Since Re: Stock launched in 2020, we’ve hired over 20 amazing filmmakers to help us add more authentic footage into our library. Now, we’re excited to introduce you to the newest group of artists who are contributing to our mission of creating a more representative and diverse stock library.
About Re: Stock
Stock footage has a reputation for being boring, bland, and under representative of the people in the world today. After hearing member feedback via email, comments, and more about the lack of diversity in our library, we decided to actively change how we were sourcing content for our library through a new initiative.
The name Re: Stock is a play on the idea of replying to generic stock and the feedback we heard. Re: Stock is an ongoing initiative from Storyblocks to invest in more authentic and representative content, where we commission artists to create footage collections that are exclusive to our library.
For this newest batch of collections, we challenged our filmmakers to create footage that celebrates the human experience. We strongly believe that generative AI, while it can aid the creative process, can’t capture the authentic stories, emotions, and experiences of real people the way that artists can through film and other mediums.
Meet the artists
Christian Nolan Jones
An award-winning filmmaker born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Christian Nolan Jones sharpened his skills at Howard University and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
His footage collection titled Community Stays Put is a love letter to east Atlanta. Authentic scenes of everyday life at the laundromat, nail salon, and more give an intimate look at the places that tie the local community together.
“I was inspired by how my city overall is changing with gentrification. I want[ed] to document the pieces of our community that are slowly being erased,” Christian explains. “So the spaces in my collection are where community is naturally going to take place, because of the repetition and the use of them. As we move into a more digital age, I think it’s important to highlight how we’ve been able to interact with each other [in these spaces].”
Noah Higgins
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Noah is a talented Director of Photography who’s known for his exceptional visual storytelling skills. Adopted from Guatemala by an Irish family, he grew up on a rural Pennsylvania farm in the Appalachian mountains.
His collection of footage, My Old Man, centers on his 86-year-old father and his daily routines on that same farm. You’ll find scenes that capture the little everyday moments like baking bread, hiking in the woods, reading in front of a fire, and more.
“The goal of this footage is to help other people tell their stories. When we started out, we tried to find footage like what we provided [in this collection] and we couldn’t. And that’s what you’re going to find here, a real person to tell your story. That’s what we’ve captured. Real moments, real love, between myself, filming my father. There’s a real connection there, and it shows,” says Noah.
Dominic Lorenzo
A director based in Los Angeles, California, Dominic specializes in arts, fashion, and commercial storytelling. He travels around the world to document the work of his fellow artists and brands, transforming their talents into visual narratives.
For his collection Intimate Imitations, he focused on exploring artists inside their creative spaces. His scenes capture everything from the artists at work, doing what they do best, to the contemplative moments as they rest and recharge.
“My favorite shots from the collection are all the intimate ones. One great example is when our tattoo artist, Tex, was touching and bending his needle before he put it into the machine. It’s very intimate, it’s a very personal moment, between the talent and his tool,” explains Dominic.
Roxy Facer
A director, cinematographer, and photographer based in O’ahu, Hawai’i, Roxy Facer started her own boutique creative agency in 2017. Roxface Productions works with brands around the world to create lifestyle, fashion, and produce content. She specializes in shooting 8mm, 16mm, and digital film.
Navigating Hawai’i in the Modern World showcases day-to-day scenes of a native Hawai’ian woman that shows island life beyond the typical tourist spots. As someone who isn’t from Hawai’i and was surprised at how it was different than what she expected, Roxy wanted to show an intimate view of what O’ahu really looks like from her best friend Nani’s perspective in both digital and 16mm.
“I hope my series helps other filmmakers shoot a little more organically and try not to be so perfect with everything,” says Roxy. “A lot of times, we really get caught up in the tools we’re using, making sure that your focus is nailed and while that’s important, I also think that there’s beauty in the imperfect and letting things organically happen. I think that’s what makes our work more human and less AI. And I hope more filmmakers feel comfortable leaning into that and allowing that to take over in what they do.”
Johnny Nguyen
A director based in Minnesota, Johnny seeks to create work that emotionally resonates and challenges perceptions. His films are rooted in narrative-driven storytelling and include feature films, music videos, short films, commercials, and more.
His collection, Call In, shows a woman’s perfect day during a snowy Minnesotan winter. Artistically shot, his scenes bring us into this setting and tell a story that works with each individual clip and collectively. From wandering the woods to making a cup of tea and dancing in the living room, Johnny’s footage makes even the mundane look magical.
