Taking a National Nonprofit to Scale
Sustainability
Making films for Playworks are, let’s be honest, the most fun we get to have! No surprise since this national non-profit is dedicated to play. Preparing to go to scale, they needed to increase investments nationally. Award-winning director Kristi Jacobson highlighted impact and outcomes – what potential investors care about – while keeping the film fun to watch. She chose a clean, crisp studio in which to film interviews with experts intercut, as well as school kids just generally having a ball! Our editor Sara Booth infused the mood with the sounds of laughter and play throughout.
PSA in Times Square
Just as we were finishing up the Sustainability film, Playworks communications director called us and said she had been offered some free time on a Times Square jumbo-tron for the upcoming weekend – could we make a 15 second PSA in just 3 days? Our copywriter quickly came up with a catchy script, our editor incorporated the footage of kids playing in the studio, and our animator added bright text graphics. Voila, we’re in Times Square!
The Secret Life of a Great Recess, as told by Kiani, Grade 4
We’ve filmed in schools around the nation for Playworks, but our favorite was spending a whole school year with one amazing fourth grader at Brooklyn’s P.S.11. The school, the principal, the fourth grade teacher, and this superstar young lady, each tell their own stories – shot and directed by Academy Award winner Ross Kauffman. Our editor Ali Muney crafted this documentary “The Secret Life of a Great Recess,” out of which we also developed three social media pieces for targeted outreach to school principals and teachers around the country.