MAKE/FILMS

What MAKE/FILMS does

MAKE/FILMS is a privately held, full-service video production company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (841 N Prince Street). The company produces commercials, branded content, social media videos, training films, documentaries, and feature films, serving a roster of enterprise clients including Chicco USA, New Holland Agriculture, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Armstrong Flooring, Sight & Sound Theatres, Terro, Discover Lancaster, and Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County, alongside original content IP such as the Emmy-nominated 'Dismantling Democracy' docuseries (PBS, Amazon Prime), the feature film 'Brave the Dark' (co-produced with Aristos Films, starring Jared Harris), and the stop-motion short 'C'est Un Loup'. Production operations use professional cinema equipment from Arri, RED, Panasonic, and Canon, with post-production executed in Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and DaVinci Resolve; a multi-deliverable campaign model is a stated capability, exemplified by a 60-video ecosystem delivered to Chicco.

The company monetizes primarily through project-based professional-services fees tied to commercial video and film production engagements, supplemented by co-production economics from original feature and documentary content (distributed via PBS, Amazon Prime Video, and American Public Television), and a smaller direct-to-consumer merchandise line via SHOP/MAKE. Pricing is quote-driven and custom per project, with no publicly disclosed standard tiers. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, targeting mid-market and enterprise brands through portfolio marketing, case studies, and awards-based credibility, supported by a website hub (makefilms.cc), Vimeo/Instagram/Facebook social presence, and the MAKE/IMPACT podcast.

MAKE/FILMS is founder-owned and operated by Derek Dienner (Executive Producer/Director/Founder), with a core team of approximately 10-15 full-time members spanning directing, cinematography, editing, animation, producing, art direction, client solutions, and sales/operations, supplemented by freelance crew for larger productions (Brave the Dark mobilized 100+ cast and crew). The firm has received a Capital Emmy nomination, multiple Telly Awards (Gold, Silver, Bronze in 2021), ADDY Gold, and ADDY Best of Show, and completed a $2.79M funding round in August 2021 (investors undisclosed). Customer concentration is tilted toward a handful of multi-deliverable enterprise engagements, and the company has no disclosed external institutional ownership beyond the single funding event.

Name

MAKE/FILMS

Legal name

Make Films

Website

https://makefilms.cc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MAKE/FILMS is a Lancaster, PA-based, full-service video production company founded in 2014 that produces commercials, branded content, documentaries, and feature films for mid-market and enterprise clients such as Chicco USA, New Holland Agriculture, and Armstrong Flooring, with original content distributed on PBS and Amazon Prime.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Production Companies (Live-Action) (MPAAAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Video Production & Post-Production (BPAFAIAB), Scripted Feature Film Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAA)

Keywords

• Video production services
• Commercial film production
• Branded content creation
• Documentary series production
• Feature film production

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Commercial Video Production: Project-based fees for commercials, branded content, product videos, and social media content for client brands. Pricing varies by project scope, duration, and deliverables.
2. Film Production: Feature film and documentary production, including co-productions with distribution deals (Amazon Prime, PBS). Revenue from production services, co-production partnerships, and distribution arrangements.
3. Original Content / Shop: Merchandise sales through shopmakefilms.cc including t-shirts, crewnecks, beanies, and notebooks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MAKE/FILMS is a full-service video production company that creates commercials, branded social content, feature films, documentaries, and short films for brands and organizations. The company produces content ecosystems with multiple deliverables from a single strategic initiative, handling concept development through final post-production. They also distribute original content via Amazon Prime Video and PBS, and operate a branded merchandise store.

