Tell us a bit about your organization and what your specialty is in the film and video space.

Texas 2036 is a nonpartisan nonprofit public policy organization focused on improving the lives and opportunities of all Texans as our state grows and changes. We may not be in the film industry, but we share the same mission: telling stories that move people to feel, believe, learn, and act. Like indie filmmakers, we work on a shoestring budget, leaning on the strength of our small team and the power of the story.

What is your organization’s ethos and how does it set you apart from industry competitors?

What guides us is a simple truth: Texans share more than what divides us. Give people honest, nonpartisan data about the future, and they will roll up their sleeves and get to work. At the heart of it, we all want the same thing: a good life today and even better opportunities for our kids and grandkids. What sets us apart is turning that belief into action, bringing Texans from every corner of the state together and using facts to fuel real solutions that move forward.

How can people join or learn more about what you do?

Visit texas2036.org to see the data or people behind our stories. Or follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube) to watch how we’re shaping Texas’ future one frame at a time.

Tell us about your Telly Award winning piece. What’s the story behind it?

Our PSA, “Building a Better Future for All Texans,” had just 30 seconds to do something big: introduce who we are and what we stand for. Texas is growing fast, and with that comes both challenges and opportunities. We wanted Texans to see that even when politics feels divided, we can still come together to build a future worth believing in. The spot is about hope, teamwork, and possibility.

What are you most proud of about this piece? What was your biggest challenge during production and how did you solve it?

We’re proud that in 30 seconds, our very first PSA made Texans feel something real about who we are and what we do. We took years of research and turned it into a human story, built around one truth: Texas is growing fast. Every frame worked to show the people behind our work and the opportunities we want to create for every Texan. That’s what turned policy into possibility.

Do you have any advice to other filmmakers based on your career or your team’s approach to work?

Don’t confuse serious with boring. A good story has life in it. Our advice? Find the human heartbeat, focus on what absolutely matters most, and build everything around that. Sometimes, you simply need your own people to tell your story.

Can you share a behind the scenes story or fun fact about the making of your piece?

The building didn’t want us to film outside our office, so we squeezed into our little lobby and turned the war room into a set. Instead of treating that as a setback, we used it to make the spot feel like real life, as if you’d just stopped by our office and caught us at work. Those small spaces and limitations helped us show what we wanted all along: the energy and authenticity of our team at work for Texas.

Tell us about the most memorable response you got from this work.

The response we heard most was simple but powerful: the video helped people finally see who we are, what we do, and why it matters. That’s the gift of storytelling. A report can give you the facts, but a story makes you feel them, and once you feel it, you don’t forget it.

Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’

…telling the truth in a way that makes people feel it in their bones. It takes complex ideas about life or public policy and makes them simple, relatable, and memorable, so people not only understand but also see themselves in the story.