We are a production firm that specializes in commercial, creative and editorial content. We are based in Portland, Maine and Nashville, Tennessee.
(21)
We produce video, shoot photo, and develop content strategy.
Mission: Knack Factory's mission is to construct content that brings immense value to individuals, business, and campaigns. The video production, photography and interactivity we architect reflect our passion for creating deliberate, meaningful communication and dynamic user experiences. We are dedicated to crafting elegantly designed and implemented content that results in purposeful attention, resonance and authority for our clients.
Operating as usual
"People should pay us to dance."
— Tadin Brown
Beyond regularly hearing about the high quality of our projects, the piece of feedback we at Knack Factory receive most consistently is that our productions are themselves lots of fun.
We can't disagree.
As we pick away on this edit about the rocket launch a couple weeks back, we can’t help but think, when is the next one? So when is the next launch, bluShift Aerospace??
We had an extraordinary time with our friends at Miss Maine Scholarship Program.
We look forward to helping the organization share their story over the course of the next year, and helping to produce their annual event this Summer.
Yesterday we witnessed history. We filmed the first rocket launch by Maine-based bluShift Aerospace, the first commercial rocket launch in Maine, and the first commercial rocket launch powered by biofuel in the world.
Surrounded by family and friends, several news reporters, 50+ in-person viewers and over 5,000 YouTube livestream viewers, bluShift successfully launched Stardust 1.0 about one mile into the air on a picturesque blue sky afternoon. The rocket separated into two sections and the parachutes deployed as expected, resulting in a soft landing just a few feet off the runway that it launched from.
We could not be more excited for bluShift Aerospace and we can’t wait to dig into all the footage we captured this weekend. Until then, enjoy this clip of the drone shot that Thomas captured. Hands down the best day we’ve had on set. 🚀🙏
Our team is headed back up to the top of Maine this weekend to film the second attempt of bluShift Aerospace's Stardust 1.0 rocket launch on Sunday morning. This launch will mark the world’s first launch of a commercial rocket powered by bio-derived fuel. The rocket is carrying three customer payloads, including one research project from a team of students at Falmouth High School. The clip here is from a cold flow test that was performed on our last trip to the launch site two weeks ago. The bluShift team is fully prepared for the launch, and all they need now is the perfect combination of clear skies and low wind speeds. We’re hoping to witness history this weekend!!
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#rocket #rocketlaunch #biofuel #blushift #aerospace #maine #cubesats
Three years ago we had the pleasure of capturing the Hardy Girls Healthy Women Girls Rock! Awards, which is where we first had the pleasure of hearing Amanda Gorman
She was incredible then, and it was beautiful to see her take the national stage this week.
We can’t wait to see what’s up next for her!
"There is always light if only we're brave enough to see it, there is always light if only we're brave enough to be it."
— 'The Hill We Climb On', Amanda Gorman, as read by the poet at the Capitol on January 20, 2021
We look forward to sharing a more robust update on how this gift-exchange, which was presented by Portland Buy Local, played out. (Spoiler: It was incredibly successful!) In the meantime it was such a tremendous honor to be involved as a sponsor.
Mary Alice is a tremendous advocate for the small business community in Greater Portland. We are lucky to have her in our community.
PORTLAND — The first city-wide gift exchange has been launched by Portland Buy Local just in time for the holidays. Portland Gift Swap, a joint venture with Knack Factory, Mission 3/65, Shop Indie Local and Black Owned Maine, is open to all residents 18 and older in greater Portland. “In a year ...
We’re in Limestone, Maine documenting a rocket set to launch at 8am tomorrow. We’ve been following bluShift Aerospace for almost three years now. A startup out of Brunswick, bluShift has been working on this rocket engine, fuel and design for six years. We feel privileged to be here to document the next 24 hrs. The launch will be live-streamed tomorrow by the bluShift team. Visit @blushiftaero for the YouTube link.
"I’m looking forward to getting out into Maine and shooting more aerial footage with our drone. We have such a beautiful state and it’s hard not capture great footage from the sky every time I fly."
Our newest Sundials Diaries profile spends some time with Thomas Starkey.
Thomas has been working with us since even before we were a “real” company, is our certified drone operator, and so, so much more.
SUNDIAL DIARIES Pandemic Life with Thomas
Some beautiful drone capture by Thomas elevated dramatically to a gorgeous new level by Tadin's meticulous coloring and post production magic.
By way of a recent shoot with our friends at ReVision Energy.
As we enter 2021 with great enthusiasm, we are thinking about the various projects of which we were proud to be a part last year.
