CREATIVE • SCRIPT WRITING • FILM DIRECTION  |  EST. 2000

NFL • NBA • WNBA • MLB • NHL • NCAA WBB • CFB • NASCAR •  IndyCar • X Games

Zeh Arndt Creative is populated with serious sports fans and even a former collegiate athlete. So, it's as surprising as the Rice Owls not winning a National Championship that we've written over a thousand scripts, and co-directed multiple shoots for ESPN. 

2020 NBA Countdown Season Restart Open | writing

"Most of my heroes don't appear on now stamp." But one of them, read Brian Arndt’s script.

Following the pause for the ultimate cause, the 2019-2020 NBA Season finally tipped off the last week of July. The script Brian wrote for the NBA Restart Countdown show addressed the fact our country was dealing with two pandemics – COVID-19 and racism, specifically the systemic racism fueling police brutality. “I'm proud that ESPN was willing to address these issues and hired one of the most influential writers, activists and MCs in my life, Chuck D., said Zeh Arndt Creative’s co-found and creative director. “Public Enemy created a significant part of my college soundtrack. Chuck's intelligent and insightful lyrics made you want to "Get into it. Get involved."

This piece became part of one of the most important social conversations our country and ESPN have ever had.

Since Winter X Games 2000, the opens, teases, features and shows we've worked on have featured legends, stars and celebrities on camera or on the mic. In 2017, our scripts for the NFL Draft and Fantasy Football Marathon were nominated for Sports Emmys.

BRAND EVOLUTION / STRATEGY • CREATIVE • PRODUCTION • est. 2017

“Reinventing a classic American brand is a big responsibility, but creating branding that simultaneously states a unique selling proposition and makes a social statement is a once-in-a-company’s lifetime opportunity,” Brian Arndt

THE 2024 RETURN OF THINGS REMEMBERED

“Everything’s Personal is a timeless brand campaign. We have to bring it back.” - Nelson Tejada / President Personalization Brands

Following the 1800-Flowers purchase of Things Remembered, we were reengaged in the Fall of 2024 to revitalize the evolution the Things Remembered brand by reprising the 2019 Everything’s Personal brand platform and holiday campaign.

THE ORIGINAL CHALLENGE ZAC was brought on as branding and advertising consultants in 2017 to help the 50+ year-old retailer adapt to the advent of online shopping. Through 2018, we created the brand strategy, platform and creative concepts. Then, in early 2019 they filed for bankruptcy.

THE SOLUTION In July 2019, the new owners awarded us complete creative development and production of branding, advertising, in-store experiences, digital, social, print and events.

THE RESULTS 400+ Stores Updated in 4 Weeks • +20% online sales  • +14% comp in-store sales • +16% mobile conversions • National media coverage • Regional and National Creative Awards

Zeh Arndt Creative + Things Remembered Brand Shoot 2019 // BTS

We are extremely proud to have produced this body of work with the support of our extended professional family, including Diamond View Productions, Camera Clay, Dave Spataro Photography, Todd Bates Photography and Forge Films.

 BRAND EVOLUTION / SOCIAL STRATEGY • CREATIVE • PRODUCTION • est. 2020

THE CHALLENGE Mrs. Fields has been around for over 40 years and has been making people smile with consistent treats along the way. Our task is to better utilize the social media channels to engage consumers at the top of the marketing funnel,  and remind them that Mrs. Fields Cookies is a classic, fun, relevant brand.

THE SOLUTION Create content that leans into Mrs. Field’s authentic legacy, while introducing a younger, clever personality to elevate Mrs. Fields’ image as a relevant, retro brand.

THE RESULTS We made Mrs. Fields hip again. Our efforts Extended Awareness, Improved Engagement, and Drove Interest worldwide. And the data doesn’t lie.

Facebook + 15,336% | Instagram + 17,690% Average Reach Increase Per Post 10/21 - 5/24

 BRAND STRATEGY • BRAND IDENTITY • CREATIVE • DIGITAL • VIDEO • SOCIAL MEDIA • COMMUNITY OUTREACH • PUBLIC RELATIONS • PAID MEDIA • PARTNERSHIPS • est. 2023

THE CHALLENGE Beacon was six months old, already on their second advertising agency, and struggling to establish themselves in St. Petersburg. This young, enthusiastic, and incredibly talented pet ER was being held back by their uninspiring brand identity, pedestrian digital presence, and non-existent community involvement.

