Video
For brands, all creative visuals start written words. Whether it's a shot list for a photographer or a script for a video, conveying the initial ideas start with writing.
It's easy for people to talk about voice and tone. But maintaining them for a company or product through the development of an expensive video shoot so you can hear it and see it... well, that takes a skilled writer.
Stockwell.ai
Anthem video
What: Wrote the script for this fun branding video for Stockwell.ai stores.
Problem: We needed a branding video for Stockwell.ai. Something fun and funny that showed all the ways this autonomous store can help save the day. Budget was $120K.
Fix: We worked with Studio B Films to cast, produce, shoot, and then make strategic edits to this so that we could repurpose parts of these for social, YouTube bumper ads, and eventually, on-store screen displays.
Result: This 5-day shoot was fun, and the end result was a fun video that showed how our autonomous stores could be the perfect solve at the right time in the right place.
Team: Head of Marketing, creative director, Studio B Films executive producer and crew.
Stockwell.ai
How it works
What: While content marketing manager at Stockwell.ai, a retail startup using AI for the sale transactions, I produced multiple photo and video shoots. As we launched this brand, we needed a video specifically for our B2B customers.
Problem: Our B2B customers hired us to place and manage our stores at their locations. Therefore we needed an anthem video that described our product, how it worked, and what services we offered, with a tight budget of only $30k.
Fix: I hired Jeffery Cross Photography for product photography, which provided us product photos we could reuse repeatedly. I also hired Studio B Films to work on the production of the video using the script I wrote. To save costs, we agreed to not use live talent or pay for an on-site shoot.
Result: A simple, fun, and informative video using photography, animation, and voiceover about what Stockwell.ai is, how it works, and benefits we offer.
Team: Jeffery Cross photography, Studio B Films producer and crew, Stockwell CMO
DHK
Brand video
What: I am the head of marketing, creative director, and not-so-silent partner-wife of Drew Hash Knives, a artisan knife making business my husband owns and operates.
Problem: In this rare case, we were the client. We were approached by two extraordinary photographers Josh Harding and Ted Thomas who wanted to make a brand video about Drew and his food background and knife business.
Fix: I helped Josh and Ted understand Drew’s end-to-end process and career so they could outline their video’s story arch. I also gave them a detailed shot list (which they could use, discard, or cherry pick from) so they understood where the various photo opportunities were in the forest, shop, ocean, and kitchen scenes.
Result: A gorgeous video of Drew’s brand and passion for his craft that I'm proud to have been a small part of.
Munchery
Brand video
What: While Content Manager for Munchery, a SF-based meal delivery startup, I scripted a video to help build brand awareness and that our meals came from real chefs using real ingredients.
Problem: We had the idea, but no way to execute the video ourselves.
Fix: We hired Studio B, my first time working with this local film agency, to execute the idea.
Result: The final product was better than we imagined, and was a good example of how taking a basic idea and working with talented people can result in cool stuff.
Team: Studio B Films executive producer, DP, and crew, Blackwell Files talent agency,
Sunset
How to & bonus content
What: As recipe editor for Sunset Magazine, I scripted, produced, edited, and published 100+ videos for the brand that were used on the website and across content channels.
Problem: Take content planned in our editorial calendar for our monthly magazine and create additional content to enhance or add value for our subscribers that wasn’t a repeat and decreased the print edition’s value.
Fix: Quick tips, insider tricks, seasonal ideas, and healthy options were some of the topics I wrote scripts and produced videos for.
Result: More videos than I could possibly count.
Team: Food editor to assign or approve topics, any staff photographer available to help with lighting, web editor to publish.