Bryant & Stratton College - "Nurse" (0:30)
As a cinematographer, I shoot a variety of projects, but commercial campaigns are some of my favorites. They definitely come with their challenges, but as a problem solver, I’m always up for it. This commercial campaign was particularly exciting because it marked my first time collaborating with Truth Collective, an agency based in Rochester, New York.
When I first reviewed the treatment, I was immediately drawn in by the bold graphics and engaging visuals. The vision and approach were well thought out, and I knew we were off to a great start.
The client was Bryant & Stratton College, and we were set to shoot on a campus in Ohio. The commercial campaign featured three 30-second advertising spots, each with 15- and 6-second cutdowns—so that’s nine deliverables to shoot in just three production days. I knew going into it that we’d need to be highly intentional and meticulous in pre-production.
Problem-Solving in Pre-Production
Early in pre-production, I met with the agency and production team to align on priorities, time constraints, and overall project needs. The schedule was packed, and we couldn’t afford to lose time on company moves. However, the concept called for several off-campus locations—a living room, apartment, daycare, and conference room—which posed a significant challenge.
I collaborated closely with the production designer to find a solution. After scouting the location, we realized we could create each off-campus space using small nooks and crannies of the campus. I guided them on what would work best for camera and lighting to avoid issues on the production days. Imagine a tiny two-wall apartment set in the middle of a campus lobby—filmmaking magic.
Efficient Scheduling and Smooth Execution
The commercial campaign revolved around large on-screen graphics that guided the viewer through the story—even with the sound off. Since the graphics were essential to the concept, I made sure to get them in advance. I imported them into all the monitors on set, allowing us to overlay and preview them in real time. This helped the clients visualize the final image and ensured the graphics would work seamlessly with the visuals.
The producers, Kara White and Paul Grodell, did an incredible job building the schedule to keep things running smoothly. They timed everything around the students’ class schedules to avoid disruptions. Sometimes we’d be shooting a shot that worked across all the spots; other times we’d shift focus to a specific scene for just one spot. It was a bit chaotic, but ensured we could get all the coverage we needed.
One of the most unique aspects of this commercial campaign was breaking the fourth wall. It’s not every day that the talent speaks directly to the camera, but it gave the project a playful and engaging feel. I made sure the camera moved with the talent, creating a dynamic flow as they guided the story and highlighted the perks of Bryant & Stratton College. The bold graphics reinforced this approach and ensured the message would land—even without sound.
Successful Collaboration and Commercial Campaign
In the end, the entire team worked together to deliver strong visuals and a cohesive commercial campaign. The agency was thrilled with the collaboration, and the client was happy with the results. I just checked YouTube, and the play count is almost 2 million—pretty wild.