We were especially thrilled to have partnered with the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Festival to keep the inaugural event alive in the face of COVID-19.
From the Press Herald back in May:
"As a year-old arts nonprofit, Indigo Arts Alliance had found a comfortable stride when the coronavirus forced all public activity to a halt. Dedicated to supporting artists of color, the community art space in East Bayside was making plans for its inaugural Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival to honor Maine children’s book author and artist Ashley Bryan.
"The virtual festival will consist of a nine-part series of videos, created in Portland by the Knack Factory and released sequentially over several weeks. The videos will be available on Indigo’s website and distributed through its email and social media networks."
We are thrilled to have partnered with the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Festival to keep the event alive in the face of COVID-19. From Portland Press Herald : As a year-old arts nonprofit, Indigo Arts Alliance had found a comfortable stride when the coronavirus forced all public activity t
![“For [the New Year] is not a matter merely of a certain temporal interval coming to its end and the beginning of another...](https://scontent.fymy1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/134700152_3626170587420151_1706425048933629983_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=3&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=mCOlt5E2xsIAX-Yi7UM&_nc_ht=scontent.fymy1-2.fna&tp=7&oh=ad810ddc16094eded1750c9a65b9b069&oe=605B7ADB)
“For [the New Year] is not a matter merely of a certain temporal interval coming to its end and the beginning of another; it is also a matter of abolishing the past year and past time... the sins and faults of the individual and of the community as a whole are annulled, consumed as by fire."
— The Sacred and the Profane
We look forward to another year of community, collaboration, and making beautiful things with y’all.
Now let’s consume the sins and faults of 2020 as by fire.
Happy New Year’s Eve! See you on the other side, friends.
Exciting stuff from our friends and clients at bluShift Aerospace!
WATCH LIVE: Test firing at bluShift AeroSpace in advance of full rocket launch at Loring on New Years Eve Day
https://www.newscentermaine.com/video/news/live_breaking/watch-live-news-center-maine-breaking-video/97-1688032
We wanted to remind y'all about the Maine Gift Guide.
You can order all of your gifts online all while keeping your shopping small and local. And purchases directly from artists and smaller shops have greater community impact.
The guide is made possible by Might & Main and us, your pals at Knack Factory.
Gifts made in Maine, by Mainers. Presented by Knack Factory and Might & Main.
Another Sundial Diaries profile of another dynamic Knack Factory team member!
This time we catch up with the wonderful Tadin Brown.
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SUNDIAL DIARIES Pandemic Life with Tadin Brown
It’s hard to believe that this photo was taken just about a year ago. We miss breaking bread with these spectacular, marvelous folks and we are so very eager to do it again as soon as we are able.
A region-wide gift swap organized by our friends at Portland Buy Local and Black Owned Maine (along with a little help from us)?
Yes, please.
The first-ever Port City Gift Swap, a city-wide local gift exchange, open to all residents (18+) of the greater Portland area.
Presented along with our friends at Might & Main, this year’s Maine Gift Guide is the most robust on record. Over 350 Maine gifts!
Wowzers.
https://www.giftguidemaine.com
Gifts made in Maine, by Mainers. Presented by Knack Factory and Might & Main.
For the next 5 weeks, we'll be sharing some Q&A style info about recent Knack Factory projects, life at home, and the holidays.
Alex Steed, Partner and Operations, is up first.
SUNDIAL DIARIES Pandemic Life with Alex Steed
"Maine's hospitality and retail sectors, hard-hit by restrictions intended to slow the spread of COVID-19, can apply for $40 million in grants to help weather the crisis, Gov. Janet Mills announced Monday."
Hey, y'all! We're sure that if this is something for which you qualify you've already heard about it but if not here you go!
A program that provides $40 million in grants specifically geared to the hard-hit industries launched this week. Another $30 million will be earmarked for health care businesses that aren't eligible for the Maine Economic Recovery Grant program.
These outtakes from our shoot with Bull Moose back in 2014 are from one of our very favorite productions ever. They will make you laugh, guaranteed.
Every single minute was a blast, and working with Bull Moose felt like working with a hero.
So many great, formative memories enabled and made possible by that Downtown Portland store. It's part of where some of us came of age, and bought Doctor Octagon, Modest Mouse, and Mr. Bungle records as teenagers. It is where we became the people who would go on to get really, really into media production.
Big love.
"MCFA created the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program to provide direct financial relief to fishermen by helping them supply food banks, schools, and community groups with high-quality Maine seafood for families in need.
