Kellen's Luminary Awards:
A Creative Return to In-Person Events
Project Overview
As a former Marketing and Communications Intern at the Kellen Company, a global association management company, my main task was to think of a creative and fun theme for Kellen’s first in-person Luminary Awards since the pandemic. The event celebrated Kellen’s staff achievements and required a fresh, engaging approach to reflect the transition back to in-person events. While my role wasn’t film-specific, I utilized my creative filmmaking abilities to develop the event's theme, write the script, produce the video segments, and coordinate interactive elements, such as a live Jeopardy-style game to announce the award categories and winners.
This project involved working within tight deadlines and collaborating with multiple departments across various time zones, which helped me develop strong communication and organizational skills. By managing scheduling and communication effectively, I helped unite team members from around the world and ensured the smooth execution of the opening video and live Jeopardy game. The event’s success was measured by the positive feedback from both the team and leadership, who appreciated the creative and engaging atmosphere that the video and interactive elements brought to the award show.
Concept Development & Script
Given that this was Kellen's first in-person awards show since the pandemic, I wanted to creatively integrate the theme of virtual work challenges into the narrative of returning to in-person events. I envisioned opening the Luminary Awards with a SNL-style skit that humorously mirrored the technical difficulties often experienced in Zoom meetings. I wrote a script that depicted common virtual mishaps, such as people speaking on mute, bad connections, and unexpected glitches, before transitioning into a light-hearted and engaging commentary about Kellen's return to in-person events. One of the most memorable moments featured my boss experiencing Zoom difficulties, logging off, and reappearing as a cat emoji, humorously referencing the frustrations of the virtual world.​
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Additionally, I was tasked with creating a fun theme to announce the award categories. Instead of a traditional announcement, I proposed a live Jeopardy game, where live participants would "guess" the winners in a fun, engaging way. This added an element of interactivity that was not only entertaining, but also tied into the overall theme of reintroducing a more lively, in-person atmosphere.
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Production: Coordination & Design
Once the script was finalized, I coordinated with my boss to finalize the lineup of participants for the video. We held rehearsals over Zoom, ensuring everyone understood their role and how to execute their lines while keeping the tone casual and relatable. I screen-recorded the rehearsal session and edited it together on Adobe Premiere Pro, capturing the natural dynamics of a Zoom call.
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In parallel, I worked closely with the production team, who created a separate video highlighting the different award categories. I seamlessly integrated this into the final video by editing it into the end of the video I created, ensuring a smooth transition from the opening segment to the awards presentation.
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To bring the Jeopardy game to life, I searched online Jeopardy templates, inputted the award categories, and used the descriptions my boss had sent me to create a fun and informative experience. We crafted personalized messages for each award category to help the live participants "guess" the winners. While Kellen’s marketing and communications team focused on the event's logistical aspects, I added a creative touch that turned a typical announcement into a fun, interactive segment.
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The Luminary Awards were a success, with both the opening video and Jeopardy game being well-received for their creative, interactive elements. The video humorously captured the transition from virtual to in-person events, while the live game kept the audience engaged throughout the ceremony. Through careful coordination, creative scripting, and seamless integration of film into a business-focused marketing role, I was happy to help elevate the event experience!