Product overview

MAKE/FILMS is a full-service video production company based in Lancaster, PA, offering a portfolio of interconnected services centered on compelling visual storytelling. The core offerings span commercial video production (films, commercials, social content), original documentary and feature film content, and branded merchandise. The commercial production arm delivers client work including product videos, brand storytelling, and virtual tours across multiple distribution channels. The original content division produces documentaries (Dismantling Democracy, Love Letters to Vietnam, The Uganda Artist), feature films (Brave the Dark), and short-form content (C'est Un Loup stop-motion). Supporting offerings include the MAKE/IMPACT podcast and SHOP/MAKE merchandise line.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Video Production Full-service commercial video production including concept development, filming, and post-production for brands and businesses seeking impactful advertising content.
• Film Production Feature film and TV production services, including co-production partnerships and original content development.
• Social Content Production Social media video content creation for distribution across multiple channels, designed for brand engagement and social marketing campaigns.
• Virtual Tour/Virtual Experience Immersive virtual tour experiences using tracking dolly shots and animated elements to showcase physical spaces, such as the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute virtual tour.
• Brave the Dark Feature drama film co-produced with Aristos Films, starring Jared Harris and Nicholas Hamilton. Based on the true story of Stan Deen and his student Nate Deen.
• Dismantling Democracy Emmy-nominated three-part documentary series examining the history, current state, and future of democracy in the United States and worldwide. Narrated by Tara Setmayer.
• C'est Un Loup Stop-motion animated short film about an isolated old man in the woods who learns lessons following an encounter with a wolf.
• SHOP/MAKE Merchandise Online store offering branded merchandise including t-shirts, crewnecks, beanies, and notebooks featuring inspirational designs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Armstrong Flooring email campaign achieved 35% open rate, 10% above manufacturing industry standard. The Office Nemesis became second-most-viewed commercial on Armstrong's YouTube channel within a year.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Triode MediaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Presented 'in association with Triode Media' for Brave the Dark film. Provided studio and equipment support.
• Sight & Sound TheatresmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Collaboration on trailers for DAVID stage production. MAKE/FILMS handled trailer production while Sight & Sound teams created concept, storyboards, and handled post-production with outside company.
• Community Action Partnership of Lancaster CountyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Partnership to produce Sincerely, Crispus Attucks content for Juneteenth Celebration. MAKE/FILMS donated production services for the Crispus Attucks Community Center.
• Aristos FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021Co-production partnership for Brave the Dark feature film. Aristos Films, owned and operated by international producers with over 100 years combined experience, partnered with MAKE/FILMS for production. Grant Bradley served as producer.
• Inspiring FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Initial development partner for Brave the Dark. Inspiring Films discovered the story and partnered with MAKE/FILMS for local production expertise.
• American Public TelevisionmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Distribution partner for Dismantling Democracy documentary series through American Public Television.
• PBScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Broadcast distribution partner for Dismantling Democracy docuseries. Series aired on PBS stations nationwide.
• Amazon Prime VideocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Streaming distribution partner for Dismantling Democracy. Series available on Amazon Prime.
• University of Virginia's Center for PoliticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to produce Dismantling Democracy, a 3-part docuseries examining democracy in America and worldwide. MAKE/FILMS handled production while UVA's Center for Politics provided concept, experts, and distribution connections. Executive producers Glenn Crossman and Larry Sabato from UVA Center for Politics were involved.
• VPM (Virginia Public Media)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership for Dismantling Democracy docuseries production and broadcast. VPM provided distribution through Virginia Public Media stations and platform support for the documentary series.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Variable: Variable is a content production company specializing in commercials, brand films, and integrated campaigns for major brands. It is directly comparable to MAKE/FILMS as a similarly-sized commercial and branded content production shop competing for the same enterprise video budgets.
• London Alley Entertainment: London Alley is a commercial and music video production company producing high-end branded campaigns and content for global brands. It is a direct peer to MAKE/FILMS in live-action commercial production, multi-deliverable campaign workflows, and creative-driven sales motion.
• Strike Anywhere: Strike Anywhere is a commercial and content production company producing branded films, social content, and multi-platform campaigns for consumer brands. It is directly comparable to MAKE/FILMS in service mix (commercials, branded content, social) and customer profile (mid-to-large consumer brands).
• Arts&Science: Arts&Science is a creative studio and production company producing commercials, films, and brand content for brands and agencies. It is a direct peer to MAKE/FILMS in creative-led commercial production and brand storytelling offerings.
• Whitelist Collective: Whitelist is a commercial production and creative shop producing commercials and branded campaigns for major brands. It is directly comparable to MAKE/FILMS in commercial production focus, creative-led positioning, and enterprise client orientation.
• Believe Media: Believe Media is a commercial production company producing commercials, branded content, and short films for agencies and brands. It is a direct peer to MAKE/FILMS in commercial content production and live-action branded storytelling.
• Furlined: Furlined is a commercials and branded content production company known for narrative-led brand films. It is directly comparable to MAKE/FILMS in commercial production emphasis on storytelling and branded content for enterprise clients.
• Sanctuary Content: Sanctuary Content is a commercial and content production studio producing campaigns and brand films across multiple channels. It is a direct peer to MAKE/FILMS in multi-deliverable commercial production and integrated branded content offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Radical Media: Radical Media is a long-established, larger commercial and documentary production company producing premium brand films, commercials, and feature documentaries. It is a broad incumbent peer to MAKE/FILMS — same commercial/documentary offering stack but at meaningfully greater scale and brand-recognition footprint.
• B-Reel: B-Reel is an established creative and content production studio producing commercials, digital content, and brand experiences globally. It is a broad incumbent peer to MAKE/FILMS in commercial and branded content production, operating at substantially larger scale and international footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/makefilmco
• Instagraminstagram.com/bravethedarkfilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/makefilmsco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MAKE/FILMS