Chemical Manufacturing Video Production: How Storytelling Elevates Brand Visibility

In today’s competitive industrial landscape, chemical manufacturing video production has become a powerful tool for companies seeking to communicate complex ideas with emotional impact. Barking Squirrel Media’s collaboration with Shepherd Chemical exemplifies how cinematic storytelling can reveal the heart, innovation, and humanity behind scientific excellence.

This 2019 campaign featured ten distinctive videos—including Operational Excellence, The History of Shepherd Chemical, Global Supply and Support, Custom Co-Development, Sustainability, and The Amazing Culture of Shepherd Chemical. Each film was designed to showcase Shepherd’s commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and community—all while positioning the brand as a trusted global leader in metal-based chemistry.

The Challenge: Making Chemistry Meaningful Through Story

Shepherd Chemical, a globally respected chemical manufacturer, wanted to communicate its value to clients and partners beyond technical data sheets or facility tours. They needed a way to reveal why their people, purpose, and chemistry matter. The challenge was clear: How could a company that produces advanced metal-based chemistry—something often invisible to the public—create a connection that inspires understanding and trust?

That’s where Barking Squirrel Media came in. Our mission-driven approach to chemical manufacturing video production focuses on revealing the human and emotional dimensions of innovation. Through our Video Discovery Process, we uncovered Shepherd’s unique differentiators—its family leadership, long-term partnerships, sustainability initiatives, and commitment to ethical chemistry.

The Creative Approach: Cinematic Authenticity Meets Scientific Precision

Our creative vision centered on blending cinematic storytelling with Shepherd’s deeply technical narrative. Instead of relying on corporate jargon or dense technical explanations, we aimed to show the purpose behind the science.

We conducted an in-depth discovery workshop with Shepherd’s leadership team to define the core messages behind each film. Together, we shaped a campaign that portrayed Shepherd’s people as the catalysts of innovation, blending authenticity, expertise, and artistry.

The storytelling approach reflected three guiding principles:

1. Authenticity: Feature real employees and leadership speaking from experience rather than scripts.

2. Strategy: Align each film with a key brand pillar—innovation, safety, sustainability, collaboration, or history.

3. Visual Excellence: Use cinematic production techniques (RED V-Raptor 8K cameras, Zeiss cinema lenses, and natural lighting) to create a sense of scale and sophistication befitting a global brand.

The Video Series: Ten Films, One Unified Story

1. Operational Excellence

This video highlighted Shepherd’s continuous improvement mindset and its dedication to precision at every stage of production. Through cinematic visuals of plant operations and candid interviews, we translated “excellence” from a corporate buzzword into a living, breathing practice.

2. The History of Shepherd Chemical

Founded in 1916, Shepherd Chemical has a rich legacy of family leadership and innovation. This video used archival photos, motion graphics, and interviews with company historians to connect the past to the present—showing how four generations of Shepherd leadership have built a company where values and vision endure.

3. Global Supply and Support

To demonstrate global reach and reliability, we filmed logistics operations, international team meetings, and customer interactions across multiple continents. The narrative reinforced that “Shepherd is wherever chemistry makes life better.”

4. Custom Co-Development

Perhaps the most technical video in the series, this film showcased Shepherd’s collaborative R&D partnerships. We portrayed the co-development process as a creative partnership—chemistry guided by curiosity, precision, and purpose.

5. Sustainability

This segment captured Shepherd’s environmental stewardship in action, showing renewable energy systems, waste reduction initiatives, and eco-friendly product innovations. The story affirmed that science and sustainability can coexist harmoniously.

6. The Amazing Culture of Shepherd Chemical

Culture is often invisible, but at Shepherd, it’s tangible. We filmed candid moments among employees, leadership, and community partners to highlight a workplace where collaboration and care drive excellence.

Learn more and about the power of video storytelling for manufacturing here. 

Behind the Scenes: The Discovery and Production Process

Every Barking Squirrel Media production begins with The Discovery Process—an in-depth exploration designed to uncover the emotional truths behind a brand. For Shepherd Chemical, this meant extensive interviews with executives, scientists, and plant engineers. We mapped these insights into visual storylines that would speak to audiences from boardrooms to laboratories.

