In light of recent events internally within our company, I am faced with one of the hardest decisions in my life. After nearly 8 years of living and breathing wedding films, Starcross’d Creative will be closing it’s doors to wedding cinematography indefinitely. Through the years, I have been privileged to work with some of the best and most talented people ever in our craft, and have met some really great couples who have forever changed my life – some of whom I am now blessed to call my “friends”. The blessings have been plenty, but the mounting pressures of conflicting schedules and creative differences within the staff have overwhelmed our production.
For those hoping to have had Starcross’d capture your wedding, I deeply apologize that we cannot be a part of your day. However, I’d like to introduce you to a few friends of mine who are, no doubt, highly talented in their craft and generally good people: Loyd Calomay Films from Orange County (voted one of the Top 25 Event Filmmakers in the World), and Omnistories from San Diego.
Someone once asked me what the most memorable thing was that has ever happened in my whole career as a wedding videographer. The answer came to me easily. With every couple who has ever booked with Starcross’d Creative, I have grown to be close to them. We’ve met several times before their wedding day – sometimes filming other things before their wedding. We’ve shared laughs, and shared stories; we became friends… until the day came when I stood up near that altar – my camera in hand – and I witnessed my newfound friends vow to love one another for the rest of their lives. What was the most memorable thing? That moment right there. It may sound cheesy, but it’s true. How many of you can say that you get to witness that moment with new and different friends almost every weekend? I can. I had the best job in the world.
There is no doubt of my love for filmmaking. And perhaps, one day, I’ll find myself again with a camera in my hands and new friends to share it with. Until then, this blog will remain as a reminder of those who have given me the opportunity to share my talent with the world. Thank you for visiting and viewing our videos. I will forever be grateful to you all.
- Christoffer Dumlao
Executive Director, Starcross’d Creative
“Sometimes life is going to hit you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do…”
- Steve Jobs
Back in March, my good friend Mac Jimenez helped me film a wedding in Quezon City. So this time, it was time for me to return the favor at his brother’s wedding in Olongapo City. And to assist me with this wedding, I got help from my cousin/photographer Von Echaluse to be my 2nd shooter.
The challenge we had for this wedding was with equipment… or lack thereof. Without any glidetracks, glidecams, or a wide selection of lenses, we were forced to take it back to the basics. Is it possible to create an energetic video without these stabilizers that would allow us mobility?
Claire + Jeff // Same-Day Edit from Starcross’d Creative on Vimeo.
Preparations \\ Subic Bay Venetia Hotel
Venue \\ Ceremony: San Roque Chapel, Subic Bay \\ Reception: Olongapo City Convention Center
Song \\ “Chase Our Love” by Chris Brown
God is good… all the time!
Monica + Justin \\ Same-Day Edit from Starcross’d Creative on Vimeo.
Venue \\ Ceremony: St. Therése of Carmel \\ Reception: Marina Village
Photography by Zelo Photography \\ DJ/MC by Just 4 Fun Entertainment \\ Coordination by Diana Enriquez
Song \\ “Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap
John and I have just one sister – Kay. But as we were growing up, we also had cousins who were so close to us that we considered them also as sisters. Khrizna is one of these cousins. In fact, Kay and Khrizna are so close to one another, they are literally only one month apart in age. Hence the reason why our moms probably named them both with a “K.”
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the wedding as I am still out of the country, but so thankful that Starcross’d was there to capture it. It’s interesting to be on this side of the video – being the viewer who wasn’t there at the wedding. I appreciate even more the power of what video can do – the emotions captured through camera, and being able to see the faces of your loved ones a thousand miles away. The crew did such an amazing job capturing my family’s event; my other sister’s wedding. Welcome to the family, Tim!
And how appropriate is it that the song they chose for this couple – who is a doctor and a nurse – is a cover by ”The Cure.” :)
(Btw, the photo above is John’s daughter, Scenerry… and my son, Adon, the ring bearer)
Khrizna + Timothy \\ Same-Day Edit from Starcross’d Creative on Vimeo.
Venue \\ Ceremony: Stanford Memorial Church \\ Reception: Thomas Fogarty Winery
Photography by Jerry Yoon Photographers \\ Coordination by Parker-Kim Events
Song \\ “Just Like Heaven” by Charlotte Martin
06 May, 2010
{ vista } moonbay marina + isla vista beach resort \\ philippines
by: Chris Dumlao | 
(1) Comment
The last time I was in the Philippines was in 1982 when I was just 5 years old. I haven’t visited since, and I honestly don’t remember anything about the country. When I arrived here 3 months ago, I was in complete awe of everything around me – from the busy and fast-pace of Manila, to the simple life of the provinces, and the gorgeous, majestic views of the beach resorts. The Philippines is a really beautiful country! Since I left all my equipment back in the U.S., I knew I quickly had to get my hands on a camera here. So I picked myself up a Canon 7D.
