Quarter Productions | Stebs Schinnerer

Written by Andrew Payne on March 23, 2010 - 1 Comment
Film, Photography, USA

It’s fantastic to see a group of very talented artists getting their due respect and proper exposure.
I’m fortunate to have been introduced to the group The Fringe Movement via Michael Dacey (Repeat Press). The Fringe Movement is a cooperative of sorts in Somerville MA, consisting of about a dozen artists/businesses, each working in various design-related fields: Printing, Fashion Design, Bicycle Frame Building, Film Making, etc…

By banding together and supporting one another, The Fringe Movement has found success. Certainly each artist or business can easily stand on its own, but with the help of each other, they are able to piggyback on each partner’s related projects.

A very key partner in this group has been Steven Schinnerer (Stebs, as most people call him) of Quarter Productions (now called Paper Fortress Films). As mentioned in my recent Repeat Press post, Stebs is the artist behind the Letterpress Coasters video.
Through his considerable talents as a cinematographer, he has helped put his partners in the best light – and into an internet-friendly format as well. Stebs’ work is not just reserved for his close friends though. For such a young guy, he is quite sought after. Established bands, high profile web magazines (Highsnobiety and such), and many varied businesses have made Quarter Productions the source for fresh and artistic video.

Quarter Productions’ Studio: note the oh-so-necessary skate ramp in the background! The photo was taken by Keenaphoto, a buddy of Stebs who also shares the space.

Stebs directs and shoots his subjects very organically. Certainly not a control freak- he’s more of an opportunist and keen observer. Not one for storyboarding and over planning either, he likes to be in the moment and prefers shooting off the cuff- as he puts it “not faking the funk”. Using mostly natural light, an upbeat atmosphere, and positive attitude (in both himself and his subjects) will often yield the best results.

At the same time being a very visual person, Stebs’ original inspiration is often audial. Music sets things in motion as the songs present themselves as images in his head of what he’d like to see during the course of the song. From there, he builds his video as a free-form concept and refines it to the finished end-product that we see.

He gets a lot out of his small assortment of cameras and editing equipment, keeping things rather spare and relying on capturing the right footage. Some of his arsenal includes: Canon 5D MkII, Sigma 70-200mm 2.8f, Canon 17-40mm 4.0f, Canon 50mm 1.4f, and Rode Stereo Mic, MacBook Pro w/ 24 inch Cinema Display and Final cut Express HD

To quote his site’s bio “I am here to create bodies of work that transcend popular entertainment. To bridge the gap between common perception and the infinite. Moving pictures do not only bring life to stagnant ideas, they can bring together people from all over the world, and with the right ingredients, empower the masses. I am here to create a visual revolution.” Bold words from a bold talent.
Keep your eyes open for Stebs’ work. We are sure to see much more from him in the coming years.