The district attorney. The engineer. The prosecutor. The veterinarian. “The Swamp” follows four political outsiders, all of whom have attained private sector success before running for office. Before being sworn in, these guys were sick and tired of the broken system. As public servants, they’re even sicker and tired-er of the broken system that they must now navigate. They’re determined to make a difference and to do so transparently—with a camera crew capturing their disgust, triumphs and failures in realtime.
“THE SWAMP” ONLINE SERIES
LAI Video was excited to partner with CRTV (now BlazeTV) and Update Media Group on the third and fourth episodes of “The Swamp” — a ground-breaking new documentary series that streamed on Facebook Watch. The series followed DC's political madness through the eyes of four freshmen House Republicans, giving viewers an uncensored behind-the-scenes look at the political machinery on Capitol Hill. Matt Whitworth created and executive produced the project, which won LAI Video's first Emmy award and later inspired the HBO documentary of the same name.
SHADOWING SUBJECTS WHILE SHINING A LIGHT
Given unlimited access, our team talked with the congressmen as they hustle in and out of meetings, walk through the underground tunnels of the Capitol and make appearances in their home districts. As producer, Ellyn led a lean crew on standby, waiting to craft each episode’s narrative as the news stories broke. Like the video ninjas that they are, Jun, De’von and Anthony worked around the Capitol’s physical media restrictions while getting as much content as possible to allow for a variety of storylines to transpire in post-production.
REPORTING THE NEWS VS. BEING THE NEWS
Jun cut the dense, nine-minute episodes that explore the inextricable tie between fundraising and policy-making — how some powerful lobbyists set the agenda by using campaign dollars to prioritize specific committee assignments. Tiffany’s motion graphics underlined the series’ off the cuff and even badass approach to exposing big, revelatory stuff. But in the middle of this “follow the money” arc, one of our protagonists, Representative Tom Garrett, found himself in the news. Episode 3 ends in a cliffhanger, as Garrett shifts from rogue outsider to embattled politician, allowing the two-parter story to unfold into an unexpected but essential question — can Washington outsiders change the system without being consumed by The Swamp?
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.
Tiffany Lewis
As our Creative Director, team leader, and motionography expert, Tiffany embodies LAI Video’s innovative identity. Throughout her 12 years of extensive creative, strategic, and production experience, Tiffany has earned two Emmy® Awards and widespread industry recognition.
De'Von Wellesley
De'von has a diverse background; from filming in night clubs to fashion models and music videos.
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.
