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Nametag Films

Treating people with respect is never out of style. Nametag Films creates the good stuff in advertising and entertainment. Our seven years of steady growth has landed us in a sweet spot to offer seasoned expertise and fearless youthful energy too. At the heart of the company is a culture of respect. Which challenges us to look for the little things that can make someone’s life better. Because what’s more electrifying than working with a team that is refreshed - both creatively and personally?




Commercial Production  / Production
Production Company, Nametag Films, Hires Chief Growth Architect with Impressive Strategy & Development Background
Nametag Films Posted On April 5, 2022


This is a relatively new position in the C suite space, and new hire, Brandon C. Ricks, is determined to pave the way.


Dallas-based production company, Nametag Films, welcomes seasoned creative strategist Brandon C. Ricks to the team. Ricks will assume the role of Chief Growth Architect, which is a new position within the company. His background within the music, radio, and film industry made him a shoo-in candidate.

Ricks has worked as a director for onsite activations on Warped Tour, developed local radio and promotions strategies for touring artists, and created radio sponsored meet-and-greets with Brian “Head” Welch. In addition, he executed the “Catch a Free Ride” promotion sponsored by Uber and Dallas radio station 102.1 the Edge, co-produced “The End of Malice” documentary featured on REVOLT TV and NETFLIX while executive producing the soundtrack to the film and spearheaded the acquisition of the “Loud Krazy Love” documentary on Showtime.

As a self-described “builder,” Ricks will work with the Nametag team to execute high level goals within the company. Already impressed by the high level of work ethic at Nametag, Ricks can’t wait to dive in and do what he does best—create one big, tangible result out of multiple, moving parts.

We sat down with the Chief Growth Architect to see this new role from his perspective and found out what makes him tick. .

AdChat DFW: What were you doing before coming to Nametag Films? 

BR: Before coming to Nametag, I worked at a digital marketing agency managing a portfolio of client accounts. Not the most exciting job but I learned a lot about the inner workings of an agency. Outside of that, I spent my time as a creative and content consultant for various clients developing high level marketing strategies. But, of course my work history extends far beyond my most recent role.

AdChat DFW: What was your first job?

BR: If we’re talking about the first job or the first time I was ever paid for, that would be babysitting. My first job or career position that I actually felt inspired by was an internship at Universal Records.

AdChat DFW: What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?

BR: Since the Growth Officer or Growth Architect is a fairly new position within the C Suite, I still get a lot of “what do you do?” type of questions. It’s great for me because it allows me to thoroughly explain the multifaceted responsibilities within my role.

AdChat DFW: What do you bring to Nametag Films? 

BR: I bring passion for strategic growth and development. I love to build things and I plan on applying that passion to Nametag to help our team fulfill our high level goals and aspirations.

AdChat DFW: What do you love about this work?

BR: The best part about being a Growth Architect is seeing strategic vision come to fruition. There is an excitement that is associated with taking something that was conceptual and manifesting it into the tangible world.

AdChat DFW: What’s a work related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

BR: I’ve been blessed and honored to be involved in quite a few accomplishments. I would say one of the most fulfilling projects I worked on was a documentary piece I was able to get picked up by NETFLIX and REVOLT TV.

AdChat DFW: How do you know when you’ve aced a project? 

BR: I’m a harsh self-critic, so I have a tendency to downplay success and not celebrate accomplishments or recognize them when I see them. But I’ve always found that you’ve built something great when what you’ve built impacts people in a positive way. That’s the ultimate sign that I’ve been involved with great work.

AdChat DFW: Who would your dream client & project be? 

BR: I don’t know if I have a dream client or project per se. I think every time I have the opportunity to help someone take a great idea they are excited about and make it a reality, that is a dream come true to me.

AdChat DFW: How do you stay up-to-date on current tech and trends? 

BR: I think there is a fine line between being informed and chasing the latest trend. I try to be knowledgeable by reading, researching, and listening to colleagues and friends but, at the same time, it’s important to blaze your own trail and do what works. Everyone has a different approach to accomplish a goal. I try to do what works within my methodology and add things I learn along the way.

AdChat DFW: What does a successful project look like? 

BR: I think this falls in line with the aced a project question. It’s all about the impact the project has on the people involved. I look at the people and their response and I judge success based on how it impacts them.

AdChat DFW: Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work? 

BR: I don’t know if I’ve been greatly influenced by one person more than another. I tend to pick up nuggets of information from everyone I meet and apply the best things about their work to my repertoire. But if I had to pick someone, I would say my parents. Their work ethic and grind is almost unmatched. They started at a deficit compared to most people. They grew up on the West Side and South Side of Chicago in the 50s and 60s. It takes an immense amount of courage, vision and resolve to overcome poverty, violence, broken homes, and the systemic racism that was perpetuated during that time period. They have done extremely well for themselves despite their circumstances, and they provided my sister and I the opportunity to grow up in safe, healthy, and stable environments. They broke the cycle of poverty and for that I’m extremely grateful.

