n FAMILY BUSINESS
O
n a cold and dark overcast morning, a girl with long, unite the community around a team that at the time did
dark curly hair walks alone down a street in Rio not yet exist. They mapped out locations, from children
Linda, clutching the straps of her backpack. She’s playing in a field to a postal carrier delivering mail, all
about 11 and focuses straight ahead. Right behind kicking around a soccer ball in various Sacramento neigh-
her, and what she’s walking away from, is one of the borhoods. “The Chant,” which has been viewed more than
lowest income schools in Sacramento County. Children 60,000 times, helped brand the team in its infancy.
get free hot meals and special programs, and school secre-
Joe Wagoner, executive vide president and cofound-
taries who let them visit their office during recess, giving er of Republic FC, credits the video with generating sig-
them snacks, games and somebody to talk to.
nificant interest in the team and contributing to high-
Across the street, Rusty Prevatt is warmly guiding the er-than-expected ticket sales. “Twenty minutes into our
girl, portrayed by an actress for the video shoot, down the first meeting, I knew we had found the right people for
street. His younger brother, Dave, is aiming a camera at the job,” Wagoner says. “We wanted to create something
her while the production staff is gathered around a utility that represented how this sport could touch every corner
cart loaded with backup cameras and half a dozen battery of Sacramento and unite people from all backgrounds and
packs with 20 extra hours of power if needed. Franklin Pic- walks of life under one common identity. Franklin helped
tures is on scene for the latest of its many projects, a vid- us bring this vision to life and we couldn’t be happier with
eo ad for United Way that
the impact ‘The Chant’
will tell the story of a foster
would go on to have for this
child who became a success
club and launching this
story.
movement.”
Franklin Pictures is one
Franklin Pictures has
of the premiere video pro-
won three Emmys for its
duction companies in the
work, including beating out
region, with such clients as
major professional teams
the Sacramento Kings, In-
like the Golden State War-
tel, Chev y, Bogle Vineyards
riors and San Jose Sharks
and many others. Run by
to win for its live stream of
father Frank Prevatt (full
Sacramento Republic FC’s
name Franklin) and sons
2014 championship game.
Rusty (real name Franklin)
It won another for its 2015
and Dave, Franklin Pic-
video “Live. Work. Play.”,
tures pays such attention to
also done for Republic FC,
detail that its promotional
promoting Sacramento as
videos not only capture an
a great place to live. Frank-
— Joe Wagoner, executive vice president,
image, but tell a story and
lin also has won more than
Sacramento Republic FC
evoke an emotion. Think
20 Addy awards for adver-
about a memorable Super
tising excellence and Tel-
Bowl ad, a movie trailer
ly awards for outstanding
or television commercial
video production.
you’ve seen. That’s the kind
“Our goal is not just to
of work Franklin Pictures creates.
make a video. Our goal is to make something that will
“They won’t deliver something that won’t resonate,” move the needle … get a feeling or some kind of reaction,”
says Meghan Phillips, CEO of Honey Agency, the public say Rusty. “Nothing goes out the door unless we think it’s
relations firm that set up the United Way shoot. “They’re great,” says Dave.
always insuring that it’s the best product, not only for the
There are more than 30 video production companies in
client and the agency, but for themselves.”
Sacramento, ranging in expertise from shooting weddings
Franklin’s introduction video in 2013 for the new Sac- to music videos and events, though Rusty says he doesn’t
ramento Republic FC soccer team drew plenty of attention worry about competition. Franklin Pictures continues to
and shot the company to stardom. Rusty and Dave had to expand, and the company says it doesn’t have to seek cli-
create a launch video compelling enough to engage and ents because most come to them.
“We wanted to create something
that represented how this sport
could touch every corner of
Sacramento. … We couldn’t be
happier with the impact ‘The Chant’
would go on to have for this club
and launching this movement.”
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comstocksmag.com | June 2019