Beyond the Porch is a film production company specializing in branded video content. We produce high-quality, cinematic films for brands, marketing agencies, and communication firms.
We also develop feature films and documentaries. “It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy…let’s go exploring!”
– ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ by Bill Watterson
Beyond the Porch was founded in 2012 by University of Southern California film students Edd Benda and Alex Bell. With a shared passion for adventures and storytelling, Edd and Alex heeded the words of Bill Watterson and set out to explore the world
We also develop feature films and documentaries. “It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy…let’s go exploring!”
– ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ by Bill Watterson
Beyond the Porch was founded in 2012 by University of Southern California film students Edd Benda and Alex Bell. With a shared passion for adventures and storytelling, Edd and Alex heeded the words of Bill Watterson and set out to explore the world
Operating as usual
We're delighted to announce that our two films for Steelite International America – Farmer Lee and Elizabeth Blau – are Telly Awards Gold winners in the category! We're honored to be included in this year's list of impressive winners like PepsiCo, West Elm, and UPS. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen! Check out the listings here: https://lnkd.in/gi6Fec8T
It's been a busy six months at Beyond the Porch! We're thrilled to share that we have wrapped up a successful campaign for Steelite International America. The campaign included a live-streamed variety show premiering two original spotlighting Farmer Lee Jones and Elizabeth Blau, followed by festival screenings, awards, and record customer engagement for Steelite. Read the press release to learn more:
December 7, 2021 (Los Angeles, CA) – Beyond the Porch wrapped up a successful six-month branded content campaign, “The Virtual ,” for Steelite International, a world-leading hospitality supplier. Launched on May 24, the campaign included a live-streamed variety show premieri...
We'd like to introduce you to our new Head of Business Development Kyle Montiel! Born and raised in San Diego, Kyle brings his experience in sales and customer relationship management for clients in a variety of industries to the Beyond the Porch team. We can't wait to see what his future at Beyond the Porch will hold. Welcome Kyle!
"I get excited telling people's stories—giving them a platform, stepping back, and getting out of the way." -- Stephen Helstad on the WILDsound Podcast discussing the making of documentary 'Elizabeth Blau'. Listen to find out what went into the creation of this film, from site scouting, camera angles, filming during a pandemic, and openly sharing Elizabeth Blau's story.
Show WILDsound: The Film Podcast, Ep November 12, 2021 - Filmmaker Stephen Helstad (Steelite International | Elizabeth Blau) - Nov. 12, 2021
We're excited to announce that our documentary "Farmer Lee Jones" has been named a 2021 Utopia Film Festival official selection. The festival, which is happening this weekend in Greenbelt, Maryland, highlights films that explore the challenge of humanity’s never-ending quest for a better world. Learn more here: https://www.utopiafilmfestival.org/
Our short branded documentary "Elizabeth Blau" is streaming for free for 24 hours as a part of the Documentary Short Film Festival. This festival has a terrific lineup of the best documentary short films from around the world, watch them here: https://vimeo.com/642588637
Our film "Farmer Lee" won the Audience Choice & Jury Award for Best Documentary Short Film at the Prescott Film Festival! We're so happy to have gotten the opportunity to spend time with Farmer Lee Jones after so many months.
We're honored to receive MarCom Platinum awards for both of the films we created with our brand partner Steelite International: Farmer Lee and Elizabeth Blau. Thanks to the entire team involved, and thank you to MarCom for the award!
We are thrilled to announce that our short “Farmer Lee”, directed by Stephen Helstad and produced by Edd Benda, received an Official Selection for the 2021 Oscar®-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival! Special thanks to our partners Steelite International America and The Chef's Garden for making this a reality.
