Every place has stories — but the challenge is telling them in a way that makes people feel something.
That’s where the idea for Casper Stories came from.
We pitched a multi-episode campaign to Visit Casper that highlighted the people, places, and experiences that make this part of Wyoming unforgettable. And they loved the idea.
And for me personally — it became one of the most fulfilling projects I’ve ever worked on.
🎬 Why We Created Casper Stories
Visit Casper and I had worked together before on capturing tourism assets and general B-roll, but I knew we could take it further.
I pitched the idea of creating a story-first video series — one that would connect local characters to the tourism experiences they represent. Instead of just showing activities, we’d meet the people behind them — the caretakers, the athletes, the conservationists, the innovators — and explore what makes their connection to Casper unique.
The goal:
➝ Deliver short, cinematic, emotionally-driven videos that Visit Casper could use across marketing platforms — while also creating a massive content library of photos, B-roll, and edited social media deliverables to maximize the campaign’s value.
📹 What the Series Included
Over the course of several months, we created six character-driven mini-documentaries, each tied to a tourism asset in the Casper area:
The Bloomery – Cathryn Becker: Homegrown concert venue meets flower farm
Historic Trails West – Morris Carter: Wagon rides on the actual Oregon Trail
Infinite Outdoors – Sam Seeton: Connecting hunters and fishers to public and private land
Dan Speas Fish Hatchery – Lars Alsager: The system supporting Wyoming’s world-class fishing
The McGinley Clinic – Dr. Joe McGinley: Innovation and medical tourism from the heart of Casper
Casper Mountain Nordic Trails – Omar Bermejo: A Paralympian’s journey to healing, family, and purpose
Each story was filmed on-location with a focus on authenticity, high-end cinematography, and a tone that matched the subject.
📦 What It Delivered
From a deliverables standpoint, this campaign was packed:
6 full-length 2–3 minute character episodes
18+ short-form versions (30-sec & 15-sec cutdowns in both vertical and widescreen formats)
Over 4 TB of B-roll footage and selects
Hundreds of behind-the-scenes and production photos
This gave Visit Casper not only a full campaign to launch — but also the tools to sustain content across seasons, posts, reels, ads, and blog features.
💡 Why It Worked
The reason this campaign was successful?
It was rooted in real stories.
People connect to people.
By focusing on individuals with compelling reasons for being here — and tying their stories to the tourism assets Casper wanted to promote — we created content that viewers actually wanted to watch and share.
This kind of campaign gives a tourism brand voice. It gives depth to your community. And it delivers content that feels personal, not promotional.
🎙️ What It Meant to Me
As the filmmaker behind the lens, Casper Stories hit a sweet spot.
I got to chase beautiful light, dive into new environments, and meet some seriously inspiring people.
Each episode presented different challenges — weather, gear, logistics — but also new opportunities to create meaningful work.
And it was incredibly satisfying to pitch this campaign from scratch, guide it creatively from pre-pro through final delivery, and hand Visit Casper a package that will serve them for years.
🎯 Want to Tell a Story Like This?
At Stengel Media, we specialize in story-driven branded content — whether you're in tourism, conservation, medicine, small business, or the arts.
We believe the best way to make people care about your offering is to show them why it matters.
➝ Let’s talk if you’re ready to create a campaign that’s cinematic, strategic, and rooted in authenticity.
