A short overview of some of me and my teams’ best work! Whether you’re looking for Live Action Shoots with Seamless Advertiser Integration, or, to Showcase Your Channel via Second-To-None Upfront Sales & Marketing Videos, come on over to 59 James Street!
This is the press release that accompanied the video I produced for the U.S. Olympic Committee, dated 7/26/24, the day of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris:
As we celebrate the opening of the Olympic Games, the world’s largest sporting stage and the historic gathering of more than 200 nations, we find ourselves living in a world in which countries and their people are more divided than ever. Our world needs sport, and people need each other. The Olympic and Paralympic Games have a unique ability to inspire and connect us. What perfect timing.
With the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games upon us, we invite you to join this celebration of sport, to embrace the pursuit of the impossible, the strength of national pride, the diversity of competitions and athletes alike, and the collective values inherent in sport and in those of us who cherish it.
Between 2024 and 2034, the United States will welcome the world for the most significant display of sport in history: the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and the Winter Olympic and Paralympics Games in Salt Lake City (not to mention the many other significant international competitions the U.S. will host). Americans will witness the most diverse array of sport contested at the highest levels among the world’s most accomplished athletes.
While the United States has always been a beacon of sporting excellence, and the next ten years will see this light shine even brighter, we must align to set the bar even higher. A platform to inspire a new generation, to create innovative experiences, and to embed the benefits of sport in all the communities across our country.
Our belief is that sport should serve as a catalyst for personal growth, inclusivity, and societal progress, aligning with the Olympic and Paralympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect. Hosting the Games on home soil is an opportunity to illuminate the path to greatness for the next generation and leave a legacy that transcends medals and records.
At the heart of this opportunity is Team USA. This team is not owned by anyone – it belongs to the country and all of us. In fact, Team USA is supported by the generous contributions of donors and fans. The athletes, supported by your generosity, compete every day for their professional teams, beloved universities, hometown clubs and national sport organizations. They come together as one team, in a unique moment and for a greater cause. This is about being the best in the world, collectively as a nation. That opportunity is also an obligation to push the world to achieve new heights.
Looking to the future, our collective purpose will guide us toward a successful Paris 2024, Milano/Cortina 2026, and LA 2028, culminating in an even brighter opportunity with Salt Lake City 2034. It is about embracing our deep-rooted passion for sport and infusing it with meaning and impact. Together, we can continue to write history and leave a legacy that inspires not only our nation but the entire world.
As an organization, our vision is grounded in core principles and values that guide our efforts. We commit to promoting and protecting athletes’ rights, safety, and wellness. We champion the integrity of sport and respect the vital role of our member organizations, especially the incredible national sport organizations, pledging our support to their success. We set clear standards of organizational excellence and hold ourselves and all member organizations accountable. As a trusted leader, we’re committed to advancing the global Olympic and Paralympic movements, making a mark both internationally and domestically. Most importantly, we honor and celebrate the legacy of Team USA athletes.
The future starts now. Join us in being part of this extraordinary era in sport. Together, we rise. One nation, one team, one incredible future. One for all.
The Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash concert is staged in the Big Game’s host city the Friday night before the NFL championship. Jerry O’Connell, Fergie, Fall Out Boy and FOX Sports and the New York Giants’ Michael Strahan are just a few of the celebs and artists VH1 has worked with through the years. As a football fan, this has been a particularly gratifying promotion to ideate upon with Pepsi and the NFL. One of my favorite memories was shooting about 17 possible talent combinations that had yet-to-be-locked for the concert the year that Jerry O’Connell starred. The head of VH1 Music and Talent was literally texting me throughout the shoot! Fall Out Boy was obviously in, but Jerry was a sport after having had a string of sleepless nights due to twin daughters that wife Rebecca Romijn had recently given birth to (thus the conceit of the on-air spot)!
