Casper might not be the first place you think of when it comes to world-class medical innovation — but that’s exactly why Dr. Joe McGinley stands out.
In this episode of Casper Stories, we explored how Joe’s groundbreaking work at The McGinley Clinic is attracting visitors from around the globe — and how one man's blend of engineering, adventure, and cutting-edge medicine is helping put Casper on the map.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we filmed Joe’s episode, and why it challenged us to step up our lighting, pacing, and storytelling to match the world-class standard he’s built.
🧠 The Story – Meet Dr. Joe McGinley and The McGinley Clinic
Dr. Joe McGinley isn’t just an orthopedic surgeon — he’s an engineer, an innovator, and an adventurer.
He’s developed proprietary medical procedures that aren’t available anywhere else in the world, using new technologies like ultrasound-guided systems and augmented reality to deliver less invasive, highly effective orthopedic treatments.
Patients fly into Casper from across the U.S. and beyond to be treated at The McGinley Clinic, bringing new visibility — and tourism impact — to the area.
Joe’s story also goes beyond medicine:
He's climbed six of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each continent) and uses Casper Mountain’s challenging winter conditions to train for future expeditions, including another upcoming attempt at Mount Everest.
Visit Casper wanted to highlight Joe because his work represents a different side of the tourism economy — one built around innovation, health, adventure, and experiences you can’t find anywhere else.
🎥 Filming at The McGinley Clinic
Filming Joe’s episode presented a new kind of challenge: creating visuals that felt bright, clean, professional — but still personal and welcoming.
🎬 Gear Used
Sony FX6 Cinema Camera
Sony A7SIII Camera for secondary angles
Leica R vintage prime lenses
DJI Inspire 2 Drone for exterior shots
Aputure lights arranged in a three-point lighting setup
High-end audio gear for clear, professional sound
Lighting was a huge focus for this shoot. While the clinic has beautiful natural daylight in some areas, much of the space uses harsh fluorescent overhead lights — not ideal for cinematic visuals. We relied heavily on our own lighting gear to supplement or replace house lights in each location, creating a consistent, soft, and polished medical look.
We filmed across multiple clinic spaces, showing both Joe’s innovative procedures and the unique "Events at the M" event space attached to the clinic — a converted dome-style structure now used for weddings, conferences, and gatherings.
📝 Pre-Production and Visual Goals
Pre-production focused heavily on scouting light conditions and planning the flow of scenes across different parts of the building.
Key prep steps included:
Using the Sun Seeker app to track natural light windows for timing our shoot
Location walk-throughs to identify which rooms needed lighting supplementation
Setting a visual tone of professionalism, innovation, and approachability
Creating a clean, soft color palette for the final edit — leaning toward whites, light blues, and neutral earth tones
We also built a moodboard featuring cinematic medical scenes, startup documentaries, and adventure profiles — blending clean medical storytelling with the personal side of Joe’s athletic and engineering achievements.
🖥️ Post-Production Workflow
In the edit, we aimed for a tight, crisp rhythm:
Clean visual pacing for medical scenes
Bright but natural skin tones
Subtle inclusion of Joe’s Seven Summits training and photos for emotional connection
A slight motivational undertone — matching Joe’s adventurous spirit
Deliverables Created
2–3 minute master episode
Two 30-second cutdowns
One 15-second cutdown
Both widescreen and vertical versions
A curated B-roll library for Visit Casper
Behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot
🎙️ Personal Reflections on Filming The McGinley Clinic
Joe’s shoot stretched us technically — but it was also one of the most inspiring episodes to create.
Seeing someone build a career at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and outdoor adventure — all in Casper — made for a rich story to tell.
It was also a portfolio piece I’m incredibly proud of:
Framing the interview inside a polished, clinical environment; lighting dynamically across multiple spaces; making what could have felt sterile feel warm and human.
Fun side note:
It was 20 degrees below zero the day we filmed — and while we didn’t do much exterior filming, the extreme cold definitely made hauling gear in and out of the clinic less than ideal.
(Lots of running trucks with heaters blasting and very fast loading/unloading!)
But that’s part of the challenge (and fun) of filming in Wyoming — adapting to whatever conditions the day throws at you.
🩺 See More About The McGinley Clinic
Want to learn more about how innovation and adventure come together at The McGinley Clinic?
➝ Check out Visit Casper’s feature on The McGinley Clinic here. (Link will be updated once Visit Casper's blog post goes live.)
🎯 Tell Your Story with Stengel Media
At Stengel Media, we bring cinematic storytelling to industries where authenticity, precision, and creativity matter most.
Whether you're showcasing groundbreaking innovations, personal achievements, or regional experiences, we know how to bring your story to life with care and craft.
➝ Reach out today if you're ready to create unforgettable, story-driven content for your brand or business.
