THE MOMENT

At a pivotal moment in the company’s history, Sandisk tasked their agency of record, Smart Magic (formerly ELA Advertising), with a momentous brand refresh to differentiate itself following its separation from Western Digital.

Creative Director Stephen Hero led the charge—bringing on director Austin Will, Thank You, Post, and Open Range to craft and execute the vision.

THE HURDLE

Sandisk faced a dual challenge: rebranding after separating from Western Digital and preparing for a Nasdaq relisting. This required reinforcing market confidence, modernizing their brand, and launching a scalable campaign to stabilize stock value and drive cultural relevance.

Through the “DON’T STOP” campaign we were asked to Speak to Investors and Speak to the World.

THE SOLUTION

TWO HERO FILMS

BRAND MANIFESTO

Speak to the World: A sweeping narrative capturing raw perseverance, broken into modular films for social and digital scale.

INVESTOR FILM

Speak to Investors: A high-tech spy thriller delivering a direct, stylish monologue to build institutional trust and brand authority.

We were tasked with creative visualization, full-scale production, and end-to-end post to relaunch Sandisk with bold, cinematic impact.

THE ASK

THE CREATIVE

The idea of resilience was always at the heart of this project. From concept through completion, we lived the very ethos we were asked to represent. When we say "Don't Stop," it’s not just a campaign line—it’s a real philosophy. This campaign wasn’t simply about pushing a message out; it was about embodying it in every phase of the work.

Execution & Production

14 set builds

4 shoot days

PRODUCED BY OPEN RANGE

ONE MASSIVE SOUND STAGE AT MANHATTAN BEACH STUDIOS

DEVELOPMENT

  • 2 months of pre-pro, 20+ hours of development calls, storyboarding, style references, and casting.

  • Custom character archetypes were developed using A.I. story tools to map out emotional arcs and narrative balance.

Production

  • Produced by OPEN RANGE

  • 4 shoot days at Manhattan beach Studios.

  • 14 unique set builds

  • 8 practical effects rigs

  • Core cast members, all selected for authenticity: our skydiver was a real jumper, our potter ran a real business, our musician was an actual up-and-coming DJ

POST_Production

  • Post by THANK YOU

  • 14 weeks of post over the holiday season, scaling editorial capacity to manage hero films, social versions, VFX turnovers, and sound mix

  • Extensive visual effects crafted in partnership with Mathematic, a global leader in high-end VFX

  • Trailer music and audio post by Crystal Creative, delivering cinematic impact with emotional nuance

  • Color grading built to maintain human skin tone and detail under stylized lighting scenarios completed by Rare Medium.

POST-PRODUCTION

96 VFX SHOTS

164 ASSETS DELIVERED

THEN WE PARCELED THE HERO INTO

6 UNIQUE VIGNETTES SPECIFIC TO EACH OF THE CHARACTER ARCHETYPES

RESULTS

6.9M+ organic Youtube views in 15 days

High view-through and retention metrics. Over 10M+ views on Instagram.

14 UNIQUE DELIVERABLES

Deliverables were created, including social media cutdowns, vertical edits, and localized content, maximizing reach and adaptability.​

#DONTSTOP

Trended across major platforms, generating thousands of organic shares and fostering community engagement.​

^^^ ORGANIC LIKES!!! ^^^

NASDAQ LISTING

At the time of its Nasdaq listing on February 24, 2025, Sandisk Corporation (SNDK) had a market capitalization of approximately $5.6 billion.

As of May 14, 2025, Sandisk's market capitalization has grown to around $6.09 billion, reflecting a 17.45% increase since mid-February.

This growth underscores investor confidence in Sandisk's strategic direction.

WHOA!

creative visual realization, storyboarding, ON-SET DIRECTION, production & post-production partnerships, offline editorial, Visual effects, music, sound design, online/conform, reframing, and delivery.

Special thanks to our partners

172 humanbeings were involved in the making of this campaign                    :)

