Evidence-based Policy and Heart-Felt Storytelling

Link to read and watch:

https://www.arnoldventures.org/stories/at-big-brothers-big-sisters-mentorship-moves-the-needle

My Role: Producer and writer

Backstory: Arnold Ventures is an evidence-based philanthropic organization that focuses on funding evidence-based policy and programs from a wide range of areas including criminal justice, education, health care, and public finance. They came to us to help tell the story of new research that came out showing the benefits of mentorship programs like Big Brothers, Big Sisters on youth. I jumped at the chance to dive in and discover more, eventually interviewing a lovely mentor and his mentee.

Challenges: Incorporating data into an emotional, impactful video can be tricky. I collaborated with the client to "sprinkle" this information throughout the video, creating emphasis at important transitional points in the video and at the end.

Successes: The client was able to successfully use the video and a shorter version to amplify the story across all of their social media and digital platforms.

The Rodeo's Highly-anticipated 2024 Entertainer Lineup

Link to Youtube: https://youtu.be/9AYNReMNEDE?si=HVDbKsZx6akTKKL-

Link to Instagram Reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1-yePgtrfJ/?igsh=YWRnY2dvdWc3aHRh

My Role: Producer, Writer, Director

Backstory: Taking a note from NFL teams who produce fun schedule-release videos each year, the Houston Rodeo’s digital team asked for our help creating a similar one for the 2024 entertainer lineup. We brainstormed with the client and I began writing the script. Having lived in Houston for 20 years, I quickly put together a list of iconic locations and representative scenarios for the project.

Some of the announcements would be live-action and real props (like the wine bottle, sandwich board and proposal), and some would be purely VFX (like the billboards and signage). This took a lot of coordination between production and post-production crew.

Challenges: The lineup was kept a secret from almost everyone, even our team, until it was necessary to create an asset. A lot of the early drafts were created with placeholder names.

Successes: The client told us the video was a huge success for their purposes, and it created a lot of buzz on social media. The whole team is super proud of this video.

Behind the scenes:

Match Cut Magic for a Meaningful Moment

Link to watch: Dropbox link here

Role: Producer, Writer, Director

Backstory: This major health education client's events team wanted to create an impressive video for their first big commencement ceremony after the pandemic's virtual ceremonies. Our crew fleshed out a match-cut concept and I wrote the script. The client selected one student for each of their six schools, which I pre-interviewed to work their stories into the script and location selection. We filmed for one half-day per student, going to a minimum of four locations in a day.

Challenges: Matching shots in tight locations made things a little difficult for our crew. Good communication and lots of pre-production helped us overcome these hurdles, and any complications that arose from scheduling all of these people and spaces.

Successes: After the success of this one and another video I produced for the client’s 2021 gala, the development department engaged us in the production of a long-term series of videos highlighting their pillars. We were able to re-use some of the footage and a few of these same techniques for other videos.

A recent video for the development department utilized this same match-cut concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTMUyPYpDFs