The AO Blog
Spokane SWAT Sizzle
The only sounds we could hear were boots on the ground, the crackle of radio, fire power, and yelling. We received the opportunity to film the Spokane, Washington SWAT team's training session last May. We got quality B-roll of the team in action, so we thew together this sizzle reel. It was surreal to be in the middle of a training session, because it felt so realistic. It put us out in the field. We put together this sizzle reel to showcase the life of these brave men and women, and to give the everyday civilian a taste of what it is like …
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Summer Evening in Oregon: Eugene Challengers
To us, film is one of the most powerful ways to tell a story. It makes it possible to capture emotion and action in ways that other storytelling devices can not. For this particular video, we wanted to capture the essence of a Legion League baseball game. We wanted to show the beginning, middle, and end of this story. We also wanted to show, not tell, the passionate and competitive vibes we received while filming and attending this Eugene Challenger's game. With the power of videoography, we think we achieved this. There is no dialogue or interviews in this piece, only significant A-roll, B-roll, and …
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Chemeketa Community College Fall 2014 Commercials
After weeks of preparation, we spent two full days filming commercials for Chemeketa Community College. Chemeketa is located in beautiful Salem, Oregon, so we decided to do our filming there, so we could include the town and the campus. On the first day, we worked with our talent to create a sequence of a boy growing up from childhood to adulthood, transitioning from adoringly watching his father work on cars, to putting a car together himself, with the support of Chemeketa. The second spot chronicles a motivated young woman making the transition from being raised by her loving parents, to continuing her life and receiving a quality education close …
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Elder Heart: American Warrior
Standing 20 feet high, a sculpture of 22 huge, metal leaves stands out in the quaint town of Nashville, Indiana. However, it is not the statue itself, but its purpose that is amazing. The 22 leaves represent the 22 Veterans that commit suicide everyday. Most people are not aware of this devastating issue, and one local Nashville organization is committed to change that. Elder Heart is a Veteran organization that creates art in public areas to raise awareness for those 22 Veterans. They aim to employ and empower Veterans, and show them they are not alone. “We will not let …
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Brown County // Nashville, Indiana Arts and Entertainment Community
What is art? Art is music. Art is jewelry. Art is bright yellow paint splattered on an empty canvas. Art is a statue of a fallen hero. Art is whatever you want it to be. In the town of Nashville, Indiana in Brown County, art strings the community together. From glass blowers, to painters, to builders, to guitarists, to woodworkers, the charming town has a lot to offer. Local artists say Nashville has more people making their own products and running their own shops than any other town. AO Films collaborated with the artists of Brown County to showcase all …
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Trip to North Carolina for Warrior’s Bridge
Earlier this month, we traveled to North Carolina to meet with Scot Spooner and Amy Tucci Jones to learn more about their foundation, The Warrior's Bridge, and how we could be a part of it. We are passionate about telling stories that really matter and make a difference. The Warrior's Bridge really spoke to us in this way, as their mission is to provide free, long-term wellness treatment to those United States Service members who possess emotional wounds due to mortal combat. Every American should have the chance to live the American Dream. Spooner, a former Delta explains, "If you look at …
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Joshua P. Williams Foundation
“Everybody in their life needs people to encourage them and support them, cheer them on when they’re winning, but are also there to support them when things aren’t going quite as well.” In football, the 12th man refers to fans that support their team through thick and thin. Likewise, while growing up, children need the same thing. There are many organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club, which support youth in just this way. However, these amazing organizations need support themselves in order to keep serving today’s youth. That’s where the Joshua P. Williams (JPW) Foundation comes in. JPW celebrates …
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Elder Heart: The Art of Healing Warriors
In the quaint town of Nashville, Indiana, it is common to see the work of artists displayed at every corner. Everything from glass blowing to painting, to woodwork and theater performance, the artists of Nashville come together year after year to create an expansive cultural fabric in an otherwise small town. But there is something new on the horizon for the art community here, and it is coming from an unlikely group of artists. Projected to take a half-year to complete, the art piece will stand 20 ft tall with 22 large steel leafs, some weighing up to 500 lbs. To …
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Interview with WW2 vet Bill Kunkle
For a number of months now, we've been talking about and researching for a documentary that we've been excited to pursue. After 3-4 months of info gathering, we finally got the first interview under our belt today when we interview Bill Kunkle, an 89-year-old World War II veteran. It was a powerful interview, listening and watching him break down several times as he recounted the horrific things he experienced as a medic after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was just the first step – and we're excited for where this journey will take us!
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