About Chad

Hi! I’m Chad Stembridge. I’m twenty-two years old, live in Central Illinois, and have been in the video industry for over five years now. Most importantly I’m a follower of Jesus Christ. Do you know Him?

I’m probably different than many of the twenty-somethings you’ve met before. People have called me a “man of few words.” I was homeschooled, have never had a girlfriend, and love playing viola. Family is important. Truth is important. Growth and learning in life is important.

History

The Stembridge Tower Mill is the only thatched-roof windmill left in the England. My ancestors the Stembridges (who coincidentally have the same last name as me), lived in England and Wales before three brothers immigrated to what was then the thirteen British Colonies, circa 1740 A.D. I’m descended from the youngest of those three brothers, Thomas Baker Stembridge.

Professional

I’m a freelance videographer and filmmaker who’s for hire!

Filmmaking began to fascinate me sometime around 2005. At first it was more of a hobby. In 2007 I wiped out most of my savings account to buy equipment, produced my first short film (which subsequently screened as a semi-finalist in the 2007 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, or SAICFF), and was hired for my first video job (covering a major 200+ person production of a live animal Christmas play).

Soon after came my second short film (Precious Treasure, a semi-finalist in the 2009 SAICFF), a short documentary (Shell Bluff, the re-edit of which was a semi-finalist in the 2010 SAICFF), and working part-time for a homeschool resource company to replenish my funds. 2009 became a huge year of learning: camera operating on a feature documentary, directing photography for a 40-minute short film, writing my first feature-length screenplay, and more. That year, my friend Geno DiMaria and I founded Block One Studios.

Since becoming a full-time freelancer in 2010, work’s taken me all over the place: Phoenix, AZ; Mare Rouge, Nord Ouest, Haiti; Mason City, IA… Just a few of the places. I’ve produced two feature-length documentaries, some TV show pilots, written three novels (published one), and have worked on a bunch of cool projects.

Needless to say, I like my job.