Artistic Perspective Entertainment
Temple University students Shaun Phillips and Candice Vernon partnered to form A.P.E. Films in April 2004. Highlight reels for boxer Prince Badi Ajamu, the 2004 Philly Music Awards and a music video / DVD for Hip Hop star Cassidy were among the first projects they produced.
During the summer of 2005, Philadelphia suffered a series of deadly fires. The Fire Department asked A.P.E. to create a new P.S.A. music video as part of a national campaign to increase fire awareness. Phillips & Vernon produced & directed “Take It Outside”. It debuted at the 2004 Philadelphia Police & Fireman Hero Thrill Show (a charity event raising money to benefit the educational needs of children of police and firefighters who died in the line of duty). Sunoco Energy got behind the project and it received extensive regional news coverage and was played during a N.F.L. Monday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field before a crowd of 65,000.
In 2005, A.P.E. relocated to New York City. They directed / produced "M3 - The New Message" for Grandmaster Melle Mel to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original "The Message" (greatest record in Hip Hop history) and Candice produced a charity video for the cast of RENT. APE produced TV pilots and artist reels for entertainer Jori Jordon, celebrity fashion stylist Indashio (VH1 Glam God $100,000 winner) and hip hop producer Faust while directing artists such as The Wu Tang Clan, DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Roots, Louie Rankin, Kimora Lee, Robert Verdi, Nigel Barker and Ice-T.
A.P.E. directed/produced the 2007 Okayplayer.com Holiday Jammy DVD (featuring The Roots) and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Behind The Scenes DVDs for Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 (2007) and The Ventures (2008). A.P.E. created pin-up model Coco's first demo reel, then went on to produce 4 DVD's for her (Playboy, California Girls, BMM Magazine and 2007 Exotics Calendar) and numerous event videos for her Cocosworld.com and YouTube websites.
Shaun Phillips
In 2009/10 Shaun worked at New York Law School managing the evening shift as they opened their new multi-million dollar state of the art facility in Tribeca. In 2011 he was photographer for 50 Cent on his "OK, You're Right" music video, cameraman / field producer for the "Andrea Bocelli Live In Cental Park New York City" directed by Emmy winning story teller Mark Haefeli ("Paul McCartney: Live In Red Square"). Phillips continues as media content producer for Coco as she stars in the hit reality show "Ice Loves Coco" on E!.
Shaun completed the first in a series of films he produced and directed called "The Ultimate Trip". The initial release from the series, "The Beatles at their Best" showed in October at the 2011 New England Underground Film Festival and in December at NewFilmmaker NY with more to come in 2012.
Candice Vernon
Candice Vernon has always been a natural leader, born with confidence in St. Ann Jamaica. Currently residing in New York City, as an Integrated Broadcast Producer at Euro RSCG,
Vernon began her career casting for film and television, with Grant Wilfley Casting, on productions such as Mad Men, Across the Universe, and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. She also co-created and produced Broke Celebrity, a reality television show pilot for celebrity stylist Indashio. In the interim she wrote, directed, and produced a narrative short film "Apartment 309" co-starring Ice-T. The film hit The Big Apple Film Festival, The Women’s International Film Festival, and the New Filmmakers Showcase. This then led to a 1 year license on Television Jamaica. One year later Vernon was hired as the Associate Producer and Assistant Director on the feature film, The Grasslands, starring Peter Green (Pulp Fiction), Chuck Zito (Oz), James Madio (Basketball Diaries) and Arthur Nascarella (Sopranos).
Creating stirring and engaging narrative content is a love of Candice's and is evident in her latest partnership with director Shalin. The result is Calypso, a half hour television dramedy, which she co-created and produced. The TV pilot is currently gaining interest from cable networks and other parties and is being screened in New York City.
