VIDEO STORYTELLING FOR NONPROFITS
At AB Productions, we specialize in documentary-style filmmaking. This powerful tool amplifies voices and sheds light on untold stories. Our work is rooted in the belief that authentic storytelling can foster empathy, deepen understanding, and connect diverse audiences. From intimate personal narratives to mission-driven campaigns, our portfolio reflects a dedication to truth, artistry, and meaningful impact.
ARYSE CASE STUDY
ARYSE – Documenting Growth, Voice, and Community Impact
Client & Mission:
The Alliance for Refugee Youth Support & Education (ARYSE) is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit supporting refugee and immigrant youth in their academic, social, and personal development. Their mission is to empower young people to build confidence, leadership, and belonging as they navigate life in a new region.
Project Goal:
Since 2018, AB Productions has partnered with ARYSE to document the growth and experiences of their students, as well as the organization’s development. The goal has been to create authentic, longitudinal storytelling that captures student journeys, program impact, and the evolving culture of the organization.
Process / Approach:
AB Productions works with ARYSE every year to:
- Film students during summer programs and other key initiatives.
- Create multi-year narratives that visually track student growth in language skills, confidence, and leadership.
- Integrate student participation in the production process, providing learning opportunities and fostering trust.
- Edit footage into videos that reflect both personal stories and the organization’s mission, sometimes combining recordings from multiple years to show long-term impact.
- Approach all work with thoughtfulness, ethics, and respect for the students’ voices.
Outcome / Impact:
- Videos have become central tools for ARYSE’s fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement.
- Foundation partners explicitly cited AB Productions’ videos as instrumental in grant decisions, contributing to multi-year funding success.
- AB Productions’ work has provided a rich, visual record of organizational growth and student achievement, transcending traditional survey data and demonstrating tangible impact.
- Jenna Baron, Executive Director, shared:
“Since 2017, Anna has captured our work, our students’ voices, and our journey developing as an organization in an extraordinary way… We are so grateful that Anna chooses to channel her skills and perspective to showcasing the work we do at ARYSE in a way that is true to our students’ and organizational culture. We couldn’t recommend her more highly for your partner in this work.”
INVEST PGH CASE STUDY
Invest PGH – Showcasing Small Business Impact and Community Growth
Client & Mission:
Invest PGH is a Pittsburgh-based lending organization that supports small businesses through financing programs, helping entrepreneurs grow their enterprises and strengthen local communities. Their mission is to empower businesses to thrive, create jobs, and foster community revitalization across the region.
Project Goal:
Since 2022, AB Productions has partnered with Invest PGH to document the stories of small business borrowers. The aim is to create visually engaging photo essays and videos that showcase the impact of lending programs, highlight entrepreneurs’ journeys, and celebrate businesses as pillars of Pittsburgh’s communities.
Process / Approach:
AB Productions works closely with Invest PGH to:
- Capture professional photography and videos of business owners, interiors, products, and daily operations.
- Create narrative-driven content that humanizes lending programs and illustrates community impact.
- Produce website-ready visuals that populate Invest PGH’s online presence, lending pages, and marketing campaigns.
- Maintain flexibility and responsiveness, tailoring shoots to each business’s schedule and character.
- Highlight the personality, creativity, and local contributions of each small business.
Outcome / Impact:
- AB Productions’ visual storytelling has become a cornerstone of Invest PGH’s marketing and communications.
- Content produced has helped attract attention to the organization’s programs and encouraged community engagement.
- Entrepreneurs gain professional documentation of their business, enhancing visibility and credibility.
- AB’s work has helped Invest PGH highlight the human stories behind their lending initiatives, strengthening public understanding and support.
Melissa Beall, Communications & Marketing Analyst, Invest PGH and URA, shared:
“Once again, Invest PGH wants to thank Anna Brewer of Anna Brewer Productions for the bright and beautiful photography that supplemented this piece. We couldn’t do it without you. Well, we could—but it would result in a bunch of weirdly off-center, out-of-focus pictures taken on an old iPhone, so this is probably better. And hey, Anna is a borrower of ours too!”