James Townsend started making films over 10 years ago as a student at Forney High School. He and his wife Lori can be seen on the sidelines of FHS football games, snapping pictures and filming the games for the FHS Quarterback Club. Recently James Townsend decided to use his film making talents to complete three short films promoting the Unity Bowl football game between the FHS Jackrabbits and their crosstown rivals, the North Forney Falcons.
James Townsend started making films over 10 years ago as a student at Forney High School. He and his wife Lori can be seen on the sidelines of FHS football games, snapping pictures and filming the games for the FHS Quarterback Club. Recently James Townsend decided to use his film making talents to complete three short films promoting the Unity Bowl football game between the FHS Jackrabbits and their crosstown rivals, the North Forney Falcons.
James and Lori own Townsend Photography & Film. The couple are graduates of Forney High School. Lori graduated in 2001 and James in 2002. James is the son of Forney Fire Chief Rick Townsend, and he and Lori both grew up in Forney. In 2003, James started making highlight films for the FHS Quarterback Club. When he and Lori began dating, she took up his interest in photography and bought her first camera. Lori began taking photos at FHS football games in 2005 and she fell in love with shooting action sports.
The couple started a company called “Stoked Productions” in 2008. James came up with the company name because “stoked” was a term he used often. He and Lori, who have been married for five years, recently decided to make a name change to their photography and film business. They agreed that Townsend Photography & Film better identifies who they are and what they do. The couple love working together and they do it well. James said, “We know what the other one is thinking about a particular shot or "look" without having to say a word, which is helpful at times, especially when filming.”
Forney Community Parade brings a big crowd and tons of smiles
Their company is not the only job that James and Lori Townsend have. Lori is a second grade teacher at Criswell Elementary and James is a youth minister at First Baptist Church of Forney. James said, “Because our roots go deep here in this town, and because we know so many students at both schools through our church and just from living here for so long, we wanted to do something special for the Unity Bowl.” He went on to explain, “I wanted to make a film that would build school spirit and excitement for both schools. I was on the FHS football team in 2000 that went to the State Finals and I was able to witness the amazing school spirit that helped us get that far.”
James and Lori wanted to use their wonderful memories of high school sports and the school spirit they witnessed, and they both wanted to see that same enthusiasm brought back for the FHS and NFHS football teams and for what has been dubbed the Unity Bowl. “That was my motivation for making these films,” said James. The three videos he made took about nine hours to film and record the voice overs. He offered a big thanks to Robert Burnett “for adding the extra flair by lending his voice to the film.”
After five additional hours of tedious editing, the three videos turned out spectacular. James Townsend said that he enjoyed how the videos turned out and he hopes others will as well. He gave special thanks to FISD Athletics and the varsity coaches and players for both school who allowed him to run with his vision and for being “a vital part of the film.”
You can visit Townsend Photography & Film at their website HERE.
