Kingsford

Preserve the Pit

  • Concept Ideation
    Director Treatments
    Script writing
    Story Development
    Art Direction & Narrative Style

  • Pre Production + Tech Scouting
    Location + Casting & Talent Management
    Production + Equipment Management
    Director + DP Talent

  • Editorial
    VFX
    Sound Design
    Music Supervision
    Music Composition
    Archival Management

Kingsford’s Preserve the Pit honors the cultural legacy of Black barbecue while supporting and amplifying the Black-owned businesses and leaders across the barbecue ecosystem.

Our team led concept development and casting, shaped the music direction, and executed on-location production in New Orleans and Detroit to tell the stories of featured pitmasters.

Featured in major outlets including The Drew Barrymore Show, CNN, Forbes, and Complex.

  • Agency | Current Global
    Director | Ariel Ellis
    Executive Creative Director | Rory K. McHarg
    Executive Producers | Jonathan Braue, Joseph Talbot

  • Producer | Marissa Clement
    Director of Photography | Dimitrius Ramirez

  • Post Producer | Carly Atto
    Editor | Joe Talbot

  • Smokey G’s Smokehouse
    Bert’s Marketplace
    Ms Hyster’s Barbeque
    Dr.Howard Conyers
    Miles Dearing

Preserve The PIT

“And suddenly, everyone was talking about the story no one wanted to talk about. “

Preserve The PIT II

For the second chapter of Preserve the Pit, Woodward Original partnered with Agency Current Global to create a follow-up brand film spotlighting Payne’s Bar-B-Que in Memphis, where Brandon “BMike” Odums’ mural Pass It On became a living tribute to Black barbecue culture.

The film launched Kingsford’s second year of the Fellowship, generating over 2,700 applications — nearly triple the previous year.

Tu Fuego, Tu Camino

with Miguel Vidal

Kingsford paired up with San Antonio born pitmaster Miguel Vidal for some charcoal inspired recipes.

Shot on location at his restaurant Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ in Austin, TX.

Watch all recipes

  • Director | Stevie Ansara
    Agency Creative Director | Zach Takenaga
    Agency | Current Global
    Executive Producers | Nate Segall, Jonathan Braue, Joseph Talbot

  • Producer | Stevie Ansara
    Director of Photography | Dimitrius Ramirez
    Production Manager/CCO | Larissa Garcia Baab

  • Post Production | MODI Video Services