Project Overview

A brand video that combines a company portfolio with the structure and style of a narrative film. The result is a celebration of creativity, beauty, and stories waiting to be told.

Organisation

Zandrak

Team

Charles Frank- Directing and Editing
Andrew Hutcheson- Producing
David Brickel- Project Management
Kyle Harper- Writing and Marketing

Project Brief

Zandrak is a Boston-based production company that approaches filmmaking through creative collaboration, innovative execution, and narrative vision. From concept through completion, whether commercial or creative, all of their work is centered around a simple idea: everything is story.

So, with three years in filmmaking industry, mounds of footage, and a passionate desire to continue telling stories, the Zandrak team decided it was time for their first reel: a video that would communicate their ability and philosophy to any potential employees, partners, collaborators, or clients. The result was a short brand spot which introduces each member of the Zandrak team in a personal way that then grows into the work they create together.

Project Innovation/Need

For this project, we needed a video that would:
a) Succinctly and engagingly presented the Zandrak brand and service
b) Be used as an informational and promotional tool, both internally and externally
c) Stand out from the crowd of innumerable other reels, both in approach and quality.

These goals are all pretty standard for anyone tackling a production reel, and commonly they are met by editing together the best clips of an artist(s) work with music or a voiceover in the background. This methodology does an effective job of placing film quality in the forefront, but doesn't offer much in terms of conveying company ideals or mission. So we decided to come up with a narrative structure that would not only allow us to display Zandrak's production ability, but also suggest the ideals which guide their process.

Design Challenge

The unique direction of this project presented two key challenges: constructing a coherent narrative, and creating original content explicitly around this structure. By modeling the film after Zandrak's creative process, we were able to present the brand in a way that begins with each team member personally and then grows into their work: a progression from inspiration to realization. As for presenting this story, we decided to record unscripted interviews with each member of Zandrak and then create an intimate voiceover out of the recorded material. This turned what could have been a sterile portfolio piece into a cohesive and personal brand spot, which can be effectively used in numerous corporate settings.

Effectiveness

Since its completion on May 6th, "Everything is Story" has become an integral part of Zandrak's informational and promotional efforts. This has allowed the company to expand their branding in new ways, whether in media kits, reference material for collaborators, or directly promoted online. Ultimately, it stands as a simple and engaging answer to the most basic of brand questions: who are you?