Raleigh-based photographer/filmmaker Allen Weiss has created a new video for Oryx Ultralounge that’s intended to amplify and energize social media marketing for this popular nightspot in the Glenwood South entertainment district.

Adam Ajaj, one of the partners in Oryx, asked Weiss to capture the “young, energetic vibe” of his nightspot.

“I knew a video would be a good tool to attract a young crowd to Oryx, especially on Facebook, so I asked my friend Allen to use his expertise to do this. We wanted to make sure we were sending the right message – that Oryx is the place for the young, energetic, fun, and stylish crowd on Glenwood South,” said Ajaj, who also owns the Glenwood Avenue convenience store, Raleigh Beverage, and a new neighborhood bar next door to it, Havoc.

“The importance of quality video as a marketing tool can’t be underestimated,” Weiss said. “YouTube has the highest time-on-site rate of any social media platform. Why? Because it’s such a powerful tool for storytelling. If people have a choice between reading a lot of text or clicking on a video, guess what they’ll choose? A well-done three-minute video tells a business’s story immediately.”

What story does Ajaj’s new video tell? “The flavor and essence of the Oryx experience,” Weiss said. “In two minutes, it tells you exactly what a typical night at Oryx might be.”

To got the story, Weiss spent several evenings in Oryx capturing (with patrons’ permission) groups of young, well-dressed folks laughing and talking; bartenders creating cocktails; and cocktail waitresses interacting with the crowd, all while interior lights cast various colors across the room and the driving beat of a soundtrack echoes the energy of the place.

Weiss smiled as he recalled his assignment. “It’s refreshing to work directly with a client I know as well as I know Adam, especially when the assignment is ‘shoot some cool stuff.’ Period. Adam gave me total access and freedom to shoot and edit as I pleased. Directors seldom get such a gloves-off approach.” To view the Oryx video: https://vimeo.com/62710192

Allen Weiss is an accomplished photographer, videographer, filmmaker, and director who honed his visual storytelling skills by directing, and often filming, national and international television commercials and public service announcements. For more information, visit www.allen-weiss.com or contact him at allenmarkweiss@gmail.com.