Brand storyteller and film producer Tim Perell on great storytelling
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Tim Perell knows both sides of the video storytelling equation. As founder of Process Media, he is responsible for bringing Hollywood films like the Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson romantic comedy Last Chance Harvey and the Robin Williams dark comedy World’s Greatest Dad to the screen, as well as smaller artistic films like Shortbus and Jump Tomorrow.
Process also lends its filmmaking prowess to branded content, with that division having made short films and ads ranging from an Audi film with Claire Danes to spots for American Family Insurance, Adidas and an inventive series for Visit Seattle and Sundance TV called Project Five by Five that had five different indie filmmakers giving their takes on the five senses.
Perell likes stories that evoke emotion and that are about people he knows, but to have a great story, it needs to be told the right way. He prefers an unorthodox story, told unconventionally, a story that doesn’t mind breaking the rules. He also likes those that take him someplace unfamiliar and show him something new.
The greatest story he’s ever been told is actually a group of stories, taking him back to his teenage years, when he liked ska music and saw films like Suburbia, Smithereens, Stranger Than Paradise. Those movies opened him up to a new world of storytelling, because they were about people living on the edge, which changed the way he approached storytelling and film.
What's the Story? is sponsored by Branded Entertainment Network (BEN), the first global network for branded product integration in the entertainment industry, across all media, including the influencer space.
Filmed at Tribeca Film Festival
If you would like to pitch someone for “What’s the Story?“, please complete the linked form.
Other episodes in the series
Episode 1
Tina Brown, author of The Diana Chronicles, on what makes a great story
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 2
Hip-hop icon Warren G and director Karam Gill on what makes a great story
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 3
Glenn Gainor, Sony Pictures Screen Gems exec on what makes a great story
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 4
Documentarian Cheryl Dunye on what makes a great story
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 5
Sony Pictures Screen Gems exec, Glenn Gainor, on successful brand integration in film
After 25 years in the entertainment business, Glenn Gainor, head of physical production at Sony Pictures Screen Gems, knows plenty about great films and stories. He also knows what it takes to create successful integration for brands — and points to the seminal ET/Reese's Pieces hookup as the gold standard of integration.
Episode 6
Prop master Scott Bauer on how brands can drive a story
As a story unfolds in film and TV, there are plenty of those who help craft the work. Though writers, producers, directors and actors get the spotlight much of the time, the rest of crew plays invaluable roles in making it all come to life.
Episode 7
Sir John Hegarty on the best brand story he’s told
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 9
Amir Bar-Lev, Long Strange Trip director, on passion in storytelling
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Episode 10
PopSugar's co-founder, Lisa Sugar, shares what makes a great story
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.