Case Study | Kickphase

Jonathan Kemp
Creative Director | Case Studies

About That Time

Integrated Film
Campaign

The Challenge

Independent filmmakers are expected to create with Hollywood-level polish but without Hollywood resources. With About That Time, our goal wasn’t just to make a debut feature — it was to prove that an independent studio could build at the scale of a Hollywood output while keeping ownership and cultural authenticity. The challenge was battling the Hollywood machine on an indie budget and timeline — and still creating a film and campaign that felt undeniable.

Solution

We designed a 360° campaign that expanded the project beyond the screen, treating the film like both a feature and a brand launch.

Crowdfunding & Community Activation: Built a cookout-themed campaign (“You're Invited to the Cookout”) where every backer contribution felt like showing up for family.
Live Experiences: Hosted real-world cookouts and gatherings, translating the film’s themes into lived community events.
Partnerships: Secured fiscal sponsorship with Black Film Space, cultural partnerships with HBCUs, and brand sponsorships (e.g., Hollyland equipment).
Merchandising: Developed a card game featured in the film — positioned as both a prop and standalone product to extend the brand.
Press & PR: Garnered national press and regional community coverage, framing the film as a cultural movement.
Social Media & Digital: Rolled out teasers, behind-the-scenes, and culturally resonant posts that built buzz and connected directly with target audiences.

Results (so far)

Built a multi-entity LLC studio structure to protect IP and manage investments.
Secured fiscal sponsorship and eligibility for major grants and institutional funding.
Raised early-stage funds via crowdfunding and sponsorships, with a $75K production budget in motion.
Partnered with cultural institutions and universities (HBCUs) to expand reach and engagement.
Designed a distribution and brand strategy that positions the film as the flagship of a larger studio vision.

Partnerships

Creative Director

Storytelling that builds faith, community, and cultural connection.

The Challenge

As one of the largest churches in the region, CRC needed to engage thousands weekly across live services and digital platforms. The challenge was to modernize storytelling, unify branding, and activate community connection in a way that was emotionally resonant, scalable, and capable of driving both spiritual and financial growth.

Solution

Led execution for 300+ multi-cam live events, digital campaigns, and original content pieces annually, raising the production standard across all creative outputs.
Built cross-sector partnerships with schools, city government, nonprofits, and cultural institutions (e.g., Virginia Symphony), positioning CRC as a regional cultural hub.
Directed narrative-driven livestreams, interviews, and documentaries exploring grief, healing, and restoration.
Developed branded merchandise, collateral, and event signage to extend the brand identity beyond the stage.
Designed and executed a standalone fundraising campaign that generated $200K annually, built entirely through storytelling-driven strategy across live, digital, and community activations.
Planned and supported community activation events that bridged CRC’s mission with real-world engagement (5Ks, resource drives, large-scale conferences).
Carried creative execution through multi-year leadership transition, sustaining audience engagement and community connection until the church was ready for a full rebrand.
Established a consistent 360° brand identity across live, digital, merch, and experiential touchpoints.

Results

Produced 1,200+ live and digital experiences over four years, scaling the church’s reach and creative output.
Drove $200K annually in fundraising through a fully integrated campaign I conceived and executed.
Increased digital engagement and livestream viewership by aligning storytelling with audience needs.
Expanded CRC’s reach and credibility through hundreds of partnerships with businesses, schools, nonprofits, and cultural institutions by creating campaigns that blended faith, storytelling, and community activation into one cohesive brand.

Video Comedy Podcast

PRODUCER | EDITOR

Watch Now

The Challenge

Launching a new podcast into an oversaturated market where thousands of shows compete for attention. The challenge was how to differentiate NETS, build an authentic audience, and attract credible partners — all without the marketing budgets or celebrity hosts most shows rely on.

Notable Episodes

Ep. 38: KevOnStage

KevOnStage, an actor, comedian, YouTube content creator, best-selling author, amongst many other things, stops by the Nothings Ever That Serious podcast to talk religion, comedy, marriage, how to make it in Hollywood, and much more.

Ep. 35: Shapel Lacey

The NETS welcome Los Angeles based comedian, Shapel Lacey, a diehard punk rocker and former award-winning competitive cheerleader, Shapel found ways to express himself and own his individuality at an early age.

Ep 31: Camping, Love, and Igloos

The NETS go camping in the woods and talk boy scouts, wilderness survival, and wild furry animals. Drew recounts the time he went camping in the mountain with igloos, all in the name of love.

Ep 28: Steady Hands

The guys discuss whether you should try to "fix" someone you're dating, or leave it up to someone with steady hands. Drew and Guru use personal family experiences to have an intervention for Jay, whose work habits have become dangerous to his health.

1/2

Solution

Built the podcast brand around healing and growth, blending improv comedy and expert storytelling to tackle real-life themes with humor, honesty, and emotional depth. Designed each episode to feel both cathartic and entertaining, prioritizing connection over performance.

Designed cross-platform strategy: streaming (Spotify, Apple), live comedy venues (Funny Bone, Sandman), and branded partnerships.
Secured sponsorships/partnerships with Netflix, Spotify, and Musicbed by presenting NETS as both a content platform and a community.
Leveraged relationships with comedians, influencers, and creatives to book high-quality guests and grow reach.