Frequently Asked Questions
What does YALLWANTADS do?
YALLWANTADS is a mission-driven video production agency based in Mississippi. We produce documentary series, nonprofit campaign videos, community storytelling content, small business advertising, and event coverage for organizations across the American South. Our work has been funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Mississippi Presenters Network, South Arts, the Mississippi Arts Commission, and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.
What areas does YALLWANTADS serve?
We’re based in Mississippi and serve clients across the American South, including Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Florida. We regularly travel for projects and have produced work across the entire South Arts 9-state region. For the right project, we’ll go anywhere the story takes us.
How much does video production cost?
Every project is different, and we work with nonprofits at a range of budget levels. A short-form social media video for a small community organization will cost significantly less than a multi-episode documentary series. We’ll give you a clear, honest estimate after an initial conversation about your goals, scope, and timeline — no surprises.
What types of organizations do you work with?
We work with a variety of organizations including colleges, nonprofit organizations, arts councils, community groups, grant-funded programs, and local businesses. Our clients include organizations funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, state arts commissions, and community foundations. We also produce video for small businesses that share our values of community impact and honest storytelling.
Do you have experience with grant-funded projects?
Yes. A significant portion of our work has been supported by institutional grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Mississippi Presenters Network, South Arts, the Mississippi Arts Commission, and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council. We understand the documentation, reporting, acknowledgment, and deliverable requirements that come with grant-funded projects.
What research documentary experience do you have?
I have produced several documentaries and documentary-style projects, ranging from short, business-focused presentations and nonprofit fundraising projects to full-length, award-winning documentary feature films. In 2019, I wrote, produced, and directed my second documentary, the award-winning Door Ajar, which won Best Mississippi Feature at the Oxford Film Festival. I have also produced college-level research projects for the University of Mississippi’s Language Arts Department’s Latin Corpus.
I have completed Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) courses for our work with the University of Mississippi – Oxford: Human Research, SBR Researchers, 1 – Basic Course
What’s included in a typical video production project?
A typical project includes an initial discovery conversation, concept development, pre-production planning, on-location filming with professional cinema equipment, post-production editing with color grading and sound design, and delivery of finished video in formats optimized for your intended platforms — whether that’s your website, social media, a fundraising event, donor communications, or a grant report.
How long does a typical project take?
Most projects take 4–8 weeks from initial conversation to final delivery, depending on scope, scheduling, and the number of shoot days involved. Small business and social media projects can often be completed in 2–3 weeks. Multi-episode documentary series and larger campaigns may take 2–3 months or longer. The bigger the project, the longer the projected time. We’ll be able to discuss this when you tell me your vision for the project.
Do you travel for projects outside Mississippi?
Yes. While we’re based in Mississippi, we regularly produce work across the South. We’ve worked with organizations and communities throughout the region and are equipped to travel for multi-day shoots, event coverage, and documentary projects wherever they happen.
Can you produce multi-episode documentary series?
Absolutely. We’ve produced series with five or more episodes and are experienced in managing the production logistics, narrative threading, and delivery scheduling that episodic content requires. Multi-episode series are one of our core strengths.
Do I need to write a script before we start?
No. We handle concept development and scripting as part of our production process. Every project starts with a conversation about your organization, your audience, your goals, and the story that needs to be told. From there, we develop the creative direction and production plan together.
Do you have experience writing screenplays?
Yes. I’m a UCLA Extension and Sundance Collab-trained screenwriter with a slate of television pilots and feature screenplays. You can find out more about my scriptwriting work at JohnReyer.com.
Can video help with grant applications and reporting?
Yes, in two ways. First, many grants now require or encourage video documentation of funded programs, and we produce content that meets those requirements with quality that also serves as a standalone communications asset. Second, including professional video in a grant application can strengthen your proposal by demonstrating organizational capacity and commitment to community engagement.
What’s the difference between a videographer and a storytelling agency?
A videographer captures footage. A storytelling agency builds a narrative. We start with the story: who are the people, what’s the mission, what do we want the audience to feel and do after watching? Then we design the production around that narrative. The result is a video that doesn’t just look professional, it moves people.
Do you offer discounted rates for nonprofits?
We price our work based on the scope and complexity of each project, and we’re always transparent about what’s achievable within a given budget. Our goal is to make impactful video accessible to organizations doing meaningful work, regardless of budget size. We’ll work with you to find the right scope for your resources.
What formats do you deliver the final video in?
We deliver finished video in whatever formats you need — high-resolution files for web, compressed versions for social media platforms, specific aspect ratios for Instagram Stories or TikTok, and presentation-ready files for events or screenings. We also provide platform-specific cuts and repurposed short-form edits when the project scope includes them.
How do I get started?
Reach out through our contact form, email, or phone. The first step is always a conversation about your project — no commitment, no pressure. We’ll talk through your goals, your timeline, your budget, and what a collaboration might look like. From there, we’ll put together a proposal that fits.