From Ad Hoc Video to World-Class Film

Studio Build · Lumen Technologies

I joined Lumen to help turn a small internal video team into a real film studio.

Two years later, Lumen Films is a 15-person team making films across a 30,000-person company.

Building Lumen Films

The Story

Lumen is a massive technology company. When I joined, film was decentralized across the organization and the internal team was small.

We started by making better work. Then we hired.

The team grew from 4 to 15: producers, cinematographers, editors, motion designers and colorists. We brought more of the work in-house, built relationships across the company, and started taking on bigger projects.

Today, Lumen Films owns film and video production across the company, from executive communications to documentaries with the Kentucky Derby, AWS, the Space Needle and the New York Yankees.

The Work

Lumen Films makes:

  • Customer documentaries and brand partnerships

  • Films supporting major sales opportunities

  • Executive and earnings content

  • Films for company-wide events

  • Documentaries and technical explainers

Most of the work is made in-house, with outside production support when we need it.

The Process

I wanted the team to think like a boutique agency / film production company, not an internal service department.

We develop the creative, produce the shoots and handle post in-house. That means the same team can take a film from the first conversation through final delivery.

We also work directly with Product, Sales, Legal, executives and customers throughout the process.

My Role

Creative Director & Studio Lead

  • Set the creative direction for the studio

  • Grew and led a 15-person team

  • Directed many of our biggest productions

  • Worked directly with executives and customers

  • Led creative across documentary, brand and corporate film

I came to Lumen after 20 years as a director. My job was to bring that experience into the company and build a team capable of doing the work in-house.

Impact

Studio

  • Team grew from 4 → 15

  • Centralized film and video production across Lumen

Audience

  • Video views increased 36.6%, to 365,511

  • YouTube views increased 66.3%, to 264,072

  • Customer-story engagement increased 31% QoQ

Organic

  • Lumen Films produced content responsible for 44% of Lumen's organic video views

  • Posts featuring Lumen Films work generated 21% of Lumen's organic clicks

Recognition

  • AVA Digital Awards: Platinum (Space Needle, Intelsat, San Manuel); Gold (Kentucky Derby, Pac-12)

  • ADDY Awards: Gold + Best in Show (Intelsat)

  • Communicator Awards: Award of Excellence

  • Lumen “Marky” Marketing Awards: Courage, Teamwork

Next

Pac-12