Tickets to the “Farmer Lee” screening on Thursday, September 30th at 12pm PST are available here: hollyshorts.com
The summer heat took us to a cool spot for our next On the Porch episode! Stephen Helstad sat down with film editor Nick Wright to discuss the iterative editing process for our recent project with Steelite International America about Farmer Lee Jones. Watch the full interview and read the rest of our summer newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/1549bbf768aa/welcome-to-our-porch-chat-series-19226606 https://vimeo.com/569494174
Stephen Helstad sat down with film editor Nick Wright to discuss the iterative editing process for our recent project with Steelite about Farmer Lee Jones. Farmer…
Hosting a virtual or hybrid event this year? BTP knows the drill. We recently produced the live, virtual for Steelite International America from their showrooms in Chicago and Youngstown, Ohio, hosted in place of the National Restaurant Association Show. We captured spotlights with and leaders on product updates and industry trends as well as premiered two we produced. Check it out here:
The National Restaurant Show was cancelled, so Steelite is bringing the show to you! The “Virtual , Relaunching the Industry Together” is ...
Exciting news! “Repo," produced by Edd benda, is now available for streaming on Beyond the Short, a platform that curates the latest short films from today’s independent filmmakers. Watch "Repo” for free here: https://www.beyondtheshort.com/watch/repo-aaron-rovner
“Repo” By Aaron Rovner Short Film11mins Apr 6 Written By Beyond the Short Michael repossesses cars on the streets of Los Angeles. He’s young and he thinks he has nothing to lose, but will this next repo be just another paycheck, or will the high-risk nature of his job and his lifestyle finally...
We’re thrilled that "The Kids Table" will be screened at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival this Monday, 4/19! In this comedy directed by Stephen Helstad, Edd Benda, Monique Thomas, Paul Stanko & Stefanie Woodburn go head-to-head against competitors generations older on the National Bridge Circuit. Learn more here:
https://jdiff2021.eventive.org/films/605a117cf5497d00b41abab0
Edd Benda was featured on the Indie Film Hustle's Filmmaking Conversations podcast with Damien Swaby! Hear about Edd’s experience co-founding BTP right out of college and more about the strategies and creative process he brings to his work! Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-109-edd-benda-ceo-at-btp-media-filmmaker-video-producer/id1260717243?i=1000516359367
Show Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby, Ep Ep 109: Edd Benda, CEO at BTP Media | Filmmaker & Video Producer - 8 Apr 2021
Last month Edd Benda ran in his sixth consecutive Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles 5k with his little brother Aylan. They were joined virtually by thousands of Angelenos who ran, walked, biked or hiked in their neighborhoods - ultimately raising $100k for BBBS LA. Thank you to everyone who supported this cause!
Our short film “Repo” had its official online premiere on Film Shortage! We’re so excited to present this thriller written and directed by Aaron Rovner who provides some insight into his inspiration behind the film and its unexpected emotional ending. Watch it here:
“Repo” tells the story of a young car repossession agent named Michael who ends up learning the hard way that in his line of work, there’s more at stake than just his own life.
There's no better time for an On the Porch interview than with spring in bloom. Edd Benda sat down with film and TV composer Jeff Tinsley to discuss his creative process and current trends in film scoring. Check out the video to find out more!
Edd Benda chats with Jeff Tinsley about his experience as a film composer. Guest - Jeff Tinsley | www.jefftinsleymusic.com Host - Edd Benda |
Were you a fan of The Queen’s Gambit? Then you won’t want to miss The Kids Table – our feature documentary about competitive bridge! Big thanks to Soundview Media Partners for recently reviewing the film and serving as a great filmmaker partner helping to bring independent documentaries to educational and public institutions everywhere.
