When it comes to working with talent, not every spokesperson can slam dunk a teleprompter read like they can slam dunk a basketball. Working within a limited window of time, Ellyn and Jun directed John to get through the call to action, but it was in the edit that Jun embraced John's outtakes. His flubs. His gaffes. Walking a fine line between making someone still look like a superstar but also, you know, like a human. Instead of a sobering or sappy read of the statistics, we were able to embody John's natural off-camera charisma into the mix, making for a memorable message -- one that chooses celebration over a lecture.
A Message From John Wall
LAI Video worked closely with LAI's preferred charity partner, Bright Beginnings, on an exciting endeavor: To leverage a local celebrity as the face for their new campaign. Actually, he's more than a local celebrity. We were downright dizzy to work with living basketball legend and five-time NBA All-Star John Wall of the Washington Wizards!
ActingTthrough Blooping
Film For All Seasons
Justin not only drafted a punchy PSA script for the main ask, but also seasonal variations for us to record with our talent while we had him captive in front of the teleprompter. Do you want John Wall to talk about the upcoming Christmas gift-giving drive? Or maybe make a plea for food donations? We produced several spin-off videos to target different audiences at different times of the year. Helping Bright Beginnings make the most of their celebrity appearance and look a little bit into the future was crucial for helping this non-profit focus on their ultimate goal: To aid homeless children and families in the Washington, DC area.
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 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.
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.
