Building on the success of the five gala videos we produced in 2022, for the Queens Public Library Gala in 2023 we honed their narrative strategy by shifting from connecting gala honorees to library branches, in favor of an approach that highlighted several of the Library’s priority programs, including Teen Centers, environmental sustainability, and cultural initiatives. In pre-production we helped identify the voices of customers and staff that could best speak to the impact of the Library’s mission and programs.

Over the course of four production days, we filmed 19 interviews and extensive B roll footage at four library branches. We produced one film to kick off the event and showcase the Library’s impact across the borough, with three additional videos that celebrate select branches and highlight the legacy of QPL, as well as how each library’s programming and collections meet the needs of the diverse communities they serve today. To align the videos with the gala’s overall program we used the 7 train as a visual theme, taking viewers on a journey through Queens. We also advised on the use of open captions to meet their in-person audience engagement and accessibility needs. 

On the night of the gala, our team was onsite to film the event and implemented a last-minute pivot that leveraged our hybrid production solution when one honoree unexpectedly could not attend in person. We also edited a 45-minute version of the evening's celebrations to share with the broader QPL community.