The client:

Offender Aid Restoration – OAR

What do they do?

OAR is a community-based nonprofit organization that envisions a safe and thriving community where those impacted by the legal system enjoy equal civil and human rights. They offer alternative sentencing options (including community service) and diversion programs so people can avoid the trauma of incarceration and instead help the community thrive.

How did we connect with them?

Media production company Striking Media has supported OAR for several years through the COVID challenges that nonprofits faced to maintain awareness and raise funds, without in person events.

Project:

Post COVID, OAR have kept their annual gala virtual and love to incorporate a client story. Due to the nature of their work, their clients have anonymity so whenever media production company Striking Media produces a video, actors are used. The client story brief was to create a capsule moment that celebrates life, family and love. It is a wholesome insight into family life.

The Team:

The team was led by the media production company team: producer/co-director Helen Saks and co-director/ DOP Jonathan Thorpe. Production Assistants Jesus Rosario and Jenna Fitzgerald were on hand for support.

Pre-production: Videography productions like this require significant planning, which is something the Striking Media team love! Our mantra is ‘no surprises!’ Coordinating the production team, actors, dogs, locations, the schedule and overall vision meant site visits, and multiple planning calls and Zooms. Luckily for us, as the client had requested we film at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, we were able to secure filming permissions. We also secured videography filming permits for the spectacular waterfront in Alexandria.

So how did it go?

The day started with a hiccup as one of our actors’ car broke down on the way, so we got off to a late start. However, media production company’s need to be able to pivot, and pivot we did! Capturing scenes not involving that actor, we did what we could to not lose out on time. Oh – did we mention – it was eclipse day! We knew the light was going to change to something quite extraordinary a little later, so the schedule was more vital than ever to try to maintain!

Any challenges?

Schedule aside, the pups … the client had specifically requested that a dog feature in this video project. Our wonderful dog owner, Andrea was so fantastically kind she bought us not one but two identical looking pups. All should be great, no? The only issue is that these puppies were so attached to Andrea that they couldn’t be convinced to pretend they belonged to our actor team. They missed their acting lessons!!!! They yelped, they wanted their mama. So another pivot, we made Andrea part of the story and she now features in the video!

Client feedback:

The OAR team were delighted with the final video.

“This was exactly what we were hoping for, thank you.”

The result: