Projects-That-Matter:-A-Decade-of-Meaningful-Projects

Projects That Matter: A Decade of Meaningful Projects


Following the release of our award-winning feature film, For Aaron: The Documentary in 2009 and the digital campaign that accompanied it, we saw how important digital storytelling was as a tool to engage and inspire change in the world around us.

We saw first hand how rapidly the marketing of a social cause or an impact organization was changing with the advancements in technology and with our access to filmmakers, web designers, photographers, digital artists and branding specialists, we knew we could be a large part of that change. We understood that if we committed our time and talent to the world, we could create a legacy of impact. So we came up with drastically reduced costs for marketing & advertising services, flexible & affordable payment plans and began working side by side with social impact organizations around the world to make a difference and help share their stories.

Now ten years later, we look back on some of our favorite projects.


REDWOOD GIVES BACK

HAITI
New Story/Century 21 Redwood Realty

In 2017 our team travelled to Haiti with California based non-profit New Story and Century 21 Redwood Realty as part of their Redwood Gives Back program. We spent four days talking with the resilient people of Haiti about their experiences following a deadly earthquake and how the Redwood Gives Back program has helped them to return to a sense of normalcy through their community home building project.

Century 21 - "Redwood Gives Back"


Client: Century 21 Redwood Realty / New Story
Location: Haiti

CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty has been a client of ours since 2010. We have created over 60 video projects, built websites, presentations and advised their marketing team for the past seven years. However, it was just in the past 12 months that they launched a new non-profit, 501-c3 charitable organization called Redwood Gives Back.

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CORA

INDIA

Our Principal Director had a chance to travel to India with Cora CEO + Founder, Molly Hayward, for 20 days in 2017 in order to capture the company’s brand story.

CORA


Our team traveled to India with Cora to tell their brand story and announce their social mission to the world.

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A VOICE IS HEARD

KENYA

Our team’s first international project took us halfway around the world to Kenya. We spent almost a month working with the Maasai Tribe and non- profit, A Voice is Heard to tell their story.

A VOICE IS HEARD


A Voice is Heard works in partnership with children and families of developing nations who are in need of the basic necessities of life. They find sustainable solutions for the provision of land, water, medical care, education and alternative sources of income.

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SIMONE BILES

ASK, LISTEN, LEARN

Ask, Listen, Learn - "U.S. Attorneys General PSA's"


Client: Ask, Listen, Learn

Ask, Listen Learn asked us to concept, write and produce Public Service Announcements (PSAs) featuring Olympic Gold Medalist and Dancing with the Stars ContestantSimone Biles and some friends along with Attorneys General from over 25 states aimed at helping educate parent’s on how they can help their kid’s say “yes” to a healthy lifestyle and “no” to underage drinking.

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HEROES

FRED'S FOOTSTEPS

Our team spent the day with Philadelphia based non-profit organization, Fred’s Footsteps and their extraordinary heroes. It was one of our team’s favorite days on set to date.

"HERO"


Client: Fred's Footsteps

Watch as these brave children redefine what it means to be a hero.

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SHAQ + BELLA: iDECIDE

RESPONSIBILITY.ORG

Our team’s first shoot in LA couldn’t have been any BIGGER. No really, working with NBA Superstar Shaquille O’Neal for the first time (the start of a very mutually beneficial relationship involving Shaq Soda and Shaq the Cop) and TV/Movie Star Bella Thorne was just the kind of introduction to the City of Angels JTWO revels in.

"iDecide" F/t Shaq + Bella Thorne


Client: Responsibility.org
Agency: Brian.

Our crew teamed up with Responsibility.org to help bring their iDecide Campaign to life which encourages teens to focus on the importance of formulating and following individual decisions such as saying no to underage drinking.

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One-Decade-Deep

One Decade Deep

TEN YEARS IN


AND NO SIGNS OF SLOWING UP

Up until last year we still considered ourselves the new kids on the block—the arrogant young kids who thought they could take on the heavy hitters who have been staples in the Philadelphia film scene. And in many ways, we still are, but over the past twelve months something has changed. We’ve grown, not only as a company (we have gone from two to twelve staff members and opened a Chicago studio) but as artists. We openly admit that nine years into this that we are still figuring this thing out. We are a film company run by filmmakers. That is rare these days. We were never meant to be businessmen, we were meant to be creators, storytellers in love with the romantic notion that the story comes first, no matter what. We understand that we’re different than a lot of other production companies. We always have been and honestly, we like it that way.