THE SOLUTION We worked closely with the owners and staff to learn and understand the authentic intangibles that set them apart from the conglomerate-owned competition. We leaned into their core truths, and established their: Strategy, Creative, Digital, Production, Community Outreach, PR, Social Media, Paid Media, Partnerships, and more. We launched all new creative, website, digital campaign, social media, and community engagement during the 2023 Halloween on Central event.

THE RESULTS We established Beacon as the 24/7 go-to choice for expert veterinary care in Tampa Bay. All key performance indicators dramaically improved. Revenue continued to grow M/M, and a second location opened in October 2024.

HIGHLIGHTS Top 5 Performing Months within first 6 months working with ZAC • 24% Revenue Increase M/M • 26% Patient Count Increase M/M

SOCIAL IMPROVEMENTS Facebook - Followers +709% / Reach +2,166% | Instagram - Followers +70,600% / Reach +81%

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS St. Petersburg Halloween on Central 2023  • Beacon Pub Crawl - Pinellas Ale Works  • American Stage / Pets in the Park Event  • SPCA Tampa Bay Pet Walk  • Tampa Bay Ruff & Rowdies Events  • Shoreacres Elementary School Event  • St. Petersburg Pride Parade 2024  • Green Bench Brewery Webbsminster Dog Show  • Beacon Pub Crawl - Mutts and Martinis

ACTIVATIONS We combined two of St. Petersburg’s favorite things – pups and pubs – and created a monthly Beacon Pup Crawl event. Each month Beacon team members and their pets would host an evening at one of St. Petersburg’s dog-friendly brew pubs to meet folks, talk fur babies, giveaway some swag, and enjoy a few local pints.

THE OLYMPICS In the summer of 2024, we produced a short-run, high-exposure digital, video, and social campaign leveraging the borrowed interest and shared heroism of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics by featuring relatable furry Olympians and the events that may lead them to Beacon 24/7 Pet ER.

 BRAND + DIGITAL AWARENESS • CREATIVE • PRODUCTION • est. 2022

THE CHALLENGE CODEBOXX was undifferentiated from the bulk of the market. Reaching students in their “last mile” of decision-making is crowded, expensive and inefficient. A socially and culturally diverse talent pool of developers is critical for meeting the needs of business and society. And their classes (at the time) were 100% on-site.

THE SOLUTION Create an ownable identity and brand promise. Create and deploy an awareness / response digital campaign, plus a email drip campaign to engage, inform, and connect potential students directly with professors to demonstrate the immediate, real-life benefits of taking their 16-week, onsite bootcamp..

THE RESULTS The rebrand has launched, and the messaging was so effective they incorporated our work into all of their marketing materials and website.

CREATIVE • FILM DIRECTION & PRODUCTION •  EST. 2018

Visit Tampa Bay is the conventions and visitors bureau for the city of Tampa. In 2019, Zeh Arndt Creative was asked to “freshen up” their video featuring local attractions. So, we wrote and presented a ridiculous script featuring one family hitting four major Tampa attractions in a single day. To paraphrase the client’s reaction, he said “I really love it.” We then cast a local real-life family with the personality and energy to help us pull it off one day in July. The attraction brand manager of one of the attractions described it as “The best destination video I’ve ever seen. Not even joking.” All we know is that it makes us smile every time. No joke.

As always, we created multiple versions of the video for digital and social media uses include individual videos and GIFs for the primary attractions.

Visit Tampa Bay Attractions Production // BTS

CREATIVE • FILM DIRECTION & PRODUCTION •  EST. 2018

Visit Tampa Bay is the conventions and visitors bureau for the city of Tampa. In 2016, business pirate Kevin T. Greybeard was brought aboard to be their ambassador for meeting planners. After a two-year hiatus sailing the seven seas (and working the conventions circuit), Greybeard is once again a star of the silver screen helping meeting planners invade Tampa once again.

