Thanks to students like Christopher Yim and Samuel Smith, students like Gabriella Cacanindin (pictured) are able to showcase their talents for the new YouTube video series which takes place on top of Biola’s new parking structure. | Screenshot courtesy of YouTube

Commuters are not the only ones grateful for the new parking structure. Two creative Biola students and some passionate artists owe it a special thanks as well.

Biola juniors Christopher Yim and Samuel Smith combined their passion for genuine artistry, people and film to launch “Five Stories Up,” a web series hosted on YouTube that showcases the artistry and craftsmanship of people in the Biola community.

Inspired by the parking structure

Smith, a cinema and media arts major, and Yim, a communication studies major, created the idea. Smith is the original creator of the show and holds the title of director and editor. Yim is the producer of the show and holds up the managerial portion of the partnership. Each one works with his strengths and uses his education and passion as a defining tool for the show.

The collaboration began when Smith was inspired to create a video after visiting the new parking structure with some of his friends. Smith was instantly elated by the potential of the space.

“As we were driving up the ramps, I looked around and asked myself, ‘Wouldn’t it be a rad idea if we got a few bands together and did some acoustic shows in the parking structure?’” Smith said.

Finding talent on campus

Smith took the idea to heart and began looking for prospects for the first video he would feature. During that time, Yim was looking for a new music video for one of his songs. After sharing the idea, Yim and Smith collaborated on a music video and featured it as the first video for the series.

“Chris and I collaborated on a video called ‘California Sun’ around the end of last semester and knew we worked well together,” Smith said. “Chris showed interest in helping with the show and from then on, he became the producer. Chris was also the one who came up with the name of the series.”

While Smith holds the creative and tech position of the show, Yim remarks that he is in charge of finding the talent.

“As the producer, I am in charge of finding who will be featured,” Yim said. “As of now, it is from word of mouth and we welcome everyone to send us an email and audition for a spot on the show.”

By creating the show, the two have been able to tailor their work experience to fit their specific needs and desires for future employment.

“We want to have fun [but also] we want to practice the job field we want to enter and to continue building relationships,” Yim said. “Through [Five Stories Up], this is all very possible.”

However, like the film industry, the duo has a high standard for the talent that appears on their show. The two expressed their desire to produce a high quality show that viewers will know is worth watching.

“The criteria is [that] you need to be quite talented in your artistry,” Yim said. “I am not looking for your average Joe. Whether you are a musician or a poet, I am looking for artists who are honest in their work.”

Smith noted that their desire is to provide a way that will showcase the talent of those that may not have any other outlets.

Working on the casting process

So how does the selection process work?

While the series has successfully begun a weekly routine of producing videos, the actual casting process is a work in progress. In these beginning stages, the two have relied on word of mouth and connections with friends.

Due to the nature of the series and its exclusivity to the Biola community, at least for now, the weekly web series will go on break at the end of the semester and pick up in the spring.

As for the future of “Five Stories Up,” the two both remarked that upon graduation they would be willing to hand over the series to the next class of filmmakers passing through Biola.

In light of the holiday season, the series will feature Christmas music throughout the month of December and end their weekly updates at the end of the semester.