Read the review below and watch the film here: https://lnkd.in/gb3DQhV
If there’s anything we’ve learned in the past year, it’s the importance of initiatives. This is why we are thrilled that the Healthcare Digital Marketing Awards has honored two of our videos (produced in partnership with Fraser Communications) for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's M**h Free LA Campaign! Check out of one the videos here:
This is "LADPH | Come Back" by BTP Media on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
"In , there's a saying in the industry: If you've done your job well, then no one should see what you did." Edd Benda sat with and wiz Aaron Rovner to dig into visual effects and how this expertise enhances his role as a . Plus, learn how VFX were integrated into our "Repo"! Watch now:
Edd Benda chats with Aaron Rovner about his experience working in visual effects, and how that translates to his work as a director. Guest - Aaron Rovner | Host…
Do you find yourself wondering, "How did they do that?" while watching a ? We sat down with director and wizard Aaron Rovner to demystify in . Subscribe to our "On the Porch" newsletter to watch the full interview with Aaron and catch a sneak peek of our film "Repo"! Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/g1MWPr
Wow! Our “Come Back from M**h” campaign with Fraser Communications recently won the 2020 MarCom Awards Platinum Award. Thank you Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for working relentlessly to improve the health and wellness of our fellow Angelenos - we're honored to assist in your efforts. Watch the below:
This is "LADPH | The Struggle Is Real Here" by BTP Media on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
We are excited to announce that our short film “Repo” was selected for official inclusion at the HollyShorts Film Festival, which starts today! Congrats to writer and director Aaron Rovner and our team members whose hard work made this possible.
P.S. This marks BTP Co-founder Edd Benda’s second time at the festival, where his short film “The Hipster Werewolf” was screened in 2013!
Check out the line-up here:
http://www.hollyshorts.com/2020-official-selections
The day is finally here! The world premiere of our short film “Repo” is today at the L.A. Shorts International Film Festival. So proud of our team members who were involved in this fun project: Edd Benda, Stephen Helstad, Alexander Herman, Monique Thomas & Aaron Rovner. Watch the film for free here:
SUBSCRIBE to watch the best short films: https://www.youtube.com/LAShortsFest?sub_confirmation=1 For 24 years we have programmed the world’s best short films...
The L.A. Shorts International Film Festival is well underway, so we are counting down the days until Oct 8th when the shorts will be screened, including our very own “Repo”! This follows Michael as he repossesses cars on the streets of Los Angeles – a high-risk job that could finally catch up with him. Take a sneak peek here: https://www.lashortsfest.com/drama-program-6?fbclid=IwAR3Mb6d7aW2H3pDyu5CoqcmNHSbQPW3XJZ_d9AZYxWlLpy1RJ6HXfstfpCc
Did you know that the L.A. Shorts International Film Festival starts tomorrow? We can’t wait as our short film “Repo” will be premiering on October 8. As things are a bit different this year, all films will be streamed live for free on YouTube. You won’t want to miss it! Learn more here: https://www.lashortsfest.com/drama-program-6
Join Edd Benda "On The Porch" for a discussion on Development, the first phase in the process. He'll share three key questions you'll want to answer before moving forward with a project to set it up for success. Watch the short video & read the full article here: https://www.btpmedia.com/on-the-porch/developing-video-content-from-scratch
Join us On the Porch as Edd Benda discusses Development. Article:
Happy Friday! We’ve got some good news. Our videos for LA County Department Of Public Health's Manage Pain Safely campaign were recognized in the 2020 Healthcare Advertising Awards. Thanks Fraser Communications for an amazing partnership! Learn more about the awards here: https://healthcare-advertising-awards.com/winners-list/winners-list-2020/
This is "LA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH | Make It Stop" by BTP Media on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
Don’t forget to “Read the Credits”! In this month’s Porch Chat, Edd Benda gives a special shoutout to some of the important yet lesser-known roles involved in . Watch the video and check out the short article to learn more about the critical people involved in producing our favorite content: https://www.btpmedia.com/blog/read-the-credits
Edd Benda discusses some of the roles involved in production as part of the new segment: "Read the Credits!" "Friends" // "The One with…
Greetings from the Porch! In the next installment of our Porch Chat Series, Edd Benda discusses the Three Act Structure of and how to use this helpful device in . Check out the video and short article to find out more: https://www.btpmedia.com/blog/the-three-act-structure
Edd Benda provides and overview of The Three Act Structure in the third episode of "Porch Chats" from BTP Media. Article: https://www.btpmedia.com/blog/the-three-act-structure
ICYMI: Edd Benda and his Little Brother Aylan were featured on NBC LA! The piece covers the recent rise in volunteer mentor sign-ups for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles – our local community chapter for the incredible nationwide mentorship organization we are proud to support. Find out how you can get involved as a Big Brother or Sister today: https://bbbsla.org/volunteer/
Rovon was 10 years old when Chris Smith became his mentor. “I feel that I have a responsibility; we all have a responsibility to give back,” Smith, a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters LA, said. That desire to give back has taken hold in Los Angeles in the past few weeks, as people turn their o...
