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Our Video Gallery
Public-facing films produced by Steve Lackey while at McKinsey

Executive data insights walkthrough
CHALLENGE: Communicate highlights from massive McKinsey Global Institute research on micro-regional trends in a visually engaging, easily digestible way.
SOLUTION: Film our executive in a green screen studio with pre-designed heads-up-display motion graphics for him to interact with during his presentation.
IMPACT: The goal of this short social media clip was to drive people to the website to learn more. It had 3.5 million views, while the longer form video had more than 320,000 views.
SOLUTION: Film our executive in a green screen studio with pre-designed heads-up-display motion graphics for him to interact with during his presentation.
IMPACT: The goal of this short social media clip was to drive people to the website to learn more. It had 3.5 million views, while the longer form video had more than 320,000 views.

Future vision film with actors and narrated script
CHALLENGE: Show the future of behavioral health and the role different institutions can play in driving positive outcomes, in a humanizing way.
SOLUTION: Using a variety of characters, scenarios, and settings, we tell the story about key interventions through a mix of narration, live action, and music.
IMPACT: The video was presented at numerous industry meetings where key executive decision-makers were present. It was well-received, helped shape the narrative, and sparked numerous conversations among leadership.
SOLUTION: Using a variety of characters, scenarios, and settings, we tell the story about key interventions through a mix of narration, live action, and music.
IMPACT: The video was presented at numerous industry meetings where key executive decision-makers were present. It was well-received, helped shape the narrative, and sparked numerous conversations among leadership.

Dynamic video case study
CHALLENGE: Show how Quantum Black's AI approach played a pivotal role in helping Emirates Team New Zealand win the World Cup, while underscoring the tone, excitement and pace of the work and the race.
APPROACH: Collaborate with talented McK Digital colleague David DeLallo to create an exciting opening montage to help the audience lean in to the case study, then focus on quickly-paced interview selects where the Emirates team members share the story of how the smart use of AI gave them a competitive edge.
IMPACT: The combination of compelling, compact storytelling, a hot topic, and a timely news event led to YouTube choosing this as a recommended video. It resulted in the fastest rise in video views ever on McKinsey's YouTube channel.
APPROACH: Collaborate with talented McK Digital colleague David DeLallo to create an exciting opening montage to help the audience lean in to the case study, then focus on quickly-paced interview selects where the Emirates team members share the story of how the smart use of AI gave them a competitive edge.
IMPACT: The combination of compelling, compact storytelling, a hot topic, and a timely news event led to YouTube choosing this as a recommended video. It resulted in the fastest rise in video views ever on McKinsey's YouTube channel.

Social impact documentary style
CHALLENGE: Highlight the collaborative efforts of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, New Life Food Pantry, and McKinsey, to help stem the tide of hunger in the Chicago region.
SOLUTION: The client initially proposed using Zoom-captured interviews to tell the story. Instead, I pitched the human-centric approach of a documentary style to show, not just tell, the powerful impact of this compelling success story.
IMPACT: After seeing the film, one donor wrote a check to fully fund construction and operational expenses for a new food pantry for a full year. He said the video tipped the scales and made it clear that his investment would make a real difference in feeding families in need. The video won a Gold 'Stevie' from the Social American Business Awards for best Corporate Social Responsibility video.
SOLUTION: The client initially proposed using Zoom-captured interviews to tell the story. Instead, I pitched the human-centric approach of a documentary style to show, not just tell, the powerful impact of this compelling success story.
IMPACT: After seeing the film, one donor wrote a check to fully fund construction and operational expenses for a new food pantry for a full year. He said the video tipped the scales and made it clear that his investment would make a real difference in feeding families in need. The video won a Gold 'Stevie' from the Social American Business Awards for best Corporate Social Responsibility video.

Micro-documentary style - nature-based film
CHALLENGE: Convey the criticality of investing in nature now, both for achieving climate goals, helping local economies, and protecting livelihoods.
SOLUTION: Employ a micro-documentary style and film four McKinsey consultants outside of the office in bio-diverse nature-based settings in Latin America, instead of the suggested method of interviewing them in the office.
IMPACT: The video was included in a feature story on 'New at McKinsey', as well as on Linked In and Instagram.
SOLUTION: Employ a micro-documentary style and film four McKinsey consultants outside of the office in bio-diverse nature-based settings in Latin America, instead of the suggested method of interviewing them in the office.
IMPACT: The video was included in a feature story on 'New at McKinsey', as well as on Linked In and Instagram.

