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

STLL STUDIOS engages audiences through cinematic storytelling. We create commercials, corporate films, short and feature films, video series, and content for distribution on all platforms. Operating out of Austin, TX, we have created content in partnership with large and small creative marketing agencies from New York, LA, Texas, and beyond. With alliances and connections throughout Texas and New York, we serve national and international brands, creating emotional and cinematic content for their products and services.

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

STLL STUDIOS has built a strong reputation in the industry for being a Net Zero company. We take care of contractor payments on the day they work with us, because we care about people, we care about being fair, and we care just as much about the quality of the content we produce.

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

They can visit our website or Instagram and learn more about what we’re doing.

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

Chinese company Rest Duvet needed a commercial campaign focused on the US market. Hot sleepers and menopause-related heat are very real issues, and we learned a lot about both through our research. We wanted to be as accurate as possible. Their product is wonderful and genuinely helps people sleep better, so we tried to capture their demographic in the campaign, ultimately delivering four polished video pieces alongside editorial photography.

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

We tried a new filmmaking technology called Virtual Production. Our concept called for actors on a mountaintop and in a snowy forest, so we partnered with Stray Vista in Austin, TX, and made those shots possible through that technology. The result sells the idea that we traveled to those locations, when in reality we were inside a studio the entire time.

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

Be for your clients. Be present, be real. You’re working with people. Your business isn’t just the service you offer; it’s about helping people.

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

The client was incredibly generous and left cooling comforters for the whole team. Everyone ended up making UGC videos raving about how great they were, and more than a few of us went and bought additional colors.

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

We received free product and a glowing five-star review. The client was absolutely over the moon.

Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’

… about capturing the world as you see it.