"MCFA received a generous donation to start this program, but we need additional funding to meet our goal of 100,000 donated seafood meals. We hope to raise $50,0000 by December 31st to continue to support local fishermen and the working waterfront, and feed those in need."
It was our great pleasure to work with Maine Coast Fishermen's Association on creating this video about this wonderful program!
Maine Fishermen have been feeding communities for generations. Now you can help support Maine’s fishermen while feeding those in need.
MCFA created the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program to provide direct financial relief to fishermen by helping them supply food banks, schools, and community groups with high-quality Maine seafood for families in need.
MCFA received a generous donation to start this program, but we need additional funding to meet our goal of 100,000 donated seafood meals. We hope to raise $50,0000 by December 31st to continue to support local fishermen and the working waterfront, and feed those in need.
You can find more information about Fishermen Feeding Mainers and make a donation through our website https://www.mainecoastfishermen.org/fishermen-feeding-mainers
Thanks to Knack Factory for another fantastic video.
Good Shepherd Food Bank, Bath Area Food Bank, Portland Fish Exchange Nova Seafood, LTD. Bristol Seafood, Merrymeeting FC Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy in Maine, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Island Institute, NEWS CENTER Maine The Bangor Daily News Portland Press Herald Morning Sentinel / Kennebec Journal Mainebiz The Times Record
So you know that we produce documentary, creative and commercial style video all day, every day, but did you know that we also love animation and motion graphics projects?
Super quick reminder, y'all, that it's a hard time for small business and with more lockdowns looming it will continue to be. If you're doing any spending, PLEASE support small businesses. Buy from local bookstores rather than... the other option.
If you're ordering food, order directly from the restaurant if that's on the table. Third party services take a good chunk of money. But above all else, keep your money local. People and small businesses need it right now, not big corporations. We need to support each other.
If you are a person who votes with small business interests in mind, remember that the GOP has made life harder for small businesses on every possible front. The PPP was made available to a small fraction of businesses that are actually small in operation (or run by folks who are already wealthy). An obscene slush fund was handed to the administration with no strings attached. They actively disrupted the postal service, which is key to many of our operations. They talk a scary game about socialism, but are absolutely fine with redistributing working class money upward to the rich. They privatize profit and socialize debt. Mismanagement of this virus has eliminated any sense of predictability across the board, and we all have been left to starve or fend for ourselves. That is not “pro business”; that is pro greed. Be sure to vote if you have not already, and if you’re a “pro business” sort don’t get fooled by the party that pretends to be in our corner while robbing us blind.
Out here making the magic, per ushe.
Does this look like an appropriate father/son interaction to you?
Happy Birthday, Taderino.
With the second wave on its way, if not already here, have you planned for how you will turn your end-of-year event into a digital one?
While we all can't wait to get back to face-to-face events, video production and virtual events are the norm for a while longer. As an investment goes, they can—unlike an event—be used multiple times for multiple audiences over their lifetimes.
What video content will you produce to share your message with your audience, community and customers?
We produce video, of course, but we're also generally huge fans of movies and film. Alex recently discussed one of his favorites on We Own This Town's Filmography Club.
Prestige podcast host Alex Steed joins for a chat about the 2014 horror film `It Follows` and both its overt and subtle themes.
We’re out here doing that thing we do.
🎥 😷 🕶
Livin' La Vida Loca
“A longstanding interest in media developed into radio and tv production positions at several stations, including MPBN and WMPG. In 1988, he joined Media Services at USM, where he remained until retiring in 2013.”
Dennis was a legend at the University of Southern Maine. He will be missed.
PORTLAND - Dennis A. McLaughlin, husband, father of two, beloved friend to hundreds, died September 10, 2020. A heart able to ...
Check out Zen Money Initiative’s interview with Alex, which is especially illuminating if:
- You are a business person who does not consider yourself “a business person”
- You are still trying to figure out how video may fit into your overall marketing strategy
- You want to learn from our mistakes
“Is video production a big part of your marketing these days? Alex Steed, co-founder of Knack Factory - a video production firm based in Portland, Maine, joins us for a great conversation about creating quality content in today's fast-paced environment, what he & his partner have learned over the past 10 years building a creative business, and why it's crucial that we learn to kill the ego as entrepreneurs. This week's episode is chock full of advice, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to be in business when you're not a ’business person’".
Let's talk about video production for this brave new world!
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Grant Gordy [accompanied by Joe K. Walsh, Danny Barnes, Steve Roy and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes] performs Gordy’s “What is the Meaning of Life Rag” at the Ossipee Valley String Camp in 2019.