For the first five years we were in business we avoided going head to head with the “big guys” because we felt we weren’t ready. We were two 25 year old kids playing dress up and going into countless capabilities presentations. You know the ones I mean. Where everyone shows up for the free lunch and doesn’t give a shit what you have to say. Meanwhile, my website has all of this exact same information and more if you bothered to look just once. I can still remember when a creative director looked at my my co-founder, Travis Capacete and me and winked when we were describing the capabilities of each one of our team members and said, “I used to have a production company too” when we told him we had more than just two full-time staff members back at the studio. He was insinuating that we were two producers that outsourced everything while selling smoke and mirrors. Did he want us to bring a soccer mom van full of employees from our office and parade them into the meeting just to prove there were more than two of us? I walked out of that meeting infuriated. I wasn’t sure if anyone would ever grasp the concept of a small, but adaptable in-house production team capable of doing everything under one roof, because they were so used to the old way of doing things where you need a team of 30 to do what to us was a job for three.

It hasn’t always been easy. We’ve come a long way since we would roll up with a Canon 7D, one lens and Zoom Mic. We’ve had growing pains, lost jobs and failed. But that’s what being an entrepreneur is all about. Eventually, you just figure it out, because that’s the only option. Eventually, you simply stop caring and start creating. We let our work speak for itself and we forged friendships with people in such an authentic and honest way that we completely avoided the muddy politically charged waters that has become the Philadelphia film scene. We were outsiders and if you wanted to work with us, great, we welcomed you with open arms. If not, then it wasn’t meant to be, but that wasn’t going to stop us from moving forward.

We worked hard not only to build a team, but a family and I would stack them up against any team on the east coast and I say that not because I handpicked the team, but because these are people who bought into what we were trying to build since day one. Our philosophy has always been, if you don’t know it, learn it. And I don’t just mean that – we live by that.  It’s why we have Producers who became sound engineers and editors who are DP’s. We want every employee to know every piece and part of every project. Because then, it’s theirs. They have as much ownership as the Director. It’s not a production assembly line or a factory cranking out projects to appease account reps. Each project is an Ozmandian moment behind the curtain into our company ethos.

We are about to enter our tenth year and we are finally being recognized for our work. Last year at the Louix Awards, we decided to make a statement. We opened the show with something so far out of left field that we made you look us in the eye and take notice and if you didn’t we were going to punch you in the face over and over until you realized it was us throwing the punches. We took home awards for everything from our film work and our graphic design and branding projects to fashion design. Yes, we designed an entire line of clothing. Why? Because we can. Because sometimes you wake up and decide to do something new. Something scary. Something so far out of your comfort zone that it forces you to succeed or crumble in the process. We can do that, because we are artists that don’t need an open PO to create.

I guess that’s why we’re still here ten years deep. We’ve watched as some of the production companies we’ve admired and fought against have crumbled and our former mentors and advisors are now coming to us seeking jobs. It’s a bit strange to be honest, but here we are. We learned a lot and we are still learning. We’re open and honest about that with our clients and that’s gone a long way. The scary part is, we still feel like we are in chapter one of our story. The scarier part is, we as authors of that story don’t really care who reads it. That’s not what drives us. We care about the work and our work keeps getting better. We get to collaborate with some of the most talented, intelligent human beings on the planet day in and day out and they honor us by entrusting us to carry their metaphorical torch in the form of their story. We don’t take that lightly and we never will. I hope that carries us to the next ten years.

If we’ve crossed paths in the past decade, I want to thank you. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for teaching me something. Each one of you has in some way, shape or form influenced our thoughts or actions at JTWO and I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated your input.

