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

My co-producer, Chandra Clark, and I are both associate professors in the Department of Journalism & Creative Media at the University of Alabama. We both have professional backgrounds in broadcast television (Chandra in television news and myself in television sports). We teach news and sports storytelling and it’s natural for us to remain active as storytellers.

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

We have a great deal of freedom in choosing the types of stories that we work on. Working at a university with a rich tradition like Alabama provides us with lots of potential story ideas.

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

You can learn more about the College of Communication & Information Sciences and the Department of Journalism & Creative Media here.

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

The documentary captures the legacy of Gene Stallings, renowned for leading Alabama to a national championship and his global humanitarian efforts. Beyond football, Stallings’ dedication to his family and advocacy for individuals with special needs, particularly his late son John Mark, is highlighted. The film explores Stallings’ coaching career, his impact on players and staff, and the values of compassion and respect that define his philosophy. It underscores the importance of empathy and understanding in caring for loved ones, reflecting Stallings’ commitment to doing right and inspiring others to do the same.

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

Chandra and I are proud that the story resonates with our own convictions about faith, family, football and leaving the world a better place for all individuals.

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

Don’t give up and don’t get discouraged. There will be challenges along the way, but you just have to keep working.

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

When we first started the documentary project, Coach Stallings gave us three names of individuals that he said we must interview. We understood his connection to two of those individuals. We could not find a connection to the third individual. We drove 8 hours for an interview with this individual without knowing what his connection was to Coach Stallings.

In all of our research, we could not find any connections between the two men, other than they were both coaches. The connection was not revealed until we were in the midst of the on-camera interview.

Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’

… inspiring to your audience.