Gist + Video = Gisteo
When we launched, explainer videos weren’t a “thing” yet. So, we just invented our own term to describe what we did by combining the words Gist and Video. The “gist” is the central idea, the core, the essentials. It implies a quick summary vs. a long-winded dissertation…which was exactly what our videos did. Gist + Video = Gisteo. A company name was born and the rest is history.
Almost a decade later, we’re still explaining the gist of what businesses, products or services are all about. In fact, it’s more important today than ever. Competition is just a click or tap away and your target has countless choices. They need to get the gist…and fast. If they do, it’s priceless because understanding the gist of why you matter gives them clarity….and clarity leads to action.
The Gisteo Guy. Cartoon Spokesperson & De Facto Company Mascot
The Gisteo Guy was born in a murky, caffeine-fueled studio sometime in late 2010 and served as the company’s smart a** but lovable animated spokesperson until 2022, when he was replaced by a live-action actor. The company is currently evaluating his role moving forward, but if anyone deserves a spot at the top of this page, it’s the Gisteo Guy.
In his spare time, he’s an ardent activist against what he describes as the “shameless exploitation of animated characters” across the world, particularly in first-world countries. He is also continually threatening to make a comeback on this site. Stay tuned.
Stephen Conley. Founder & Creative Director
Stephen has diverse branding and advertising experience that spans the US, Latin America, and Europe. During his fifteen years in the ad business, he worked across a multitude of categories and a “who’s who” of brands.
While with Young & Rubicam (two tours of duty), JWT, DDB as well as a couple of smaller shops, Stephen helped pitch and win new business both in the US and abroad, wrote industry articles and won awards. And no, the modern agency world is nothing like the series “Madmen”- it’s way more dysfunctional than that.
In late 2009, he weaned himself off the all too cozy corporate teat and founded The Slogan Shop, a virtual branding boutique offering diverse, affordable marketing services to small and medium sized businesses. In 2011, he launched Gisteo to focus on the growing demand for animated explainer video production. Gisteo is a wholly-owned division of The Slogan Shop LLC.
Stephen is passionate about the advertising world. He inhales marketing books and blogs more than most people watch Netflix. He previously taught his love for the business at the Miami Ad School where his students won numerous national and international creative awards under his tutelage.
Stephen holds Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado and an MBA from The Thunderbird School of Global Management. He’s fully fluent in Spanish, both spoken and written. He’s intrigued by the sheer number of people who are tripped up by this spelling of his first name and refer to him as “Steffen.” The good news: no one has a hard time with “Steve.”
Ian Moore. Head of Live-Action Productions
Ian Moore is a Santa Monica local who resides in Venice Beach. When he’s not surfing, rock climbing or riding his dirt bike, Ian heads up UWOWI Films, Gisteo’s live-action production partner.
As the son of an editor and inventor, Ian has spent his entire life immersed in the entertainment world. His father, Robert Moore, is a film and TV editor who still works in the field. Ian has played music and put together films with his brothers since childhood, so, yep, he was destined to create content.
Ian started to make his name as a director and cinematographer with music videos and promotional content. Since 2012, Ian has directed, shot, and edited commercials and music videos for big names including but not limited to: Amazon, Jack Daniels, Burger King, Snapchat, Calvin Harris, Duke Dumont, Digiorno, Big Mouth, WOW Watersports, and Fiverr. A video for the company Stackin, of which he was the personality and creator, brags over 5 million views. His work ranges from larger clients like those listed above, to up-and-coming bands and brands. In recent years, he has traveled the globe directing and filming numerous docu-series and documentaries.
Kit Oliynyk. Art Director
Originally from the Ukraine, Kit has over a decade of diverse experience as a graphic designer at ad agencies, fashion magazines and newspapers. Although he now lives in Columbia, MD, Kit’s European background is certainly evident in his elegant design work and keen eye for colors. In addition, his imitation of Sean Connery in “The Hunt for the Red October” is downright freaky (or is it the other way around?).
