by kthigpen | Oct 1, 2021 | News
By Alexandria Thomson, FX Specialist
I never thought in a hundred years I would be sitting, in my own office space, in Reno NV, typing a little ‘exposé’ on myself, but here I am awkwardly typing away! Hahahaha. Anyway, let me introduce myself. My name is Alexandria Thomson. I was born and raised in a small beach town on Long Island, NY. I’ll answer the burning question that almost everyone asks me: Why did you move out to Reno/Tahoe? Well, my mom wanted to move out west to start anew and I followed. My love for make-up and special effects (FX make-up) came from watching old-school slasher movies with my dad at the tender age of 7, parenting at its finest, right? I also remember being in awe at all the avant-garde colorful editorial shoots in my sister’s Cosmopolitan & Glamour magazines and wanting to recreate them. That’s where my love of editorial & beauty make-up comes from. I have a strong passion for art in all mediums and I am always inspired by many different painters, sculptors, special effects artists, etc.
So, what is my role here at Ace Studios? I am the FX Specialist. What is an FX Specialist, you ask? When you research it on Google, all that generally comes up is Foreign Exchange Specialist which is definitely not what I do. My job here at Ace is to provide hair and make-up services to our clients who want to look polished and professional for their headshots or websites. We also create beautiful editorial shoots (pictured below) that we submit into advertising contests as well as out of the kit special FX for the Halloween season (or “Christmas time”) for some Make-up Artists. Now the interesting thing about my job is that it is not prevalent to have an in-house make-up artist in the marketing industry. It’s what makes Ace Studios so unique.
Alexandria is on the photoshoot set of Chanel & Pearls.
Who knew my career would take this unexpected turn into the marketing world, but I want to thank Chris and Kurt for giving me a chance. They saw something in me that I didn’t even see in myself. I am grateful. I also get to say that I have the best work-family I could ever ask for.
Here is a taste of our Halloween shoot for 2021.
Shoot: Starry Nite
Photography: Chris Thigpen
Make-Up: Alexandria Thomson
Shoot: Lady In White
Photography: Chris Thigpen
Make-Up: Alexandria Thomson
by kthigpen | Oct 1, 2021 | News
By Robert Nuñez, Social Media Assistant
Hispanic Heritage Month is a nationally celebrated period of time that begins on September 15th and ends on October 15th. Its start date is uniquely in the middle of the month since most national, month-long heritage celebrations began on the 1st of the month. The start date of September 15th is significant because it essentially kicks off a string of independence anniversaries for a vast majority of Latin American countries. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua celebrate their independence on the 15th, with Mexico’s independence celebrated the very next day on the 16th. Fast forward a few days and you get to Chile’s independence celebration day on the 18th. In addition, also within the 30-day period, Día de la Raza (Race Day) is celebrated on the 12th of October.
Robert Nuñez
As a first-generation Mexican-American, I am constantly engulfed in what is my version of “Hispanic Heritage” regardless of what time of year it is. I simply have to take a short drive to my parents’ home in Carson City, Nevada. Whether it’s the rich, heartwarming aroma of Arroz Rojo being prepared, the sound of my father belting out verses from ballads by Mexican legends such as Antonio Aguilar and José Alfredo Jiménez, or maybe I’m immediately met with a coughing fit because my mother is frying peppers on the stove. Whatever it may be, this is the life I’ve always known and will continue to cherish for the rest of my life. However, I do recognize that are SO many other ways to experience what falls under the huge categorization of what is “Hispanic Heritage” and I think that’s what I love most about this month-long spotlight on culture and traditions.
I tried Nicaraguan Nacatamales for the first time a few days prior to writing this article, and though I’m quite acquainted with Mexican Tamales, I was not ready for the absolute explosion of delicious flavors that flooded my mouth. I paired my one nacatamale (yes, only one because its size is the equivalent of about 3 or 4 Mexican tamales) with an ice-cold coke and buttered bread!
In the coming days, I’m also really excited to try Pupusas for the first time! Really late to the tasty party, I know, but that’s what Hispanic Heritage Month is all about! I guarantee that any person reading this can find a dish, an artist, or any traditional Hispanic cultural item that they are yet to try or experience. I encourage everyone reading this to expand their palate and/or knowledge on such a vast range of lifestyles and customs! (But seriously, if you’re going to fry peppers on your stove, open a window or turn on a vent because it’s a different kind of cough).
by kthigpen | Sep 20, 2021 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/20/2021
Ace Studios today announced that Camille Thigpen has joined Ace Studios as the Administrative Assistant for the company, effective September 13, 2021. She will also be acting as the company’s east coast representative, expanding operations out to Georgia.
Camille is the mother of CEO and Co-Founder Kurt Thigpen and mother-in-law to COO and Co-Founder Chris Thigpen, adding to the ranks of the already family-owned business. She is a Georgia native and was born in Savannah, GA.
She brings with her a breadth of experience in multiple industries and skillsets from working in the medical industry in many leadership roles to working in security and eventually starting her own small business venture.
Camille will be responsible for assisting with all administrative duties at Ace Studios, as the company continues to grow and expand, and will also be establishing a footprint on the east coast.
