Once films
# Once films

Once Films is a St. Louis, Missouri based commercial video production company that creates documentary-style short films, brand films and commercial video content. They are noted for the Emmy and Addy award winning short documentary film series The Spotlight Series. Spotlight is a collection of personal storytelling vignettes featuring craftsmen, artists, and entrepreneurs. Each story is a behind the scenes look at what it means to love what you do and do what you love.

## Background

### Founding and business model (2010-2011)

Once Films was founded in 2010 and went live with its first video project, a brand story for SPACE Architects, on December 22, 2010. Once Films worked to fill the need for corporate, non-profit and advertising brand films in a rich, documentary film style.

A small group of filmmakers with different talents, Once Films states that its mission is to “do projects we believe in” and be “fulfilled by helping those organizations we love find success.” The founders selected the name Once Films as a nod to “Once Upon a Time,” a subtle reminder that “all great stories begin with Once.”

### Early growth (2012-2015)

In early 2013, the company launched the documentary short “Bob the Baker,” the first film in what would become the company's. Once Films would go on to produce 5 more films in the series in 2014 while growing its rolodex of clients and hiring several full-time staffers. By the end of 2015, Once Films had completed nearly 200 films for projects in the St. Louis area and across the country.

### Recent developments (2016-present)

In June 2016, Once Films moved its offices to the city of St. Louis, setting up shop in the MidTown Alley Design District neighborhood. Once Films had won a variety of local and national industry awards over the years, including a National American Advertising Award for Cinematography, an International CLIO Award for Advertising in Healthcare, 9 Mid-America Emmy Award wins in just 5 appearances.

### Filmography

* SPACE Architects - 2011
* The St. Louis Public Library - 2013
* The Farm at St. Joe’s - 2013
* Tarlton - 2014
* The Lamborghini Huracan - 2014
* American Graduate Maxine Clark - 2015
* The Forest Park Forever Campaign - 2015
* The United Way of Greater St. Louis Campaign - 2015
* Porsche St. Louis - 2016
* The Respite Care Program - 2016
* Robust - 2016
* The University of the Ozarks - 2016
* LHM Three-Sixty Lounge STL - 2016
* Pulitzer Arts Foundation: Medardo Rosso - 2016
* Redefining Normal: Reclaim Renew - 2017
* The United Way of Greater St. Louis 2017 Campaign - 2017
* My Town - 2017
* What Is Modern Ag? - 2017
* Mercy Mondays at the Ballpark - 2017
* The Avera LIGHT Program - 2017

### The Spotlight Series filmography

* Bob the Baker - 2013
* Signs - 2014
* SUMP - 2014
* Tattoo - 2014
* Stone - 2014
* Mwanzi - 2014
* Arc - 2015
* The Timekeeper - 2015
* The Alchemy of Color - 2017
* Barrel - 2017

### Awards and nominations

**2017**

* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Award - Director - Post Production
* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Award - Interstitial
* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Nomination - Photographer - Program
* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Nomination - Photographer - Program
* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Nomination - Short Format - Program
* 22nd AIGA STL Design Show - Video (2 Awards)
* American Advertising Award (ADDY), District 9 Silver - Cinematography
* American Advertising Award (ADDY), Saint Louis Regional Gold - Cinematography
* American Advertising Award (ADDY), Saint Louis Regional Silver - Internet Commercial
* Catholic Press Association Award, 2nd – Story & Photo Package
* Telly Awards Silver - Craft: Cinematography
* Telly Awards Bronze (4 Awards) - Categories: Health & Wellness, Hospital, Food & Beverage, Fund Raising

**2016**

* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Award - Community/Public Service - Campaign
* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Award - Director - Post Production
* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Award - Photographer - Program
* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Award - Interstitial
* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Nomination - Program Promo - Campaign (Non News)
* Communication Arts Award of Excellence, Photography Annual 57
* American Advertising Award (National ADDY) – Cinematography
* American Advertising Award (ADDY), District 9 Gold - Cinematography
* American Advertising Award, Saint Louis Regional "Best of" - Cinematography
* American Advertising Award, Saint Louis Regional Gold - Cinematography
* American Advertising Award, Saint Louis Regional Silver - Television: Local Campaign

**2015**

* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Award – Human Interest, Program Feature Segment
* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Award – Interstitial
* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Nomination – Arts & Entertainment, Program Feature Segment
* American Advertising Award (ADDY), District 9 Gold – Single Medium Campaign
* American Advertising Award (ADDY), District 9 Gold – Cinematography
* Communicator Awards - Award of Excellence - Online Video, Web Series
* Communicator Awards - Award of Excellence - Film/Video
* American Advertising Award, Saint Louis Regional, Judges Citation – Cinematography
* American Advertising Award, Saint Louis Regional Gold – Cinematography
* American Advertising Award, Saint Louis Regional Gold – Single Medium Campaign
* American Advertising Award, Saint Louis Regional Silver – Cinematography
* Catholic Press Association Award, 3rd – Best Multiple Picture Package

**2014**

* Mid-America NATAS Emmy Award – Interstitial
* (3) Mid-America NATAS Emmy Nominations
* American Advertising Award (National ADDY) – Cinematography
* Communication Arts Award of Excellence,
* Design Annual 55 – Self Promotion Series
* American Advertising Award (ADDY), District 9 Gold – Cinematography
* American Advertising Award, Saint Louis Regional Gold – Cinematography
* American Advertising Award, Saint Louis Regional Silver – Branded Content
* Best of NAMA NATIONAL FINALIST – Audio/Visual
* Motorcycle Film Festival Official Selection
* Tattoo Arts Film Festival - Canada Official Selection

**2013 and Earlier**

* 2013 International CLIO Award for Advertising in Healthcare – Film
* 2013 St. Louis International Film Festival Selection
* 2013 (2 Awards) National Agri-Marketing Award – Region II First Place
* 2013 TAM Award SILVER
* 2011, 2012, 2013 ADDY Awards for Cinematography & Branded Content, more than 60 seconds
* 2011 (3 Awards), 2012 (6 Awards) Telly Awards for branding, editing, and cinematography
* 2012, 2013 BMA/Target Marketing Awards
* 2011 AIGA Award – Professional Promotion