Executive interview with four cameras and motion
CHALLENGE:

Audio testimonials with composited motion graphics
CHALLENGE: Convey the value proposition of McKinsey's Connected Leadership Academy in a compact and dynamic way to increase participation.
SOLUTION: Build a storyline from the audio of testimonials, but replace talking heads with a beautifully composited motion graphics treatment that visually represents personal development and diversity.
IMPACT: Helped significantly increase employee participation from Fortune 100 organizations.
SOLUTION: Build a storyline from the audio of testimonials, but replace talking heads with a beautifully composited motion graphics treatment that visually represents personal development and diversity.
IMPACT: Helped significantly increase employee participation from Fortune 100 organizations.

Recruiting film with audio interviews & dynamic animation
CHALLENGE: Create a recruiting video with a younger vibe that confounds expectations.
SOLUTION: Collaborate with internal recruiting team and design house to create storyline and stylized animation.
IMPACT: Strong internal and candidate reactions and Instagram/YouTube views and won a 2022 'Stevie' at the American Business Awards.
SOLUTION: Collaborate with internal recruiting team and design house to create storyline and stylized animation.
IMPACT: Strong internal and candidate reactions and Instagram/YouTube views and won a 2022 'Stevie' at the American Business Awards.

Research report highlights with 3D animation
CHALLENGE: Tell the story of the future of urban mobility in a cogent and visually arresting way without resorting to stock footage.
SOLUTION: Work with external 3D design agency and talented internal Executive Editor to together craft a rich story that keeps the viewer engaged.
IMPACT: Viewer engagement on mckinsey.com was more than 3X the norm.
SOLUTION: Work with external 3D design agency and talented internal Executive Editor to together craft a rich story that keeps the viewer engaged.
IMPACT: Viewer engagement on mckinsey.com was more than 3X the norm.

Humanizing personal profile for recruiting
CHALLENGE: Provide authentic profiles of 'Build by McKinsey's' diverse consultants.
SOLUTION: Get up close and personal to show the whole person to help candidates considering joining McKinsey get a better feel for what the people at the Firm are like and why their work challenges and fulfills them.
IMPACT: Based on the pilots, a full series was developed for Build by McKinsey.
SOLUTION: Get up close and personal to show the whole person to help candidates considering joining McKinsey get a better feel for what the people at the Firm are like and why their work challenges and fulfills them.
IMPACT: Based on the pilots, a full series was developed for Build by McKinsey.

Micro-documentary style - social impact
CHALLENGE: Create a video case study of a McKinsey pro bono project making a significant difference in stemming the tide of child illiteracy in India.
SOLUTION: Produce a micro-documentary that employs a very human-centric and authentic approach, filming at a representative school and in a child's home.
SOLUTION: Produce a micro-documentary that employs a very human-centric and authentic approach, filming at a representative school and in a child's home.

Recruiting film with interviews & B-roll
CHALLENGE: Get the most out of a shoot by pitching idea of a recruiting film that exceeded original scope.
SOLUTION: Took initiative to conduct impromptu employee interviews, filmed ample b-roll and edited together tight story that conveys the value proposition of LUNAR to interested candidates.
IMPACT: CEO raved that it was the most impactful talent attraction video ever made for the organization.
SOLUTION: Took initiative to conduct impromptu employee interviews, filmed ample b-roll and edited together tight story that conveys the value proposition of LUNAR to interested candidates.
IMPACT: CEO raved that it was the most impactful talent attraction video ever made for the organization.

Episode from series on the future of industries
CHALLENGE: Help create a distinctive series featuring insights from McKinsey experts on the future of industries in a compelling way that builds viewership and subscriptions to the series.
APPROACH: Collaborate with internal client and production team to develop a branded series look & feel and lead on video shoots.
IMPACT: The Next Normal became the Firm's most popular video series and won numerous industry awards for excellence.
The link to the full series is below.
APPROACH: Collaborate with internal client and production team to develop a branded series look & feel and lead on video shoots.
IMPACT: The Next Normal became the Firm's most popular video series and won numerous industry awards for excellence.
The link to the full series is below.

