BRIAN ARNDT | DIRECTOR
Like most people, I love a great story. And I’ve been trying to tell them my entire life.
Growing up in rural southeastern Michigan I’d write sci-fi and comedy stories based upon my own life as one of the only non-farmers in a farming community. During the summer, my cousin and I would write and perform old radio style skits, and record them on my grandma’s cassette recorder. Later, I wrote and directed small shoots for classes in high-school and college. But looking back, I was first inspired to make films by my grandma who would film loosely scripted home movies on her 8mm camera when I was five.
As a 25 year-old copywriter at McCann Detroit, I had my first national TV commercial produced – a GMC holiday spot filmed in Toronto. I knew then I wanted to direct. Fast-forward a few years and a major move, I began directing small-budget spots for clients in Tampa Bay. I got my first big shot in 2001, co-directing a brand shoot for ESPN’s Winter X Games. (Thank you, Rico Labbe and Jamie Reynolds.) Since then I’ve worked on my skills, tried to learn something new every day, and have been able to write and direct commercials, documentaries and branded content for clients in a variety of industries, genres and budgets. I approach every project with the same simple objectives: make it fun, compelling and rewarding for everyone. And make it a story that would make my grandma and five year-old me smile.
THINGS REMEMBERED “Everything’s Personal”
DIRECTOR / WRITER / POST PRODUCER
Reinventing a classic American brand is a big responsibility, but creating branding that simultaneously states a unique selling proposition and makes a social statement is a once-in-a-company’s lifetime opportunity. The concept “Everything’s Personal” accomplishes that gutsy mission for Things Remembered. We filmed this brand film and additional videos for their national re-brand/re-launch campaign in various locations around St. Petersburg, Florida.
SPACE FLORIDA “Countdown”
DIRECTOR / WRITER / POST PRODUCER
This is easily one of the coolest productions I've ever directed. We filmed in various locations around Cape Canaveral including an actual rocket assembly hanger and an active mission control. Countdown was one of a series of videos I wrote and directed for Paradise Advertising and Space Florida as part of the campaign “The Vacationauts”. This body of work won numbers national awards.
VISIT TAMPA BAY “Attractions Reactions”
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
Our client, Visit Tampa Bay, needed to refresh their area attractions video. We suggested telling the visual story of a real-life family hitting four different attractions in a single day. And to make it realistic, filming that family all in a single action-packed day in July.
SPACE FLORIDA “We Are Go Manifesto”
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
Whether we're talking about space research and development, exploration, travel or tourism, Florida is the birthplace of Space. And now more than ever their mission is a go for launch. This original manifesto piece helped Paradise win the business and continues to be a great generator of ideas. And goosebumps.
VISIT TAMPA BAY “Greybeard for Mayor”
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
Greybeard the Business Pirate made his debut for Visit Tampa Bay in 2017 with a series of fake TEDTalks. The character and campaign was an instant success. Two years later, I was commissioned to write, direct and produce the next series of short films promoting Hotels and Restaurants. But with the Tampa mayoral race in full effect, the client thought it would be a good idea for GB to toss his triangle hat into the ring. I’m glad he did. You can view the rest of the series here.
ESPN “NCAA Tournament Challenge"
CO-DIRECTOR / WRITER
Who are you picking?" has to be the most common question spoken in the month of March. Rico Labbe and I thought the next best question to answer would be "How are you picking?". So, we came up with a concept that would celebrate the many ways people make their picks, and the role that the ESPN Tournament Challenge App plays in bringing it all together.
WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORTS “Resort Webisodes”
DIRECTOR / WRITER
I had a blast writing and directing this series of resort tour YouTube videos for Walt Disney World Resorts. Our goal for this project was to provide viewers a fresh view and helpful insider information about each of the resorts. We blended our new footage with existing resort and movie footage to create by far the most downloaded videos I've ever written and directed.
DAYTONA BEACH CVB “Beachside Vibe”
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
This Daytona Beach CVB brand video was deemed too real for TV. The agency and client needed to get a new spot on air quickly, but didn’t have enough money for a large production. We spent two cold days on location capturing authentic footage of vacationers enjoying the Original American Beach. Although it never aired, I’m pretty darn proud of it.
SEMINOLE / ORLANDO NORTH SPORTS “Arrived”
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
We filmed this spot on a hot Friday morning inside historic Sanford Memorial Baseball Stadium with a local travel baseball team. Our mission with the campaign “Arrived” was to connect with players, coaches and parents at an emotional level. Our concept was to portray the thoughts stirring inside an athlete’s mind at the moment of competitive truth. This was part of a larger ongoing campaign for Paradise Advertising and Seminole County / Orlando North Sports.
DESTIN CVB “Count On”
DIRECTOR
We spent three beautiful days (and one rainy one) filming the only Florida gulf coast known for its emerald green waters. This is one of seven spots produced as part of the “Count On” campaign for Aqua Communications and Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island. And yes, the dolphins are real.
MOTE MARINE LABORATORY & AQUARIUM
DIRECTOR / PRODUCER
Mote marine scientists at the Tropical Research Lab the Florida Keys have developed the world's most productive means to restore coral reef systems. Our team had the privilege of documenting their research, development and deployment efforts. This story is incredibly important to not only the well-being of our oceans, but the future of humanity.
DAYTONA BEACH CVB “Speedon’t”
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
This fun spot was one of seven filmed in three days entirely on location in Daytona Beach. Our goal was to demonstrate the authenticity of the area by producing TV spots, content videos and ads that celebrate the notion that Daytona Beach is the Original American Beach. It resulted in a demonstratable rise in brand awareness, tourism and the one clients love the most: average daily hotel rates.
GOOD MORNING AMERICA “Jumpstart January”
DIRECTOR / WRITER
Okay, this was an awesome production. I had the pleasure of writing the script then working with the entire GMA team and small group of actors, directing them through some fun scenes, which resulted in a really cool spot with a meaningful purpose. The cameos by Heidi Klum and Robin Roberts were an awesome bonus.
SEMINOLE / ORLANDO NORTH SPORTS
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
Three years after producing campaign videos promoting baseball, tennis and soccer in Orlando North/Seminole County, we were finally able to dodge the rain, lightning and the hectic schedule of a Florida July and shoot this awesome short film for Paradise Advertising and Orlando North Sports.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH “Like a Local”
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
The first time our team visited New Smyrna Beach, we said this place feels like a Wes Anderson film. So, we created this mellowed-out spot for Paradise Advertising and New Smyrna Beach CVB featuring locals encouraging visitors to vacatione here like you live here.
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY “Rise”
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
This spot was produced as part of a campaign for WKU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. For the script, I took the inspirations of an athlete and wrote them as a poem. Then, we had a dope beat poet spit the rhymes for us. In the edit we blended intense shots with disruptive and sometimes unexpected hand-drawn graphics .