"WE WORKED HARD NOT ONLY TO BUILD A TEAM, BUT A FAMILY"



Intern-Of-The_Decade

Intern of the Decade


Jake "Mr. Italiano" Price

In 2009 we launched JTWO.U – our internship program which later became The JTWO [INC]ubator Project. During the past ten years, we have had some amazing students come through our doors (along with a bevy of disasters), but one intern stood on the shoulders of giants and claimed the coveted title of “Intern of the Decade.”

That intern is Jake Price,

class of 2017.

WHY DO YOU THINK JTWO NAMED YOU INTERN OF THE DECADE?

Jake Price : Isn’t it obvious? I’m the best. Honestly, I’m not sure why — truly. I know Jtwo has had a lot of great talent walk through their doors over the years. I’m floored, and I humbly accept this prestigious honor. Thinking about it, it definitely helps that they’ve been hearing my voice every time an intern was trained by my JTWO.U videos.

HOW DID YOU EARN THE COVETED TITLE?

JP : Can you believe that 17 people were too emotionally distraught to answer their phones when Justin Jarrett’s name flashed on screen? And if that didn’t scare ‘em off, I know a guy who knows a guy who makes peop— problems disappear.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF WE TOLD YOU THAT YOUR PRIZE FOR BEING NAMED INTERN OF THE DECADE WAS A GIFT CARD TO COSI?

JP : Ah, mi amor — Cosi. They don’t call me ”Mr. Italiano” for nothing. (I always ordered the Italiano sandwich even though it had been off the menu for over a year. I have written to Cosi HQ multiple times about this egregious typographical error.)

A gift card would make me cry. And then smile. And then cry. I live in St. Louis now, where there are no Cosi watering holes. (Don’t worry, though; I separately wrote to Cosi HQ about this issue.) All they have here is Panera. And they don’t even call it Panera. Google it. So, I’d finish crying, buy a ticket to Philly, head to Cosi, spend every last penny I’ve got (I have a job that actually pays me money now) and fly back.

WHAT ABOUT US? NO VISIT?

JP : If I have time, I’ll try to think about considering the possibility of wanting to inquire deep within myself about the truths pertaining to whether I would want to step foot in JTwo as a quick pit stop or not. So, yep, anyways. Back to what I was saying, Cosi — it’d be a classic cry-and-fly.

OKAY, HYPOTHETICALLY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF WE TOLD YOU THAT THE COSI GIFT CARD EXPIRED AND YOUR REWARD IS BRAGGING RIGHTS INSTEAD?

JP : I quit. Wait, I can’t quit. Hire me, I promise I won’t quit. Also, Mr. Italiano doesn’t exactly do consolation prizes.

OKAY, YOU'RE HIRED.


JP : I quit. Wait, what was my pay?

MOVING ON, TELL US ABOUT YOUR TIME AT JTWO. WHAT WAS IT LIKE? DID YOUR INTERNSHIP HAVE ANY LASTING IMPACT ON YOU?

JP : Excluding the day I was forced to build a desk — punishment for being, like, ten to forty minutes late — I made TONS of great memories in my time as an intern. I discovered parts of myself I didn’t know existed. All jokes aside, I wrote and directed a PSA about relapsing from addiction. It was nominated for an award.

I remember revising and rewriting and showing Justin and Travis what I was working on. I hadn’t dug deep within myself to create something of substance before. It was always easy for me to make comedies. But JTwo pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Originally, I was going to tell this dumb story about how someone got interested in the entertainment industry. It was a light piece, it was fluffy, and it was bland. Thanks to the guidance I received, I found the threads in that story that mattered and used them to make a statement. I created something that to this day I’m so proud of.

WHAT ABOUT SOME OF YOUR LESS “SERIOUS” WORK?

JP : After ‘Relapse’, I began working on ‘Studio Life’ – an ambitious, goofy ”little” project filmed over the course of roughly four months. I could pick out any day of shooting and talk about how hard we made each other laugh, but honestly, for “just some video I was being graded on for an internship program”, it never felt like work — everything I got to do while interning at Jtwo was a labor of love.

STOP, YOU’RE GONNA MAKE US CRY. DON’T READ INTO THIS TOO MUCH, BUT YOU’RE MUCH BETTER AT THE JOKES, STICK TO THAT.

