With such an emphasis on individual personalities, we knew that casting would be imperative. We worked with NIB to identify a pool of profiles from their member companies. Ellyn and Favata interviewed and auditioned the eager participants on a series of phone calls, casting for not only distinct stories, but also a broad diversity of narratives that would complement each other and make for a powerful first video. The team traveled across the country to follow Andrew, Irenesa, Julius and Keith on typical days. Whether they were making their morning coffee, wall climbing or doing homework with their kids, Phil and Jun captured a sense of the private — to show that these individuals are more than just workers.
I’m Ready!
Designed as the next iteration of the successful “We’re Ready!” introductory campaign, we once again partnered with the National Industries for the Blind to tell the incredible stories of their industry heroes. We mashed together four day-in-the-life vignettes to create a compelling compilation that would shift the next year’s worth of messaging around a more human angle for blind careers with the AbilityOne program.
Casting Calls
Supporting Lives One Job at a Time
While the original “We’re Ready!” series focused on employment for the blind with various interviews and broad statistics, “I’m Ready!” is the emotional followup that connects those jobs to wholesome, meaningful lives. Jun cut together the first video that takes cues from various documentaries, including the 2001 film Paperboys. In a relatively short period of time, our video gently introduces each character, before wildly declaring that this is not a charity case — this is a story of grit and gratitude and whole lotta heart. The video is used as a recruitment tool and calling card for NIB and its AbilityOne program.
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.
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.
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.
