LIVE EVENT/MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTIONS: "One Take" campaign

When "In One Take" was originally pitched to us, it was presented as a big budget video campaign profiling EPA employees around the country. The majority of the videos were meant to inspire fellow EPA employees by demonstrating how their peers are using sustainability practices in their everyday jobs. However, as our creative team looked at the potential stories, we found them to be visually lacking. As producer and creative director, I needed to find a solution that met the program office’s needs but also balanced the best use of our Agency's resources.

• Here is a link to my pitch notes that I gave our client. In short, I proposed a live TED-style event to emphasize the passion of our employees--but with a small twist to pique the interest of our target audience. The twist was that the event and subsequent online video would all occur "In One Take." No editing or splicing. This was how we envisioned the live event-

Imagine sharing your EPA story on stage in front of a small audience. Could you do it?

For the past two months, select EPA employees received professional coaching on telling their story on sustainability. They learned how to whittle down their personal narrative into a focused and concise tale. This Thursday, all that training will come to fruition as they share their stories on sustainability with a short personal narrative.

The 13 storytellers are not communicators by profession. They are everyday EPA employees sharing reflections on their programs, regions or personal lives.

Some participants will be nervous. For some, this might be their first time talking into a microphone. Hopefully, some will strike you as inspiring. Come and support your fellow EPA employees. Hear their stories, because you might find they’re telling your story, too.

• The desired end result was an intranet page where each segment could stand alone with supplemental information, so we went all in on the live event. We used three cameras, a jib, stage lighting and held a full rehearsal. Because some of the storytellers had never presented in this situation before, we shot before-and-after segments to capture their thoughts, nervousness and relief. Here is one of those stories that was approved for public release.

• Part of our marketing plan involved our staff photographer shooting promo photos of the event. One of the images was used in the poster above and as intro slates for the individual videos.

• In the end, the video series was celebrated by the program team and senior leadership. The final budget came in at a fraction of the original plan. The live event was lauded, and we’ve received several requests to duplicate this model for other EPA program offices.