Working with the VH1 Digital and Social teams, extras from all the shoots (and the spots themselves) were used as pre-roll and ancillary content that populated various platforms. To create additional buzz for the event, #superbowlbash was enthusiastically employed by various artists and NFL players that were attending Super Bowl Week, and a custom Facebook page and VH1 microsite also fed fans’ insatiable appetite for music and football! One of the things I am most proud of is the strong relationship built with the NFL, and namely its talented Marketing and Promotions VP, Tracy Perlman. Though it’s very uncommon for the NFL to allow networks or advertisers to use their mark or graphic look, let alone say the words Super Bowl in a spot, the NFL granted gratis permission for VH1 to do so, which is a testament to a great partnership.
The Burger King examples show how we paid off the lead-up tune-in concept with the in-show executions that ran in commercial breaks during our You Oughta Know Live In Concert tentpole. VH1 music VJ Jim Schearer is saved by his Girl Friday after his cool mojo spirals once parting with his beloved BK Chicken Nuggets! Revitalized by just one bite, Jim pitches the perfect concept to eager “VH1 execs,” who applaud his recovery and scintillating pitch! The in-show piece pays off Jim’s big pitch, as backstage, Jim interviews “You Oughta Know” artist Vance Joy in a wild and unscripted moment. Burger King enjoyed the promotion so much, they were back the following year, sold on a custom idea to help promote their Chicken Fries via artists like Elle King and Salt N Pepa collaborating on a karaoke track!
The VH1 Papa Johns Super Bowl Blitz spot was a finalist for a Cynopsis Sports Award! In this comedic spot, a couple walks past a house with their dog on the Friday night before the Big Game…they are confused when they see what appears to be Patriots and Seahawks fans celebrating two days prior to the game! With football defense phraseology that also tropes how people talk about pizza (“Eight in the Box!”), the viewer was left in the dark until the ultimate reveal that the revelers were kicking off the Super Bowl early by watching the Super Bowl Blitz concert on VH1!
Finally, E! social media star Erin Lim gave her expert influencer opinion on the new Taco Bell Chicken Chalupa, but got distracted by the great new flavors...as did Taco Bell customers, who rushed into stores for this amazing new taste sensation!
My Life As… (A You Oughta Know Artist) was a perfect example of a Pilot Pitch that became a franchise, sold multiple times to AT&T. In this execution, we worked with Jack Antonoff of Fun! as he broke out his solo act Bleachers. Discussing potential shooting locations with Jack prior to the script-writing phase, we determined two spots in Manhattan he likes to go to write music (The High Line and a coffee shop in the Meatpacking District); we buttoned out the spot with a performance at an art studio in Chelsea, where Jack had a charity performance that night. By working with the artist in pre-production, we were able to save money on the art studio location, simply by seamlessly illustrating the name of the event space in our spot. Digital and social extras were shot in the form of interview moments with Jack, and performance outtakes.
AT&T also bought custom creative for the Divas (Salute The Troops) franchise, and in partnership with VH1, provided phone cards to all the troops in attendance at Miramar Air Base in San Diego, CA. The touching story of a young boy, and a military dad missing his family across the miles, resonated with the show thematic and helped solidify AT&T as an On-Air and Digital partner for years-to-come.
Prior to launching into a project, I like to present mood boards to illustrate the look and feel of a project I am creating for a client. I work closely with the client’s brand team to understand their look and tone, then I work closely with a graphic designer to map out my vision. This example was for Fuse Network’s 2022 Upfront Campaign.
For the return of the Hip Hop Honors franchise on VH1, we decided to celebrate up-and-coming talent and voices in the music industry. One such riser, young choreographer and social media star KK Harris, chronicles an inspirational journey as her career begins to skyrocket.
Two NYC Lower East Side friends bond through their love of music, form a band called Lion Babe, and discover that their mutual passion is about to take them well beyond their neighborhood walls and on the ride of their lives!
For both KK Harris and Lion Babe, these early career-defining moments thematically synced with GEICO's message of taking just 15 minutes to save money for the more important things like following one's dreams.
The Kimberly-Clark Cottonelle and J&J Recycling initiative illustrates two approaches on promoting family brands. One, an unexpected and comedic approach to talking about toilet tissue, and the other a more classic, (gay) family-friendly narrative. The hilarious Michelle Buteau of VH1's "Best Week Ever" and "Friday Night Flashbacks" was the perfect celeb to to "talk it out" when discussing one's personal hygiene! And John Gidding from Logo's "Secret Guide To Fabulous" proved to strike the perfect tone in reminding viewers, without sounding preachy, to recycle bathroom products that most would typically just throw away.
