Homelessness isn’t seasonal, which is why Huma-Faith provides transitional housing and support services 24/7. To help get the word out, Apollo Films Team Member, Matt Short, stepped up. This uplifting video supports the mission on their web site at humafaith.org. Here’s a short sample. See more great video content at Apollo Films
Apollo Films just finished this video for The Spann Group. The 36th Floor of The Tower in downtown Fort Worth is the ultimate in luxury living. Take a look. This place is awesome! To see more Apollo Films work visit Apollo Films.
Beautiful food photography sells! There is no doubt about it. The Apollo Films team boasts nationally known food and tabletop Director/DP, Steven Moses. Here’s a montage of some of Steve’s work. You’ll want to go out to eat after you see this. The Apollo Films team shares an intense passion for making great video content. We love what we do and it shows! For more awesome video content please visit Apollo Films.
https://youtu.be/V3Z32dphwr0
When world renowned horse trainer, Clinton Anderson, wanted to prove his “Method” works on any kind of horse he headed to his native Australia in pursuit of wild Australian Brumbies. Leading the crew of adventure filmmakers was Scott Anderson, Apollo Films’ newest team member. Both the “Method” and the crew were successful. Upon completion of the shoot two trained and tamed Australian Brumbies (similar to America’s wild Mustangs) were donated to the Aboriginal horsemen who were instrumental in production’s success. For more of Scott’s work, visit https://www.apollofilms.com/our-team.
Andersont has spent his career as a visual storyteller. Whether as a news photojournalist, a documentary producer/cameraman or as a producer/shooter for nationally broadcast television programming, he has used his creative eye and professional expertise to help clients tell entertaining, informative and important stories. As Scott puts it… “what keeps me energized is the process of creating collaborative, compelling, and visually appealing content. From concept through delivery each project is a wonderful opportunity to create. That never gets old.” Scott’s work has been seen on HGTV, Discovery, Animal Planet, ESPN and HBO Sports, just to name a few.
When Jeep decided to take potential buyers on the ride of their life, they called on Apollo’s newest team member, Matt Short, Director|DP, to capture the action. An actual Navy Seal team simulated a rescue in an imaginary village under siege by pirates. Potential buyers did the “ride along” with the Seals in their Jeeps. Matt is an award-winning Director/DP and his work can be viewed at https://www.apollofilms.com/our-team.
We hope you’ll take a look.
When Dallas based Topgolf needed video to help launch it’s internal TOPGOLF GET initiative, they called on Apollo Films newest team member, Dewey Taylor. The project was shown internationally at training events launching the TOPGOLF GET program designed to take the company into the future, prepare for rapid expansion and re-branding of the company.
For more great content please visit Apollo Films.
As a director, it’s pretty damn cool when someone asks you, “What can I do to help?” I get this question a lot, but not referring to executing great ideas for clients.
I get the “What can I do?” question after discussions & industry events where people (and companies) just straight up “get woke” to the idea that there’s a diversity problem in advertising.
The Media and entertainment industry has been filtered through one singular source, the white male point of view. It’s a never-ending circle of storytelling from the same origin and, literally, through the same lens. That’s mass consumption of one perspective seen over and over and over for decade after decade.
“But Jody, wait. So what? I see all kinds of movies being produced. What about those mushy romantic comedies I love so much. So what if a white guy wrote directed and shot that film?”
Well a white guy probably did, but how are the women portrayed? Is anything in their lives more important than finding a man, getting married, having a child? Were they seen as a person who has worth beyond appearance or function? And how did this movie mold your worldview? How did it affect things you want? The things you expect? The things your family expects of the things you want?
Side note – Here’s a thought that always interests me. Have you ever heard about the women fighter pilots of WW I and WW II? Probably not. I didn’t either, but those real life brave, talented, fearless women flew planes for their countries and their stories are all but “disappeared” from history. So here’s what I wonder. If your grandfather and his mother knew of such amazing ladies (through newspaper accounts, radio shows, television shows, feature films, etc.) how would it have molded their world view, their attitude and understanding of what women are capable of? How would it have changed how they parented their sons and daughters, who in turn, parented you? Storytelling informs culture and when we miss out on 51% of the stories, society suffers.
Ok, so back to you selfless warriors who ask, “What can I do?”
When speaking about changing the face of advertising and trumpeting the change for diversity and equality in our business, the answer is simple: HIRE WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR EVERY CHANCE YOU GET.
“Ughhh! But Jody, there aren’t any women directors or any Hispanic DPs good enough to do what I need!”
A silent stare and 300 blinks later my polite response is, “Sure there are! Have you heard of FREE THE BID ? The Director List? Cinematographers XXX ? The 3% Movement ? Well, you have now. Simply insist your production companies and/or ad agency find these talented people and throw them in the mix to compete for your business.
“Oh cool thanks. Good to know, but honestly, I have to go to my usual guys, I know they’ll do the job and I don’t have to worry about them. I’m busy ya know. I can’t save the world.”
This is an understandable thought process, but if this is your mindset please don’t ask the question in the first place. If you have 30 pieces of content to shoot this year, hire women directors to execute a percentage of them. Even if it’s just one more woman or POC that you hire, please know you have just made a huge difference in someone’s life and possibly career. They’ll rock the job and you’ll look like a super hero for bringing in such new vibrant talent.