Next up for this week's are top picks from DP / Producer Xander Herman featuring some of our favorite actors. For Fans of...
- Joaquin Phoenix: Her
- Ryan Gosling: Lars and the Real Girl
- Sam Rockwell: Moon
Happy weekend viewing!
Our next Porch Chat is here! This month, we delve into the five key phases of the filmmaking process for anyone looking to dive into this growing area of content creation. Hear from CEO Edd Benda on the steps involved in bringing a video project to life and read the accompanied article to learn more: https://www.btpmedia.com/beyondtheporch
Edd Benda discusses The Filmmaking Process in the second episode of "Porch Chats" from BTP Media. Article: www.btpmedia.com/blog/five-phases-of-the-filmmaking-process
Now is a great time to give an animal a home! We love spending quality time with our pets and had a blast with fellow pet lovers at PetCon last year. Check out a sneak peak of this fun event for all things pet-related shot by Stephen Helstad.
PETCON
For this week's , we're sharing Co-Founder Stephen Helstad's top picks across genres. Pick and choose which is right for you for some Memorial Day weekend viewing:
- Crime drama: Better Call Saul
- Comedy: Last Man on Earth
- Horror: The Outsider
2015 N. San Fernando Rd.
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We're delighted to announce that our two films for Steelite International America – Farmer Lee and Elizabeth Blau – are Telly Awards Gold winners in the #documentary category! We're honored to be included in this year's list of impressive winners like PepsiCo, West Elm, and UPS. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen! Check out the listings here: https://lnkd.in/gi6Fec8T
Our team is super excited to share some cool updates with you! We dropped our new showreel and website -- and we can't wait to share it! See some of the incredible people and work we’ve created. It's what we love to do. https://www.btpmedia.com/ Our reel: https://vimeo.com/385072714
“The Kids Table” premieres this Sunday at the North American Bridge Championships in Las Vegas! Checkout the full trailer in bio! @bridgekidsdoc @acblbridge Directed by Stephen Helstad - @livelaughlurch Edd Benda - @eddbenda
We were born to make cheese, so let's get cooking! 😉
😇 Room 2018!
Nothing ruins your makeup tutorial like a messed up white balance. Our talented filmmakers keep colors true and lighting prime.
We are Beyond The Porch Productions!
A little throwback to filming with the incredible Aidette Cancino and Beautycon to produce this makeup tutorial in partnership with Bloomingdale's!
Jonathan Van Ness getting fierce for the Halo Room shoot.
This was our first day shooting in the Halo Room at beautyconLA! Doesn't Safai kill it on camera? It was such pleasure working with you!
Have you heard? BTP's very first feature film, Superior The Movie is now available on Amazon Prime , iTunes , YouTube , Hulu and other streaming platforms! If you haven't had a chance to see it, check it out! 👍🏻 #BTP #BeyondThePorch #SuperiorTheMovie
You can now OWN the award winning @superiorthemovie! Find out more about this coming of age film and preorder your copy TODAY to gain immediate access on September 2nd: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/superior/id1136910050 (link in our profile ☝️☝)
The Fifth and Main studios have a pretty awesome view of the Detroit River. #timelapse #detroit
We are so proud to be involved with @bbbsla! This weekend, Beyond the Porch's own "Big Brother" Edd Benda got to walk the runway with his "Little Brother" Aylan as part of the "Accessories for Success Scholarship Luncheon" charity fundraiser at the @beverlywilshire! Thank you to @ambervalletta for hosting such an incredible event, and to all of the amazing donors and sponsors who helped Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles give more than 60 college scholarships to "Littles" this year! We even had the esteemed privilege to film and produce the official "Fashion Show Shopping" video at wardrobe sponsor @goodwillsocal that we look forward to sharing soon! #bbbsla #BTPgivesback #mentor
