiful details. The two didn’t do a first look and instead opted to have Chandra come down the aisle at the beautiful church for the first look. The priest was so funny and not only had some wonderful things to say about the two but some funny quips as well.

After the ceremony they had a surprise mariachi performance for all the guests. Jack and Chandra enjoyed the performance for a while and then drove around town for some photos. Meanwhile the guests were enjoying a lovely cocktail hour overlooking the bay with live music and a gorgeous sunset.

The reception was at the beautiful Intercontinental in downtown San Diego. The decor was off the hook with the white flowers and black candles and all the greenery. There was live entertainment during dinner and then a surprise performance by Evelyn “Champagne” King, which was so awesome and fun and kicked off the rest of the night with all the dancing!

We hope you enjoy this wedding film 🙂

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://vimeo.com/493053433″ lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=750 videoheight=422 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://sidebysidecinema.com/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

 

Vendors:

Venue – Intercontinental and Our Lady of Rosary

Planner – Intertwined Events

Film – SidebySide Cinema

Photography – Andy King

DJ – DJ Rue

Live Music – Sasha

Singer – Evelyn “Champagne” King

Flowers – Parker and Posies

Cake – Dessertier

Rentals – Chiavari Rentals and Signature Party

Merry Christmas 2020!

Hey everyone! This year was just a wild ride wasn’t it?

We don’t share many personal videos, but once a year we do! Enjoy our fourteenth annual Christmas card video! And if you’re new here, check out our old ones too! (p.s. we are aware we’re super dorks ok)

Check out our previous years!! 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2012 bloopers, 2011, 2011 bloopers, 2010, 2009, 2008 & 2007

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://vimeo.com/494589547″ videowidth=750 videoheight=422 keepaspectratio=1 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://sidebysidecinema.com/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

Negin + Tom – Camarillo Wedding Film

Negin and Tom had a wonderful wedding back in January. They had a small backyard micro wedding before micro weddings were all the rage! haha. Not two months after their wedding did the world shut down. But we were so thankful we were able to film some weddings before all the 2020 shutdown of events began.

Tom’s parents hosted this wonderful day at their home. My parents and Tom’s parents go waaaay back. My mom went to school with his mom and so it was really neat that we could be there with them to capture this incredible day. The two had a small wedding party, just Tom’s sister (we’ll be filming her wedding next!) and Tom’s best friend.

They had a first look at the museum nearby their house for some beautiful photo time and then they had their ceremony in the same park. At their ceremony they showed some videos that Negin’s family in Iran recorded for her since they weren’t able to make it. It was another foreshadow of events to come with virtual attendance! Tom’s dad officiated the ceremony and they walked Negin down the aisle since her parents couldn’t be there.

The cocktail hour and reception were back at Tom’s parents’ house. They had a tent set up in the back yard and it was such a wonderful set up. They had a wonderful set up of food, drinks and a fantastic dessert bar! I mean, churros, apple crisp, salted caramel brownie bites, come on!!

We really had a wonderful time up in Camarillo with these two lovely people on their special day. We wish them the best and hope you enjoy their wedding film!

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://vimeo.com/412992114″ lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=750 videoheight=422 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://sidebysidecinema.com/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

Vendors:

Venue – Private Home

Film – SidebySide Cinema

Photography – Katie Moos Photography

DJ – DJ RayRay

Catering – Seasons Catering

Rentals – Party Pleasers

Cake – A Gift of Taste

Flowers – Camarillo Flower Shop and Gifts

Heather and Eric – Ramona Wedding Films

We have seriously been blessed with some of the best couples ever! We were so lucky to be working with this family again and we just loved catching up with the whole family. The venue was absolutely beautiful and Heather and Eric had the sweetest day.

The guys got ready in the cellar and the girls had a cabin for their getting ready time. I loved Heather’s hair piece (and it had to get sewn on to her head!!) and she decorated her getting ready room with her favorite quotes from Friends, so fun! And the guys enjoyed laughing together. After they got ready, Heather’s girls prayed for her and she was surprised by an out of town guest! They didn’t do a first look but they did hold hands around a corner to pray together, and Heather did a first look with her dad.

Their ceremony was in front of a beautiful huge oak tree. One of the bridesmaids played guitar and sang during the unity sand ceremony and the officiant had a lovely message for everyone. After the ceremony everyone went up to the cave for cocktail hour for yummy treats, drinks and games! It was a really warm day but everyone had an amazing time. Heather and Eric took amazing photos by the lake and through the vineyard.

The reception was so much fun! They had wonderful speeches and kept getting hints throughout the night about what their gifted honeymoon would be! The dancing was off the hook and all the guests danced for hours. They had a churro and ice cream station later on which was absolutely fabulous. And at the very end of the night they had a bubble exit for the send off. We hope you enjoy these two lovelies as much as we did!

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://vimeo.com/449874569″ lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=750 videoheight=422 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://sidebysidecinema.com/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

Vendors:

Venue – Milagro Winery

Film – SidebySide Cinema

Photography – Gabriel Conover

archives

Search Posts

Categories