Producing a Video for Minnesota 4-H's $35 Million Capital Campaign

Had the best time last year producing this video for Minnesota 4-H. My creative partner Lindsey Seavert and I talked with dozens of people who were so passionate about 4-H and how it changed their lives, especially the experience of spending 12 days together at the Minnesota State Fair. The 4-H Building is old and falling apart, and we were brought on to create a piece highlighting their $35 million capital campaign to completely renovate it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-TKSf3xsbM

This piece, as with all our work lately, was beautifully edited by Renny McCauley, who now works in an office at our growing studio in South Minneapolis. Grateful!

Interestingly, we had a lot of back and forth with them, especially the State Fair marketing team, about the editorial aspects of the video. That's the nature of working with clients who feel strongly about their image and place in the world. We ended up cutting some of what I felt were the strongest moments, but in the end the piece served their goals and that's what this kinda thing is about. I'm not making a documentary here, Ben!

The fair is a sacred place for so many, and it was real fun to collaborate with the 4-H folks to show all the ways they make learning and fun possible for kids from every corner of Minnesota.

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Here are some behind the scenes photos. And then just cause I'm here, including a photo of my kid selling corn and going on that centrifuge ride thing, my 50-year-old body could barely handle it :)

This was our trickiest interview location, out in the open as hundreds of folks walk by. But I loved how it showed a busy building being used. The overhead shotgun mic provided nice audio even amidst all the chaos.

Lindsey and I arriving at the fair, with her favorite food in the background - fried pickles.

My kid Netta being a total badass selling corn.

My twins, right, and their cousin sticking to the wall in this terrible and terribly fun ride I was talked into.