W E L C O M E

I’m Lester, the creator and Director for Chasing Portraits.
Since kid, I’ve always been fascinated about listening to stories, while growing up documentary films were a major passion, listening to all kind of stories but most of all, stories about people finding courage, being resilient, patient, or finding hope where there was none.
This project has been in my mind for the last 5 years and wasn’t until now that I’ve had the time and the resources to start putting it together. There’s nothing more rewarding for me than capturing a story that can resonate in someone else’s life, and inspire a change.

In order to gain a wider audience, each final video is submitted to a diverse line up of Film Festivals through FilmFreeway.
If you’d like to be part of all this effort, support our production, post production and distribution expenses.
Production crew, gear, location rentals and distribution fees are a major expense and you can help by becoming a Sponsor - or - making a donation through PayPal - or - supporting our GoFundme campaign.

OUR SPONSORS

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

C H A P T E R S

Some of these chapters have won multiple awards in different US and international Film Festivals around the world, including “Best Director”, “Best Documentary Short”, “Best Web Documentary Series”.
Please enjoy these stories, watch them and share them, they may help someone else to find their path, maybe build courage, inspire patience or even bring hope.

Video Series Created, Directed and Edited by Lester Platt, Produced by STLL STUDIOS.

CHAPTER #1

Definitely not an easy one, Mark tells us the story of how he survived that rough ride of being a drug addict, how he found himself fighting to survive the day to day, finding friendship and love on the way up.

Confidential free help, from public health agencies, to find substance use treatment and information.
1-800-662-4357

AWARDS: 8 & HalFilm Awards (IMDb) - "Best Documentary Short" - Europe Film Festival (IMDb): "Best Documentary Short" - Medusa Film Festival: "Best Director" - 4Theater Selection: "Best Documentary Short" - Reels International Film Festival: "Best Documentary" - New York Movie Awards (IMDb) “Best Direction”
FINALIST: Rome Prisma Film Awards: "Best Documentary Short" - Reels International Film Festival: "Best Documentary"
SEMI FINALIST: London Indie Short Festival “Best Documentary Short”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Fox International Film Festival - Athens International Film Festival “best Documentary Short”
OFFICIAL SELECTION: HIFF - HALO International Film Festival - New Creators Film Awards - Kalamata Short Docs - Boden International Film Festivals - Masters Of Cinema - FILMESQUE Cinefest - Nawada International FIlm Festival - Hollywood on the Tiber Film Awards - Milan Gold Awards.

Portrait Subject: Mark Rector (Heroin survivor)
Director & Editor: Lester Platt
DP: Austin Lorenzen
AD: Adam West
BTS: Tre Blackman
Location Sponsor: Southtown Creative

CHAPTER #2

“CHASING LIGHT”

Ashley opens up for the first time and shares her story with us, Track & Field 100mh Post Colligate Sprinter, victim of sexual assault, survivor and resilient, stronger than ever, Ashley is committed to keep competing to bring new opportunities to her country Zimbabwe, where her dad resides.

Portrait Subject: Ashley T Miller (Track & Field US Winner Athlete)
Director & Editor: Lester Platt
DP/FPV Drone Pilot: Vinnie Fallico
Produced by: STLL STUDIOS
Gear Sponsor: STLL STUDIOS

CHAPTER #3

BEHIND THE “ESSENTIALS”

Let me introduce you to Sarah Wilson, professional photographer based in Austin TX.
COVID-19 completely changed our way of life, when most of us were stuck at home watching Netflix, Sarah was brainstorming a way to honor the brave first responders fighting COVID first hand, specially, female first responders, so she came up with the idea to grab her trusted Canon 5D MKIII camera, take some portraits, and make it BIG, literally.

Social Practice in 2020, Museums and Cultural Centers commissioned artists to train in Social Practice, and to organize and engage community in an artistic response to cope with and overcome COVID-19. The program ran from October 5 to March 31, 2021 as “Art Responders". Sarah Wilson being the winner for the grant, and the team at Doughtery Art Center came with the idea to take Sarah's portraits to a whole new level.

Celebrating International Women's Month, we were able to put Sarah in from of the camera this time, to capture her portrait.

Director/Editor: Lester Platt
Cinematographer: Austin Lorenzen
Photographer: Tre Blackman
Gear Sponsor: Adam West
Gear Sponsor: Precision Camera
Location Sponsor: Perry Lorenz