One of the first things I filmed was a section of Subic Bay called Moonbay Marina. Prior to 1992, Subic Bay was once the home of the U.S. Navy. Since the closure of this Naval Base, Subic Bay became a freeport zone with more than 700 investment projects including a shipping yard, hotel resorts, casinos, restaurants, retails stores, and hospitals. Moonbay Marina makes up 18 hectares (44.5 acres) of Subic Bay. Along this coast is a number of hotels and restaurants including The Lighthouse, Pier One, and The Villas.
Isla Vista is a beach resort located in Candelaria, Zambales. This resort is actually owned by my uncle. After a weekend stay in Isla Vista, I knew I had to film it! One of the main attractions of this place is it’s easy access to Potipot Island located half a mile from the shore (just a 5 minute boat ride away). The island is famous for it’s white sandy beach and calm, crystal clear waters that completely surrounds the whole island. The island is so small that you can literally walk the circumference of it in less than 10 minutes! I felt like I was in paradise in Isla Vista.
There is so much to film here in the Philippines. Stay updated on our blog to see more in the future!
Moonbay Marina from Starcross’d Creative on Vimeo.
Isla Vista from Starcross’d Creative on Vimeo.
Songs
Moonbay \\ “Porcelain” by Moby
Isla Vista \\ “Umbrella Beach” by Owl City
Bridal party… check. Wedding rings… check. Grass skirts… check. Blessing from a luxury cruise ship in San Diego Bay as the couple gets married… well, we have that too!! We were wondering if the luxury liner knew to blow their horn just as the priest was asking for the guests’ blessings. ”Perfect timing” is a phrase that has much to do with the opening scene of this Same-Day Edit, and ultimately with Bermellyn and Russel’s relationship.
Their wedding day started with the perfect match of sunny skies and a beautiful clear view of Mission Bay at the Sheraton Harbor Island. That’s where the whole “island theme” of the wedding became very clear to us. Bridesmaids were dressed in light blue that matches clear tropical oceans. Groomsmen wore cool Kukui nut necklaces. Throughout the hotel room there were plumeria flowers, Maile leis, and Tahitian skirts and headdresses. It almost felt like we were all going to a luau!
The perfect weather and scenery continued over their ceremony at Admiral Kidd Club just a couple minutes away from the Sheraton. Again, being at their ceremony and reception, if we didn’t tell you this was in San Diego, you might think you just landed in Hawaii for a destination wedding. Even their guests had island attire. And to keep the day running – so to speak – Bermellyn and Russel ran straight into their reception! This had to be one of the most energetic grand entrances that we’ve ever filmed! The couple was screaming, the court was jumping, and the guests were going wild! There was just so much energy in the room that night.
It was a nice treat for us to eventually see the Tahitian Dance performance that was hinted at throughout the day. Bermellyn’s brother and friends also did a hip hop routine complete with front flips, back flips and a hilarious dance to the song “Nobody But You” by the Wonder Girls. Later on in the evening, the Nefalar family surprised the newlyweds with a fun choreographed line dance. It seemed like everyone really put their heart into contributing to the wedding day.
Our team had somewhat of a difficult time picking a song to use for their same-day edit. We eventually found “Hey Soul Sister” by Train and I think you’d agree that this song truly captured the energy of their day. Bermellyn and Russel couldn’t have picked a better time to start their lives together – it was all just in time. I encourage you to watch this video over and over a few times, because just like the song says, you won’t want to miss a single thing they do… tonight. Hey hey, heeeeeey, heeeeeeey!
Bermellyn + Russel \\ Same-Day Edit from Starcross’d Creative on Vimeo.
Venue \\ Ceremony & Reception: Admiral Kidd Club
Photography by En Pointe Photography \\ DJ/MC by DJ Showtime \\ Coordination by Swann Soirees
After filming so many weddings in San Diego, you’re bound to get the same venue time and time again. It can’t be helped. This is truly a beautiful city with some of the most breathtaking backdrops in which to get married. Yet no matter how familiar the venue, we find that the couple makes for a whole new experience. Josel and Brad were no exception.
A big family, big smiles and big hearts filled the Immaculata on the night of the wedding rehearsal. We couldn’t find one ounce of nervousness in Josel and Brad’s faces. It was no different on the morning of the wedding day.
