Tell us a bit about your organization and what your specialty is in the film and video space.
ABCD & Company (ABCD) is an award-winning, full-service marketing and events transformation agency that reimagines the way organizations approach marketing and events—thinking brand, big, and bold. As a market leader with premier, best-in-class opportunities across the U.S. and U.K., ABCD executes unforgettable experiences and groundbreaking marketing and advertising solutions that solve problems, shape culture, and redefine possibilities.
Headquartered in the D.C. metro area and named to the 2024 and 2025 Inc. 5000 lists of the fastest-growing private companies in America, ABCD is a trusted partner to Fortune 500 companies, institutions, think tanks, cultural powerhouses, and global brands. The agency has built a reputation for delivering transformative impact that bridges industries, captivates audiences, and drives measurable results.
In the film and video space, ABCD has produced everything from recruitment videos that inspire talent pipelines, to brand films that crystallize an organization’s identity, to powerful tribute and event videos that honor legacies and energize live audiences. What unites all of our work is storytelling: we don’t just capture moments, we craft narratives that resonate. Whether it’s through documentary-style authenticity, cinematic visuals, or emotionally charged scripting, ABCD’s video productions are designed to captivate, connect, and move people to action.
What is your organization’s ethos and how does it set you apart from industry competitors?
At the heart of everything we do is ABCD Soul — the spark that fuels our creativity and ensures every story we tell connects with meaning and authenticity. It’s how we honor culture, embrace equity, and infuse purpose into our work.
What sets ABCD apart is our integrated approach. By uniting marketing, events, creative services, and digital solutions under one roof, we deliver masterful storytelling that resonates across every touchpoint.
How can people join or learn more about what you do?
https://www.abcdandcompany.com/service-lines
Tell us about your Telly Award winning piece. What’s the story behind it?
The National Civil Rights Museum asked us to help them show that history isn’t locked in the past — it’s alive, urgent, and still moving through us today. By juxtaposing archival images with present-day locations and faces, the film became a journey through time: honoring the past while charging toward the future. It’s the embodiment of the campaign theme, History Moves Us Forward.
What are you most proud of about this piece? What was your biggest challenge during production and how did you solve it?
We’re most proud that this piece gave new life to civil rights history — not only honoring the past, but showing audiences that they are part of the story and the movement continues through them. The greatest success was seeing the film spark reflection, pride, and urgency in viewers across generations. That kind of emotional connection is why we create.
The biggest challenge was the unpredictability of production: sudden rain, lingering snow, overlapping with a Tyler Perry shoot nearby, and even our CMO losing her voice just before cameras rolled. Instead of pausing, the team leaned on each other, translated whispered direction into action, and adjusted on the fly. That resilience became part of the film’s DNA — proof that powerful storytelling can thrive even in the most chaotic conditions.
Do you have any advice to other filmmakers based on your career or your team’s approach to work?
Don’t be afraid of the messy middle. The whispered directions, the weather delays, the moments that don’t go to plan — that’s where the magic often lives. Trust your vision, trust your team, and remember that authenticity is always more powerful than perfection. If you create with purpose, the story will always find its way.
Can you share a behind the scenes story or fun fact about the making of your piece?
Casting was a massive effort, with more than 30 people representing the living legacy of civil rights. But one of our most memorable cast members wasn’t planned at all — he was our Potbelly delivery driver. He showed up with lunch, asked about the project, and his genuine curiosity and passion struck us. We invited him to be part of the shoot, and he delivered a performance full of heart. It’s proof that great stories can come from anywhere.
Tell us about the most memorable response you got from this work.
The shock in our clients voice – we promised we would make this work award winning and we did!
Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling…’
… less about what’s on screen and more about what it stirs in the hearts of those who see it.