In the week leading up to the Academy Awards, E! host Jason Kennedy gives fans a sneak peek into his Drink Chobani-fueled Red Carpet Rituals during a special Pre-Oscar episode of Live from E! on Facebook Live. Then on Oscar Sunday, E!’s Countdown to the Red Carpet highlights Jason sharing his Red Carpet Rituals, powered by Drink Chobani.
Every Thanksgiving Weekend for the last 8 years, to jump-start holiday sales, Kay Jewelers has looked to VH1 as an on-air, digital, and social media partner. Creating a stunt weekend of the "Best Of" VH1 programming, Kay has seen their holiday weekend foot traffic and online sales increase, especially amongst African Americans and those identifying themselves as both soon-to-be engaged and married couples.
E! and TRESemme, along with their spokesperson Chrissy Teigen, kept the beauty conversation flowing all year long with E!'s first-ever Style Contributor Search. E!, known as the home to the on-point E! Style Collective fashion and beauty mavens, selected one lucky winner to bring TRESemme's hair story to the masses at September's New York Fashion Week. And once on the ground, the winner had the opportunity to showcase TRESemme product across media platforms, from social posts to behind-the-scenes preparation and live coverage via E! News of the hottest Fashion Week shows from designers like Rebecca Minkoff and Marissa Webb!
Working closely with the E! News digital team, we created a first-of-its-kind Facebook Live series, freeSTYLE, which explores the beauty tutorial space every Thursday night at 8EST/5PST on E!'s Facebook page. Hosted by E! News fashion and beauty experts Zuri Hall and Cinya Burton, it wasn't long before ULTA and L'Oreal Paris signed up to sponsor this exciting new social media program! L'Oreal loved the program so much that we struck a cross-platform deal tied to the new E! reality series, So Cosmo, for 8 custom :60 freeSTYLE segments to be produced outside of the Facebook environment, and air within custom commercial breaks during E! News.
For Domino’s, I worked via Velocity’s Social Talent team to identify social influencers to spread the 90s versus now messaging; the social team kept track of the viral reach of the influencer’s messaging via the Echo Social Graph data machine. I conceived concept for: linear tie-in to scripted VH1 series “Hindsight," in-show graphics, synchronicity with development/show team on the story of the “Hindsight” lead character discussing social media in-show via her looking for a job in the 90s, and collaborated with Marketing and Social to extend the #90sVsNow messaging across platforms.
For FIAT, I worked seamlessly across departments to create linear spots featuring Ronnie Woo of Logo’s “Food To Get You Laid,” who discussed the great dining hot spots to sample in Aspen during Gay Ski Week! I conceived and scripted the concepts, then hired an LA production company, Framework, to shoot the spots in Aspen with me—which included my first time working with a drone to capture majestic scenic shots of the Colorado winter wonderland! I also worked seamlessly on-the-ground with the marketing team to give FIAT additional exposure and fully-immerse the brand in the live event experience at Logo’s New Now Next Honors show.
Back for a second year and considered to be the brand’s Gold Standard for partnerships, E! and Stella Artois evolved the creative to a whole new level. Fans are invited to be a part of the journey as Marchesa designers, Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman, and their muse, Olivia Culpo, create a stunning Oscars dress inspired by Stella Artois' "Buy a Lady a Drink" campaign with Water.org. Through custom-shot content, E! created an engaging campaign across all platforms to highlight the creative journey from the Stella chalice to the Oscar gown, and encouraged viewers to take part in this very important social initiative.
Hosted by pro surfer Anastasia Ashley, Don Q Rum and Esquire Network hit the beaches of Puerto Rico to explore the distillery's commitment to sustainability and environmentally responsible practices--all with a little splash of Happy Hour fun! On-air vignettes were complimented by a long-form digital series.