One of the first moments that stood out to me was when Josel saw the beautiful work that her makeup artist did. She could not stop smiling! It felt like she didn’t have a care in the world. Both the photographer (Pete Redel) and I immediately captured the moment. That was truly a sign of how the day was to take shape. On the groom side, Brad was probably one of the most calm and cool grooms we’ve met so far. His smile definitely came to life once Josel was revealed at the ceremony.
The day continued to be blessed with laughter and sunshine right into the reception at The Dana in Mission Bay. Again, a familiar place, but a very different vibe. Guests were welcomed by the sounds of steel drum music and a sea of lit candles all with their names on them. How neat is that? The venue could hardly contain all the family and friends that came to the reception. 175 friends and family were in attendance that night! Needless to say, it was pure excitement from the moment the couple walked in for their grand entrance with their bridal party. It was our special honor and treat to present them with a Same-Day Edit at the end of the night to wrap up their day. From start to finish, Josel and Brad’s wedding was… something unique… something beautiful.
Josel + Brad \\ Same-Day Edit from Starcross’d Creative on Vimeo.
Venue \\ Ceremony: Immaculata, USD \\ Reception: The Dana on Mission Bay
Photography by Pete Redel Photography \\ DJ/MC by JMC Events \\ Coordination by Swann Soirees
One of our cinematographers, Rommel, had come to visit the Philippines to attend his cousin’s wedding in Quezon City. And since I was already here, he asked if I would want to film the wedding with him and create a same-day edit for his cousin and her husband-to-be. Although we didn’t have any equipment whatsoever other than 1 Canon 5DmkII, I was still up for the challenge!
I met with our good friend, Jason Magbanua (recently crowned EventDV Top 25 hottest and most influential filmmakers in the world for 2009). He graciously lent us some equipment for me to use during our shoot at the wedding. Our line-up of equipment was very minimal – 2 Canon 5DmkII’s, a nice selection of Canon lenses, 1 Glidetrack, and 1 Tripod! I asked fellow filmmaker from Olongapo City, Mac Jimenez, to be our 3rd crew member to assist our shoot.
We knew very little about the schedule of the wedding day, little knowledge of the city we were in, and the 1 tripod between 2 camera operators proved to be a huge challenge. We were really playing everything by ear. But all in all, everything seemed to work out!
Check out the Same-Day Edit we premiered that night followed by Rommel’s blog post underneath the video.
Janice + Gelo \\ Same-Day Edit from Starcross’d Creative on Vimeo.
Venue \\ Ceremony & Reception: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine Parish, Quezon City
Song \\ “The Time Of My Life” by David Cook
BY: ROMMEL ANDAYA
I was planning to go to the Philippines last year, but my mom suggested that I go when my cousin, Janice, got married. Since Chris was going there, I asked him if he would be willing to assist me in offering a SDE as a gift to my cousin. It would also be a great opportunity to show the Philippines what we can do.
Planning for the SDE was a challenge because communication between my cousin and me was very slow and difficult. Because Janice was so busy with planning her wedding, I was only getting bits of information through email. We basically came into this shoot knowing that we would be doing it “on the fly,” because we were not familiar with the structure of Philippine weddings and did not know what to expect.
The first time I met Gelo was actually on the wedding day. I also haven’t seen Janice for over 20 years – back when we were just kids. But, by looking at their Facebook pages, Janice and Gelo seemed like the kind of couple who knew each others’ quirks, and loved each other because of them.
The bridal preparations began at the Hyatt in Quezon City where there was a surplus of vendors! From manicurists, hair stylists, makeup artists, dress pressers, and coordinators – there was even another team of photographers and videographers there (provided by Smart Shot Studio). The church was at the very massive and beautiful Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Quezon City. Chris and I were amazed at the size of the church and joked that we would have to run up and down the lengthy aisle just to get a shot (which we actually ended up doing). It was like paparazzi, because there were so many cameras there!
The ceremony began very dramatic with the bride walking alone down the aisle with a butterfly release before joining her parents. Afterward, the ceremony was followed with family photos and a dove release. The dove actually flew into my camera when it was released and hit the ground! Poor dove just didn’t want to fly.
The reception was held at a hall behind the church. It was highly decorated with illumination on the walls and towards the front of the room. The buffet had the usual chicken and fish with the unusual lengua (beef tongue), which I tried and thought was roast beef.
This same-day edit was a big challenge because we had limited equipment and had limited staff. Since there was only Chris and me, we had to work many different roles. He worked on the SDE while I tried to balance filming and enjoying the wedding. Besides not knowing the timeline of the program, we also had the problem of running out of time. The coordinator asked us to show our video 3 hours earlier than she had originally told us. We did not anticipate that the wedding would end so early and the edit was only 50% done! Chris modified his workflow to create something that we would be able to show. Everyone loved it and actually wanted more!
