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

Discover Long Island is the region’s official and only accredited destination marketing organization, dedicated to showcasing Long Island as a premier destination for travel, business, and quality of life. As an innovative DMO, we harness the power of storytelling—particularly through dynamic video content—to highlight the region’s attractions, cultural richness, and breathtaking scenic beauty. Our goal is to captivate audiences, inspire visits, and ultimately drive tourism and economic growth for the region.

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

Our ethos is built on authenticity, meaningful community ties, and a spirit of inspired discovery—and that philosophy is precisely what distinguishes us in a crowded travel-promotion landscape. Discover Long Island is rooted in celebrating the region’s unique culture while fostering a sense of belonging for locals and visitors alike. Our organization’s commitment to inclusion and community building not only amplifies local voices but also drives record-breaking visitor spending year after year, supporting both public and private sectors.

This philosophy distinguishes us through emotionally resonant branding, creative partnerships, and innovative multimedia platforms that create genuine connections. By combining research-driven strategies and immersive storytelling, we highlight Long Island’s diverse experiences, going beyond traditional tourism marketing. Our work cultivates deep community pride and economic prosperity, ultimately redefining industry standards and setting a strong example for destination marketing organizations.

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

Everyone can visit us at www.discoverlongisland.com or connect with us on our social media channels (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) to stay inspired, discover new experiences, and engage with Long Island.

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

We’re proud to share that we won three Telly Awards—one recognizing the You BeLong series, and two honoring individual stories that capture the people, places and spirit that shape Long Island.

Silver: Long Island: Where You BeLong Series II
The You BeLong video campaign is a love letter to the people and success stories that shape Long Island’s vibrant character. The series highlights familial legacies, traditions both old and new, inspiring examples of architectural preservation, and powerful stories of personal perseverance. At its heart, the campaign showcases Long Island’s diversity—of people, places, and landscapes—sending the message that no matter your background, you truly BeLong here.

Silver: Indian Spices with Waterfront Views
This video highlights the story of a family-owned business that celebrates Indian culture through cuisine, art, and ambiance. The Wadha family’s restaurant, Curry Club at SaGhar, has become a beloved staple in Port Jefferson Village. Overlooking the stunning harbor, this Indian fusion restaurant is a vibrant example of Long Island’s diverse cultural landscape and its welcoming spirit.

People’s Bronze: Breaking Barriers on the Bay
This video is an inspiring story of Little Ram Oysters, a women-owned business on Long Island’s North Fork. A married couple left behind their corporate careers in New York City to pursue oyster farming on the East End—an industry traditionally dominated by men. Driven by their passion for sustainability and respect for the region’s maritime heritage, they are not only cultivating oysters but also shaping the future of aquaculture on Long Island.

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

The most rewarding aspect has been the opportunity to share the version of Long Island that is the most authentic. Through You BeLong, we’re able to pull back the curtain and show what life here is really like. It’s more than our famous beaches or gilded mansions; it’s a tight-knit community full of incredible stories of resiliency and hometown pride. As someone born and raised on Long Island, I’m especially proud to showcase the Long Island I know and love.

Of course, there were challenges along the way—and the biggest one was the weather. Summer on Long Island is stunning, but thunderstorms don’t cooperate when you’re filming on the water. In some cases, like working on boats or using them as transportation, lightning wasn’t just an inconvenience, it was a real safety concern. It took careful coordination and multiple backup plans, but in the end, we were able to capture the story we set out to tell—and that made all the effort worth it.

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

My advice is to approach every project with genuine curiosity and openness. Go in prepared, but leave space for the unexpected moments, because that’s often where the most powerful storytelling happens.

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

When our crew arrived at dawn at Little Ram Oysters, we all thought we were there to capture a story about aquaculture. What we didn’t expect was to be swept up in an incredible love story. Listening firsthand as the sun came up over the Long Island’s North Fork, we were immediately taken with their journey—and you can even hear our reactions in some of the raw footage because it moved us that much.

Stacy Black, VP of Strategy, summed it up perfectly; this wasn’t just about oyster farming or maritime culture, it was about taking risks, following inspiration, and building a life together. From knowing each other in middle school in another state, to reconnecting years later, to making the leap from Brooklyn corporate life to oyster farming, their story is a testament to courage and partnership. Little Ram Oyster is proof that on Long Island, dreams don’t just take root—they thrive.

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

Learning each individual story and seeing how it connects back to our community has been the most memorable part for me. Whenever I share You BeLong, I’m almost always met with the response, “I didn’t know.” From the personal stories to the hidden gems we uncover, it’s that same look of amazement on people’s faces that truly brings it all to life.

Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’

… authentic.