CASE STUDY
Buckingham Browne & Nichols: School Video Production Work
For six years, Gradient Films has partnered with BB&N to help tell the school’s story through film. What started as a single video editing project during the pandemic has grown into a long-standing relationship built on flexibility, collaboration, and a shared passion for storytelling. These are some of our favorite projects to work on, and we’re proud to keep telling BB&N’s story year after year.
Client Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (BB&N)
Location Cambridge, Massachusetts
Industry Education, independent school
Partnership 6 Years
FEATURED PROJECT
Fundraising Videos
Bright Bold Next Campaign
We produced a hero fundraising video and a secondary targeted campaign film for BB&N's Bright Bold Next capital campaign. Together, they bring the campaign's five pillars to life: the Lower School renovation, the Financial Aid Endowment, Innovation, The BB&N Fund, and the Grove Street Athletic Campus development.
GOALS
Educate, inspire, and drive meaningful financial support.
THE CHALLENGE
Distill five complex initiatives into one concise, compelling video that donors would actually watch to the end.
CAMPAIGN IMPACT
$92.8M+ raised to date for the Bright Bold Next capital campaign, with our campaign videos playing a supporting role in driving donations
FEATURED PROJECT
Documentary Video
Bivouac Program
Bivouac is BB&N’s 70-year-old outdoor orientation program for incoming ninth graders, held at Camp Marienfeld in New Hampshire. The program builds confidence and brings new students into the high school community. We had a blast filming this documentary, which pairs student and faculty interviews with cinematic b-roll from the trip so families can see what’s ahead before day one.
GOALS
Show incoming ninth graders and parents what Bivouac is really like, ease nerves, and answer questions.
THE CHALLENGE
We only had two days to capture footage that told the story of the full 10-day program. With hard-to-reach locations and limited power, a nimble crew and strategic gear were key to pulling it off.
IMPACT
A 10-minute documentary and a 1-minute teaser that prepare families for Bivouac and support BB&N’s admissions and marketing.
FEATURED PROJECT
Anthem Video
See the Whole Picture
We produced a cinematic anthem film for BB&N’s website redesign. We paired b-roll from across campus with a carefully crafted voiceover that speaks to the school’s mission, values, and educational philosophy. The film quickly became the centerpiece of BB&N’s digital presence and the first impression for prospective families.
GOALS
Give BB&N’s new website a cinematic video that shows prospective families the school’s mission, values, and approach to learning.
THE CHALLENGE
We had to capture a school that spans preschool through grade 12 in a single short film. It needed to feel authentic and unstaged while still landing a polished, emotional message that resonated with all families.
CAMPAIGN IMPACT
The film is the centerpiece of BB&N’s digital presence and the first impression for prospective families.
Client Testimonial
“Working with Gradient has been incredible! Our Marketing, Enrollment, and Advancement teams at BB&N in Cambridge have partnered with them on a variety of projects over the years, most recently creating promotional and informational videos for our capital campaign. Their expertise, professionalism, and FLEXIBILITY are truly unmatched. Gradient makes the entire process feel easy and genuinely enjoyable. We had some long days of filming, and I must say, these folks are truly awesome to just be around in general. Our school community adores them (even our students!), and we have loved every final product!”
SAMANTHA KARL
Digital Communications Manager
Have a story your school needs to tell?
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