Once Was Media creates video stories using a variety of mediums. In addition to creating our own fun and/or informative videos to share with the public free of charge on our YouTube channel (Once Was Media), we offer a wide range of video production services to help other organizations tell their stories. From HISTORICAL SKETCHES documented through careful curation to MUSEUM & CULTURAL MEDIA happenings to CLOSED-CIRCUIT PRESENTATIONS and even FICTION & LIVING FOLKLORE—our styles are as varied as history itself. Contact us to find out more, and enjoy this sampling below.
Once Was Media—An Introduction
Published Jan 25, 2026. Once Was Media produces videos, texts, and visual media that bring shadows of the past back into focus. It's about capturing stories—giving voice to what has been forgotten, and shape to memories that refuse to stay still. It is about what Once Was.
USS S-4 Disaster of 1927
Published Apr 21, 2026. Thirty-four men were lost, while six survived for nearly three days in a sealed compartment as rescue crews battled severe conditions to reach them. However, they were without food, heat, and light. And unless rescue was swift, they had little chance of survival. This short film recounts the events of those 63 hours, one of the most haunting submarine disasters in U.S. naval history.
Ocean View Cemetery, Post Road, Wells ME
Published Feb 12, 2026. Tucked along Post Road, Ocean View Cemetery holds generations of Wells’ history. From 1700s slate stones to newer markers, the landscape reflects the families who lived and worked along the Maine coast. A modest Civil War memorial stands quietly among them—a reminder that even small towns carry deep stories.
Polar Plunge—A Tradition As Old As the Cold Itself
Published Feb 14, 2026. Each winter, the tradition of the polar plunge gathers friends, families, and even sweethearts to brave icy waters together, forging bonds of endurance and affection. Originating in northern climates and embraced by clubs like the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, these plunges often fall on symbolic days—sometimes even Valentine’s Day—inviting participants to celebrate renewal and shared resolve with a splash.
Introduction to Colonial Era Cape Cod Graves and Graveyards
Published Jan 25, 2026. Discover Cape Cod’s early history through its graves, markers, and forgotten burial sites. Once Was Media explores how the past endures in the landscapes we overlook. This video is part of a series exploring the graves of Cape Cod, from churchyards and family plots to specialized burial grounds and isolated, forgotten graves.
Nye Museum—"Voices & Votes" Exhibit
Published Feb 18, 2026. The Nye Museum in Sandwich, Massachusetts has been hosted the traveling Smithsonian exhibition "Voices & Votes: Democracy in America." We were honored to receive a personal tour of the exhibit and are deeply grateful to Amy and Avery for their time, insight, and generosity. Their knowledge brought the material to life and offered a powerful reminder of how the American democratic story continues to evolve.
JAWSfest: Echoes from Amity, Episode 5
Published Sept 25, 2025. This series of stories from JAWSfest: The Tribute (2012) captures the voices of cast, crew, and fans who helped shape the legacy of the movie Jaws. This episode, hosted by SFX legend Greg Nicotero, dives into the ingenuity and limitations of practical effects. Production designer Joe Alves explains how some constraints actually shaped our favorite unforgettable sequences and legendary scenes. (From our partners at Moore Media.)
Presentation at Truro Historical Society: The Guardians of the Dunes
Published summer 2025. Welcome to this special preview of Once Was Media's documentary-in-progress, Guardians of the Dunes. This is an excerpt from a presentation given at the Highland House Museum in North Truro, MA on June 18, 2025.
Volunteering at the Woods Hole Film Festival
Published July 27, 2025. Once Was Media's Ralph Moore volunteered at the Woods Hole Film Festival 2025. Hear about some of the films that premiered there this past summer.
Look Closer—Exhibit Orientation Sample Video
Look Closer is a short, looping orientation video designed for museum, zoo, aquarium, and cultural institution entry spaces. The piece encourages visitors to slow down, observe detail, and engage more thoughtfully with the experience ahead. Designed to run silently or with subtle sound, this loop can be adapted for specific exhibits, themes, or venues.
Stories Told in Winter: The Black Dog of Christmas
Published Jan 25, 2026. The Black Dog of Christmas belongs to Stories Told in Winter, a collection devoted to New England’s winter folklore.
Stories Told in Winter: The Frozen Bells of Deerfield
Published Feb 27, 2026. This legend originates from Deerfield, MA, where extreme winter cold was known to silence meetinghouse bells. Deerfield, a colonial frontier shaped by hardship and the 1704 Raid, viewed winter as a true test. Locals saw bells move but heard nothing during deep freezes, attributed to frozen ropes and muffled acoustics. Over time, these silent bells became symbols of winter loss and absence.
Stories Told in Winter: The Winter Visitor
Published Jan 25, 2026. The Winter Visitor belongs to Stories Told in Winter, a collection devoted to New England’s winter folklore.
The Witch of Wellfleet
Published March 9, 2026. Learn about the pirate Sam Bellamy, the Whydah, and the sad life and death of his lover, Mehitabel Brown.
Stories Told in Winter: The Widow's Walk Lights
Published March 19, 2026. Today, the last day of winter, we present our final installment of this season’s Stories Told in Winter, a collection devoted to New England’s winter folklore.