Vulnerability is Sexy won Hermes and Addy Awards in 2017 for branded content.
What if you shared something that made your voice shake and in response, somebody expressed love and gratitude? What if you shared something you believed was a weakness, only to have it reflected back to you as part of your beauty... your poetry?
Vulnerability is Sexy is a 14 minute documentary exploring a new way of entering relationships that offers the kind of connection most people are after, but rarely risk pursuing. The film follows the work of Corey Blake and his team of artists as they erect installations at events and engage attendees to anonymously share their vulnerabilities so they can be turned into works of art.
Director's Letter.
When we were contacted to collaborate with Round Table Companies to make a film about Vulnerability we were both intrigued and excited by the challenge. Knowing Corey as an innovative thought leader, we knew we would have a lot of freedom to build something special, but the pressure was heavy to make something with impact that takes an abstract idea and makes it relatable, clear, and impactful. The importance of getting this right was enormous because the message is so dire. The world we live in is growing increasingly more disconnected and A.D.D. Corey’s message is exactly what we need to hear as a society. To love one another by being present with them and offering up the greatest gift you can give in a relationship: access to what’s inside of you. Access to your dreams, fears, past, and future.
On a personal note, delving into this idea and story had a great impact on us as filmmakers. It’s quite possible that we needed to hear the message more than anybody to be mindful and courageous in our own relationships.
Corey was an inspiration to work with by listening to him tell stories over and over again that were tough to share and truly living the example that he’s trying to set for others. We occasionally had the feeling that we’re hearing something that maybe we shouldn’t, but our relationship with Corey grew stronger through the process proving that he’s truly onto something. As Corey states in the film, Vulnerability is what levels the playing field and makes us human. We certainly don’t have any room to judge anyone with our own skeletons that we hope we have the courage to share with others one day.
Watch the film with an open mind while thinking of the people in your life with whom your walls are high. Imagine ways you can be more open and honest to bring those walls down and offer a two-way bridge in which your relationships can grow stronger by allowing access to what’s inside of you. We’ve witnessed first hand how people respond and give you access to themselves right back.
- Dave and Darren
Corey Blake
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Corey is the founder and CEO of Round Table Companies (RTC). Corey was a professional actor in Los Angeles prior to starting RTC and starred in one of the 50 best superbowl commercials of all time. He has studied at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and the Stagen Leadership Academy, and recently gave his first TEDx talk on Vulnerability. Corey's work as a storyteller has been acknowledged through 14 independent publisher awards, a London International Advertising Award, A Cannes Lion, the Gene Siskel Center, Worldfest Houston, and the San Diego Film Festival.
Darren Durlach
CO-DIRECTOR, CO-WRITER, EDITOR
Darren is the co-founder of Early Light Media and has told stories spanning the world from a Super Bowl in Indianapolis to the devastation in Haiti to the first inauguration of President Obama, all while working in broadcast and most recently as Senior Multimedia Producer at The Boston Globe. In 2014 he directed The Boston Globe's first television documentary, 5 Runners, about the tragic Boston Marathon bombings. Darren has had the honor of being named the Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year three years in a row by the National Press Photographer’s Association and has been awarded 26 Emmys© by Chesapeake Bay and New England NATAS. At The Boston Globe, he was awarded the prestigious George Polk award as well as six national Edward R. Murrow awards. He has guest lectured at Harvard Extension School and has had the honor of teaching visual storytelling in 18 states.
David Larson
CO-DIRECTOR, CO-WRITER, CINEMATOGRAPHER/DP, EDITOR
David Larson is the Co-Founder and Director of Early Light Media who began his passion for storytelling as a photojournalist, covering major news events around the country. Throughout his career, David has earned over a dozen Emmy Awards recognizing his storytelling and photography talents. He has also amassed a collection of Associated Press Awards, Edward R. Murrow awards, and NPPA Best of Photojournalism awards. He was named NPPA Top West Regional Photographer of the Year in 2011 and 2013 and helped WBFF win NPPA Station of the Year in 2011.
Jody Weldon
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, ANIMATOR
With an extensive background in producing, news photography, promotions and motion graphics, Jody Weldon co-founded Early Light Media, a Baltimore-based video production company dedicated to presenting universally relatable human experiences through video.