ECD: Stephen Hero

Director: Austin Will

Director of Photography: Franklin Ricart

Editor: Ben Swanson-Ralph

Assistant editor: emma josephson

VFX Supervisors: Toma Bowen + Thomas Nautin

Colorist: Josh Bohoskey

Music Composer (Input): Mark Evan

Music Composer (Output): Joznez

Set Designer: Greg Yaroshevsky

Casting Director: Lilac Perez

Wardrobe Stylist: Jesse James

Photographer: Aaron Smith

Agency:ELA AdvertisingECD:Stephen HeroACD Copy: Megan HenricksVP, Account Director: Leah DrosehnProject Manager:Marla SteinwaldClientSandisk, Joel DavisPost Production:Thank You, PostEP:Austin WillProducer:Jason SotomayorEditor:Ben Swanson-RalphAssistant Editor:Emma JosephsonOn-Set Editor:Nick PomeroyCreative Treatment DesignerNick SantoreVFX:MathematicVFX EP:David KarlakGuillaume MarienVFX Supervisor:Toma BowenThomas NautinVFX Post-Producer:Nikita SainiVincent LeroyVFX Coordinator:Guillaume Maire2D Concept:Marcin RubinkowskiModeling & Shading :Florian PelletierLucas BenoitAnais SassatelliOrlane BrouilletLorine GuyardRigJules-Baptiste GiraudMatchmove :Adrien DelecroixAndréa HervetEva ClercMiki StojanovskiAnimation:Daphné KutnowskiLighting:Anais SassatelliMatte Painting:Camille SuleQuentin CollombetMatthieu MeignenFX:Florian CohenMotion & UI:Max LoriotCompositing:Charly NellyAntonin SeydouxPhilippe NaletLeo Le CorreCG Generalist:Jerome BoutonIn Out & Mastering:René SamoëlPierre de FraguierColor:Rare MediumColor HoP:Evan BauerColorist:Josh BohoskeyColor Coordinator:Irmak AkugurAudio Post & Music:The Crystal CreativeECD: Tommy PhelanEP:Chad NorthComposer (Input):Mark EvanComposer (Output):JoznezProduction:Open RangeEP:Matt Little, Noah LichtwardtProducer:Jack LevisProduction Coordinator:Deanna FaourDirector:Austin Will1st AD:Peter MaestryDP:Franklin Ricart1st AC:Quinton Rodriguez 2nd AC:Ramone DavisDIT:Emilio Pousa RojasSound Tech:Cole ChamberlainBoom Operator:James NelsonPhotographer:Aaron Smith1st Assistant:Gal HarpazBTS Photographer:Chiara AlexaSet Designer:Greg YaroshevskyArt Director:Jackson Tyler Stunt Coordinator:Vladimir TevlovskiWardrobe Stylist:Jesse JamesHair Stylist:Seana CrainMakeup Artist:Sophie HaigCasting Director:Lilac PerezOutput Hero:Daniel VictorStudio Musician/DJ:Maui Kai MalonePhotographer:Jaron FosterSkateboarder:Susie HeathSkydiver:Bhima PlummerCeramacist:Sarah WaldorfAerospace Engineer:Melida PradoIT Developer:Jeremy UrannSkydiving Instructor:Beau CorilloBubble Gum Person:Chante Kayla GloverAerospace Assistant:Soraya J SebghatiGamer:Chelsea WendroffVFX Tech:Mark PapovichPA:Aashish ThakerSpy Tech:Kathy LimHelicopter Pilot (BG)Matt WintonBackground (music board)Rawlin JeffersonBackground (aerospace)Seth PBackground (film crew/elevator)Rena BobbsBackground (film crew/elevator)Jacquelyn AminaBackground (film crew/elevator)Pay NyeBackground (film crew/elevator)Destiny BenavidezBackground (film crew/elevator)Jason GonzalezSkate talent coordinator:Kaspar van LieropSteadicam / Wheel TechRenard Cheren Crane OpBogdan IofciulescuCrane TechNed HurlbutMatrix TechShawn FossenDITEmilio Pousa RojasVTRJason JohnsonSound TechCole ChamberlainBoom OperatorJames NelsonGafferEddie ReidBest Boy ElectricBrian DaileyBoard OpJeff GatesmanElectricKevin WilliamsElectricRob McKayElectricRenaldo JacksonElectricBen BowenElectricMatt HingstmanElectricJason HilmoElectricHassan JabbarElectricRyan ClemonsElectricChris NealyElectricTrey TrevinoElectricDavid CarterElectricMike DegrasseElectricMatt BoswellElectricCraig CarterKey GripBrendan RielBest Boy GripConnor ColbyGripJosh Smith GripLogan Alesso Dolly GripStephen Chang GripErik CovarrubiasGripVic Roca GripThorn ShafferGripMike McKinnon GripJordan Hodges GripWill GonzalezGripMatt RuffnerGripSteven BuehlerGripMyles EvensonGripLogan PistelloGripTBDPhotographer LeadmanOisin MooreProp MasterEric SilvermanSet DecoratorHenry CampSet BuilderTyler DillionArt Assistant - StillsAndrew CoffeySet Decorator Esther Rovin Set DresserJose AguilaArt PAChozan BehnStunt CoordinatorVladimir TevlovskiStunt RiggerTony SnegoffAD PAThomas CostelloAD PAPeter LeeAD PAMatt DonovanPAMarcelo MalinconicoPAJesus SosaPACameron HogePAAnthony CantuPA - CameraCalvin MendezPA - CameraChris KhashanMedicMorris BrownCraft ServiceJonny EbelCraft Service AssistSeda SerobyanScript SupervisorChristina XingWardrobe StylistJesse JamesTailorJinnah ParkWardrobe AssistantAmy FayWardrobe AssistantJesse WardlowWardrobe AssistantLily JamesWardrobe AssistantMatthew HammondHair StylistSeana CrainHair AssistantCatalina CachoHair AssistantLainey ThompsonMakeup ArtistSophie HaigMakeup AssistantJanelle WalkerMakeup AssistantNicolette FernandezMakeup AssistantArielle ParkMakeup AssistantMorgan GrimesCasting DirectorLilac PerezBackground (data center)Hannah MareBackground (dj/nyc street)Ethan ChangBackground (dj/nyc street)Becca EsopenkoBackground (dj/nyc street)Jade BryantBackground (dj/nyc street)Corynn GearhartBackground (dj/nyc street)Caris KuhnBackground (dj/nyc street)James Ryan MertzBackground (dj/nyc street)Martina RobledoBackground (dj/nyc street)Max TempkinBackground (skate)Meagan GuyBackground (skate)Cassie OsegueraBackground (skate)Grace Marhoeffer

Click to watch the full INPUT film

Click to watch the full OUTPUT film