2D animated explainer
CHALLENGE: Tell a compact video story about second-life EV batteries that keeps the audience engaged.
SOLUTION: Use a whimsical 2D animation style that tethers scenes together in a way that surprises and delights, and ultimately keeps people watching and listening.
IMPACT: 90% engagement rating, meaning that 90% of the viewers watched the video all the way through on mckinsey.com
SOLUTION: Use a whimsical 2D animation style that tethers scenes together in a way that surprises and delights, and ultimately keeps people watching and listening.
IMPACT: 90% engagement rating, meaning that 90% of the viewers watched the video all the way through on mckinsey.com

2.5D animated research highlights
CHALLENGE: Develop a different visual style for McKinsey Global Institute's executive brief on their research report on Smart Cities.
SOLUTION: Employ a carousel approach to revealing moving diaramas of city scenes to cleverly visualize use of smart technologies that will improve city life in the future.
IMPACT: Became feature insights story on mckinsey.com and receive very strong viewership.
SOLUTION: Employ a carousel approach to revealing moving diaramas of city scenes to cleverly visualize use of smart technologies that will improve city life in the future.
IMPACT: Became feature insights story on mckinsey.com and receive very strong viewership.

Studio shoot w/actors to spotlight research
report findings
CHALLENGE: Humanize the McKinsey Global Institute's research report on the future of women at work.
SOLUTION: Cast and film a diverse set of actors at high-speed for a more poignant look and feel, and color grade in McKinsey blue-tone look to adhere to the brand.
IMPACT: Became McKinsey's featured insight on homepage and received highest number of online views that year.
SOLUTION: Cast and film a diverse set of actors at high-speed for a more poignant look and feel, and color grade in McKinsey blue-tone look to adhere to the brand.
IMPACT: Became McKinsey's featured insight on homepage and received highest number of online views that year.

Three-camera studio shoot - expert interview
CHALLENGE: Create a '60 Minutes' style interview with Pulitzer Prize winning author and columnist, Thomas Friedman, and (former) McKinsey Senior Partner James Manyika that captures their conversation in a warm, intimate setting.
APPROACH: Design a studio set, use three cameras with shallow depth-of-field, and keep editing brisk.
IMPACT: Thomas Friedman was highly pleased, so beyond featuring on mckinsey.com and its social channels, Mr. Friedman shared out on his personal social channels to his broad viewer base.
APPROACH: Design a studio set, use three cameras with shallow depth-of-field, and keep editing brisk.
IMPACT: Thomas Friedman was highly pleased, so beyond featuring on mckinsey.com and its social channels, Mr. Friedman shared out on his personal social channels to his broad viewer base.

Stock footage, dynamic typography, and narration
CHALLENGE: Use stock footage in a differentiated way to share highlights of McKinsey's Women in the Workplace survey.
SOLUTION: Select imagery illustrative of the content but that's also ideal for clever and motion-tracked typography. Provide a consistent and beautiful color grade that helps cohere disparate stock footage sources.
IMPACT: Besides being featured on mckinsey.com and social channels, it was shown at high profile external conferences.
SOLUTION: Select imagery illustrative of the content but that's also ideal for clever and motion-tracked typography. Provide a consistent and beautiful color grade that helps cohere disparate stock footage sources.
IMPACT: Besides being featured on mckinsey.com and social channels, it was shown at high profile external conferences.

Social media style square video
CHALLENGE: Develop a social media-friendly video that will stop the scroll.
SOLUTION: Use combination of color-graded stock footage mixed with bold headlines to tell a tightly constructed story about the future of US Manufacturing.
The link to the article and 16:9 version is below.
SOLUTION: Use combination of color-graded stock footage mixed with bold headlines to tell a tightly constructed story about the future of US Manufacturing.
The link to the article and 16:9 version is below.

Process demonstration
CHALLENGE: Demonstrate the process of creating the Impossible Burger in 30 minutes of filming and minimal setup.
SOLUTION: Use two cameras (one stationary and one handheld), no lighting, and lean setup to minimize footprint.
SOLUTION: Use two cameras (one stationary and one handheld), no lighting, and lean setup to minimize footprint.

2D animation explainer
CHALLENGE: Produce a brief, highly visual 2D animated explainer video that doesn't feel generic.
SOLUTION: Employ a creative use of motion, well-designed onscreen text, and music that underscores the tone of the content.
SOLUTION: Employ a creative use of motion, well-designed onscreen text, and music that underscores the tone of the content.
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