Another performance from the 2019 Ossipee Valley Music Festival String Camp staff show, this time by way of the wonderful Bronwyn Keith-Hynes Accompanied by Joe K. Walsh, Grant Gordy and Steve Roy, she performs "Methodist Preacher". Bronwyn's album Fiddler's Pastime is available for pre-order now! https://www.bronwynkeithhynes.com/store/fiddlers-pastime
![Thomas Bryan Eaton [accompanied by Miss Tess] performs “Lately I’ve Been Thinking”](https://scontent.fymy1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t15.13418-10/p168x128/109692547_736450923593204_5039228388887279834_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=3&_nc_sid=08861d&_nc_eui2=AeHf5LV8Z0dAtPWBY-kgOh9hIW0LgWm5ZVghbQuBabllWEWdAh81h1LtpeDhNsx_RNs&_nc_ohc=YMm3qL077-4AX90SPyp&_nc_ht=scontent.fymy1-2.fna&tp=6&oh=ce51b567b62ca926fa5d76932c7023b6&oe=60527AE9)
Another performance from the 2019 Ossipee Valley Music Festival String Camp staff show [filmed at the Smooth Feather theater in Kezar Falls, Maine], this time by way of the delightful Thomas Bryan Eaton. Accompanied by Miss Tess, he performs "Lately I've Been Thinking" from his album Been Through This Before. (In spite of Alex screwing up Thomas' name in his introduction, the two have since become friends as Thomas is a heck of a guy.)
![Mile Twelve performs Los Lobos' "Whiskey Trail" at Ossipee Valley String Camp [2019]](https://scontent.fymy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t15.13418-10/p168x128/116008317_284520419284543_7640802565337485622_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=3&_nc_sid=08861d&_nc_eui2=AeF-iEWqUSQilatuELRtfoSyfJbFM3_f7Fd8lsUzf9_sVxFEkMyqAUlWk1nh8nqOTKk&_nc_ohc=f8tt6FhM-ecAX_AJijl&_nc_ht=scontent.fymy1-1.fna&tp=6&oh=925ed0dd6caa3e8a1e0ffb303aaed9dc&oe=60535157)
This time last year we were so fortunate to be capturing songs and tunes at the Ossipee Valley String Camp staff performance. It is one of our very favorite nights of the year, and it's hosted at the Smooth Feather movie theater in Kezar Falls, Maine. We are heartbroken that the string camp and Ossipee Valley Music Festival won't be happening this year, but we're fortunate to have captured a number of terrific performances from last year's show and this is one of them. Evan Murphy and Mile Twelve performed Los Lobos' Whiskey Trail and it was a hell of a lot of fun. Keep an eye here, as we'll be sharing other performances from that night over the next couple of weeks.
We talked with Flo, Eddie, Oronde and Christiana—members of the LGBTQ+ community in Portland, Maine—about what it means to be proud. Happy Pride, y'all. Black Lives Matter. Thanks a million times over to these four, and to Oronde for helping to orchestrate this project. You can find and support them here: Flo: https://www.instagram.com/the.flo.edwards https://venmo.com/donna-ekart-1 Eddie: https://www.instagram.com/dimitried https://venmo.com/dimitriusdesigns Oronde: https://www.instagram.com/orcrug https://venmo.com/floc1003 Chistiana: https://www.instagram.com/oatmilkmaiden_ https://venmo.com/chistiana-marvray If you are looking for resources such as black businesses and artists to support, educational material, or community organizations that focus on related issues to donate to / assist, please visit: http://bit.ly/maineracialjustice
We've got a special effects wizard over here.
Last year we caught up with Micah at the Ossipee Valley Music Festival + Ossipee Valley String Camp. We are grateful to her for sharing her journey with us.
Video shoots are scheduled weeks, sometimes months in advance. We always do our best to plan and prepare but there’s one variable we’re never in control of - weather. In these circumstances, we rely on our talented editors to “fix it in post,” our industry term for a really fancy bandage. In the case of this Summer Infant shoot, we had our entire staff, set crew and models scheduled for a particular day that was sunny in our storyboard, but cloudy in real life. Check out the complete video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuacUIJQhbk
"The sincerity, the interest, the qualities he assumed in life... were immeasurable." We were fortunate to talk with Joel Dulberg about his experience working with Fred Rogers in the earliest days of Rogers' television career.
Wanna start your week off right? Check out Steve Roy's rendition of "$ommelier" [originally by Robin Bienemann] from the Music Camp Life series we're helping to produce. Guaranteed laughs, smiles and all around good vibes.
