What Muse Storytelling does

Muse Storytelling is a Portland-based, privately held film studio and filmmaker education company founded in 2014 by Patrick Moreau. The company operates two divisions: The Studio, an Emmy-winning production house producing premium documentaries (The Britto Doc, The Highest of Stakes, Unbecoming) and brand storytelling campaigns for enterprise clients including Apple, Nike, Four Seasons, Stantec, NFL, the United Nations, and HubSpot; and Story First, an education platform built around the proprietary "Muse Process" (the Science of Story / 4 Pillars: People, Plot, Places, Purpose) that trains filmmakers through a 5-step ecosystem — community membership ($50/year), a free flagship Science of Storytelling course, the Musey AI mentor ($997/year), 90-day mentorship ($5,000-$10,000), and an upcoming Muse Certification (2026).

The underlying technology is a codified storytelling methodology validated by 5 National Emmy Awards, peer-reviewed neurobiology research, and over 100 million cumulative audience impressions, packaged into a Decision Engine (Musey AI) trained on $100M in client results. Studio revenue is generated through project-based production fees (typically $500K-$1.5M per engagement) for documentary features, brand documentaries, mini-series, and hero films, plus strategic narrative consulting. Studio intake is intentionally capped at 4-6 brand projects per quarter. Education revenue is generated through community subscriptions, AI subscriptions, mentorship cohorts (10 filmmakers per quarter), the annual Story First Summit in Austin, TX (120-200 attendees, $497-$1,997), book sales, and a $100 premium filmmaking bundle.

The company is bootstrapped, founder-controlled, and operated by a small core team (~15 members) supplemented by contractors and mentors per production. Strategic positioning is built on scarcity (limited Studio capacity), science-credentialed differentiation (UN training, Emmy validation), and a clear enterprise-to-education flywheel: enterprise Studio credibility fuels filmmaker acquisition, while the filmmaker ecosystem generates referrals and an expanded brand storytelling pipeline. Self-disclosed annual revenue exceeds $2 million; triangulating Studio project economics, Education subscriptions, mentorship cohorts, and Summit ticket revenue places total revenue in the $5M-$10M band.

Name

Muse Storytelling

Legal name

Muse Storytelling

Website

https://musestorytelling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Muse Storytelling is an Emmy-winning private film studio and filmmaker education platform that produces premium documentaries and brand storytelling campaigns for enterprise clients (Apple, Nike, Four Seasons, Stantec) while running the Story First ecosystem — courses, Musey AI, mentorship, and an annual Summit — to train filmmakers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production and Storytelling Services

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510), Software Publishers (5132), Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO) (MPADADAK)

Keywords

• Documentary production
• Brand storytelling films
• Filmmaker education
• Storytelling methodology
• Strategic narrative consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Studio — Original Films & Documentaries: Emmy-winning documentary production for streaming platforms and theatrical release. Revenue from production budgets, streaming licensing, and distribution deals. Example productions include The Britto Doc, The Highest of Stakes ($1.5M budget), and Unbecoming ($500K production).
2. Studio — Brand Storytelling & Commercials: Premium brand film production for outdoor, adventure, and lifestyle brands. Produces documentary-format films, mini-series, and hero films. One production generates 50+ derivative assets for a year of content. Revenue from project-based production fees ($700K+ campaigns for global brands).
3. Studio — Strategic Narrative Consulting: High-ticket consulting for brand positioning and storytelling strategy. Offered as 'Done For You' strategic support under the 'Architect Lane' with limited capacity.
4. Education — Story First Academy: Multi-tier education ecosystem: Community membership ($50/year), flagship Science of Storytelling course (free/full access), Musey AI subscription ($997/year with 7-day free trial), 90-Day Mentorship ($5,000 Core or $10,000 Accelerator), and Summit tickets ($497-$1,997).
5. Permission-Less Book Sales: Physical book sold for $10 domestic / $15 international. Sold out immediately upon release.
6. Education — Premium Filmmaking Bundle: $100 bundle including Science of Storytelling video training (27 tutorials across 3 modules), Sales Psychology Accelerator manual, and Canva templates. Originally priced at $579. 100% lifetime money-back guarantee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Muse Storytelling operates an Emmy-winning film studio that produces original documentaries, brand storytelling campaigns, and strategic narrative consulting for enterprise brands and visionaries. Through its Story First Academy, the company also sells filmmaker education products—courses, AI mentorship (Musey AI), community memberships, a 90-day business mentorship program, an annual summit, and a certification—all built around its proprietary Muse Process science-backed storytelling methodology.

