GCAi Captures The “Back To Square One” Story In Capital Campaign Video
“So much of what people believe about themselves and their abilities and what’s possible is formed in early childhood, so positive early childhood education programs like Square One help people believe that more is possible.”
– Alex Balise, Director of Marketing and Corporate Strategy at Balise Auto Group
No one from downtown or South End of Springfield will forget the June 1, 2011 tornado. After starting in Westfield, the tornado made its way through West Springfield and made a 90 degree turn at GCAi’s office building. We watched as it turned south, travel down the Connecticut River, and then made another 90-degree turn in the South End that led it right to the offices and classroom of Square One. Everything in the area was almost completely destroyed, including the building where GCAi originally started, one block over.
Now, over a decade later, GCAi has helped Square One launch its campaign to return to the South End and build a new facility right on its old site. Four separate shoot days, lots of tours, and using our newest lighting and camera equipment were all important in creating a successful video. However, the real tool that GCAi would employ would be storytelling. We knew we needed to harness the power of storytelling to be effective.
The production of Square One (Springfield Day Nursery)‘s “Back To Square One” campaign video was an incredible experience. Kristine Puglisi Allard and Dawn Forbes DiStefano were so patient and accommodating. When the interview day came along, we interviewed Jeb and Alex Blaise – who made a very generous donation of $1,000,000 to the effort, our good friend Leo Florian, head of the South End Citizen’s Council, as well as the amazing Melissa Bissett, Vice President of Family Services at Square One. The interviews brought out the feelings and emotions of everyone in the room, showing just how important Square One coming back to the South End was to everyone involved.
Another amazing part of the shoot was when a huge storm blew in during the interview of Dawn which completely changing the light in the room as well as creating some background noise issues. We were happy, though, that it wasn’t another tornado!
The classroom setting also contributed to the story. We chose it because it really brought home the educational aspects of what the organization achieves – amplifying it in a way that a studio shoot/green screen/artificial backgrounds just could not. People are tired of AI, Zoom, fake backgrounds on the web. Authenticity rules the day and can very much help tell the story
The South End of Springfield is where Garvey Communication Associates Inc. was started decades ago and was the home of President of GCAi, John Garvey first legitimate business – a news stand on Sundays when he was a kid. Garvey expresses, “It’s so great to see the area coming back and Square One returning to it! It’s even more satisfying to be a part of it.”
Video production credits go to NECV video producers, Myranda Nasworthy and Nathan Dion.