“I’m really proud to join my Kurt & Chris’ company,” says Camille, “I believe in what Ace Studios has been working to accomplish for communities here in Nevada, and am happy to be a part of the team!”
“I look forward to this new role, which I know will allow the leadership team at Ace Studios to focus more on the big picture items while I handle the day-to-day responsibilities.”
About Ace Studios:
Ace Studios is an award-winning full-service multimedia digital marketing and design agency. We are creative, strategic, thoughtful, dedicated champions of our clients and their businesses. From image boosting to problem-solving, from stellar design to kickass in-house photography and video, from social media to social responsibility, we stand firmly behind the companies we lead to be their best selves.
by kthigpen | Jul 30, 2021 | News
ACE STUDIOS OFFICIALLY IS A CERTIFIED LGBT BUSINESS ENTERPRISE® (CERTIFIED LGBTBE®) BY THE NATIONAL LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Ace Studios is proud to announce their recent certification as a Certified LGBTBE® through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Supplier Diversity Initiative. The NGLCC is the business voice of the LGBT community and serves as the nation’s exclusive certifying body for LGBT-owned and operated businesses.
“We are so pleased to welcome Ace Studios to the ever-expanding network of NGLCC certified LGBT Business Enterprises and the hundreds of corporations and government agencies eager to put them to work,” said NGLCC Co-Founder and President Justin Nelson and Co- Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell. “According to NGLCC’s groundbreaking America’s LGBT Economy report, America’s estimated 1.4 million LGBT business owners, many of them NGLCC certified, add over $1.7 trillion to the GDP and create tens of thousands of new jobs. We are proud to count Ace Studios among those who prove every day that LGBT businesses are the future of the American economy.”
Ace Studios is now eligible to participate in the NGLCC’s supplier diversity programs with the Fortune 500 and government agencies nationwide, can take advantage of the vast educational opportunities promoted by the NGLCC, and can work to foster business to business relationships with other Certified LGBTBE® companies worldwide throughout the year and especially at the NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference. Business leaders in our community continually redefine industries and shatter stereotypes. From technology firms to local restaurants and retail shops, we are proving every day that if you buy it, an LGBT-owned business can supply it.
“We are so incredibly honored and thrilled to receive this distinction and look forward to seeing our company grow more with it,” said Ace Studios CEO, Kurt Thigpen.
About NGLCC
The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the business voice of the LGBT community and the exclusive certifying body for LGBT-owned businesses. With more than 200 corporate partners, and 62 local, state, and international affiliate chambers, NGLCC is the largest LGBT business development and economic advocacy organization in the world.
www.nglcc.org
About Ace Studios
Ace Studios is a full-service multimedia digital marketing and design agency based in Reno, NV.
From image boosting to problem-solving; from stellar design to captivating in-house photography and video; from social media to social responsibility, they stand firmly behind the companies they lead to be their best selves.
by kthigpen | Mar 18, 2021 | News
For Immediate Release:
Ace Studios today announced that Robert Nunez will be joining Ace Studios as a Social Media Assistant, effective March 15, 2021.
Robert is a Nevada native. He was born in South Lake Tahoe and raised in Carson City, Nevada by Mexican immigrant parents. He will be joining Ace Studios from the University of Nevada, Reno, where Robert received his Bachelor’s in Atmospheric Science. Driven by a compulsion to capture the forgotten and overlooked moments that make up everyday life, Robert has always had a knack for being hyper-observant and, thus a natural artist. In his professional work, he uses these talents to produce great, quality work for clients.
Additionally, Robert’s experiences that will benefit Ace Studios moving forward include:
• Photography
• Graphic Design
• Content writing
“Really happy to have Ace’d the interview and I’m excited to join the team,” says Robert, “I believe my well-rounded experience in social media as well as in graphic design will equip me with the tools necessary to bring a fresh perspective and a new approach to Ace studios.”
“I look forward to expanding my skill set, all the while getting to know the great people at Ace Studios.”
About Ace Studios: Ace Studios is an award-winning full-service multimedia digital marketing and design agency. We are creative, strategic, thoughtful, dedicated champions of our clients and their businesses. From image boosting to problem-solving, from stellar design to kickass in-house photography and video, from social media to social responsibility, we stand firmly behind the companies we lead to be their best selves.
by kthigpen | Mar 9, 2021 | News
For Immediate Release:
Ace Studios today announced that Alexandria Thomson will be joining Ace Studios as an FX Specialist in their Photography and Videography Department, effective March 8, 2021.
Alexandria will be joining Ace Studios from Long Island, New York. She has over 8+ years in the field of make-up, hair, and special effects. Alexandria will be bringing her passion and talent from her industry to better serve the clients of Ace Studios.
Additionally, Alexandria experiences that will benefit Ace Studios moving forward include:
• Make-up
• Special Effects
• Hair
• Licensed Aesthetician
“I am so excited and grateful that I am working with one of the best multi-media companies in Reno,” says Alexandria, “especially one that is inclusive and works with the community.”
About Ace Studios: Ace Studios is an award-winning full-service multimedia digital marketing and design agency. We are creative, strategic, thoughtful, dedicated champions of our clients and their businesses. From image boosting to problem-solving, from stellar design to kickass in-house photography and video, from social media to social responsibility, we stand firmly behind the companies we lead to be their best selves.
