This CPR video production case study highlights how Two Stories Media partnered with the American Heart Association to create a short-form, emotionally impactful video. The film tells the real-life story of a young boy who survived sudden cardiac arrest, thanks to hands-only CPR. Through cinematic storytelling, the piece raised awareness, increased donations, and emphasized the power of community education.
The Project: A Life-Saving Story
For the 70th Annual Palm Beach Heart Ball, the American Heart Association needed a powerful video to support its fundraising efforts. More importantly, they wanted to shine a light on the importance of CPR training. We were tasked with producing a narrative-driven short film that would captivate attendees, inspire generosity, and educate viewers—all in under three minutes.
Pre-Production and Story Development
We began by conducting interviews with the family and organizing a clear narrative arc. This ensured authenticity and emotional depth. Additionally, we focused on balancing medical accuracy with cinematic impact, aligning the story with the AHA’s core message: CPR saves lives.
Production Approach
Our crew executed a multi-day shoot across various locations to recreate the child’s cardiac emergency. Key production highlights included:
Realistic reenactments of the incident in natural settings
Interviews with family and emergency responders
Use of high-end lighting, audio, and camera equipment
Precise direction and production design for emotional resonance
Moreover, we incorporated accurate details about commotio cordis, a rare and serious cause of cardiac arrest in young athletes.
Post-Production and Delivery
In post-production, we crafted a polished narrative by blending interviews, reenactments, motion graphics, and music. As a result, the story felt both heartfelt and informative. We delivered the video in multiple formats, including a main 2.5-minute version for the Heart Ball and shorter cuts for social media distribution.
Outcome and Measurable Impact
The final video was met with a standing ovation at the Heart Ball. More importantly, it became a reusable asset in the American Heart Association’s ongoing education and fundraising campaigns. This CPR video production case study stands as a clear example of how emotionally driven storytelling can create real-world change.
Project At-a-Glance
Attribute
Details
Client
American Heart Association
Project Type
Short-form documentary + reenactment
Goal
Raise awareness & drive donations
Crew Size
6-person team
Locations
Palm Beach, Florida
Runtime
2.5 minutes + social cutdowns
Turnaround Time
6 weeks
Deliverables
Full video, alt cuts, social assets
Why It Matters
Ultimately, this CPR video production case study demonstrates the power of visual storytelling. When done with intention and care, video not only informs—it motivates action. In this case, it supported one of the nation’s largest health organizations in their life-saving mission.
SEO Details
Focus Keyphrase: CPR video production case study
Additional Keyphrases: CPR awareness video, American Heart Association video case study, hands-only CPR film, nonprofit video production
SEO Title: CPR Video Production Case Study | American Heart Association | Two Stories Media
Meta Description: Discover how our CPR video production case study with the American Heart Association used cinematic storytelling to raise awareness and support for hands-only CPR training.
Bringing Levi’s Story to Life
emotional connection through visual storytelling
Our “Open Your Heart” video captured the incredible story of Levi Stock, a seven-year-old boy who was struck by lightning after a day out boating with his family. As a result, this video directly motivated attendees of the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball to donate a staggering $1.1 million. These funds were critical, as they helped expand CPR training and awareness across communities. Overall, the American Heart Association video campaign not only shared Levi’s journey, but also proved how powerful storytelling can drive public health forward.
Heartfelt storytelling meets mission-driven messaging. The Levi Stock story stirred emotion, drove donations, and helped communities understand the life-saving importance of CPR.
Production
From pre-production to the final cut, every detail of this campaign was engineered to inspire real-world support for public health through cinematic storytelling.
Storytelling
This campaign wasn’t just a video, it became the centerpiece of a $1.1M fundraiser, proving that emotionally intelligent production can truly drive change.
Stories That Save Lives
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Donations Raised
Levi’s story moved attendees, leading to generous giving during the Heart Ball.
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Social impressions
Strategic short edits extended the video’s reach.
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event Viewers
Guests experienced Levi’s story firsthand, building emotional connection and inspiring action.
Johnny Johnson
Director, American Heart Association
“I can’t say enough good things about Two Stories Media and the exceptional work they’ve done for our Tampa Bay nonprofit. Their storytelling transformed our vision into an emotional narrative that resonated deeply with our audience, inspiring action and raising over $1.1 million. Their professionalism, creativity, and dedication set them apart as a truly outstanding partner.”
