I'm Will. Cinematographer / DP
Photo by Steve Walter Photo
At Will Talamelli Films, we're more than just a production company—we're a creative partner for brands that want to harness the power of media to grow and thrive. While we provide high-quality video and photo deliverables, our expertise goes far beyond that. We specialize in using media to develop your brand, tell your unique story, and showcase what makes your company truly exceptional.
With a strategic approach, we help you connect with your audience, amplify your message, and elevate your brand’s presence in the marketplace. We believe the key to creating an effective corporate video lies in understanding both the message and the audience. Crafting a video that resonates with colleagues and communicates expertise requires more than just technical skill; it demands careful attention to brands and their values.
OUR APPROACH
A powerful, engaging video for a corporation can be essential in establishing credibility and expertise amongst colleagues. Adaptability, understanding the message of the project and expected audience are key to creating effective corporate videos for keynotes or internal information. Making sure the lighting and framing is correct to match the mood and information delivered is imperative to the success of the video. Simply put - our media is an extension of your brand and we are here to work in unison to best represent you.
DP: Will Talamelli Director: Sue Kessler
Above video made in partnership with frequent collaborator TBD Media Corp. London.
IT STARTS WITH A MESSAGE
An interview is the cornerstone of any narrative feature, requiring the utmost care and finesse. The way a speaker is positioned, framed, and lit can convey a story before the first word is even spoken. In my work with brands, corporations, and agencies, I collaborate closely to ensure that every frame is an accurate and impactful representation of the spoken narrative. Just as a diverse vocabulary enhances the depth of a story, the same diversity applies to the camera. There’s no single ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Having a broad range of lighting techniques, framing options, and stylistic choices is what allows me to tailor each interview to its unique tone and message. This versatility is key to creating an engaging and visually compelling interview.
This video for Citizen M in collaboration with TBD Media was developed to make an uplifting video that showcased it’s cultural significance to the city, the innovative employee structure and immerse the viewer in the guest experience. My objective in this video was to highlight the curator, legendary NYC graffiti artist MeresOne and to showcase its presence in the Bowery neighborhood of NYC.
Having the interview look beautiful was absolutely the most important factor for this project. I wanted it to look bright, inviting, warm and caring. I wanted the teachers to literally glow on the screen as a reflection of their attitude towards the children (and the same with the parents in reference to the school). I also wanted it to look very natural and not overproduced. Again, this was intentional because that doesn’t reflect the philosophy of the school. When working with a narrated story it’s important that the imagery is consistent with the sentiments delivered. This was a loving, positive message filled with gratitude, respect and care - having a moody lighting situation might look cool but wouldn’t do any favors with telling the story.
THEN WE BUILD A STORY
Behind every company, no matter its size, there’s a unique element that defines its core mentality—something that can be distilled down to one simple truth. If you strip everything away and dig deep enough, you'll always find that one statement that sets the business apart, and that’s where the story begins.
When a new client reaches out to me for a video, I start by asking a lot of questions. What I’m searching for is that one thing—the ‘why’ behind what they do. I’m not interested in creating a video that serves as a portfolio of accomplishments. Instead, I want to capture the mentality that drives the business, the core philosophy or mantra that fuels the team and keeps them motivated. It’s not about showcasing the many things they’ve done; it’s about uncovering the one thing that makes them who they are and keeps them pushing forward.
Video of pottery pro and owner of White Lotus Pottery in New Haven, CT Amanda Bartel. Amanda is an incredible artist that I was honored to spend a day with. We went with an approach that really highlighted the “why” into what she does. Her emotional connection with the clay, her mindset and the discipline it brings her. Being in line with the concept of “one thing” it wasn’t about pottery. We used cinematography to expose the connection to her craft. It featured her studio, her work and her talent while keeping the audience engaged with a focused subject matter.