Product overview

Muse Storytelling is an Emmy-winning film studio (5 National Emmy Awards) offering documentary production and brand storytelling services alongside a comprehensive education platform. The Studio provides original documentary features (The Britto Doc, The Highest of Stakes, Unbecoming) and brand content (Gnarly Problems, Take Your Time) using the Muse Process methodology. The Story First education platform offers a 5-step path for filmmakers: Permission-Less book for mental frameworks, Story First Community ($50/year) for networking, The Science of Storytelling (free) as the flagship methodology course, Musey AI ($997/year) as an AI storytelling mentor, 90-Day Mentorship ($5,000-$10,000) for business transformation, and Muse Certification (2026) for professional credentials. Additional offerings include the annual Story First Summit, First Light Bootcamp, and the Psychology of Premium Filmmaking course ($100). The brand storytelling products include three content formats: Brand Documentary (15-45 min), Mini-Series (3-6 episodes), and Hero Film (2-5 min).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Musey: AI-powered strategic co-pilot for filmmakers, trained on $100M in client results and the proprietary Story Science methodology
• Story First
• Permission-Less
• Psychology of Premium Filmmaking
• Story First Summit
• Story-Led Business Engine
• The Path

Products and services

• Muse Studio — Documentary & Brand Film Production Emmy-winning film studio offering documentary production, brand storytelling campaigns, and strategic narrative consulting for brands, organizations, and visionaries. Production budgets range from $700K to $1.5M per project, with limited availability of 4–6 projects per quarter.
• Take Your Time (Four Seasons Campaign)

