Directing Dr. Devine's Story
Filming With Purpose
When I met Dr. Devine in Seattle, I knew her story could move more than a testimonial reel — it could change how clinics talk to pet parents about coverage. I scoped the narrative, partnered with PR and Creative on the storyboard and shot list, then ran production end-to-end: crew, contracts, locations, equipment, all of it. I wanted the shoot small and intimate enough that nothing got in the way of what Dr. Devine actually had to say.
We built in extended B-roll of Dr. Devine with the office golden retriever, Moonbeam — those quiet moments are what actually reveal her bedside manner and give the piece its emotional grounding, more than the interview itself. I also made sure we walked away with a full behind-the-scenes package: candids, run-and-gun clips, a few bloopers. That gave the story a life beyond the polished edit and a steady supply of repurposable content across channels.
Dr. Devine's real insight was reframing insurance as a human story — speaking as both a clinician and a Trupanion member, she showed how it lets a vet team build the right treatment plan without a hard financial conversation getting in the way, and gives pet parents certainty their pet will get real care. As director, I built the edit around capturing that: her warmth, her hesitations, the way her voice shifted between clinician and pet owner. That's what turned a policy into a lived experience instead of a pitch.
My production instincts started with an iPhone and a shot list years ago. Mentors taught me the mechanics — set building, run-of-show, talent direction — but this shoot is where that turned into knowing how to spot the moment that actually lands, not just the one that looks good on paper.