Early Light Media

09/04/2025

Ever had a shoot fall apart… then somehow turn into the best thing you’ve ever filmed?

That’s the dance between process and intuition. One keeps you grounded, the other lets you chase the magic.

At 12pm ET today David and Darren are dropping the very first episode of our new series, "Get in the Van," conversations in the proverbial crew sprinter van about filmmaking process, tools and trends.

We’ll break down how to balance both forces — and share some war stories from sets where everything went off-script (in the best way).

Keep an eye out — We’ll drop the link in the comments when it goes live. 👇

Which side do you rely on more: process or intuition?

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08/27/2025

Trust in AI-labeled content drops 50%.

That means half your audience is tuning out the moment they see “AI.”

The internet is full of polished but hollow campaigns. What people want now isn’t more content—it’s connection.

That’s why humans are becoming the premium in marketing. Real stories. Real people. Real trust. Capture the Human Experience.

We just published a new article on why authenticity is the new luxury in video—and how brands can cut through the noise.

👉 Read it here:

In a sea of AI content, authentic video storytelling builds trust. Discover why human-driven video production is now a premium in marketing.

08/19/2025

“Removing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting out of the media landscape means the world becomes much more impoverished.” – Robb Moss

As a doc filmmakers, that hits hard. Our work isn’t just content—it’s cultural memory.

PBS has been a home for independent documentaries for more than 50 years. But with the closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, nonfiction storytellers have to figure out a way forward.

08/13/2025

Most case studies? Pretty forgettable.
A little text. A few stats. Maybe a nice quote.

But your audience isn’t lingering on that. They’re scrolling. Fast.

That’s why we create every case study with a 3-part video stack:
🎯 A short teaser that stops the scroll
🎯 A hero video that tells the story
🎯 A behind-the-scenes piece that builds trust

One shoot day. Three videos. A whole lot more impact.

Here’s how to do it for your next project 👇
https://earlylightmedia.com/why-every-case-study-needs-a-3-part-video-stack-and-how-to-build-one/

Learn how a 3-part video stack boosts case study impact with award-winning video production and animation that drives real B2B results.

08/08/2025

Some of the craziest, most beautiful drone shots we’ve ever captured—and one guy behind the bird: our DP, Jonathan Mount.
He’s flown over mountaintops, through jungle canopies, across oceans, and yeah... even dodged bullets once in Mexico (that story’s in the video 👀).
Jon doesn’t just fly drones. He knows how to move the camera to tell a story—and that’s what separates amateur footage from the kind of cinematic stuff you see here.
We sat down with him to break it all down: how he plans shots, chooses gear, and gets the most out of every frame.
🎬 Full interview is up on YouTube — https://youtu.be/cOBO23AYigg?si=8hjww5yGKIEqoaXu
For filmmakers, drone nerds, or anyone who loves great visuals—this one’s worth a watch.

08/06/2025

The J Team (Jon & Jess) are picking out the perfect locations for a tigeriffic client!

08/01/2025

💙 9 year partnership. Countless stories. One powerful mission.
Last night, College Bound had another unforgettable Annual Event (especially with the weather)—celebrating the dreams, grit, and futures of Baltimore’s next generation of college grads. We’ve been proud to partner with for nearly a decade, helping tell these deeply moving stories.
If you’re looking for a way to make real impact in this world—this is it. Nonprofits like CollegeBound are changing lives every day, but they can’t do it alone. Consider supporting their work. It matters now more than ever.
Here are some screen grabs from last night, captured by our DP 🎥
🎓 collegeboundfoundation.org


07/29/2025

FREE STUFF + 30-SECOND SURVEY
We’re giving away T-shirts, mugs, and hats to say thanks—and we want to get to know YOU better.

Are you a filmmaker? A marketer? Somewhere in between?
Hit our stories today, answer a few quick polls, and you’re in.

- 1 minute = chance to win
- Schwag for first 20 people
- Plus a free filmmaking PDF at the end

👆 Tap our stories & vote now!

07/25/2025

You’ve got the story. The footage looks great. But if your film still isn’t landing… it might be your main character.

In this video, Darren Durlach is breaking down how to know if someone is strong enough to carry a doc—and the subtle red flags that can save you months in post.

📺 Watch here → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucvBAsUN-8Y

Learn how to spot the difference between a strong, relatable documentary character (subject) vs a polished performer before it's too late. 🎯Download our FR...

07/22/2025

Great storytelling lives in the tension between what we hope will happen… and what might go wrong.

“Drama is anticipation mingled with uncertainty.” – William Archer

06/15/2025

Happy Father’s Day from our shoot! 🎉 Today, our incredible Director and talented DP – both proud dads themselves – are rolling with a slate that perfectly captures the spirit of the day: “PAPA!” Coincidence? We think not!

Wishing all the amazing dads out there a very special day!

05/15/2025

That’s a wrap on season 1 of Pati Jinich Explores Panamericana. Last night was the season finale and if you didn’t catch it, you can still watch on website. And fun fact, if you’re wondering why Darren calls it American Intersections in the wrap call, it’s because it was our working title through production until Pati came up with its current title, which is quite a lot catchier in our opinion.

And while it’s easy to share photos of the wonderful crew in the field, that’s only a small part of the team who made this happen for us. Thank you to our incredible post team, Pati’s amazing team, and our incredible partners at who helped shepherd the process. It takes an army of dedicated people who worked tirelessly for months to bring these shows to life. You guys absolutely killed it. Thank you!

ELM’s Post team
- editing and post supervision
- Post supervisor
- line producer
- Senior editor
Scott Snider - editor
Jesus Silva - editor
- supervising producer
- story producer
- story producer
- story producer
Post producers - Heidi Torma & Lauren Schild
Post sound - Andrew Eppig &
Color - Rob Brown
QC specialist - Caitlyn Johannesburg
Animators - , , Kellee Roeder
Accounting - Jessica Schemick

Pati’s Team
Director of communications -
Admin & community outreach - Pilar Orozco

PBS
Executive in charge of- Zara Frankel
Assistant director, Programming for PBS - Carlos Colon-Raldiris