Dreaming of Nantucket

At StudioDylan, we've had the pleasure of collaborating with clients across industries this year, from lifestyle and arts to start-ups. What has tied each project together has been an emphasis on staying true to brand, empowering audiences through access, and dreaming big. This year was pivotal in the world of digital video innovation: from Zoom to TikTok, all generations have been impacted by some form of online video in a meaningful way.

We're excited to see what 2021 holds in store for the evolution of video: trust that we will continue to keep you updated on the latest news (More TikTok!) In the meantime, have a happy new year and we'll see you in 2021.

Dylan Leavitt

Founder & Executive Producer

Studio Dylan

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• "Instagram Launches Shopping In Reels, Its TikTok Rival" (TechCrunch). One of the key goals of Instagram's recent redesign was bolstering its "View Product" feature with an entire Shop section. With this in mind, it's also launched video-based shopping, joining the trend seen on platforms like YouTube. Have you purchased a product via video yet?

• "Should Brands lean into product placement?" (Vogue Business). Speaking of video-based shopping, consumers are much more used to integration, from song lyrics to TV shows and social media. This has made product placement a compelling play for brand marketing: it just needs to be performed authentically.

• "Nielsen Plans Major TV Ratings Revamp By 2024 To Reflect Streaming's Impact" (Deadline). The new system would combine traditional linear broadcast, on-demand streaming, and walled-off digital platforms to create a single deduped view of audience tune-in. What's at stake is the $60B spent by marketers on traditional TV ads each year and improving their ROI. What remains to be seen is buy-in from all parties involved.

How can Olympians teach tech execs?

One of my favorite parts of directing is deriving personal stories of inspiration, resilience, and tenacity from leaders across sectors. Below, I'm proud to share our latest video with Sarah Milby, Founder & CEO of Valor Performance. Valor is a startup that provides one-on-one coaching to professionals seeking to implement peak performance in their careers and personal lives. In this video, Sarah shares what sparked the idea behind Valor's coaching platform.

Dylan Leavitt

Founder, Studio Dylan

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How can Olympians coach tech execs and physicians?

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• "This Plant Company Is Proving the Power of eCommerce Video" (Vimeo Blog). What's the best way for brands to differentiate themselves using video? Create entertaining educational content! Bloomscape, a DTC houseplant shop, is producing plant care videos and positioning itself as a trustworthy guide as a top-of-funnel play.

• "Networks Are Prepping for the Craziest Fall Season in the History of Broadcast TV" (Bloomberg). With scripted shows behind schedule due to the pandemic, reality TV, international programs, news and backlogged sports are dominating the fall broadcast slate. An approximate 20% increase of production costs due to health safety protocols and the constant risk of a lead actor testing positive mean the foreseeable future for scripted is uncertain to say the least.

Is your business thinking like a media company?

Now more than ever before, businesses should act like their own media production companies to grow and protect customer bases: that means producing high-quality, shareable stories using the latest industry tips and popular platforms.

Digital video that's compelling, visually intriguing, educational, and entertaining will remain evergreen, bolstering long-tail value in SEO, engagement, and conversion.

We're proud to craft bespoke digital video strategy that's based on three key steps: strategy, structure, and originals. From this format, we create not only the videos themselves, but mini-series packages, posting schedules, SEO tips, and page design, too.

Video is crucial to today's content marketing playbook for new and heritage businesses alike. We're excited to help our partners achieve excellence in this necessary form of outreach.

Dylan Leavitt

Founder, Studio Dylan

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Owner Arlie Sulka teaches a must-know fact about Tiffany glass!

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• "Trio of Fashion Docs Put Spotlight on International Designers" (THR). I'm passionate about well-made fashion documentaries (Unzipped is an all-time favorite film.) I can't wait to see these three that are coming out this year about Salvatore Ferragamo (dir. by Luca Guadagnino of Call Me By Your Name fame), Martin Margiela, and Pierre Cardin. Hopefully all will stream soon: this distribution avenue has become an essential lifeline for documentaries, more so than ever before due to the effect of social distancing policies on movie theaters.

• "Netflix Just Disrupted Itself. Why?" (NYMag) A leadership shake-up at Netflix has everyone focused on what the next decade (!) of the platform's original TV content will bring as it expands globally. We're entering the next phase of the Streaming Wars, with Disney making leadership changes and conglomerate plays beckon.