My cousin’s wedding was a wonderful way to kick off my vacation in the Philippines. This was the last time Chris and I would work together for a while (insert sad face). It was a great challenge that we accomplished. And it fittingly commemorates the beginning of a new era…
This wedding was my first wedding as Creative Director since Chris was out of the country. Prior to the wedding day, I had met with Melanie + Aries to discuss their wedding details. Upon meeting them, they gave me the warmest welcome with a caring smile and friendly handshake. Aries assured me that he was willing to provide us with anything we needed to help us do our job. Melanie’s enthusiasm reciprocated his, and she assured me that this was going to be a fun wedding.
The day of the wedding was gloomy, windy, and raining! It definitely wasn’t wedding-day weather. But despite all that, the ambience inside the bride’s room was very relaxed and calm. I asked Melanie that morning how she felt and she replied that she was, surprisingly, very relaxed. I was glad that she was in a good mood. It just helped make my job that much easier. Later, the elements turned towards our favor by having the sun peek out a bit and the rain stop every now and then. And because they were so ahead of schedule that morning, Melanie decided to practice the “Cupid Shuffle” just to pass the time away.
The ceremony at the Immaculata was accompanied by songs sang beautifully by Mel + Aries’ friends – it really brought a personal touch to their ceremony. Their banquet room at their reception took on a really unique seating arrangement which had the wedding party seated around the dance floor in a square. Lighting was cooled with blue uplighting and nice spotlights.
While editing the SDE, I ran into a few technical complications – including a major software malfunction. Luckily, we had a backup laptop to continue the edit. Since we were down by one member, I had to switch roles between Creative Director and SDE editor. When it seemed like it was going to be impossible to complete the edit on time, and I had pulled what seemed to be all the hairs left on my head, I took a deep breath and remembered what Chris always told us, “Don’t worry about everything all at once. Focus on a specific task first and take it from there. And try to have fun with it!” So then, by altering my workflow I was able to complete the SDE for the newlyweds and their guests to enjoy.
All in all, it was a very successful and fun wedding – just like Mel had promised! The dance floor was packed and the guests were having a great time. And so were we!
Melanie + Aries \\ Same-Day Edit from Starcross’d Creative on Vimeo.
Venue \\ Ceremony: Immaculata, USD \\ Reception: The Dana on Mission Bay
Photography by En Pointe Photography \\ DJ/MC by Sound Illusions
Hair by Mish & Celina of Mish Mucho \\ Makeup by Seph’s Hair & Makeup
Song \\ “I Will Be” by Leona Lewis
So we ended 2009 at a casino and jumped straight into 2010 with our first wedding of the year in yet another casino – Pala Casino Spa Resort, located here in Southern California! The sky was clear blue, and the weather; warm and comfortable – a perfect setting for Abby + John’s intimate and elaborately detailed wedding.
When I first met with Abby last summer, she came to our meeting with a gift for us – a Red Velvet bundt cake from “Nothing Bundt Cake.” I was surprised because we don’t usually receive gifts on our first meeting with a couple, but Abby insisted for us to take it. Needless to say, the cake was delicious! And every time we met with Abby from then on, she had always had some kind of fancy dessert to give us! :)
Obviously then, the wedding reception would be complete with the most delectable array of mouthwatering cuisines! And we were definitely not disappointed! I would say that the salad served was the best salad I have ever had – poached salmon salad with watercress and frisee lemon oil dressing. Mm’m! The main entree was chicken marsala with asparagus, artichokes, marsala wine, and rosemary. And dessert was plentiful, ranging from the strawberry mango bavarian, and the flowing belgian chocolate fountains, to the bar of candies and assorted sweets!
Not only was the food very detailed. The decor itself was an amazing sight to be seen. In both the ceremony and reception, every corner of the rooms were lavishly decorated by Fancy That! Designs – truly amazing and awe-inspiring work by the groom’s sister, Christine.
The whole setting of the venue was indescribable, so perhaps the video can speak for itself…
Abby + John \\ Same-Day Edit from Starcross’d Creative on Vimeo.
Venue \\ Ceremony & Reception: Pala Casino Spa Resort
Photography by Atrero Photography \\ DJ/MC by Sound Prodigy \\ Coordination by Beverly Calalay
Hair & Makeup by Raschel Borja \\ Floral Creations & Decor by Fancy That! Designs
Song \\ “Smash Into You” by Beyoncé