Black Men of Google: Harmony
This 10-minute mini-documentary captures the unique stories of four Google employees based in South Carolina, California, and South Africa. The goal was to forge an authentic connection between the subjects and the audience by showcasing their personal experiences.
Filmed over 10 days in four U.S. cities, with simultaneous remote production in South Africa, the project demanded careful coordination. To shape the narrative, the director and I conducted pre-interviews to understand each employee’s interests and experiences, while leaving space for genuine, unscripted moments to unfold as they grew comfortable on camera. We also incorporated a boys’ choir to symbolically connect to the film’s themes and provide a guiding thread throughout the story.
The final film was a tremendous success, earning accolades such as a Webby Award for People’s Voice Winner for Corporate Social Responsibility Branded Video, a Shorty Award for Audience Honor for Employee Engagement Video, and two Anthem Awards for Partnership or Collaboration and for Employee Learning & Development Initiative.
IAAM: Living Legacy of the Parks-Wilder Family
This documentary is one of three created for a series featured at the International African-American Museum. Each film serves as the centerpiece for a physical and digital exhibition. All content for the series was captured over six days in South Carolina, with a focus on crafting meaningful and engaging storytelling.
To foster authenticity, the director and I opted for a conversational format rather than direct-to-camera interviews. This approach allowed the discussions to flow naturally, creating space for the subjects’ voices to shine and their stories to resonate. To enhance the visual experience, we combined cinema camera footage, Super 8, and archival materials, adding texture and a sense of nostalgia to the films.
Designing content for both online and physical exhibits presented unique challenges, particularly when balancing different camera framings and aspect ratios. Despite these complexities, the films were exceptionally well-received and are now available to view both online and in person at the International African-American Museum.
Rite Aid: Healthy Futures
Rite Aid’s goal for this project was to highlight the mission, partners, and communities of its “Healthy Futures” initiative. The video centered on two key organizations: Norris Square Neighborhood Project and Mighty Writers.
To bring the stories to life, the director and I began with pre-interviews to learn about the people involved in each program. From there, we selected the individuals to feature in the film. Production spanned three days, with one day dedicated to in-studio voiceover sessions and one day for filming each program.
We developed light scripts for the voiceover sessions based on insights from the pre-interviews, while leaving room for the subjects to speak authentically and go off-script. Our shot list was carefully aligned with the scripts and adjusted to reflect discoveries made during the sessions.
The final film wove these individual stories into a cohesive narrative, showcasing the meaningful care and impact that Rite Aid Healthy Futures has on the community.