Kit is never short on ideas and firmly believes in the potential of every project to be extraordinary. He prides himself on his quick turnaround times and exceptional organizational capabilities. He is passionate about the world of branding and is constantly adding new skills to his creative “arsenal.” He’s an expert in Adobe Creative Suite 5 (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro, Dreamweaver) and QuarkXPress. He’s also an experienced web designer with advanced HTML, DHTML, CSS and JavaScript knowledge.
Kit is fluent in three languages and has degrees in Fine Arts & Design as well as a Masters in Information Technology and Management
Ignacio Valle. Spanish-Language Writer/Art Director
Ignacio’s passion for what he does is quite an interesting story. When he was a kid, he felt the urge to fill every single white space around him with ideas….and more ideas. And this insatiable impulse got him in trouble many times, especially the day when he “expressed his creativity” all over the neighbor’s brand new kitchen walls. To avoid situations like this from continually reoccurring, Ignacio decided to work in advertising. In 1990, he was invited to intern as a copywriter at McCann Erickson Madrid. After working at this agency, he continued fueling his passion iand honing his skills in Spain at agencies such as ETC, Artika, C&C and IVG.
He later crossed the pond and came to the US, where he worked in multicultural advertising (Hispanic, African-American and the general market) for top firms such as Publicis Sanchez &Levitan Miami, Publicis Bromley Miami, Univision Online Miami, GlobalHue Detroit, Y&R Miami and GlobalHue New York.
Ignacio has earned countless industry awards for his dedication, passion and creativity over the years. He’s a rare find in the advertising world in that he’s worked as both a copywriter and a graphic designer/art director. The ability to craft beautiful sentences and articulate compelling concepts while having keen design skills has served him well on the way to becoming a well-rounded creative director in the industry.
Edoardo Nicodemo. Music & Sound Designer
Born and raised in Italy, Edoardo moved to Los Angeles in 2004. He learned the nuances of sound design and music composition working under some of the entertainment industry’s best minds. He has more tattoos that anyone else on the Gisteo team- by far.
In 2006, he launched his “Studio A,” specializing in recording/editing/mixing sounds where he’s had the opportunity to produce several albums for underground bands; at the same time, he’s worked with hundreds of film and video creators of all types, both composing music and creating sound effects.
Edoardo has a degree from the Professional Music Academy in Milan, Italy.
Damian Scoglio. Website Designer
Over the past 17+ years, Damian has worked with clients across diverse industries to make their unique web vision a reality.
“The devil is in the details” is one of Damian’s key tenants and it shows in the work he produces. Damian’s specialties include: web development & design, UX/UI design, app design, app architecture and digital/print graphic design.
Damian has a degree in Web Design and Interactive Media from The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Arizona State University.
Albert Hensley. Voice Over Talent
You’ll hear Albert’s voice on plenty of our gisteos because he’s a unique talent. That “intelligent/nice guy next door/confident” style is just plain hard to match. Some have said that his voice bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the Gisteo Guy, however, there is little proof that this is anything more than pure speculation.
Albert has been in the voice industry since the late ’90′s, getting his first experience as a spot-on Jerry Seinfeld in an animated pilot for Fox Television. From there, he continued to explore the wonderful world of voiceovers, providing voices for national and international projects with ABC, Mattel, Nike, Powerade, LasikPlus, Altitude Sports & Entertainment, several NBA teams, and various extreme sports shows.
Outside of the corporate world, Albert has lent his voice to animated features, television pilots, and short films, not to mention other fun projects, including an educational website, designed by the Executive Producer of the Drew Carey Show.
In his free time, Albert loves to play tennis and golf (don’t ask what his handicap is though), as well as softball and raquetball. An avid fan of the St. Louis Rams. Portland Trail Blazers, and his alma matter, the USC Trojans, you can usually catch him on the couch during the winter months when the weather won’t cooperate with his outdoor activities, rooting on his teams.
A lack of clarity is a business killer…and finding the right explainer video company to help fix this can be painful. At Gisteo, we combine expert scriptwriting & production skills with a simple process and fair pricing to create world-class explainer videos that help you clarify your offering and ignite your business.
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