The James J. Willis Craftperson of the Year award is a big deal. It's TAUC's way of saying, "This guy gets it. This guy is the best of the best." From ironwork to power lines, members from all craft disciplines are eligible for the honor. And more important than the beautifully-crafted, custom trophy is the docu-style, day-in-the-life video that each recipient receives. With a crew of one producer and two cinematographers, we remain agile enough to tackle active construction sites that aren't usually accustomed to cameras.
Craftperson of the Year
This was our fourth year partnering with The Association of Union Contractors to celebrate the icons of contracting professionals. Every year, we set out to create a new video that brings viewers closer to the honoreer and his crew, as well as deliver a moving story of excellence that resonates across all crafts of the construction industry.
Celebrating Your Industry Icon
We Have Our Own Hard Hats
LAI Video dresses to the nines with hard hats, safety vests and steel toe boots. We know the drill. As producer, Sarah works with a TAUC safety liason, attempting to prepare for us the un-preparable. "This is the kind of shoot where anything can happen. It’s also what we do best — getting the shots we need without a lot of scouting or the ability to stage anything." Donning his industrial-grade director's beret, Favata strives to raise the production bar each year, recently experimenting with time-lapse and high-speed photography.
Masters of Time
Shot on location for just over two days, "Third Generation Millwright" is our latest addition to the series and the ultimate tribute for a skilled craftperson like Kevin Knowlton. Shadowing Kevin and his crew, we embraced slow motion to really savor the daily actions and interactions of a man who's work isn't usually subjected to the spotlight. The vignette feels authentic to the man, but also embodies TAUC's pledge to represent an industry comprised of countless craft heroes. Phil's cut is a tight edit that's driven by interviews with a whole lotta heart. Watch to the end. Try not to get choked up.
James Favata
As the Vice President of Creative at LAI Video, James offers his docu-style and motion graphics expertise to transform brands and campaigns. He’s won numerous accolades, including two Emmy® Awards as a Director, for his incredible storytelling and vision.
Sarah Wides
As Senior Producer & Project Manager, Sarah Wides handles some of our largest projects and oldest clients. Her attention to detail, passion for video, and thorough production experience consistently generate incredible results.
Jun Young Yang
Jun is the Director of Photography for LAI Video. His sharp eye and even sharper focus have earned him a reputation as an industry-leading cinematographer. He started his career freelancing before becoming a staple on the LAI Video team.
Anthony Jacoway
Anthony is LAI Video's Director of Technical Services and an integral part of our Emmy® Award-winning team. Depending where and when he is needed, you can find Anthony editing, animating, color-correcting, filming, directing, designing, or generally making our team better.
Justin Kelly
As LAI Video’s Senior Writer and Editor, Justin moves people to action with his impeccable command of language and narrative. With a decade of experience in technical writing, editing, and project management, Justin balances detail and emotion to create award-winning videos.
Tori Furphy
As Vice President of Operations and Client Experience, Tori manages all aspects of LAI Video’s production and delivery. She’s led LAI Video’s project management for over a decade, building our award-winning portfolio and team into what it is today.
James Loizou
James Loizou leads the team at LAI Video, building the Emmy® Award-Winning agency from scratch over the last 15 years. His innate balance of creativity and methodology guides our team forever forward towards innovation.
Susy Shaw
Susy is a Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development for LAI Video, leading our efforts to find new and empowering relationships with clients. With over 15 years of marketing, events, and multimedia sales experience in the DC area, Susy follows one definition of success: to be seen as an extension of her clients’ organization.
