Philosophy, Barter, and a Camera Crew.
How Reason & Rationality and CVP teamed up to make
something beautiful, without breaking the bank.
How it all started
It all started with an notification that our someone filled out our contact form.
Reason & Rationality, a salon-style summer program for high schoolers,
was gearing up for two sessions in NJ (our backyard):
📍 Princeton Theological Seminary (June 10–13, 2025)
📍 Swarthmore College (July 30 – August 1, 2025)
Their mission?
To help teens think deeply, speak clearly, and debate kindly,
through guided conversations on ethics, philosophy, and public policy.
Not a PowerPoint in sight.
They reached out to Custom Video Productions to capture the magic:
the classrooms, the campus energy, the breakthrough moments when ideas click and minds expand.
And honestly?
We were in before we finished the email.
“This one was special. It wasn’t about logos or a product launch... it was about ideas, growth, and real impact on the future of society. We’re proud of what we created. And proud of how we got there.”
Frank Farrell, Founder, CVP
The Reality Check
We mapped out a bold, comprehensive video package: multi-day filming, interviews, post-production, motion graphics, the works.
The number came in just shy of $30,000.
Their budget? Nowhere near that. 🫣
But Reason & Rationality didn’t want to cut corners, and neither did we.
So instead of walking away, we rolled up our sleeves and got creative.
The Pivot
We streamlined the scope. Focused on the essentials.
And then… we got scrappy.
CVP founder Frank Farrell had a son, Nicholas, who was a perfect fit for the program.
So we made a deal:
🎓 Nicholas joins the seminar
🎥 CVP tells the story
💲Production costs a fraction
And Reason & Rationality walks away with a professional-grade media package!
Barter’s not dead, it just wears takes a good communication and a little creativity.
Long Form Video
Reason & Rationality Told through unscripted Q&A.
What We Delivered
Despite the smaller budget, the final product hits hard.
Here’s what we produced:
1 x Long-Form Documentary (3–5 min)
A rich, thoughtful, beautifully shot overview of the program. Real moments. Real conversations. Real transformation.
3 x Social Media Videos (Vertical + Horizontal)
Short, scroll-friendly cuts designed for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.
We still owe them one more—perfection takes time.
1 x Student Testimonial Video
Smart, articulate, vulnerable. Students sharing what the program meant to them, in their own words.
1 x Teacher Testimonial Video
Deep reflections from the folks guiding the conversations. Honest, grounded, inspiring.
Student Testimonial
Reason & Rationality as told by it's participants!
The Impact
Reason & Rationality now has a premium video suite to use across websites, social, email, and recruitment campaigns
Nicholas walked away changed! Like, mind stretched in the best way kind of changed
And CVP got to do what we do best: tell stories that matter
Client Testimonial
"They made this process fun and are delivering a best-in-class video experience for our company."
Kevin Ward
COO/CFO NutraStar
Video Services Included
On-Location & Drone Videography
Capturing footage where it counts, without disrupting operations.
Cinematic B-Roll & Visual Storytelling
Creating emotional and visual depth that keeps your brand memorable.
Video Editing & Post-Production Polish
Turning raw footage into a cohesive, high-value asset.
Color Correction & Final Mastering
Ensuring every frame looks premium, professional, and on-brand.
Basic Motion Graphics
Adding branded visuals that reinforce key messages and increase viewer retention.
