Footlight Films was formed with the goal of bringing competitively priced, professional quality videography and editing services to community theater in Santa Cruz and the Bay Area in California. We specialize in capturing your live performance to deliver a cinematic result.
For examples of our work or to hire us for your production, reach us at contactfootlightfilms@gmail.com
Utilizing up to four HD digital cameras and high-speed lenses allows us to capture your show no matter what happens, without missing a thing and providing plenty of angles for a dramatic feel.
We use DaVinci Resolve for editing and color grading to ensure great looking results and a fast turnaround time, meaning you're not waiting weeks for your final product.
You'll receive a full HD 1080P digital download of your show, and we can provide DVD or Blu-ray physical media as well.
Davis Banta is the cofounder of Sidereal Theater Company and directed the company’s productions of A Contemporary American’s Guide to a Successful Marriage © 1959 by Robert Bastron, and Isaac’s Eye by Lucas Hnath. He has also directed productions of Sam Shepard’s play True West for the Kung Fu Theatre Company, and Quality of Life by Jane Anderson for Blue Wolf Theatre Company. Davis has also directed 3 plays for Actors’ Theater’s Eight 10’s@ Eight. His sketch comedy troupe “You Had To Be There” has produced two shows of original sketch comedy and won the “Best Theatre Troupe” award in the Santa Cruz Weekly in 2009. He was also a regular voice on the radio from 2007-2010 on the KZSC Drama Hour.
Benjamin began making films at the age of 13, experimenting with LEGO stopmotion, forced perspective, practical and digital special effects and compositing. Since then he has participated in amateur filmmaking in various roles including director, cinematographer, director of photography, editor, and sound designer.
He is also comfortable in the theater, having worked in the scene shop and backstage, as well as performing in front of the curtain in roles such as Frederick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein, Mal Beineke in Addams Family, and Samuel Byck in Assassins. He also designed the start-to-finish projections in that production of Assassins.
As a multidisciplinary creative, Benjamin understands how to capture the spirit of live theater and the technical requirements to accomplish that goal.
Jacob began working professionally in the film industry in 2015. While living in Los Angeles he worked his way up from PA to Lead Man where he led his first crew on a shoot for the LA Times titled The Story Behind The Performance. He is also credited in the Art Department for the films The Curse Of La Llorona, Insidious II, and Wyrm just to name a few.
Jacob has also been involved in Theatre Arts since 2012, not only as an actor but as a backstage hand, and lighting technician. He has been a lead in a college Shakespeare play, performed in countless two-hour fully improvised live comedy shows, and performed at SF Sketchfest in which his troupe brought to life his original sketch Hangman Game Show!
With his experience in theater, film, and storytelling, Jacob is well equipped to bring to life your theatrical production with a deep understanding of the craft.