The ten videos were filmed across Shepherd’s facilities in Norwood, Ohio, and other global locations. Each setting was chosen to highlight a different aspect of the company’s expertise—from research labs and production lines to leadership offices and community spaces.

During post-production, our editors layered cinematic music, precise color grading, and motion graphics to ensure visual consistency across the entire campaign. The result: a cohesive narrative tapestry that conveyed both the science and soul of Shepherd Chemical.

Why Cinematic Storytelling Works in Chemical Manufacturing Video Production

Chemical companies operate in one of the most complex and least understood sectors. Customers and partners may struggle to grasp the value behind specialized materials, safety protocols, or R&D processes. That’s why cinematic storytelling is so powerful—it translates the unseen into the unforgettable.

In Shepherd’s case, the films helped reposition the brand from a technical supplier to a thought leader in ethical chemistry and innovation. The emotional resonance of the videos deepened client relationships and strengthened employee pride.

According to a 2024 Wyzowl Video Marketing Report, 89% of marketers say video gives them a strong ROI, and 91% report increased brand awareness through video campaigns¹. For B2B manufacturers, this makes storytelling not just a creative luxury but a strategic necessity.

The Impact: Storytelling that Scales

After the campaign’s release, Shepherd Chemical reported stronger engagement on its newly designed website, greater clarity in customer communications, and enhanced brand recognition across global partners. The videos were used not only online but also in trade shows, investor presentations, and internal training.

By grounding each story in human experience and purpose, the films connected technical excellence with emotional resonance—helping audiences feel the Shepherd difference.

Key Takeaways for Manufacturers

1. Start with Purpose

Every successful chemical manufacturing video production begins with clarity of purpose. Shepherd’s films didn’t just explain what the company does; they showed why it matters.

2. Show the People Behind the Process

Viewers connect to people, not processes. Featuring employees and leaders builds authenticity and trust.

3. Use Cinematic Tools Strategically

High-end visuals and sound design elevate a brand’s perceived value, especially in an industry where precision is everything.

4. Integrate Sustainability and Innovation

Audiences increasingly value environmental responsibility. Showcasing sustainable practices amplifies brand credibility.

5. Choose a Storytelling Partner Who Understands Industry

Not every production company can handle the complexity of chemical storytelling. Partnering with an experienced agency like Barking Squirrel Media ensures your science becomes emotionally engaging narrative.

(Internal link suggestion: Educational Video Production for Scientific Brands)

Expanding the Strategy: Beyond Shepherd Chemical

The Shepherd Chemical case demonstrates a repeatable framework for other manufacturers:

• Discovery Workshops reveal authentic brand truths.

• Cinematic Production ensures every frame supports the brand’s visual identity.

• Multi-Platform Distribution extends the life and reach of each video.

This same approach has powered Barking Squirrel Media’s success with other manufacturing clients such as Celanese, Q Labs, and Clear Packaging—each project proving that storytelling and science are not opposites, but allies.

(Internal link suggestion: Manufacturing Tour Video Production)

The Future of Chemical Manufacturing Video Production

As AI, sustainability, and global transparency redefine the manufacturing landscape, video storytelling will only become more vital. Modern audiences—whether B2B clients, investors, or employees—expect brands to communicate not just competence, but conscience.

By combining cinematic craftsmanship with strategic brand insight, Barking Squirrel Media continues to lead the way in helping manufacturers tell stories that inspire action and build trust worldwide.

(External link suggestion: McKinsey & Company: B2B Marketing Transformation)

Conclusion: Chemistry with a Human Heart

Shepherd Chemical’s 2019 campaign is a benchmark for what’s possible when cinematic storytelling meets industrial innovation. Through chemical manufacturing video production, Barking Squirrel Media transformed complex scientific processes into emotionally compelling stories that resonate across audiences and markets.

In a world where chemistry drives progress, storytelling gives it purpose—and that combination is the true formula for enduring brand success.