Sway, a Content and Production Studio, Opens in Cleveland
Award-Winning Creative Team Develops World-Class Web Content and Videos
CLEVELAND, OH -- With the steady proliferation of social media, tablets and mobile devices, many consumers spend more time online than watching TV or reading newspapers or magazines. For example, if you’re a hospital posting wellness videos, a do-it-yourself retailer sharing how-to segments or an entertainment company creating webisodes, you know the demand for quality web content is insatiable. This cultural and technological shift is the primary reason for the creation of Sway, a new content and production studio based in Cleveland-OH. www.swayideafactory.com.
Sway was formed by long-time creative collaborators Tom Megalis and David Walker. An investor group led by Ed Stevens, president of Stevens Strategic Communications, provided the funding. Megalis, a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon University Design Department, began his career at Ketchum Advertising in Pittsburgh. His films have screened at the Sundance Film Festival and he’s written and produced projects for MTV, Nickelodeon, Discovery Channel, Comedy Central and FOX.
“The advertising industry has changed dramatically over the past few years,” Megalis says. “Rather than relying on traditional media like TV and print to deliver their messages, they’ve turned to social media. Savvy marketers use web content to inform, educate and entertain consumers. Sway develops highly original, branded content.”
What makes Sway unique is that it is much more than just a production house. “We are an idea factory,” says Walker, a 25-year advertising industry veteran. “With words, pieces of clay, colorful puppets, brilliant video, soaring music, dynamic animation and more, Sway creates memorable characters and brands. Our studio defies description because we re-invent ourselves every day. Each assignment we undertake starts with a blank sheet of paper. From there we unleash a maelstrom of creative energy that generates new and novel thinking. Inside our space we script, shoot, construct sets, edit, compose music, design—basically do whatever it takes to get your company, product or client noticed unlike ever before. We don’t believe in taking the obvious, expected route.”
That’s why Megalis and Walker have successfully worked with leading ad agencies and companies like Sherwin-Williams, Clairol, Lowes, GNC, American Greetings and Wal-Mart. “The demand for content will only increase over the next decade. But, making content just for the sake of having it won’t fly. You’ve got to create stuff that people actually want to watch,” says Megalis. “Organizations that understand this will win.”
Megalis is hoping to win the interest of movie-goers with his new feature film Sonny Days, Youngstown: Shakedown II. Megalis co-wrote and directed the offbeat comedy. You can watch the trailer at www.sonnydays.com.
To reach Sway, call 330.416.9768 or email dwalker@swayideafactory.com.
David Walker
330.416.9768
dwalker@swayideafactory.com
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