HYPERION - SHOW PROMOTIONS

< Back to Work

Video & Photo

2024

FROM PROBLEM
TO DESIGN

Our Process

The Hyperion Players are an Indiana-based regional theater troupe. They bring an eclectic range of stories to the stage from theater classics to original pieces from local playwrights. When creating promotional materials for their season of shows, one of the unique challenges is to capture the personality and individuality of each show while maintaining the consistent brand presence of professionalism and excellence that defines Hyperion.

Instead of creating traditional trailers, we wanted to interview the cast and crew behind these shows. These are dedicated and passionate storytellers, and we wanted them to share in their own words what makes these shows special.

Having worked with Hyperion in previous seasons for shows like Call Me Sister, Waiting for Godot, Doubt: A Parable, and Grand Horizons, we developed a repeatable filming schedule, including b-roll and behind the scenes photos during rehearsals and cast & crew interviews leading up to the performances. Over time, this process became more than documentation; it became a storytelling rhythm that helped audiences connect with the people and process behind each production.

By highlighting the creative journey as much as the final performance, we helped Hyperion share the deeper narrative of what it means to build live theatre in community; the long rehearsals, the laughter, the tension, and the transformation that happens on and off the stage. Each season’s story became part of a larger, evolving brand narrative that celebrates the craft of theatre and the human stories that make it meaningful.
Each production received its own tailored planning process that treated storytelling as both strategy and art. In pre-production, we collaborated closely with the director to understand the heart of each story: its tone, tension, and emotional throughline. Through mood-boarding and one-on-one creative sessions, we explored visual metaphors and narrative cues that would later guide filming and photography. These early conversations helped us identify the story behind the story; what each production was ultimately saying about humanity, relationships, or community.

During production, our team captured on-location video and photography throughout rehearsals, documenting the progression from first read-throughs to dress rehearsals. This approach allowed us to visually weave together the transformation of the cast and the evolution of the performance, giving audiences a glimpse into the creative process that fuels each show.

In post-production, storytelling took shape through editing. We produced 4–6 short promotional videos, each 60–90 seconds in length, designed to highlight different emotional or thematic aspects of the production. These varied in format, from character spotlights to behind-the-scenes reflections, to give audiences multiple entry points into the narrative. For select productions, we also created conceptual imagery and professional headshots that extended the show’s visual identity across print and digital media.

This process not only generated consistent, engaging promotional content, but also established a storytelling framework that celebrated Hyperion’s creative journey; helping audiences see that the story begins long before opening night and continues long after the final bow.
This process not only generated consistent, engaging promotional content, but also established a storytelling framework that celebrated Hyperion’s creative journey; helping audiences see that the story begins long before opening night and continues long after the final bow.

The 39 Steps

The 39 Steps is a parody play based off the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock. It features a cast of many characters but only four actors, providing many comedic opportunities. We created a playful intro for each cast member, showing an “infinite improbability drive” styled character change to highlight their variability. This show received its own compilation promo in addition to each individually themed promotion. Work for this show also included custom headshots for the cast and crew.

Five people laughing and smiling in a room with bookshelves, wearing casual clothing and hats, enjoying a joyful moment.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a purple turtleneck and a gold necklace with a sun-shaped pendant, smiling against a gray background.

A woman with long brown hair smiling, wearing a black hoodie with white letters, against a plain background.

Three people sitting and laughing at a table in a room with bookshelves. One person is sitting reclined in a green armchair, another is sitting at the table with glasses and a red flannel shirt, and a third is in the background leaning against a bookshelf wearing a NASA hoodie.

A smiling man with dark curly hair and a beard, wearing a light-colored V-neck T-shirt, standing against a plain background.

A person with short dark hair, glasses, and a septum piercing smiling, wearing a brown Carhartt beanie and a gray sweatshirt, against a plain gray background.

Four people in a room, two women and two men, appear to be arguing or having a heated discussion. One woman with a serious expression and a black hat is in the foreground, while the other woman, with red hair, is standing behind her. The two men are on the sides, with one of them having his hand near his face as if explaining or emphasizing a point.

A young man with long brown hair, wearing glasses, earrings, a patterned sweater with colorful diamonds, and tan pants, sitting against a plain wall.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, blue eyes, and a big smile, wearing a brown and black striped sweater, sitting against a gray background.

An Inspector Calls

The social consciousness of Charles Dickens meets the suspense of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. An Inspector Calls is a powerful play about the far-reaching consequences of actions. This show had an especially unique production element: Shadow Puppets were employed to tell the cut-away scenes in the story. These shadow puppets were them used in customer lower-third graphic animations.

A young woman with long brown hair, glasses, and a white sleeveless shirt appears to be speaking to a person holding a book in an indoor setting. Two other young individuals are seated at a round table in the background, with water bottles and personal items on it.

People in a meeting room engaged in a discussion, with one person sitting at a table and others standing and conversing, holding books or papers.

Three people in a room: a man in a blue hoodie standing and reading from a paper, a woman with glasses and a white top sitting on a chair, and a man in a Beatles t-shirt standing and holding a book. The room has light blue walls, white shelves, and empty chairs.

Rocket Man

Expertly blending comedy and tragedy, Rocket Man is an unforgettable story of obsession and the pursuit of discovery. Ultimately, the audience encounters a profound exploration of what it means to be human. These interviews took a deeper dive into the themes explored by individual characters in the play, following the format of the play’s “mirror world” concept and the duality of each each of them explored. Work for this show also included custom head shots for the cast and crew.

A smiling young man with brown hair and a mustache, wearing a black ribbed sweater, against a brown background.

A smiling man with short, styled hair, wearing clear glasses and a black T-shirt, with a neutral brown background.

Six people, four women and two men, are engaged in a lively discussion or rehearsal, holding books and scripts. They are in a room with a plain wall and appear to be in a theatrical or educational setting.

A smiling woman with glasses, a pink headband, and long red hair, wearing a black jacket and a gray striped shirt.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black V-neck shirt, and small hoop earrings, smiling against a plain background.

A smiling elderly man with glasses, a beard, and short white hair, wearing a black t-shirt, against a plain background.

A group of four people in a room, three sitting on chairs and one standing. The person standing is holding a tablet and appears to be speaking or demonstrating something to the seated group. The seated individuals are holding notebooks and appear to be listening attentively.

A portrait of a smiling man with short brown hair, wearing a black V-neck shirt against a plain brown background.

A young woman with dark hair and multiple earrings, wearing a black t-shirt and a necklace, smiling at the camera.

A woman with long, wavy brown hair and a broad smile, wearing a black shirt, poses against a dark background.

A young woman with short brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt, smiling against a brown and purple background.

Woman in Black

A haunting ghost story, Woman in Black is full of twists and turns, leading to a disturbing and deeply human conclusion. This shows was timed perfectly for spooky season and included a surprising reveal in the final compilation promo video. The work for this show also included custom conceptual photography, utilizing studio techniques and compositing.