A A R O N S T A C Y
Filmmaker, Musician,
Artistic Disruptor
My Reel
From music videos to experimental short films to promotional videos, I’ve done a lot for a guy that hasn’t even graduated high school. Below is a reel of some of my highlights so far.
Music Videos
As the sole member of the alt rock/power pop project, Courtney Can't Park, I do it all. I write all the songs, play all the instruments, sing all the vocals, do all the recording & studio work, and make all the music videos. Below are a few examples of the music videos I've written, directed, filmed, and edited. (All are songs written and performed by Aaron Stacy)
Streets of Soho
One of the more challenging music videos to produce in terms of set design, props, lighting, and color grading. Outside of adjustments to the overall look of the video in post, everything is practical effects and lighting. The idea was to bring an uneasy feeling or a sense that something is "off" to what is essentially a simple performance video.
Endless Regret
This music video incorporates a mix of digital and practical effects to present a short film-like narrative. I’m most proud of the old school use of miniatures, forced perspective, and creative lighting to give the effects an organic photorealistic feel that would have been difficult to achieve with computer animation.
Impeccable Timing
The goal here was simple. I wanted to do an unbroken shot where the camera meanders around a messy room to focus on different media (a television, a magazine cover, a phone, etc.). The hook is that I would be performing in all those screens and images. This one really put my editing skills (and patience) to the test.
October Revolution
This music video was all about setting a mood. I wanted the theme to be gray, gloomy, and cold but with a splash of hopeful color in every frame. The video is colorless except for all things orange - the color of fall and October. The tone matches the song perfectly.
Student Projects
My student projects are a mix of video and film-like styles for both creative and commercial purposes. The quality is all over the map as many are experimental in nature, but all illustrate my willingness to take risks and to try different things in an attempt to get better.
Distracted Driving PSA
A short public service announcement that I produced entirely by myself (director, actor, camera, editor, etc). The driving sequence was shot in my garage against a green screen with some carefully placed lighting to simulate daylight outside the car. The tone is probably too light for a real PSA, but I wanted to have some fun with this project.
A Failed Manifesto
Deadlines are deadlines and the show must go on. When I lost my main actor before we shot all of his scenes for this project, I had to quickly improvise. The weekend before the due date, I decided to do hand drawn animation for the missing scenes. It didn’t look great, but it was a different enough style to get noticed by the International Youth Silent Film Festival.
Carlson Digital Media Promo
I was selected to produce the promotional video for Carlson Digital Media. This video will be used online and at DCTC career fairs. The final product was so well received, I was asked to produce similar videos for DCTC programs at other schools in the area.
CTV News Open
Carlson High School wanted to update the opening title sequence for their morning news program. The class project was for everyone to create and submit an opening for consideration. I decided to utilize an old CRT television I have in my bedroom to give the sequence a 70’s news vibe (think “Anchorman”). This opening was selected and is currently in use.
The Liner Notes
This was an end of year assignment that takes the viewer from the first day of class at Carlson Digital Media through the last assignment (this assignment). The idea was to show dramatizations of some of the creative processes and work that went into each project as well as the fun and frustrations we had during those productions.
About Aaron Stacy
My name is Aaron Stacy and I’m an aspiring filmmaker and musician.
On the filmmaking/video production side of things, I’m just about to finish my second year of the Digital Media Arts program at Carlson High School in Gibraltar, MI. During my time there, I managed to level up my skills as a director, cinematographer, and editor with a couple of my projects receiving recognition and awards in the Youth Silent Film Festival and DAFT. I’ve just completed a couple of promotional videos for the DCTC program, a music video for my upcoming single, “Streets of Soho,” and am in the process of writing a script for a psychological horror short film. After graduating high school, I plan on attending film school in the fall of 2025.
On the music side, I’m the songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist behind the alt rock/power pop project, Courtney Can’t Park. I just released my third album, “Mellow Doubt” on which I wrote all the songs, played all the instruments, performed all the vocals, and did all the studio work. You can listen to all Courtney Can’t Park songs on your favorite streaming service and YouTube (links below).
Contact Aaron Stacy
Drop me a line! If you want to get in touch with me, the best way is through email or socials.
Email: aaronstacy.lhp@gmail.com