Quantifiable outcome

• 312% ROI over 12 months for documentary-format brand content
• +17 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ApplecoreOthersApple has commissioned Muse Storytelling for brand storytelling production. Listed among clients Muse has worked with across 100+ countries. Apple represents a top-tier client reference validating the studio's enterprise positioning.
• NikecoreOthersNike is listed as a client brand Muse has worked with in 100+ countries. Represents enterprise-level brand storytelling production engagement.
• United NationscoreOthersMuse was invited to the United Nations to train personnel on the Science of Storytelling methodology. This engagement, alongside Apple, represents the highest-profile training partnerships validating the methodology.
• Four Seasons Hotels and ResortscoreOthersFour Seasons commissioned Muse for a global brand campaign 'Take Your Time' with a $700K+ production budget. The campaign became Four Seasons' most viewed video ever (3.1M views) and won marketing awards. Represents a flagship case study for the studio.
• StanteccoreOthersStantec commissioned Muse for the 'Gnarly Problems' brand film released in 2024 to launch their new brand positioning. The film became Stantec's most-watched video ever. Shot across multiple continents.
• HubSpotminorOthersHubSpot is listed as a brand storytelling client alongside Four Seasons for global campaigns. A marketing technology company representing the B2B/saas brand segment.
• NFL (National Football League)coreOthersThe NFL commissioned Muse for a test shoot that became a 200-day contract for the entire year. The Army-Navy game documentary won four national Emmys including Best Sports Documentary of the Year. One of Muse's highest-impact early engagements.
• CanonminorOthersCanon turned an early wedding film by Patrick Moreau into a national commercial, playing on 200 TVs in Best Buy during prime-time TV shows. Canon also sent prototype cameras for test projects. Represents an early proof point for the Permission-Less methodology.
• Paul ZakminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRevolutionary neuroeconomist who 'cracked the code on human connection' and keynote speaker at the 2025 Story First Summit. His breakthrough technology can predict how stories rewire the brain and drive action. Represents intellectual alignment with Muse's science-backed storytelling methodology.
• The Otis and AC/Otis Hotels (Austin, TX)minorOthersThe Summit venue is connected to The Otis (premium property) and AC/Otis (more affordable). Muse covers one night free when attendees book two nights at either property, plus meals. Whiskey bar, rooftop pool, private dining, and exclusive bar access are part of the partnership.
• iTunes / Apple TVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for documentary releases. The Britto Doc is available on iTunes Video. The Highest of Stakes topped the iTunes charts at #1 Documentary. Streaming distribution is a key revenue and reach channel for original productions.
• Amazon Prime VideocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for documentary releases. The Highest of Stakes reached #1 Documentary on Amazon Prime. The Britto Doc is available on Prime Video. Represents a primary streaming platform alongside iTunes.
• YouTubeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution and streaming partner for The Britto Doc. Also functions as a content marketing channel with trailer/webclip distribution for documentary and brand film projects.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• VaynerProductions: VaynerProductions is Gary Vaynerchuk's full-service production company producing brand storytelling, documentaries, and social content at scale for major brands. It is a broad incumbent in the same premium brand-storytelling category as Muse's Studio, with significantly more scale and budget but less of a teaching/methodology focus.
• Sandow Design Group: Sandow Design Group operates a portfolio of design media brands (Interior Design, Luxe, Design Milk) plus live events (Salone del Mobile, ICFF). It is comparable to Muse as a hybrid media + education + events business targeting design and creative professionals, though at a much larger scale and focused on physical-product design.
• MasterClass: MasterClass is the dominant premium video-based education platform, offering celebrity-taught courses across filmmaking, writing, and creative disciplines. It overlaps with Muse's premium-course positioning but operates at much broader scale and with a different model (one-time fees, celebrity instructors, no filmmaker community).

Direct peers

• No Film School: No Film School is a leading filmmaker education publication and community covering craft, gear, and the business of filmmaking. It is comparable to Muse's community and education channels as a top-of-funnel resource for the same filmmaker audience Muse serves through Story First Academy.
• VidSummit: VidSummit is an annual conference and community for video creators, YouTubers, and video marketers. It is the closest analog to Muse's Story First Summit in format (annual in-person event) and audience (commercial video creators looking to scale their business), with overlapping themes of pricing, positioning, and AI-era adaptation.
• The Futur: The Futur is a creative business education platform and YouTube channel run by Chris Do that teaches designers, filmmakers, and creatives how to price, position, and sell premium services. It mirrors Muse's education-to-business-transformation funnel with courses, community, and mentorship, targeting the same 'creative trapped as vendor' persona.
• CreativeLive: CreativeLive is a self-serve online education platform offering premium courses on filmmaking, photography, and creative business. It overlaps with Muse's Story First Academy in audience (filmmakers/creatives) and product format (video courses + community), though Muse is more premium-priced and methodology-driven.
• Tool of North America: Tool of North America is an award-winning commercial production company and content studio producing brand films, documentaries, and integrated campaigns for Fortune 500 brands. It is directly comparable to Muse's Studio division in premium brand-storytelling production work.
• StoryBrand: Donald Miller's StoryBrand is the most direct competitor: a brand storytelling framework (the StoryBrand 7-Part Messaging Framework) taught through workshops, certification, and books to both brands and marketers. It directly overlaps with Muse's Muse Process / Science of Story methodology in helping businesses clarify narrative and convert customers.

Emerging players

• Working Not Working: Working Not Working is a curated creative talent network and community for freelancers, designers, filmmakers, and agencies. It overlaps with Muse's Story First Community in serving as a network for independent creatives, though WNW focuses on talent matchmaking rather than methodology training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/explore
• Xx.com/MuseStorytell
• Facebookfacebook.com/MuseStorytelling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Muse Storytelling