This video for Rye Ballet Conservatory is advertising the business but has a much stronger connection to the viewer with the philosophy behind teaching ballet and transforming young people. I know what ballet means to Ashlee and how much of her life has been dedicated to the art so I really wanted to showcase that. I wanted the viewer and potential client to understand that with Rye Ballet Conservatory you aren’t just getting ballet lessons, you are getting a developmental experience from one of the greatest to ever do it. I wanted Ashlee to discuss what ballet can do for a young dancer, what it did for her and the emotional connection she has to the art which really highlights her dedication.
A prime example of the “one thing” being used in storytelling for businesses. Instead of the same promo everyone has seen we made a story and a very focused one at that. I thought it would be fun to show what a coffee shop could be like without anyone in it, just an owner relishing in the pride of his business while no one was there. Where I had the most fun was the subtle gestures made to really highlight our subject Ryan, his personality and his relationship to the coffee shop. I put Chartreuse bottles in the reflection of Ryan’s espresso machine. It’s his favorite spirit and the machine is how he affords his “finer things” lifestyle. I kept the camera on one side of the counter to make it seem like we aren’t a part of his world, the camera has the exact relationship that a customer would. As well as the final scene where Ryan has his back to the camera and looks out the window from the table, a perspective he never gets to enjoy during the day further emphasizing the idea that it is closed for business and he is enjoying the “perk” of his own coffee shop.
Everyone knows a restaurant serves food, there isn’t a restaurant in the world that doesn't serve food. I wanted something more engaging, something more intimate that you can’t see from looking at the menu online. This promo for Millwright’s displays the motivation, attention to detail and commitment to excellence when concerning the food at Millwrights Restaurant.
Starring: Chef Tyler Anderson
A virtual tour of the Ethel Walker School for Young Women in Simsbury Connecticut. Utilizing all the elements that make the school unique, the grounds, the class size, the student body, the faculty, all narrated by their incredible head of school Meera Viswanathan. While this is a corporate video I wanted to do justice to this amazing facility. One of the most overused words in the English diction is "amazing." People use it to describe everything from a balloon ride at sunset to a pint of ice cream. With that said Ethel Walker School for young women is nothing short of amazing. When you step on campus you are greeted with the cognition that you are someplace exceptional. The campus is tucked away in a stunning part of Connecticut surround by evergreens and maple trees. The grounds are immaculate and the buildings exude personality. Utilizing aerial footage, stedicams and studio voice overs we achieved something that will represent the business for years to come.
Product Cinematography
Video is a perfect medium for highlighting a product's function and appeal. On location or in the studio any product can be featured with our cinematography services.
In studio commercial for the Wonderfoam Pillow.
Broadcast ad showcasing the services of Columbia Implant Center
On location ad for the Gorilla Grip Mortar and Pestle
Social Media Cinematography
Using professional cinematography services for your social media advertising is an effective and affordable way to present true content on your social media pages. Posting on social media is not the same as promoting on social media. Promoting is true advertising so its important to put your best foot forward when introducing your company on the internet. A well calculated, focused and articulate video utilizing cinematography is an ideal way to advertise who you are as a business on social media.
This beautiful commercial video for Follain really showcases how much can be accomplished in one minute. I was exclusively the DP on this shoot commissioned through 309 Productions in Boston. Keeping everything on brand we did very soft, gentle lighting setups to highlight the product and reflect all of companies advertising. No matter where it exists, on a website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. it looks consistent with all existing content.
Timing is everything. The most important element of advertising when working with Goodwill industries is to keep the content relevant. This video of Gavin Degraw playing a school in Connecticut was delivered the morning after the event to keep people talking and engaged in the event. Social media cinematography for advertising keeps proving itself as a powerful source for not only engagement but relevancy due to the speed it can be delivered. A full video would significantly more time but planning out a 60 second promotion expedites the whole process and maintains public interest.
Same goes for the video featured below. Opposed to a whole production day for creating content we were able to expedite the process with small features of Goodwill employees for social media content. Goodwill Industries wanted to give the public and intimate look into who represents the company and were able to afford more content due to the small duration.
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Will Talamelli - Cinematographer/ Director/ DP
Founder/Owner Will Talamelli Films