Zeh Arndt Creative, was hired to create the latest films featuring Kevin T. Greybeard the Business Pirate. What began as a project to promote Tampa area hotels and dining expanded to include the business pirate’s campaign to become Tampa’s next mayor.

Zeh Arndt Creative wrote and produced the series, filming Greybeard in multiple locations throughout Tampa, including city hall where Mayor Bob Buckhorn made a guest appearance throwing his support behind the city’s first openly pirate candidate. 

The videos featuring prominent Tampa hotels and restaurants were the foundation for the 2019 campaign which includes social, digital, web and email executions, and even an official announcement at the Tampa mayoral summit.

According to Patrick Harrison, CMO at Visit Tampa Bay, “It was time for Greybeard to sail the convention seas and the team at Zeh Arndt Creative grasped the potential immediately. They crafted outstanding scripts and produced three video gems and multiple gifs and clips that take the Greybeard mission to a new level.”

The Visit Tampa Bay meetings team set a record of over 500,000 room nights in 2018, and this year is expected to exceed that number.

ANIMATION • DIRECTION • PRODUCTION •  EST. 2019

Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park has celebrated Halloween with wonderfully spooky, family friendly events for the last 20+ years. Back in the day, we used to take our children to Zoo Boo! Now, they've cranked up the creeps with Creatures of the Night. And this year, they hired us to produce the video portion of this eerily fun campaign.

FILM DIRECTION, PHOTOGRAPHY & PRODUCTION•  EST. 2018 • AOR - AQUA  

Economic development efforts are often comprised of stale elevator pitches, boring spreadsheets and brochures often found lining recycling bins. The smart folks at Aqua and West Palm Beach Economic Development wanted to take a different approach. They hired us in the spring of 2018 to direct and produce a video and photo shoot that would cut through the din of development speak. So, with a set of cool scripts in hand, we spent two fun-filled days filming their business-spokesman pitching viewers in various vignettes to move their business to West Palm Beach and "lower their taxes not their standards". We then spent two more days photographing real people throughout the city bringing that notion to life.

BRAND DEVELOPMENT, US LAUNCH & EXPANSION • est. 2013

Optimum Volleyball is an inclusive amateur volleyball organization based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Optimum trains and inspires volleyball players of all ages and skill levels wherever there's a warm beach and welcoming vibe. 

Optimum is led by one of the most influential couples in the game, Pri and Michelle Piantadosi-Lima. Google them. You'll see what we mean. Pri and Michelle came to us in 2013 with a big idea that needed a brand strategy, identity and initial marketing materials to get them started. The branding we created is now being worn by amateur and professional players from high-school exposure events to the coveted AVP Tour. 

What began as a regional travel squad preparing middle and high-school girls for the college game has evolved into an international organization. And what began as a brand only seen on St. Pete Beach is now encouraging volleyball players and fans around the world to "Live like everything's in."

FILM DIRECTION & PRODUCTION•  EST. 2011 • AOR - VOX MAXIMUMS  

In the spring of 2011, an alarming rate of people in need of hospital care were driving out of town. While they assumed their central location was sufficient, studies showed patients were willing to drive an extra 20 minutes to other hospitals. In fact, patients would drive directly past St John’s life threatening situations. Focus groups further revealed that the community had lost trust in the hospital and would not return.

MS3 Communications hired Zeh Arndt Creative as a creative consultant that fall. Since then Zeh Arndt Creative has partnered with MS3 Communications to create annual TV campaigns for St. John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, New York to build community trust, raise awareness of services and staff, and increase the number of patients treated. Beneath the brand umbrella Community Strong™, our commercials and patient testimonials have helped generate a significant increase in patient volume year over year and successfully instill community trust.

Space Florida / Paradise | video, digital, social, print // copywriting, creative direction, film direction, production

Firehouse Subs / Dunn & Co. | OOH, POS, video, radio, print // concept, creative direction, copywriting, art direction, production

Daytona Beach / Paradise | digital, video, print, OOH // concept, creative direction, film direction, copywriting, production

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium / Paradise | branding, web, video, digital, social // concept, creative direction, film direction, copywriting, production

Western Kentucky University Athletics / Earnhart+Friends | video, OOH, print, web // concept, copywriting