How a Maryland Video Production Studio Brought Apollonia’s Purple Rain Legacy to Life—and Won a Telly

In case you’ve been living under a rock, we’ve got some big news to share—The Blue Wave Video Production just brought home an international Telly Award for our opening animation for Apollonia Studio 6, the official podcast hosted by Apollonia Kotero.

For anyone who doesn’t know, the Telly Awards are basically the Oscars® of video production. They recognize the best in television, online, and branded content from around the world. Winning one is no small feat, and for us, this project was something special from day one.

The assignment? Create a short, powerful animation that captured Apollonia Kotero’s legendary career highlights and introduced her new podcast with the energy, sophistication, and emotion her story deserves. Simple on paper—not so simple in execution.

The Challenge

We were tasked with taking decades of cultural history—from Purple Rain to Apollonia 6 to her modern creative ventures—and turning it into a cohesive, cinematic opening sequence that played in under a minute.

We chose to build the piece in a 3D environment, layering individually crafted visual elements to bring each scene to life. For the design and animation nerds out there, everything was illustrated and composited in Adobe Photoshop, then animated in After Effects. Every element lived on its own layer, giving us the ability to move the camera naturally through the world we created—revealing different moments in time as if the viewer were floating through Apollonia’s story.

We didn’t use AI for any of it. This was all done by hand—the way I like to work on projects that carry real emotional weight. There’s something irreplaceable about the tactile process of building and refining every layer until it feels alive.

Reimagining Purple Rain

One of the highlights of the project was bringing the world of Purple Rain into the sequence. Instead of building the scene entirely from scratch, we created new composites from the original themed artwork, carefully separating layers and replacing backgrounds to allow for more dynamic reveals during camera movement. This approach let us stay true to the legacy imagery while giving it new life through depth and motion.

Still, something was missing. The artwork, though iconic, felt too still in motion. To bridge that gap, I added generated smoke and fire—elements that gave the scene warmth, realism, and movement. It wasn’t about changing the art, but about enhancing it—bringing that album cover to life in a way that felt cinematic and true to its spirit. Once those details were layered in, the whole composition breathed differently. The energy, the emotion, and the tension of that era finally came alive on screen.

It was an absolute honor to work within the Prince universe—a creative world unlike any other. Prince wasn’t just an artist; he was an architect of sound, vision, and style who forever changed how we think about art and individuality. And while Prince is at the center of that legacy, Apollonia Kotero played a vital role in shaping it. Her presence in Purple Rain wasn’t just memorable—it was transformative. She brought strength, beauty, and depth to the story and to Prince’s own evolution as an artist. Her performance helped define one of the most iconic cultural moments of the 1980s. Apollonia wasn’t just part of the story—she was one of the reasons it mattered.

Every time I see someone wearing a Purple Rain shirt on the street, which happens often, I think back to this experience and feel a real sense of gratitude. Not just for the award, but for the opportunity to contribute, in some small way, to a creative universe that has inspired millions.

Working with a Legend

If you grew up in the Purple Rain era, you already know Apollonia Kotero. She’s the actress, singer, and creative force who starred opposite Prince in one of the most influential films of the 1980s. But her story goes far beyond that. She’s continued to reinvent herself over the years—as a performer, producer, and now, as the voice and heart behind Apollonia Studio 6.

The podcast blends storytelling, personal reflection, and candid moments from a life lived at the intersection of music, film, and culture. It’s authentic, heartfelt, and full of the same creative fire that made Apollonia a household name.

Working with Apollonia was a complete joy. From the start, she and Seth Amillion gave me the freedom to run with my creative instincts and bring the vision to life. That kind of trust doesn’t happen often, especially with a client whose name and history carry so much weight. Their openness allowed us to take risks and shape something that truly reflected her story.

The Process

Even though Apollonia and her team are based in Los Angeles, our video production Maryland studio handled the creative and technical work remotely. Through Zoom calls, we mapped out the tone, pacing, and key moments that would define the sequence. Once the concept was locked, it was time to get to work.

The process started with static layouts—visual blueprints that outlined the flow of scenes and transitions. From there, each composition evolved as we began separating layers, designing new visual elements, and animating motion paths that would lead the viewer’s eye through her story.

The beauty of this kind of project is that it lives at the intersection of art and technology. It’s not just about moving graphics around—it’s about sculpting emotion through design, rhythm, and light. Every flicker, every camera sweep, every crossfade matters. It’s the kind of work that demands patience and obsession, and that’s exactly why I love it.

The Recognition

When we got the message that our work had won an international Telly Award, it took a second to sink in. The Tellys receive thousands of entries each year from major networks, studios, and agencies across the world. To be recognized at that level—especially as a smaller video production Maryland studio—is something I’ll never take for granted.

Awards are never the goal, but they do serve as a reminder that craftsmanship still matters. That care, attention to detail, and a commitment to doing things the right way can still stand out in a world full of shortcuts.

And to win for a project tied to Purple Rain? That’s something I’ll carry with me for a long time.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

What I appreciate most about this experience wasn’t just the recognition, but the collaboration that made it possible. It takes a special kind of team to bring something like this to life—one that balances technical expertise with creative trust. Apollonia and Seth provided that trust from the beginning, and I’m incredibly grateful for it.

As someone who’s been deeply involved in video production in Maryland for years, projects like this remind me why I started in the first place. It’s about telling meaningful stories through visuals that move people—work that carries a pulse, not just polish.

I might release a behind-the-scenes breakdown soon to show the nuts and bolts of how this animation came together. There’s a lot of craft hidden inside each frame—layer separations, lighting setups, and camera passes that all contribute to the final experience.

Until then, I’m just proud. Proud of the work, proud of the process, and proud of what it represents. It’s not every day you get to contribute to the legacy of Purple Rain, collaborate with someone as iconic as Apollonia, and walk away with a Telly Award for your efforts.

Every time I hear those first chords of Purple Rain or spot someone wearing that shirt, I’m reminded that creativity, when done with heart and intention, can still make waves—no matter where you’re based.