“I hope my content will help other filmmakers by giving them a bigger diversity of footage to work with, and a stylized set of scenes to work with,” Johnny says. “Something that I noticed with a lot of stock footage is the generic aspects – it could be anyone, it could be anywhere. I wanted to pivot away from that and create something that felt hyperfocused and somewhat niche, but still applicable and every shot stands on its own in terms of world building. So I hope this footage gives filmmakers another chance to show their stylistic punch in their work.”
Kristofer Evered
For the last 10 years, Kristofer has worked in many roles, including director and cinematographer. Based in California, his work has taken him around the world. His goal with his work is to bring visions to life.
For his collection, Connecting To The Land, Kristofer follows three ranchers as they herd cattle in Corral de Tierra, California. The setting of serene grasslands and rolling hills is visually stunning, but his work aims to also bring attention to the important conservation story that his footage is showing.
“The theme of my collection is all about connecting with nature,” Kristofer explains. “When I learned about the importance of the conservation behind these pastures and how important it is to move these cattle and graze them in certain ways, it was something that really drew me in and I couldn’t wait to tell the story.”
Mahdi Atif
A self-taught photographer and filmmaker born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mahdi’s work is focused on creating connections through shared emotions.
For his collection, I Broke My Lamp, But I Have Pasta, we’re taken along the highs and lows of a moving day with friends. From the tedious process of unpacking boxes to cooking the very first meal in a new home, this footage explores how our community shows up for us in even the most mundane of moments.
“In my collection, I wanted the subjects to come across as if it was almost a documentary of people moving,” says Mahdi. “I wanted to take that universal experience and show it to its fullest. I wanted to have moments where things were going right, things were going wrong, I wanted to convey the spectrum of emotions that can come up while moving with friends.”
Eryn Gruttadauria
A filmmaker and visual artist, Eryn received her B.F.A. in Film Production and Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2020. Through imagery, she aims to express and convey engaging stories.
Her collection, Rooted in Ritual, captures the day of a woman living in rural Massachusetts. Starting with her morning routine, we follow her through scenes of doing yoga, baking bread, hiking in the woods, making coffee, and watching the sunset with a glass of wine in front of a fire.
“The theme of my collection is based on an aesthetic I call cottagecore,” Eryn explains. “It follows the day of a woman where she does her morning routine, followed by what happens when you have a spur of adventure and do things a little differently than maybe you normally would, you kind of take time for yourself.”
Josh Herum
Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Josh is a cinematographer and director who also owns an in-house production company that makes narrative and documentary films. He’s worked with brands like Netflix, BBC, Meta, Sony Music, and more.
His collection of footage, The Midwest Way, showcases the everyday beauty of Missouri. Following a baker, a barista, and businessman who rides both horses and motorcycles, the scenes in his collection authentically show life through a variety of different perspectives.
“I just believe that humans were created by God, who gives us the creativity to be able to create,” Josh says. ”That’s an amazing thing – why give that over to a machine? Filmmakers and companies that are going to stock are wanting something real and beautiful, and a computer just isn’t close to that yet.”
Dana DePirri
Driven by a passion for storytelling, Dana is a director who splits her time between NYC and Miami, Florida. She’s worked internationally across film, commercial, and branded video production for brands like Columbia Records and Athletic Greens (AG1). Her award-winning short, Mango City, screened at the New Orleans Film Festival, NFFTY, and the Miami Film Festival.
Her collection, Culture Needs Community Needs Culture, showcases the rich blend of cultures that shape Miami’s unique identity. By capturing joyful, human moments, she wanted to celebrate the ways that all of us are the same and the ways we’re different culturally. From a picnic at Flamingo Park to a sunset at South Point Park, her collection shows you the beauty of the 305.
“I wanted to showcase that through the idea that although we may celebrate differently in our cultures, we all celebrate life and we all have human moments that we can all relate to,” Dana says. “I was inspired to tell that story because in the US right now, there’s a lot of hate and prejudice around different people, particularly immigrants. So I figured if I’m going to be filming in Miami, it was important to show just how wonderful, joyful, and beautiful the people there are. I think it’s important that we see more people like that in stock footage, more representation of the different ways America is – diverse and culturally rich.”
Explore the newest Re: Stock collections
Explore all of the footage from these 10 brand new Re: Stock footage collections now, and sign up to start downloading instantly. With a Storyblocks subscription, you’ll not only get access to our exclusive Re: Stock footage, but over 4 million other royalty free stock assets. Our library has templates for your favorite video editor, music, images, sound effects, and much more.