Here is a longer, more thorough introduction to Micah. Thanks to everyone who has pledged to the Music Camp Life project so far. It is so very close to matching the goal. This crowd-funding campaign is designed to show off viability and community support to grant-giving organizations as we apply for a round of grants. The money will be used to pay for skills we don't bring to the table, such as audio engineering. For example, there is over 30 hours of audio to sort through and make sound as great as this footage looks. Thanks so much for your attention to this. We look forward to sharing the larger project in the coming months!
We are grateful to have been called to work on this project, and to have the opportunity to share this young woman's journey. We are grateful for the opportunity to tell the story of this community. This project is rich in music, good vibes and lovely people. We got into this field so that we could tell stories like these. It is up for a few grants and needs to illustrate some existing community support, so if you are able to pledge please consider doing so. Many thanks! http://kck.st/2mHVQCf
No matter who you are or who you love, we love YOU all the same 🎉❤️🌈 #happypride, y’all!
We love what we do and we feel that it shows. Are you eager to tell your story in a resonant, moving, beautiful, compelling way? Let's talk.
We spent the week producing a ton of great pieces with our friends at Leon Speakers last week. While we were in downtown Ann Arbor, we grabbed some of these shots with the drone.
Weakened Friends are playing Hear, Here! - Discover Portland's Performing Arts Gems, which is taking place at the Merrill Auditorium RIGHT NOW. They explain how they perceive the venue to be "prim and proper" and they are not, so they are eager to see how it goes. Super fun aside: I (Alex) saw George Carlin perform at the Merril twice, once with my then-best-friend and his mom, who happened to be my high school principal. That was probably my first true, sustained awkward experience.
2018 was a huge year for us. We pushed ourselves in ways we hadn't yet before, hired creative professionals who added new perspectives to our growing team, and produced some work we're really proud of. If we had to choose just one project that highlights the best of our gained skills in 2018, it would be Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki. Our team—Lindsay Heald, Tadin Jeongshin Brown, Alexandra Morrow and Justin Lacroix to be specific—helped make it possible to produce this successful recruitment video for an amazing organization. Thanks to our partners at Maine Coast Semester for trusting us and our vision.
We recently explained how last year we'd suggested to Startup Maine that rather than focusing video messaging on the conference itself, the event should focus on some of the incredible innovation that's happening in businesses right here in Maine. This way, people could learn more about what our "ecosystem" really looks like, and maybe the businesses profiled would be able to use the materials to further their own development. We are so grateful to the group for taking us up on this suggestion. One of the sponsors, Red Thread volunteered their sponsor spotlight video to Tilson to ensure that their story would be told. As you can see by many of the aerial shots, this one was a lot of fun to produce. Tilson went on to use additional edits of the video for their own marketing purposes, so it was very much a win for all involved.
It's Autumn in Maine, and so Knack Factory is essentially contractually obligated by the universe to publish a drone video showing off Maine's foliage. We captured this in Bridgton, down by Shawnee Peak Maine. It's a good one.
This was the first piece we produced for Knack Factory that wasn't a web series. As you might imagine, it was an incredibly emotional night for us and all others involved. We shot and edited it on the same night, fueled on wine and Red Bull, and it is for opportunities like this that I love this work. It was picked up on news sites throughout the world. We have since gotten better at making better looking and better sounding videos, but as far as I am concerned this is us at our best when it comes to conveying a story, a feeling, a vibe, and a moment. This was shot on December 28th and 29th of 2012. I just re-watched it and teared up.
Food + travel writer Joe Ricchio and socialite + bon vivant Joel Beauchamp bull-in-a-china-shop their way through lesser known destinations. Trailer music provided by WARANIMAL. Check out our first segment July 10th.
We are proud sponsors and supporters of Startup Maine 2018 and we are grateful that they collaborated with us to tell stories about compelling and ambitious startup ventures taking place here in the state. https://www.startupmaine.org/attend/
Speak About It is back again, and this lesson on consent includes all you need to know about sexting. Pros and cons, sender/receiver responsibility, and Oronde's famous takeaways. Quote of the day: "If it wasn't sent to you, it wasn't meant for you." We'll let Shane and Oronde take it from here.
We recently had the great pleasure of filming this series on consent topics with our friends Shane and Oronde from Speak About It. In this first episode, they lay out the significance of Yes Means Yes while schooling us on being chill, the importance of listening, and sex vs. baking. They packed a lot into 90 seconds.
We are a production firm that specializes in commercial, creative and editorial content.
We are based in Portland, Maine and Nashville, Tennessee. We produce video, shoot photo, and develop content strategy.
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