Secret sauce

Every story needs a problem. If there’s no conflict, no protagonist, no steps to resolution, there’s no
story. We all learned that in high school literature class, but sometimes in the process of our own
marketing campaigns, we bury ourselves in the minutia and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Take our own Jason Ellinger, for example. He’s always been a visionary. In the early 2000s, he launched
his own video production company. He was beginning to gain momentum when the 2007-08 recession
hit. And it hit hard. Remember those days? They were not a good time for an entrepreneur and a start-
up business.

Of course, life continued to move forward, and Jason had plans to get married, so he needed additional
income. He took a job as a photojournalist with a news station to cover local stories–chasing every car
crash, house fire, and armed robbery on his beat. As you can imagine, it’s not exactly uplifting material
for a guy who has always been passionate about making a difference. After a while, that type of content
can wear you down, and Jason wondered how this career would ever help him make positive
contributions to our world.

The moment of truth came when Jason had to cover the funeral of an 11-year-old who was tragically
killed in a local neighborhood. The tipping point came about when he was directed to interview the
child’s mother–and he just didn’t feel good about it. THAT was the problem.

Jason’s problem hit the breaking point when he needed to make a big decision. He wanted to continue a
career in video production, but not in fashion, news, or any other topics he had been covering. How
could he effectively use his storytelling talents in a way that would make a difference?

No story works without a problem. This was Jason’s problem, and he needed resolution.

Matt Carpenter enters the scene, and their connection becomes the catalyst leading to the development
of a new kind of video production agency. The brainstorming begins by merging Jason’s creativity with
Matt’s ability to craft the story.

The problem—originally tangled up in knots–begins to unravel, and therein lies the Beard and Bowler
story.

As a video storytelling agency, Beard and Bowler has gained valuable insights over the years on creating
the narrative that will set your organization apart from the rest. A story is no good if it doesn’t resonate
with your audience and encourage them to take action. If you can’t explain the problem and lead people
to understand the “why” and the “how” of your mission and vision, you’ll lose them.

Back to high school Lit. Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. We work with businesses and
non-profits to identify the problem (critical in storytelling), create the narrative (the what, why, and
how), and draw the audience in to help find the resolution (the buy-in to the cause).

Businesses and brands can’t hard sell anymore—it doesn’t work. We’ve all been there and done that,
and consumers are now quite savvy to sales pressure tactics. Supporters, donors, and the outlying
communities need true, transparent authenticity along with a compelling story to make them feel like
they have skin in the game.

As a premier non-profit video production agency in northern New Jersey, Beard and Bowler has helped
their client organizations break gala fundraising records and quadruple their Giving Tuesday campaigns
by making them relevant, visible, and branded with a purpose. We come alongside our clients to
develop innovative video pathways that resonate with the hearts of your audience. The power of video
is undeniable. It is truly the most effective way to share your non-profit’s authentic story and it has
proven to be impactful with our clients who have embraced the process—the process is fun, too!

Everything else falls together when you know what the “problem” is.

Everyone needs a little help establishing the characters and the plot of their own story. After all, you
have to “tell it to sell it.” Click here for our free guide, “Developing Your Story Portfolio” to get started.
Call us for a consultation to understand how non-profit video production can help you tell your story.