AdChat DFW: What’s the worst job you’ve ever had, and what did you learn from it? 

BR: I was in a really low place in my life as a result of some poor choices I made as a young man and ended up having to work at a car wash. It was a low wage hourly position that rewarded commission on upselling washes. The guys that worked there would upsell all kinds of washes that customers didn’t need. They took advantage of naive, elderly women. It felt so dirty and wrong, and I got out of there as quickly as I could. It was definitely a defining moment that made me reflect on the type of man I wanted to be.

AdChat DFW: What energizes you at work? 

BR: The excitement of getting the opportunity to begin a new project and identifying how to put all of the individual components together in order to build something great.

AdChat DFW: What’s one thing that surprised you about working at Nametag Films? 

BR: I’ve been thoroughly impressed by the high level of work ethic and willingness to grind from everyone on the team.


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Production  / Production Company
Nametag Films Creates Viral Web Series For ‘I AM SECOND’ Campaign | Here’s How They Did It
Nametag Films Posted On March 24, 2022



Tiny Details. Huge Impact.

What could have been an ordinary talking head interview with power couple Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood, was transformed into a personal and touching dialogue that engaged the viewer to a point of WOW! The shooting window was small and expectations were high. So to create a viral web series, Nametag‘s Jonah Ingram turned to something many overlooked. 

‍The Mike and Carrie conversation series took off like wildfire, going out to 1.3 billion viewers, earning 300 million media impressions and doubling the client’s website traffic. It was picked up by numerous major media outlets, with Entertainment Tonight calling it “remarkably candid” and “comforting to everybody.”
‍
“God in the Details” is a video case study that breaks down Ingram’s meticulous approach to set design, camerawork, interview style, and the value of being a transparent director. 

Watch how he did it.

 

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Editor  / Production
Check out a Fun and Wonderful Q&A with Nametag’s Newest Editor, Agnes Calka
Nametag Films Posted On September 27, 2021


Agnes Calka, Editor, Nametag Films


How do you know when you’ve aced a project?

My gut reaction is to respond with something along the lines of “glowing client feedback” and call it a day, but it really boils down to whether or not I’ve met my own expectations. I’ll admit that it’s rare for those two roads to cross, because the way I see it – I could’ve always done better. But I guess I’ll settle for that glowing feedback in the meantime…

How do you stay up-to-date on current tech and trends?

Beyond glancing at a couple of daily tech headlines in my news aggregator, I try not to obsess over what’s next. You can completely immerse yourself in the latest news for tech and trends in the video world, but then you’ll run out of hours in the day. I’m not out to chase after the future, or even the “right now,” because storytelling is bigger than the software and hardware at hand. Adaptation doesn’t always mean tripping over yourself to grab the latest and greatest rig; it usually involves being resourceful.

If you were to offer me the choice of the newest $50K video rig versus a 1960s 50mm Pentax Super-Takumar f/1.4 adapted to my outdated Sony mirrorless, I’m walking away with that Super-Tac. There’s a certain charm and look that modern equipment just can’t replicate, and working with fully manual vintage lenses gives you a deeper reign over what you create. So if you brag about your new camera having a maximum ISO so large that you can properly expose an entire city with a single candle at night, you’re getting a GIF of Tommy Lee Jones declaring “I don’t care” from The Fugitive in return. 

Who would be your dream client?

He’s no longer just a dream, and we’re already working on our own passion projects in the background. (Sorry, Keanu.)

What’s your top video editing software?

Premiere and I have an ongoing love-hate relationship. My first serious ex, Final Cut Pro, became too desperate to stay young and hip, all the while losing his down-to-earth charm. And don’t get me started on my very brief affair with Avid Media Composer – someone set us up on a blind date – he was too old for me, and utterly unwilling to embrace change. Lately, I’ve been flirting with DaVinci Resolve Studio, so we’ll see where that goes… 

What’s the biggest technical challenge you’ve ever faced? How did you overcome it?

“You think codecs are your ally? You merely adopted the encoding software. I was born in it, molded by it…”

What sits behind me is a decade of “what if” scenarios that I’ve eagerly overcome. Maybe this is how moms feel; like, by the time you’ve had your third kid, you’re Wonder Woman and nothing scares you anymore. Yeah, it’s a lot like that. If there’s anything I find satisfaction in doing, it’s solving problems… and playing the MacGyver theme in my head while I do it. 

How do you present to clients or stakeholders?

