Inside
the Build

A short documentary built around one specific problem your company set out to solve, and the people who cared enough to keep pushing on it.

01 — The idea

Inside the Build is a 4 to 6 minute short documentary built around one specific problem your company set out to solve. Not your full company story. Not a product demo. Not a traditional corporate video.

The film focuses on one clear tension: the friction that sparked the work, the thinking behind the solution, and the people who made it real. We define that story together first. Then I film your team in the environment where the work actually happens and shape the piece into a grounded, human film that can live on your site, around a launch, in recruiting, or in a deck.

What tends to stay with people is not only what a company built, but why they cared enough to build it in the first place.
02 — The approach
What this is
A short documentary that helps people understand your company through one real story. It usually combines a relaxed on-camera interview, candid footage of your team and environment, details of the process, and a few short moments of the product in use. Every element serves the story. The goal is a film that feels true to the people behind the work.
What this is not
A company overview video, a polished talking-head piece, a product tour, or a heavy brand campaign. Those formats have their place. Inside the Build is more focused and specific. It works best when there is one real problem, one clear story, and a team willing to talk about the work honestly.

Every project begins with listening. Understanding not just what you want to say, but what story is actually worth telling. From there, we define the focus together and I shape the piece around that one thing, exploring and refining until it feels right.

My background is in documentary filmmaking, motion design, and brand storytelling. That mix lets me keep the film grounded in real people while also bringing the product into the frame naturally. Your actual UI appears on screen for a few seconds, not as a demo, but as a visual anchor that connects the human story to what you've built. Depending on scope, I bring in editors and additional crew. I direct, you get the right team for the job.

Three kinds of story this format tells

The human story is the same whether the subject is a restaurant, a campaign, or a data platform. The friction, the people, the decision to keep going. That part doesn't change. These three films show what that looks like in practice.

03 — How it works
01
Story Discovery
We spend time together getting into the product, the process, and the thinking behind it. The goal is to find the one specific tension the film should revolve around. That focus gets locked in before anything else moves forward.
60–90 min · Remote · Recorded
02
Story Focus Document
I put together a concise document mapping out the story direction, filming approach, interview questions, locations, b-roll ideas, and how the screen replacement would fit in. You review and approve it before we move forward.
3–5 days · 1 round of feedback
03
Production
We film in the place where the work actually happens, your office, studio, lab, or wherever the process lives. The shoot is kept simple and natural: relaxed conversations on camera, candid b-roll with natural light, and a few moments of the product in use. One shoot day covers most single-story projects. Two days for multiple locations or subjects.
1–2 days on site · depending on scope
04
Edit and Delivery
I shape the hero film, create the shorter cutdowns, and deliver everything ready to use across platforms. Two rounds of feedback are included. Once it's done, the film is fully yours with no usage restrictions and no licensing surprises.
2–3 weeks · 2 revision rounds · All files delivered
04 — What's included

Everything is built into the process from the start. No hidden costs for additional cuts or file formats.

Hero film
4–6 min · 4K
Primary asset
Social cutdowns
60s + 30s · 16:9 and 9:16
2 versions
Screen replacements
Your UI, naturally integrated into the film
Included
Licensed music
Original or licensed, depending on the piece
Perpetual
Raw interview footage
Full unedited recording
Optional
Full usage rights
Yours to keep and use freely
Yours forever
05 — Investment

Starting at $8,000. Most projects land between $8,000 and $14,000 depending on shoot days, travel, and post-production scope.

Once I understand the story, the team, and what makes the most sense for the piece, I put together a clear quote with no hidden add-ons. Bay Area shoots are included in the base rate. Travel outside the Bay Area is billed at cost.

06 — Why I make these
The story leads. The camera follows.

I've spent years making things move: motion graphics, stage visuals, brand films, design systems. But what keeps pulling me back is something simpler. People, and the stories behind what they're trying to make happen.

A lot of companies are full of people who became deeply invested in solving something specific. They saw a friction point, stayed with it, and kept building around it. That story is worth telling. And often, it doesn't get told in a way that feels human enough, because most formats try to explain everything at once instead of following one real thread.

The film I made for Andy in Ojai wasn't political. It was a portrait, filmed in his home, his garage, something personal. Nothing staged. The goal was simply to reveal who he was (and he is the Major oj Ojai now!). That same instinct is what I bring here. I put people first, shaping simple and honest ideas with clarity, always letting the message guide the craft.

Watch: Andy for Ojai ↗
Let's find the story
The first step is
a conversation.

A chance to see whether there's something here, whether the fit feels right, and what story might be worth following.

Get in touch