Tell us a bit about your organization and what your specialty is in the film and video space.
Bluewater is a fully converged advertising and production studio, one of the few in the country that combines full-service agency strategy with in-house film production. Our work spans from broadcast campaigns and digital-first creative to long-form branded content, original series, and entertainment programming. We don’t just make ads — we create cultural touchpoints that blend storytelling, brand integration, and performance-driven strategy.
What is your organization’s ethos and how does it set you apart from industry competitors?
Our ethos is simple: Disrupt. Deliver. Dominate. Most agencies stop at content creation — we go further by connecting storytelling to outcomes. Every piece we make is built to perform across platforms and backed by a rich analytics framework that shows what worked, why it worked, and how it can scale. This convergence of art and data sets us apart in an industry that often separates the two.
How can people join or learn more about what you do?
Visit https://bluewater.tv to explore Bluewater’s converged approach, and check out LOST IN with DJ BBQ on YouTube and Tubi to see branded content brought to life. We’re always looking for new partners, brands, and destinations to explore together.
Tell us about your Telly Award winning piece. What’s the story behind it?
LOST IN with DJ BBQ is a branded content travel and food series where celebrity chef DJ BBQ explores cities across the U.S. with the mantra: Explore. Eat. Experience. The story behind it was born from a simple question: how can we merge entertainment and advertising in a way that feels authentic? By creating a series that highlights destinations, food culture, and partner brands, LOST IN became a unique hybrid of travel show and branded storytelling — distributed on platforms from Tubi to YouTube to social.
What are you most proud of about this piece? What was your biggest challenge during production and how did you solve it?
What we’re most proud of is that LOST IN captures a sense of adventure and connection that’s real — not manufactured. Every city, every meal, every interaction was rooted in genuine curiosity and joy. The biggest challenge was the unpredictability of filming on the road — from weather shutting down an outdoor shoot to equipment getting hauled through tiny kitchens — but that chaos is also what gave the show its energy. We leaned into the mess, trusted our crew, and let the spontaneity shape the story.
Do you have any advice to other filmmakers based on your career or your team’s approach to work?
Don’t chase trends — chase truth. If you’re honest in how you tell a story, people will find themselves in it. Stay curious, surround yourself with people who challenge you, and don’t be afraid to let things break a little along the way. Some of the best work comes out of the cracks, not the polish.
Can you share a behind the scenes story or fun fact about the making of your piece?
Behind the scenes, what makes LOST IN special is the camaraderie. Our crew has a natural shorthand with each other — we’re close, we trust one another, and that connection shows up in the work. DJ is exactly the same off camera as he is on camera: authentic, generous, and a joy to work alongside. That realness creates an environment where everyone enjoys being there, and it comes through on screen.
Tell us about the most memorable response you got from this work.
The most memorable responses weren’t formal reviews or data points — they were the moments when locals from the cities we visited told us, “You captured us exactly as we are.” Hearing that from the people whose stories we were trying to honor was a reminder that authenticity resonates more than anything else. It meant the world to know we represented them with heart.
Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’
… when you stop watching and start feeling.
