Video.

2020 Virtual Gala ‘COVID-19 Video

I partnered with SurtzMedia to write and produce this eye-catching, thought-provoking fundraiser video for the Moran Center’s Virtual Gala. Our goal was to provide our friends and supporters with an inside look of how the Moran Center was responding to the needs of clients during the coronavirus pandemic - and how the need of the agency would be greater once the pandemic is over.

Deliverables:

• Communications Strategy

• Project Management

• Video Storyboarding & Production

• Copywriting

• Email Campaign

Outcome:

Our efforts helped give viewers a glimpse into how we were still supporting the needs of our clients, and providing critical legal and social work services during the health crisis. The Moran Center was able to leverage the video to help improve individual giving and grants. This video highlights what it means to work at the Moran Center, and how the staff are committed, now more than ever, to delivering justice.

The James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Evanston, IL
2020 “Justice (Re)Builds” Virtual Gala Video
Christian Surtz, SurtzMedia and Charles Jefferson, Communications Manager

Leaders for the Next Video Series

At Chicago Theological Seminary, there are students and alumni all over the country doing great things to bring about a more just and merciful world for everybody. The Office of Communications decided to build an on-going video series, using the seminary’s tagline of Leaders for the Next. Partnering with Tim Frakes Productions, we wanted to provide students, staff, faculty, board members, donors and friends with a more in-depth look at the phenomenal work being done by current students and graduates of the seminary.

Deliverables:

• Communications Strategy

• Project Management

• Video Storyboarding & Production

• Copywriting

• Email Campaign

• Social Media Campaign

View the Leaders for the Next series

Outcome:

These videos and written stories provided a glimpse into what makes Chicago Theological Seminary one of the most progressive graduate school’s of theology in the country. The Office of Advancement was able to leverage the video series to help with individual giving, grants, and subsequent fundraising campaigns. Friends from far and wide commented on how the video series renewed their interest in engaging with the seminary, and prospective students knew CTS was the right path for them.

Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL
Leaders for the Next: Vanessa Gomez Break
Tim Frakes, Tim Frakes Productions and Charles Jefferson, Communications & Marketing Coordinator

Speaker’s Demo Reel for Professor Shanita B. Akintonde:

Shanita B. Akintonde, an associate professor of advertising at Columbia College Chicago, as well as an author, speaker, board president, and more commissioned me to storyboard and create a demo reel of her various speaking engagements. The idea was to use this reel to garner more speaking engagements, as well as provide a glimpse into the multi-layered life of this dynamic, energetic, and feisty woman who wears many hats. I worked with Shanita to develop a storyboard of what the reel would look like, then determining what specifically she wanted to highlight. We chose several speaking engagements to include, as well as video I shot and edited of Shanita teaching her Intro to Advertising class at Columbia.

Deliverables:

• Video Storyboarding and production

• Demo reel

• Increased speaking engagements & interest

• Communications strategy

• Copywriting

Outcome:

The client was very happy with the finished product. She remarked: “This reel showcases my many talents, both inside and outside the classroom. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.” The reel has garnered Shanita an increase in interest, as well as speaking engagements.