Motion Picture
One of the ways I love to create experiences that connect people is through film, motion picture, specifically documentary storytelling. Everyone deserves to be seen, to be valued, to be honored. I want to be seen, valued and honored. I want you to be as well. Everyone's life has a story to tell.
This passion started when I was a youngster watching brother Gary create slideshows with these beautiful Kodachrome slides on a silver screen paired with music and narration. This was storytelling with a power I hadn't experienced. I was deeply moved. I was hooked. My other brother Rich was also into creating slideshows and films and became a professional photographer as one of his career gigs. My sister Debbie and my Dad (and Mom) also shot photos- so really everyone shot photos, and my folks were people people, so lots of people photos (mostly posed. Mom always wanted everyone smiling. It's now one of my resolutions to shoot more candids. My niece Ellie and daughters are inspirations here). I came from a very photographic-rich family.
Following in my brothers' footsteps, I started making slideshows. Produced my first at age 11 (hear my 11-year old voice narrating on the Audio page- pretty darn cute). My premiere was a short short story of our 2-year old neighbor girl shooting a basketball in our driveway.
Then started making slideshows about summer vacations, and high school band tours, honoring my life mentor director Mr. Blank. Then produced Dad's retirement slideshow with my brothers (Gary and I are working on it in the image at top of this page).
Ended up getting a bachelors degree in visual communications. In fact my first job out of college was working at a film/video production company, Watts Silverstein, in Seattle, that created large multi-image slide shows using 40 projectors on a huge screen. I was used to creating 2-projector slide shows. 40 projectors?! Incredibly powerful storytelling. I was an entry-level production assistant, and one of my jobs was to clean the slide mounts so there was no dust on those beautiful images. No, really.
Then in the early 90's I joined Microsoft as a media producer and was able to produce many audio and video productions. Funnest gig was launching and managing the Microsoft Interactive Distance Learning network (MIDL). You can see the recap video below. At the same time, Katey and I started Andrews2Studios on the side and created 23 productions over the next 10+ years together telling mostly family and friend stories. Documentary storytelling. Life films. Katey is an excellent storyteller, and is the editor on our collaborations. You'll find various productions below, but what you're missing is our three high school graduation films (two for our own daughters), a few church youth group summer camp highlight films, volleyball season highlight films, and 20+ other life films for friends and family. It pains me that I can't include our life film work, which is some of our most important film work. Due to music copyright issues, I can't post them publicly. We used "real" music, and you can't post Frank Sinatra or Colplay online without paying royalties or getting their permission (good luck). I posted thumbnails below to represent them- the best I can do.
One to One slideshow
1988
The beginnings of storytelling for other organizations. Story of a Christian ministry in Whatcom County focusing on "one to one" connections with people in prison, the elderly, women's shelter, and a pet-assisted ministry. I produced this while I was a student at Western Washington University in 1988. Love the pops in the music soundtrack from the vinyl record. This is two slide projectors with a dissolve unit. Looking back on this now, the pace is so slow. And people, this is VHS recording from a screen- low tech baby! Ah, the '80s. During college, also produced shows for the Washington State Seed Commission, Bornsteins Seafood and the 50th anniversary of Ennen's on Holly, the grocery store where I worked.
The Gene Andrews Story-
Puget Power Retirement Slideshow
1992
Produced by the Brothers 3: Gary, Rich and Dean, this 34 min. slideshow was shown at Dad's retirement party back in 1992. Follow the life and career of Gene Andrews! Producer's note: Only the Andrews brothers would dare a 4+ minute intro with sound and no image- a black room. We weren't quite sure what the gathered Puget Power old guard would think of this. It was Gary's idea/fault.
C2 Security training video - Microsoft
1992
One of the first worldwide sales training videos I produced (the fabulous Bob Snyder shot and directed) after landing at Microsoft. I was on-camera schmuck for the intro, then we had Bill Nye the Science Guy as talent! I cut it off after 4 min.-- you'd be bored with the rest. We also used Jeff Probst for on-camera talent in the early 90s, before he got all famous and became Mr. Survivor. I like to think I launched his career- I'm sure he used his Microsoft sales training video clips as part of his portfolio when auditioning for the Survivor host gig.
Dean & Katey - The first 5 years
1996
Produced a "life film" slideshow for our five-year anniversary, telling the story of our relationship leading up to the birth of our daughter Carly in 1995. Not a bad anniversary gift if I do say so myself.
MIDL Tribute video
1999
Overview of the five-year history of the Microsoft Interactive Distance Learning network, the training virtual network I launched and managed. Funnest gig I ever had at Microsoft. Live shows with studio audiences out of Microsoft Studios in Redmond, WA. It was our version of a late night talk show. Satellite dishes and interactive keypads all over North America. This was before the days of webcasts on that there internet-web thing. Live shows with Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and Jeff Raikes. Got to visit London to setup European networks- my only time visiting Europe so far. And got to meet Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, and Al Roker doing our own version of the Today Show in NY, thanks to the MSNBC partnership. Long days and good times. Major props to John McGrath, MSStudios producer/cinematographer and all-around creative genius. All the fun videos you see within the MIDL tribute are the creative work of John. He even did hand-drawn animation cells for the takeoff of the DNA video from Jurassic Park. So much fun working with John.
Gary & Kathleen 50 years
2005
"After 12 days, somehow they knew they were meant to be." Witness the saga of two young lovers as they forge their way through adventure in the northern frontier. 12 days that stretched into...50 years!
This was Katey and my first production together, the beginnings of Andrews2Studios. We've created 20+ films together since then. This tribute video was shown at her folk's 50th wedding anniversary. (both our folks were married for over 65 years- quite the legacy). Katey narrated, and there's some epic outtakes during the credits if you get that far.
Microsoft User Research
2010
Customers ask, "What is Microsoft User Research, and what will I do there? Is it hard? Will they attach electrodes to my body?" Slightly irreverent and fun, the three-minute video takes you on a journey of the history of user research, and then shows what its really like to participate in a current Microsoft user research study. I've been in user research for the latter part of my career to date. Worked with master creative producer/director John McGrath again (who also was mastermind behind alot of the creative MIDL videos ten years prior) to create this fun look at user research. And who doesn't want to see Dean in a yellow jump suit? With his buzz cut hair phase. My daughters get a kick out of this.
Day in PA
2017
My wife and I love visiting my sister and brother in law's beach house at Port Angeles, WA. This is sights and sounds from a day in May 2017.
Katey and I produced a few storytelling videos for our church during this timeframe. This one is about Luis's life and faith journey.
2018
Luis's Story
Compassion
(Oak Harbor Public Schools)
2020
We created a 4-part series for the Oak Harbor Public School district showcasing their values. This is part 1. The work got Katey connected with the school district, and eventually led to her getting a job there that moved us to Whidbey Island where we live today!
Life Films I love but can't show you
Between 2005 and 2020, Katey and I produced over 20 life films, biographical documentaries telling the stories of unique humans for major life events like high school graduations, milestone birthdays, life memorials. We also told the stories of Katey's tennis team that went to Nationals, and Susanna's two club volleyball seasons, and our church's youth summer camps. I'd really like to show you some of this work as it's these kind of stories that are my favorite to tell, but due to music copyright laws (and privacy of the humans involved), I can't. Sucks. Maybe someday I'll create a demo reel that uses music I bought or created. That's actually a dream of mine- to create the soundtrack for one of our films.