Doug Bost

Blue Shield of California isn’t some faceless healthcare provider. They’re more like a small business with a lot of customers they love. So when they wanted to give new members an overview, we created a video designed to be as friendly as possible, showing the different types of Blue Shield member. I came up with the idea of a Brady Bunch style video layout, wrote the script, worked directly with the actors on-set and was in the editing room. Becky Kitlan was CD and Matthew Powell was the very talented art director. Here’s the link: https://vimeo.com/314520383/a9d3cdb161

In addition, we shot more benefit walk-through videos for Blue Shield (with additional writing from Tim Yuen), which you can see here:

https://vimeo.com/314520970/1e75676837

https://vimeo.com/304913659/4fb141eedc

https://vimeo.com/298732647/d16bf8cb95

Who doesn’t want to write for the Muppets? I wrote scripts for some really fun videos for them -- it turns out The Muppets were big fans of American Express Small Business Saturday, and I got to write for Miss Piggy, Scooter, Uncle Deadly, Janice, Animal and Fozzie. The videos were produced in 2015 in partnership with Facebook and Disney, shot in LA, and my favorite of the bunch was the one shown here, with Uncle Deadly (more Paul Lynde than Vincent Price) and his chicken dinner date.

So… is Fridays just another chain? Or is it a genuine neighborhood joint for great food, great drinks and a great time? Well, it’s the latter, of course, so we worked with Fridays to create something a lot cooler than the standard “About Us” page. I helped to strategize and concept the site, updated their voice, interviewed the bartenders and chefs, and even made a fun gallery that takes the shame out of ordering Fridays to-go. Adan Romero was the creative director, with art directors Matthew Silvester and Kerry Mellor.

You can visit the full site, and order some Big Ribs, here: https://www.tgifridays.com/at-the-bar

I was one of Comcast's minions at Digitas in 2015, creating lots of Facebook and Twitter content and as well as banners, site content, and direct mail. To launch the new voice remote control, for instance, Comcast used the Minions (and their adorable phrases), who were also launching their movie around the same time. Even more fun, we sold in big ideas to Comcast about improving the public perception of their company through innovative philanthropic projects in select markets.  We called that project Upgrade My Life and Comcast is developing it for 2016-17.

At Publicis Modem, I worked on the social content and the site for Citi's Olympics sponsorship -- but even better, I got to interview the Olympic athletes. Christie Rampone. Danell Leyva. Rowdy Gaines. They're what people mean when they say "inspiring".

Bacardi was a fun client. As the Blast Radius creative director for their digital work, my focus was social and interactivity, and Bacardi always wanted to try something new. So, for instance, we created interactive online ads -- a block of ice that would “shatter” when you yelled at your screen, to reveal their new product. We built their Facebook presence to goal that had seemed impossible only a few months earlier, we managed fan comments, and we partnered with Facebook (at a time when nobody knew what would really work on Facebook) to create Like It Live, events where your likes determined what would happen — from sumo wrestling to indoor skydiving.

How do you stay meaningful as a brand when most people think of you as just a newspaper?

USA Today has worked hard over the last few years to keep itself relevant, and to reach people who want more than news — they want content. Some of it has been successful, some of it hasn't. In addition to print and online ads for promotions and events, I’ve written manifestos and point-of-view presentations for USAT, helping them sell innovative plans to groups who often seem allergic to new ideas.

American Express Merchant Financing was launched to help businesses get access to cash for their business when they need it, and I was part of the team that did nearly all of their creative work, which included this video as well as the website, banners, direct mail and even their trade-show installation. I wrote and storyboarded this video, profiling business owner Sebastian McCall in Philadelphia and interviewed him in the video. The very talented Matt Kalish directed.

American Express can target offers to individuals like no other company can. So, for the launch of their innovative Offers platform, I wrote this walk-through video, storyboarded it with Stephen Icardi and Greg Wilson, and supervised the edit.

This was fun. At Blast Radius / Wunderman we discovered that Huggies diapers could play in a unique space, so to speak. The other diaper brands were all about angelic, perfect babies who deserve to be pampered. Huggies could be different. We could talk with real moms about the real struggles and joys of having a baby around the house. We could also be funny. So we created The Baby News Network, a site for babies to report on the issues that matter to them.

“News anchor Baby J. Nuborn has built his extremely brief career by reporting the national news stories babies need to hear on Huggies.com, holding diapers accountable for the shapes they put around our tushies.”

Some really talented people had a good time with this, including Wade Murray and Brandon Flowers.  

I think everybody loves a ghost story. Until it happens to them. So I wrote and directed this feature film starring Carolyn Baeumler, Victor Verhaeghe and Acadia Bost, a ghost story shot on the coast of Maine. It’s one of the most exciting creative experiences of my life and I can’t wait to do it again. The movie has played and won awards in festivals around the country and is streaming as of summer 2022.

You can check out the trailer here: https://youtu.be/5D5k8rthE_w

Diminished Capacity is a 2007 comedy based on a hilarious novel by Sherwood Kiraly, and I co-wrote the adaptation with Sherwood, who is a hell of a guy. The movie is directed by Terry Kinney, with a cast only he could assemble: Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Louis CK, Bobby Cannavale, Virginia Madsen, Lois Smith, Dylan Baker. It premiered at Sundance and then, as part of the Gen Art Film Festival in New York City, it played at the Ziegfeld Theater. Honestly, that was one of the best nights of my life.

One man, who does two things at once, in a world that won’t allow it, speaking a language only he is brave enough to understand. He dares to be — COP-DOC.

Winner of more short film festival awards than you can shake a stick at, this comedy is written by and starring the amazing Victor Verhaeghe. I just directed it. “Asses in a blender, Papa… or did I just poop justice?”

Watch the whole movie here: https://vimeo.com/335027084

And COP-DOC keeps racking up awards in festivals:

WINNER, BEST OF SHOW / BEST OF FESTIVAL

WRPN.TV Short, Tight and Loose Global Film Festival Competition – 2019

WINNER, BEST TV EPISODE

Hollywood Just4Shorts Festival - 2019

WINNER, BEST WEB SERIES

Festigious International Film Festival – 2019

WINNER, BEST OF THE MONTH

Vegas Movie Awards 2019

WINNER, BEST WEB/TV PILOT

TopShorts Online Film Festival – 2018

WINNER, AWARD OF MERIT

One-Reeler Short Film Competition – 2018

WINNER, BEST ACTOR, VICTOR VERHAEGHE

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY NOMINEE

BEST COMEDY SHORT NOMINEE

IndieX Film Fest - 2019

BEST WEB/TV PILOT NOMINEE

BEST COMEDY SHORT NOMINEE

Indie Short Fest - 2019

HONORABLE MENTION

Rochester International Film Competition – 2019

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Hollywood Comedy Shorts – 2019

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Left-Off Global Network Online Festival – 2019

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Portland Comedy Film Festival – 2019