JP : Okay—

AGAIN, WE AREN’T TELLING YOU YOU’RE FUNNY, YOU’RE JUST A LOT WORSE AT THE OTHER STUFF.

JP : I’ll try to work on that? Seems kind of ironic I’m winning your award and you’re insulting me.

JUST KEEPING YOU HUMBLE. NOW, RUMOR HAS IT THAT YOU WERE BULLIED BY THE OFFICE DOGS, NOVA AND GRIFFEY WHILE YOU WERE THERE.TRUE OR FALSE?

JP : I cannot comment due to a non- disclosure agreement but please know I am still receiving counseling. I have said too much. Nova, call me.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FUTURE INTERNS?

JP : First off, memorize every word your spirit guide tells you. He knows more than you do. Do you have an Intern of the Decade award?

Second, don’t show up thinking you know jack squat. I did. And then found out I didn’t. Be okay with being humble. Then go and make some great videos.

Third, and most important, don’t use your phone while on fire duty. Travis HATES that.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT YOUR FANS TO KNOW? ANY FAVORITE MEMORIES YOU’D LIKE TO REMINISCE?

JP : As a matter of fact, yeah, I do.

I was nearly fired because a rat was eating chocolate in the printer. Yes. This is a true story.

Back when I was an intern, there was a room that had a couple edit bays, a couch (chewed up beyond repair thanks to Nova and Griffey), a printer and a bowl filled with an assortment of those strange flavored Hershey Kisses you have to dig around in the bag to find the good stuff. I’m talking some seriously disgusting flavors like strawberry and candy cane.

So, for a week or so (about midway through my internship), I was just churning out revisions to scripts left and right, showing them to Justin for approval. On one of those fateful days, like any other preceding it, I tried to print. It wouldn’t work. I complained to Justin, Travis and Jelani. I must have asked them to come check out the printer at least five times that afternoon. I was about to take matters into my own hands; these scripts weren’t going to print themselves.

Finally, the guys came in the room as I opened the printer and found a Hershey Kiss lodged in between two spools. It seemed like there were indents, either because it was half eaten or had been shredded up by the printer. I didn’t linger on this for too long. I went to take a dump. Justin and Travis kept joking that I did it. I didn’t. I shrugged it off and went home at the end of the day. They just needed to fix their damn printer for me.

A couple days later, I showed up to work like normal and was subsequently ushered into a side room (let’s call it the non-sound-proofed, glass-walled interrogation chamber). It was just me and Justin. And everybody watching us through the glass. Justin was surprisingly stern. He asked if I sabotaged the printer. Seriously, he was not f***ing around. I was confused. They were still going on about this? I told Justin no. He pressed for an honest answer. He told me that Travis was ready to fire me. Again, I responded ‘no’. Justin said okay and we left the room. I thought that was the end of my interrogation.

Nope. Justin took me to the printer. We opened it up and saw the chocolate still lodged inside. First off, who leaves chocolate in a printer for days on end? Were they scared to touch it? Afraid I was the one who might have taken a bite out of it? Whatever. I digress.

Looking at it again, the chocolate really looked like it had been gnawed at. Travis was about to lose his s**t. Having realized I went from intern to prime suspect, I told them again — this time nervously — that it wasn’t me. I didn’t do myself any favors by (accidentally) sounding guilty.

Then, because I put literally the bare minimum effort into investigating further, I found little chocolate dots — you know, the kind that weren’t chocolate but were actually rat droppings — inside the printer and all along the wall behind it.

We started taking the printer apart to see if there were more and found a truly dumbfounding scattering of those little paper slips that come tucked into every Kiss. It was like someone had set off a Hershey Kiss paper slip confetti cannon in that printer.

All in all, I was almost fired because Ratatouille was eating and s**tting his dessert in the printer. Lesson learned: don’t leave chocolates out next to a printer, JUSTIN.

ACTUALLY IT WAS TRAVIS.

JP : Who f**king cares? That’s it, interview over. I’m moving to Indianapolis. Have a great life. Thanks for the award or whatever. Go f**k yourselves.