While I’ll be the first to admit that I prefer working with machines over people – I’m a textbook INTJ, after all – I’m well aware of the importance of establishing a positive, memorable working relationship. As a client, you can expect a rustic, Slavic recipe of courtesy, sharp wit, perfectly-timed movie references, creativity, and the technical know-how to accomplish your vision. I will do all I possibly can to set you up for success, but I won’t coddle you.

What would you do if your most important client hated your work?

Wake up, check the clock, and attempt to go back to sleep again.

“Oh no! Anyway…”

Fine, let’s say that in some wild parallel universe, that scenario became a reality. On the one hand, I’d go out of my way to identify the lapse in communication, reevaluate their initial concept, and do everything in my power to make things right. On the other hand, Kenny Rogers can take it from here: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em. Know when to fold ’em. Know when to walk away, and know when to run.” No matter how consistent and dependable you are, there will come a point at which you’ll encounter your very own “Karen” in the wild. And, well, what’s that Bible verse about dusting off your sandals…? 

What does a successful project look like?

Ultimately, what matters most is the final delivery; whatever hiccups happen behind the scenes, if any, on the way to that destination, are teaching points for the future. So a successful project is really a combination of internal growth and a polished product that exceeds the client’s expectations.

Which of your work samples do you consider to be your best work?

The best is yet to come.

Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?

When I was a kid, my dad could build a tractor from spare parts, fix just about anything that was broken, and fabricate custom tools to get the job done. So my penchant for tinkering with both hardware and software is largely due to my early mimicry of him. And our nature walks – long before I could waddle around on my own – instilled a sense of curiosity and urge to explore. Much of my childhood was spent taking apart toys and electronics just to put them back together again. I even had a phase where I’d buy flat-pack furniture simply for the thrill of assembling it. I needed to understand how the world worked, one Furby and coffee table at a time. If anyone’s shown me what honest, precise work is, it’s Dad. 

What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?

Preparedness immediately comes to mind. A proverbial tornado could touch down, but you’d still find me zeroed-in on the main objectives, all the while dispensing advice to anyone panicking around me. If there’s anything I can do ahead of time on a project, I absolutely will, because that’s when I’m in my prime to tackle the surprises that can – and often will – arise. Expect the best, but still plan for the worst.


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Director
Nametag Films’, Chris Rupert Directs Heartfelt Video for American Heart Association
Nametag Films Posted On August 9, 2016


Highlights Personal Heart Story of Lead Creative Director on Project

When Steve Grimshaw, CEO of Caliber Collision, the nation’s largest collision repair company, was named chair of the 25th Anniversary of the Côtes du Coeur event benefitting the American Heart Association, he inherited the enormous job of producing all of the event’s marketing materials including signage, digital ads, print brochures, programs, menus, invitations and even a survivor’s video.  He turned to his longtime ad agency, Johnson & Sekin, to provide these materials.  Little did they know that the lead creative director on the project had her own personal heart story.

Born with extensive nerve damage to the lower half of her heart, Shannon would become the youngest person on the face of the planet to receive a pacemaker, initially placed outside her tiny body. Throughout Shannon’s life, she’s required numerous surgeries; moving the pacemaker when it could fit inside her body, replacing batteries, and getting newer models.

Johnson & Sekin knew the perfect director to tell her story for the event, was Chris Rupert with Nametag Films.  “Shannon had worked with Chris on numerous occasions and we had complete confidence in his unique talents to capture the story of her life,” said agency Owner and Executive Creative Director, Chris Sekin.

Nametag quickly assembled a top-notch production crew that would travel to Shannon’s hometown, Bastrop, Texas, then to Austin, back to Dallas and finally to The Colony, Texas.     “In order to create something truly compelling, I knew I had to talk to the people who had seen her endure it all,“ said Rupert. “And it was important to treat these very personal and emotional interviews with the utmost respect.”

A 20+ year veteran of the ad industry, Shannon’s story not only inspires and puts perspective on the viewer’s life, but helped the American Heart Association break all previous records through pledges and donations the night the video was shown at the event in Dallas

 

CREDITS:

Client:  American Heart Association

Client:  Calliber Collision- Steve Grimshaw, CEO; Greg Clarke, Chief Marketing Officer

Agency: Johnson & Sekin, Kent Johnson, owner/executive creative director; Chris Sekin, owner/executive creative director; Shannon Phillips, creative director; David Massoth, sr account executive

Production:  Nametag Films, Chris Rupert director/DP, Kathy Fawcett Martin, executive producer; line producer, Joe Young; 2nd camera, Noe Medrano

Post Production:  Post Asylum; Graham Hagood, executive producer; Lena Gummelt, post producer; Caitlin Van Dusen, editor; Michael Fleetwood color/finish; Jason Rojas, graphics; Aaron Rose & Gary Parks, audio.

 


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