Creative Partnership Proposal
Cornerstone for Business
Why Principled Leadership Matters
A Four-Part Documentary Series
Prepared for:
Shawn Dildine & Purdue University Daniels School of Business
Prepared by:
Ben Hodge Films
A Documentary First Approach
Great documentaries don't simply communicate ideas—they help audiences experience them.
In a world saturated with content, the stories that endure are those that invite us to slow down, wrestle with meaningful questions, and see ourselves within them. Why Principled Leadership Matters has the opportunity to become more than a documentary series—it can become a foundational body of work that inspires conversation, challenges assumptions, and demonstrates the lasting value of principled leadership.
At the heart of the series is a simple but compelling idea: lasting leadership is shaped through formation, not just information. While knowledge can inform decisions, character is developed through experience, mentorship, responsibility, and the intentional practice of timeless principles. This series seeks to explore what that kind of formation looks like—and why it matters for the future of business, education, and society.
The vision for Why Principled Leadership Matters is to create a documentary series that feels timeless. Rather than relying solely on interviews and supporting visuals, the series will intentionally combine thoughtful conversations, cinematic documentary scenes, and authentic visual storytelling that allows the principles themselves to come alive.
The goal is to create a foundational body of work that not only represents Cornerstone for Business, but also becomes a benchmark for future storytelling within Purdue University. Every creative decision, from the people we follow to the environments we film and the stories we choose to tell, will be guided by a simple philosophy:
Every scene should carry the story.
By grounding complex ideas in authentic human experiences, the series has the opportunity to move beyond explaining principled leadership and instead allow audiences to see it, experience it, and remember it.
I don’t just make videos—I help people tell stories that matter.
My work is rooted in listening well, asking meaningful questions, and crafting cinematic visuals that feel honest and human. What sets me apart is my ability to uncover the deeper “why” behind a story and bring it to life with clarity, intention and heart.
I believe great storytelling builds trust. And I’m here to help you do just that—with creativity, strategy and a process that feels collaborative from start to finish.
Director’s Statement
Creative Partnership
Creative Development
This is just the beginning. Reviewing interviews that have already been captured and building out the narrative arc and episode structure.
Story discovery
Review of existing interviews
Narrative architecture
Episode structure
Script collaboration
Weekly creative meetings & collaborative touch-points
Documentary Production
Production will include multiple cameras, as well as lighting and audio. Production days will vary based on total number of remaining interviews and our ability to stack or combine interviews. The possibility of production for original documentary footage will also allow us to expand the storytelling component for this series.
Film remaining interviews
Original documentary cinematography
Campus production
Leadership environments
Audio
Lighting
Second cinematographer
Editorial
This is where it all comes together. We piece together the video components into engaging, authentic content for each episode, ensuring that the thread throughout the entire series is consistent.
Story editing
Series continuity
Assistant editor oversight
Music
Color
Audio
Graphic integration
Captions & transcript
Delivery
FINAL DELIVERABLES
Multiple documentary episodes (approximately 30 minutes each)
Caption files (.SRT)
Files for each episode
Series Trailer
4K Still Frames
A few 4k still frames from each episode that can be used across platforms
Story Example #1
This is a documentary capture the transformational experience of a leadership retreat in Tulum, Mexico with Derick Grant.
Story Example #2
This is a part of a Legacy story where we combined interview and narrative components with b-roll video to share just part of Ken’s story of life change.
Story Example #3
In August of 2025, Cedar Valley Christian School celebrated its 50th anniversary. The goal of this project wasn’t just to celebrate the rich legacy and foundation of the school, but to also showcase what sets the faculty and school apart as a top choice for Christian education in the community.
We combined b-roll of the school and snapshots of its history with interviews with former and current staff, as well as alumni and parents of current students. The final touch was adding the voice-over script that was read by one of the original founding members.
Additional Story Examples:
I’d love for you to take a look at more of our work by clicking the button below:
4K Still Frame Examples:
These are still frames pull from our video footage. We deliver these as 4k images in the .jpg format. They can be used for website or social content, and occasionally can be used on print pieces.
INVESTMENT
This investment reflects a high level of documentary production and creative collaboration on a per episode basis. The goal is not simply to produce a series, but to determine together the level of storytelling that best supports each episode and the long-term vision for Cornerstone for Business and Purdue.
While this proposal has been developed as a cohesive four-part documentary series, we recognize additional episodes may be commissioned over time. The following investment provides a framework for future planning while preserving the creative consistency and collaborative approach established throughout the series.
Establishing the Series
Additional Episodes
Project Infrastructure
Project Infrastructure is a one-time investment that establishes the technical foundation for the documentary series. It includes dedicated project storage, media management, redundant backup systems, project organization, and long-term archiving to ensure the security and integrity of all project assets throughout production and post-productio
Additional Notes
Review existing interviews and transcripts, develop narrative structure, collaborate on scripts, identify additional production needs, and provide creative leadership throughout the project.
Story development
Creative direction
Production
Editorial
Series visual language
Initial episode
INVESTMENT: $25,000
Each additional episode includes collaborative story refinement, production, editorial, revisions, and final delivery while building upon the established creative framework.
INVESTMENT: $20,000 / episode
Includes:
Dedicated project storage
Redundant backkup
Media management
Long-term archive
Project organization
Estimated Investment: $3,000
Because each episode builds upon the creative foundation established throughout the series, this pricing assumes a multi-episode engagement. Should Purdue elect to commission only a single episode initially, future episodes may require additional story development and creative planning depending on the timing and scope of the project.
These investment estimates are ultimately dependent on the final scope of the project and total required editing and production timelines for the project. These numbers do not include travel expenses.
Social Cutdowns : 2-3 Cuts Per Episode
Additional Revision Round (beyond the 2 included per episode)
Additional Production Day
ADD-ONS
$1,500 / $6,000 total for series
$1,200
$2,500/day
What’s Next?
Agree on scope and pricing
1
We’ve already had initial conversations, but sometimes plans change and priorities shift with the vision as things grow and take shape. We’re flexible and here to be your creative partner. Let’s make sure everything is in alignment before we get started.
Contract agreement
2
We’re big fans of clarity and communication. Once we’ve got everything in alignment we’ll put together a contract that outlines rough timelines and the nitty gritty. That way everyone is on the same page and knows what to expect as we move forward.
Get started
3
This is the fun part! Where we start to put plans into action and get rolling on pre-production and start bringing this story to life.
Derick Grant - DG Mindset
“Ben Hodge’s professionalism and his ability to take our company’s vision and bring it to life is second to none. I have had the chance to work with other videographers in the past, but Ben Hodge is by and far the most talented I have ever worked with. If you’re looking to take your vision and bring it to life, look no further.”
“Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes; the rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”
— Elizabeth Barrett Browning