As a small business owner, you wear many hats—leader, problem-solver, visionary. But let’s face it: cutting through the noise to grab your customers’ attention can feel like a monumental task. That’s where storytelling swoops in, cape and all, to save the day! Stories aren’t just for bedtime; they’re your secret weapon for creating connections, building trust, and growing your business.

The Power of Nonprofit Storytelling: Insights from Lauren Ready

Nonprofit organizations are the heartbeat of change in our communities, tackling big challenges and making life better for so many. But let’s be real: it’s hard to get people to see all the magic happening behind the scenes. That’s where storytelling swoops in—like a superhero for your mission! In my recent chat on the "Next Era Non-Profit" podcast, we dove into how storytelling can be the secret sauce to connect, engage, and inspire.

We are honored and ecstatic to announce that our documentaries, “Walking in Memphis: Dangerous by Design” and “What We’ll Never Know”, have been nominated in the Societal Concerns category for the 39th Midsouth Emmy Awards!

These nominations from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Nashville/Midsouth Chapter reflect not only the dedication of our talented team but also the importance of the stories we strive to tell.

There are only a few months left in 2024! At Forever Ready Productions, that means we’re supporting our partners as they head into peak fundraising season, while working to achieve our goals and end the year on a high note! 
 
We’re gearing up for a busy fall and some BIG projects. Let me catch you up!

When was your last event?
Did you have an in-person moment of impact that you wish everyone could have experienced?
Was the event recorded by the event company?
Do you have a video file of the moments from the podium?

Here's a question for you: how might you use that recording for something new (beyond keeping it in your archives for that anniversary video you'll make someday)? How could you tell a story about your work by repurposing it?

The Forever Ready Productions Chicago office had the opportunity of pitching a video idea to One Million Degrees that came together beautifully.

The Forever Ready Productions Chicago office was extremely busy this Spring with a string of galas for new and long-time clients. We had such an amazing couple of months crafting impactful videos that were unique to each organization. Here’s a recap of everything we did!

Event Coverage: 5 Ways to Partner with a Video Company

When it comes to event coverage, partnering with a skilled storyteller and video production company, can transform a simple gathering into a one that you can remember forever (get it?!).

From capturing the excitement of the moment to engaging audiences who can’t attend in person, here are five dynamic ways to leverage professional video services for your event.

April is National Volunteer Month and we are encouraging you to think about telling stories that not only inspire donors but recruit volunteers.

Over the years we’ve learned first hand how nonprofits rely on volunteers to help serve their mission. However, Volunteerism has seen a decline across the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic.

So what are we to do about it?

The last decade has been an absolute honor and I am really excited for all that’s ahead. Thank you to all of you! The team, the clients (who’ve become friends), the family who’ve supported the crazy idea and the communities that have welcomed and trusted us to tell their stories. It’s been quite a ride and we’re only just beginning!

We commonly say that we tell stories that call people to act. Whether that be donate, volunteer, purchase, contact lawmakers, sign-up to participate or make life changes, people do things when they hear stories. This is a story about how that happened to me (Lauren). I was working on a piece with our friends at MIFA for their annual Our City, Our Story event.

This is story about WHY investing in video can help you raise awareness, funding and VOLUNTEERS.

We’ve been working with Room in the Inn-Memphis (RITI) since they first started in back in 2005. I (Lauren) had done a story on the news about their work expanding (honestly, it was a neighborhood complaint story not a good one!). And from there we sort of be-friended Lisa Anderson. She has such a heart for the HOLY HOSPITALITY that they offer to guests each winter night.

Last week we released our award winning short documentary “What We’ll Never Know”. The film tells the story of 17-year-old Oshay Sims who falsely confessed to murder in 2018. The law keeps us from knowing what police did to get his confession. It wasn’t recorded, because there is no law that requires law enforcement to record the interrogation of a child.

We’re excited to announce a new add-on we’re offering to our clients: audio description! And for our Executive Producer Allison Wong, this topic is personal.

And them Emmy goes to…Responding to Crisis at Elvis Presley Trauma Center | Regional One Health, Forever Ready Productions, Lauren Ready

For many years now, our work with Regional One Health has been Emmy nominated, which in and of itself is a huge honor! But this year, we can finally say that our work with the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center is now Emmy Award Winning!

All too often, we get caught up in telling the stories of our nonprofit partners and we forget to share our wins! We’re currently nominated for three Midsouth Regional Emmys from 2022. Since 2016 we’ve received a total of 14 Emmy nominations and 4 Emmy Awards. It’s an honor to be recognized by our peers regionally and share the recognition with such a talented and committed team over the years.