VH1’s Love & Hip Hop, though a ratings champ on Monday nights, has traditionally been a tough show to sell to advertisers due to the reality show's controversial issues and characters. I finally cracked the code by exploring a more sophisticated, elegant route and thematically going celebratory versus playing up the often-times gritty realness of the show. A clip-based partnership was not going to fly for most advertisers, and the liquor category seemed like the more adult, perfect fit! And what’s more adult than juicy love triangles, and single ladies shaking things up and serving it real? This fun and sexy copy and shooting style, shot akin to Fiona Apple’s music video for “Criminal,” resonated with the type of young consumer desired by Disoranno.
Working relationships with top graphic designers, animators and audio engineers/sound designers in NYC, LA, and San Francisco deliver excellent results, no matter the platform. You name it, Cinema 4D, Adobe Suite, After Effects, Photoshop, etc., no job too large or small!
HI! IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO CONTACT ME REGARDING MY 12-WEEK “CRAFTING THE TV DRAMA…” WRITING CLASS, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT 59JAMESSTREET@GMAIL.COM.
GRANT STUART IS A 2023 “RECOMMENDED” DRAMA WRITER BY THE AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL, A 2022 SUNDANCE INSTITUTE EPISODIC WRITERS LAB FINALIST FOR HIS ORIGINAL DRAMA, “BOYSTOWN,” FOR WHICH HE MADE TRACKING BOARD’S LAUNCH PAD PILOT TOP 100 LIST, IS A STAGE 32 AND OUTSTANDING SCREENPLAYS DRAMA SEMIFINALIST, A 2020 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL 2ND ROUND FINALIST, HAS RECEIVED AN ‘8” ON THE BLACK LIST, AND WAS NOMINATED AS A “FRESH VOICES” SCREENPLAY COMPETITION SEMIFINALIST FOR HIS SPEC SCRIPT OF “THIS IS US.”
As I explore various facets of my storytelling career, I wrote a spec, or “speculative” example of a current television series to showcase my writing skills across many areas of the television production spectrum. My “THIS IS US” spec script illustrates my ability to successfully write in the tone and style of the show, which jumps back and forth between Present and Past timelines. For fans of the hit NBC drama, I speculate and reveal what really happened to Jack’s younger brother, Nicky, who deployed alongside Jack, but didn’t return home from the war in Vietnam… Maybe I’m good at this??? Read on!
Toyota has been a return client for six years running. Our first docu-style spot featured musical artist Grace Potter exploring various locales that inspired her to write music in-and-around one of her favorite places in the world, Malibu, CA. I explored the same docu-style technique, but this time with a group, Misterwives, as they celebrated their success and the satisfaction of coming together as friends and artists.
FIAT was excited to partner at Logo’s first-ever staging of its New Now Next Honors tentpole as part of Aspen Gay Ski Week. FIAT had only once before in their history shot one of their vehicles in the snow, so they were on-set as we hit the wintery Colorado landscape to reinforce that the FIAT 500X Crossover was ready for all driving conditions! Shooting with a drone for the first time, we achieved beautiful-looking spots that inspired the client to plan their own snow-bound national creative ad to promote the FIAT 500X. FIAT also loved the talent in this spot, chef Ronnie Woo, who hosted this series of interstitials profiling some of Aspen’s hottest culinary spots. Lead-up tune-in drove excitement to the show, and the in-show interstitials featured the 500X around town as Ronnie explored all Aspen has to offer.
Esquire Network partnered with Jaguar to create an interstitial series called "Style Genius," where celebrity stylist Brandon Williams guided viewers through the latest sartorial trends and observed that style extends beyond fashion and --very on-brand for Jaguar-- inhabits all aspects of the sophisticated man's life.
At E! the Live From The Red Carpet season is an exciting, year-round proposition! And talk about a challenge--create a fun conversation that incorporates an acne cream that feels authentic and hip, and tie it to E!'s pop culture coverage of the GRAMMYs! Sibley Scoles, an E! News host and musical performer herself, was the perfect subject to follow on a "photo shoot" with a celebrity make-up artist. Via cross-platform content, including an editorial video on E! online, plus an Insta Story, Sibley shared her own journey to become a confident and successful woman, one whose past included her own struggle with acne.