“Woooaaa. But Jody, wait! I have a REAL problem. Her reel just isn’t as developed as his. It doesn’t hold up. I’m sorry there’s nothing I can do in this case.”
This one makes my head explode because, sadly, it may be true. But let me lay this on you. Talent isn’t the reason; simply put he’s had more opportunity to develop as a director than she has.
This disparity is the entire ball game so it’s worthwhile to understand the impact lack of opportunity has on success and with some insight hopefully you’ll go the full nine to help change this imbalance.
Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called “Outliers” (yeh, he’s the guy who said that it takes 10,000 hours of work to become an expert at something) and if you want to understand success and the variables that contribute to it, read this book. It’s thought provoking and sadly so very, very relatable to me. Plus it has cool Canadian hockey player analogies, not female director analogies, but the point holds up to a T.
Gladwell examines success and notes that we tend to believe in “individual merit.” We attribute success to individual qualities such as talent, motivation and intelligence. When in fact, successful people are “the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities.”
Let me repeat the “extraordinary opportunities” part. Thank you.
Gladwell throws a tree analogy at us: “the tallest tree in the forest came from a good seed—this is not in question. But it did not become the tallest tree in the forest simply because it grew from a good seed; it became the tallest tree because it was planted in good soil and because no other trees blocked its sunlight.”
So the idea that the “cream rises to the top” doesn’t hold up. That tree grew to be the biggest and baddest in the forest not just because its seed has some special qualities, but because of a multitude of other external factors. He explains that very successful people, or outliers, start out only a little better than their peers, and then access to opportunity enables them to excel. “We are surprised because we have bought into the misconception that success derives primarily from talent and hard work alone.” He emphatically maintains that we repeatedly overlook the enormous role society plays in “individual” success.
So there ya have it. Gladwell has the answer as to why HER reel is not as strong as HIS.
“Yeh that’s nice Jod, but again not my problem.”
Ok, fair enough, but I can guarantee with 100% confidence and proven statistical facts that this is your wife’s problem, your girlfriend’s problem, your Asian friend’s problem, that Hispanic guys problem, your gay sons problem and if you look at the co-worker sitting across from you right now, it’s her problem too.
So when asking the brave question of “What can I do?” please know you can do a lot. First, have confidence and know that you’re surrounded by talent, it’s everywhere in all shapes, sizes, colors and sexes. Second, be fearless as you’re a big part of changing the world. Sounds a bit dramatic, but coming from someone who fights this battle daily, it’s not hyperbolic at all. Last, know your decision to hire diversely will have positive ripple effects that you will never know about. So, be that person to make a difference, change the world and hire women, or people of color, or better yet women of color this year.
Equality has advantages for everyone. Try to keep in mind that a rising tide lifts all boats. A corny saying that is so apropos to this conversation and so very true.
Jody has been a long time member of the Apollo Films team. She is currently taking her unique perspective and tackling sexism in the biz with her documentary “Just Ad Man”. Please reach out to jody@jodylaurenmiller.com to learn more about that production or take make a tax deductible donation please click here: http://www.nywift.org/article.aspx?ID=5989. To see Jody’s current show reel, please visit www.apollofilms.com.
This virtual reality video, created by Apollo Films team member, Greg Hughs, is part of an exhibition housed in a converted horse trailer that travels the country to teach people about the efforts to sustain the wild mustang population in the US.
The Mustang Heritage Foundation is a public, charitable non-profit organization that works in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. Their mission is to create and promote programs and activities that provide information and education about wild horses, elevate their image and desirability plus secure caring homes for the mustangs.
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The VR video is an essential component of the traveling exhibition designed to place the viewer into the horses’ natural environment. Through the use of 360/Virtual Reality video, Apollo Films team member, Greg Hughs, is able to transport the viewer out of the exhibition and place them in the middle of the wilderness among these horses. It is a truly moving experience for the horse lovers who have viewed the video. To learn more about wild mustangs and how you could even adopt one, visit http://mustangheritagefoundation.org/
When James Avery Artisan Jewelry decided to tell their artistic story, they called on Apollo Films team member, Philip Paternite. It is always an intriguing opportunity to tell an artist’s story. As you will see, Philip was up to the challenge. See more great video content at www.apollofilms.com.
At Apollo Films every team member is passionate about his work. And, when it comes to one artist telling another artist’s story, that passion is intensified. But, we bring that same intense passion to every project in which we are involved. It’s our mission to exceed our client’s expectations and deliver impressive video content – On Time – On Budget – On Strategy.
Apollo Films team member, Claude Locke, answered the challenge of The Communications Group and their client, Better Beginnings, a state agency tasked with rating early childhood development centers. From one ten hour shoot day with 20 young actors under the age of five, came two 30-second broadcast TV spots and twelve 15-second social media content clips.
The campaign, developed by The Communications Group creative team, focused on key learning areas expected to be present in each learning center. Here’s a behind the scenes look at the shoot.
For more awesome video content please visit apollofilms.com.
Watch …
Agency: The Communications Group
Client: Better Beginnings
Producer/Director: Claude Locke
Director of Photography: Billy Velten
Editor: Eric Foster
Animation: Janimation
Colorist: Steve Franco
