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

Founded in 2012, Octagon Media is a fast-growing, national award-winning advertising agency and marketing firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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

Each day when we come to work with goal in mind; making sure our clients get nothing but the absolute best service and attention that we can provide. We are committed to fighting for our clients.

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

Visit our website at www.octagonmedia8.com

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

The New Orleans Department of Health asked us to make a 60 second commercial. The goal was to show the five sub departments combining to be a part of their new Maternal and Child Healthcare division. Our copywriter, Nick Dias, who has a background in film and acting, came up with the idea of a wordless “silent movie” using nothing but a song about the City of New Orleans, short scenes of healthcare services and iconic New Orleans places, events and images synonymous with the city. He chose the song “I Wish I Was In New Orleans” by Tom Waits and decided to choose a local artist to sing the song in a soft lullaby style. The scenes would also be shot in documentary style to give a feel of genuineness.

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

The creative direction for the song, led by our copywriter Nick Dias in the studio with singer and musician Rain Scott-Catoire, was centered on simplicity. The biggest challenge during production was casting. We were searching for a very specific and diverse group of actors, and it took us until the final hours to find the right fit. Nick ultimately proposed a creative solution: instead of relying solely on trained or experienced actors, we opened auditions to untrained performers. By using improvisation on set, we were able to capture genuine, spontaneous moments that felt more natural and emotionally real than a scripted performance could achieve.

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

Find the best and most talented people you can and trust them to do their job. It’s all about collaboration.

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

Every actor was a native New Orleanian.

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

A New Orleans TV executive told us the commercial was “eye-catching.”

Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’

…a universal language. If you can take what’s being said and show it instead, you’ve found the heart of the story.