If you’ve been in St. Pete long enough, you know this city has a knack for characters. Artists, musicians, dreamers, chefs – we’ve got a little of everything.
Add filmmaker and storyteller Kerry McNally to that list, because his on-man shop, St. Pete Films, is quietly shaping how the Burg looks to the rest of the world. Think of him as part director, part salesman, part stand-up comic – with just enough Marine grit to keep things moving on schedule.
McNally isn’t your average guy with a camera. He grew up on Long Island in a family where theater was practically a second language. His parents and siblings were always on stage, so he learned early how to grab an audience’s attention.
Later, he joined the Armed forces Radio and Television Service – “we called it A FARTS,” he jokes – pounding on the studio door in Okinawa until they let him in. He became “Devil Dog,” a radio host with Marine’s grit and a comedian’s timing. It’s the kind of story you could only get by cornering him over a beer at Ferg’s.
That mix of hustle and humor still fuels St. Pete Films today. McNally has helmed projects that range from $50,00 commercials to one-off promos for restaurants and musicians. His client list is stacked – Feather Sound Country Club, the National Navy SEAL Museum, Ferg’s Sports Bar, law firms, landscapers, even consumer product brands.
At Pebble Beach, He’s run the media for the Legends Invitational for ten years straight, adding slick drone footage and fresh creative that helped boost membership numbers. Back home, he’s just as likely to be capturing the energy of a bar expansion at Ferg’s as he is polishing a national campaign.
But what really sets him apart is how personal it all feels. “It’s always me,” he says. “A client can call me anytime if they want to make changes. I really listen to the client and create content that moves the needle to make sales.”
Translation: you’re not dealing with a faceless agency – you’re talking to the guy who’s probably editing your video in a coffee shop on Central Ave, earbuds in, laughing at his own punchlines.
And yes, he’s funny, McNally has done stand-up and TV hosting, and he leans on humor whenever it fits. “It’s really difficult to break through, no matter the campaign, but humor always helps,” he says. “And if needed, I’ve got comedians on speed dial.”
Like the city he calls home, McNally is growing fast. He sees St. Pete Films expanding in scale and reach over the next five years, right alongside the Burg’s own boom.
But if you ask him, the magic isn’t in size – it’s in staying nimble, creative, and just unpredictable enough to keep things interesting.
That’s what makes his work stand out. Because in St. Pete, where stories are always waiting to be told, McNally and his camera aren’t just capturing them – they’re giving them life.