Sara and Erin, the Foster sisters, and stars of VH1’s reality show “Barely Famous” were definitely looking luminous for our Olay shoot! A “Curb Your Enthusiasm” style show featuring two sisters who grew up in the lap of luxury around many famous people, but whom never quite hitched onto their own star, Sara-the-model/actress and Erin-the-everyday-girl frequently employ their own brand of slapstick humor to help each other through failed relationships and career missteps. Working in concert with VH1 Integrated Marketing, VH1 West Coast Development, and the show production team Good Clean Fun (GCF), we shot during the “Barely Famous” production schedule to save on shooting costs. The sisters added a healthy dose of ad-libbing, which created truly memorable creative that matched the tone of the show, and resulted in a smashing success for the client! The girls had a lot of fun texting their celebrity friends on-set about how they just needed a little "reassurement" sometimes! Rest assured, Olay returned to the fold with more marketing dollars for the following season of the show, working with my team to promote their "Age Less" campaign!
CoverGirl bought custom content in support of Logo's Aspen Gay Ski Week in January 2016, the first time the event has been covered by a television network! Showing how one can stay beautiful outdoors, even in demanding conditions on the slopes of Aspen, CoverGirl loved our fresh and fun take on how simple-to-use their Plumpify mascara can be when you're on-the-go!
Sonic is a linear, cross-channel campaign. This is a good example of using in-house talent (from MTV’s Guy Code) to mimic Sonic's creative equity of two guys bickering in the drive-thru about their challenges in life! Even though the talent is MTV’s, the comedic conceit also worked well across channels with the idea of a “Rock-N-Road Trip”; and to further align creative to the channel brands, the tie-in with VH1 for example was going to Chicago for Lolla, a festival they were covering via News hits, etc., whereas MTV's EDM festival was in Upstate New York, and that spot shows the talent exploring NYC creating new sounds/getting experimental.
FIAT was excited to hop on-board for a yearly sponsorship with VH1 at Scope Art Show in Miami. In these spots, we explored the connections between art, storytelling, pop culture and music. From freeform artist Brent Birnbaum and his emergence from relative obscurity in NYC to the art scene at Scope, to Swizz Beatz throwing down new tracks to collaborate with artist Hebru Brantley, who innovatively created a youthful character in a matter of moments, our promotion helped elevate the art festival and FIAT as a sponsor that celebrates consumers who may describe themselves conversely as underground, unique, and mainstream.
In a partnership with the NFL, VH1 Creative traveled across the country to shoot players at training camps and insert them into “home grown” music videos that played in team’s stadiums. Getting NFL players to lip sync and dance proved a surprisingly more easy task than one may anticipate! This spot, for the Super Bowl between the Patriots and Giants in Arizona, featured some great game footage and custom graphics to get the crowd amped up in the desert!
For the first time in the Lifestyle Group at NBC, I am creating a proactive pilot/new franchise program at E! whereby (in concert with the E! News team) I have developed custom, cross-category, advertiser-friendly content for potential sale in the Upfront season. Using the "If You Build It, They Will Come" analogy, to entice advertisers, the E! News team has agreed to produce these custom segments whether sold or not; when an advertiser sees we are behind our content 100%, and will air it whether or not it attracts advertising dollars, the concepts tend to sell-out quickly! Like, a Snapbreak for Absolut! We had barely sent out a sizzle on the opportunity to re-define a sponsored commercial break experience, and Absolut came on-board for The GRAMMYs. MIc Drop Alert!
At VH1, Music Bite and Mash Up Lab are examples of custom ideas (on a budget) that have been included in Upfront decks as potential advertiser franchises. In addition to everyday business, I take the initiative with my team every January through March to brainstorm on cool new creative with cross-platform legs, and in the past two years proactively and successfully lobbied for a budget to cover the creation of these ideas to showcase to advertisers as custom turnkey content they can exclusively own; these two examples incorporated actual advertisers that Sales thought we could target. Most pilots are produced "generically."
Currently, I'm gearing up to shoot two pilots with social influencers who 1) cook and 2) give make-up tips; VH1 has upcoming new shows/seasons that I'd like advertisers to consider buying custom for: "Celebrity Food Fight" and "Love & Hip Hop."
Not a lot left in the budget, but you need that final Voice Over touch to make your production sing? Let my professional vocal training pay dividends for you as I work with best-in-class audio engineers to put the cherry on top!
