YOUNG & TRENDY SPOTLIGHT
Artreprenuer Stephen Philms By Ava Simone Collier
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riter, Director, Filmmaker, Photographer and Poet - Stephen Philms is the quintessential definition of a young renaissance man. - He’s doing it all. His latest project is his short film entitled Love on the Rocks, with the prequel entitled DGAF – Don’t Give Away Freedom. “I did the prequel so that when the film comes out, people will be familiar with it and know what the movie is about. This film is really about bringing attention to certain moments in life where, when presented with the opportunity, people may end up doing something outside of their character. It doesn’t make them a bad person, it’s just that sometimes people get caught up.” Love on the Rocks is a 30minute film, which is loosely inspired by an experience that he had in Rio de Janeiro while working on a documentary. Philms says that he was the only black American male among the crew, which were mainly all from London. While most of the crew was very friendly to him, there was one girl who seemed to have chameleon-like tendencies. “She wasn’t mean to me, just aloof during the day. But at night when we would go out as a group, I was her best friend when she was drunk!” Stephen laughs as he recalls the events. “ I was the one who made sure she didn’t run out in the street or into the water and get swept away. I became her protector - making sure she got safely back to the hotel we were staying in.” Philms says though, that when he would attempt to talk with her the following day about the previous night’s events, she had amnesia. “I would 14
Stephen Philms joke about it the next day, but she didn’t remember anything! This happened two nights in a row.” Stephen says this experience sparked his idea for Love on the Rocks. “I wondered how this would play within a romantic relationship,” he says. “Love on the Rocks is about a guy who grew up with a girl. They weren’t really close while growing up, but their paths crossed again as adults. He would take care of this girl in her drunken moments where she spilled out her entire life to him - including how she’d always had a crush on him.” But, just like his Rio experience, the girl doesn’t remember anything the next day. Only this time, the guy decides to take matters into his own hands. “He
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decides to put himself in a position to keep her intoxicated so she could be the girl he needs at this time.” I wanted to know where Stephen’s love of filmmaking comes from. “Well, I’m a writer first. As early as second grade, I wrote stories and did illustrations and begged my teachers to let me read them in class. I was never shy about sharing my ideas.” He reflects on his younger cousin BAM, who Stephen says was a terror as a child. “He was so bad! I wrote a whole story about him. My uncle made me sign the book and to this day still has it!” His interest in filmmaking was piqued while in school when he wasn’t able to enroll into the journalism class he wanted because it was full. Advised by his counselor that a TV production class was open, Stephen reluctantly enrolled for that. “I didn’t realize it was something I could do – I knew I could write for a paper – get a job – I could write and cover sports – get a job. I didn’t think bigger than that. Taking that class was the best thing that ever happened for me.” Philms credits one teacher in particular for allowing him to spread his creative wings in high school. “Mr. James Dinsmoore didn’t limit me at all. He allowed me to come in early to edit and work on the news and come up with my own ideas.” Stephen says it was during this time he finally realized what he wanted to do with his life. Casually dressed in T-shirt, jeans, and a cap, Stephen Philms looks every bit of the creative artist that he is. Wearing dreadlocks and an infectious smile, he talks about his image. “I always thought that I had to dress a certain way – suit and www.TRENDTOTRENDMAG.com