371 Productions
371 Productions is a Milwaukee-based documentary and immersive media production studio producing social-issue feature films, virtual reality experiences, and podcast series primarily for PBS, Al Jazeera America, and institutional foundation funders.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What 371 Productions does
371 Productions is a Milwaukee-headquartered documentary film and immersive media production company founded by Brad Lichtenstein in 2003. The studio produces premium non-fiction content across multiple formats: feature-length documentaries (e.g., When Claude Got Shot, American Coup: Wilmington 1898, Messwood), documentary series (Hard Earned), short-form documentary, virtual reality experiences (Ashe '68, Across the Line, Aline's Story), and a 100-episode radio/podcast series (Precious Lives). Core subject matter centers on social justice, civil rights, economic inequality, healthcare access, aging, and gun violence. Primary distribution pathways are PBS editorial franchises (Frontline, American Experience, Independent Lens), Al Jazeera America, and streaming platforms (Amazon, iTunes, Vimeo on Demand, Steam VR), with festival premieres at Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW serving as the principal discovery and credibility mechanism.
The business model blends three revenue streams: (i) commissioned documentary and VR production contracts from broadcasters, (ii) institutional funding from foundations and public media funders (MacArthur Foundation, ITVS, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, International Documentary Association, Mary L. Nohl Fund), and (iii) film sales and licensing through consumer/educational channels (documented unit pricing at $29.95 for As Goes Janesville DVD with broadcast and theatrical cuts). Production is delivered through long-standing co-production partnerships with Kartemquin Films, Participant Media, Planned Parenthood, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and The New York Times. The operation is privately held and founder-led, with 51–100 employees and no disclosed outside institutional investment, board structure, or cap table information.
The studio has accumulated an award track record spanning Primetime Emmy (Exceptional Merit in Documentary 2022, multiple nominations), Peabody (win for Precious Lives 2016; nominations for American Coup 2025 and American Reckoning 2022), and DuPont Columbia Awards (Hard Earned 2016, Ghosts of Attica 2016). Distribution is global in reach but U.S.-anchored in production, with content available on international broadcasters and global streaming marketplaces. Founder Brad Lichtenstein is the sole listed executive; day-to-day operations are run from the headquarters at 790 N Milwaukee Street, Suite 328.
371 Productions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 371 Productions
- Legal name
- 371 Productions
- Website
- https://371productions.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- 371 Productions is a Milwaukee-based documentary and immersive media production studio producing social-issue feature films, virtual reality experiences, and podcast series primarily for PBS, Al Jazeera America, and institutional foundation funders.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
371 Productions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Documentary Film and Immersive Media Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Feature-Length Documentaries (MPADADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Live-Action Short-Form Production (Short Films, Web Series) (MPADABAE), Branded Documentary & Purpose-Driven Content (MPADAEAJ), Business, Politics & Current Affairs Documentaries (MPADADAJ), Unscripted/Reality TV Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAC)
Keywords
Where 371 Productions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
371 Productions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Documentary Production Contracts: Commissioned documentary and VR projects for broadcasters including PBS, Frontline, American Experience, Al Jazeera America, and others. Co-productions with partner organizations.
- Foundation and Institutional Grants: Funding from MacArthur Foundation, ITVS, International Documentary Association, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and other institutional supporters for specific documentary projects.
- Film Sales and Licensing: Sales of documentary content through platforms including Amazon, iTunes, Vimeo on Demand, and DVD distribution.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Documentary DVD with broadcast and theatrical versions plus extras |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
371 Productions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
371 Productions is a documentary film and immersive media production company that produces feature-length documentaries, documentary series, short documentaries, radio/podcast content, and virtual reality experiences. The company focuses on socially conscious storytelling around social justice, civil rights, healthcare, and civic issues, producing content commissioned by and for public broadcasters (PBS Frontline, American Experience, Independent Lens), Al Jazeera America, foundations, and festival audiences. Distribution occurs via broadcast, streaming platforms, film festivals, and VR platforms.
Product overview
371 Productions is a documentary film and immersive media production company founded by Brad Lichtenstein in 2003. The company produces premium documentary content across multiple platforms including feature-length films, documentary series, short documentaries, and virtual reality experiences. Their portfolio includes award-winning documentaries such as 'When Claude Got Shot' (Emmy-winning), 'American Reckoning,' 'Messwood,' and 'American Coup: Wilmington 1898' (Peabody nominee), as well as innovative VR experiences like 'Ashe '68' and 'Across The Line.' The company also produces radio/podcast content including the Peabody-winning 'Precious Lives' series. Their work spans topics including social justice, civil rights, healthcare, and community stories, with distribution through PBS, Al Jazeera America, streaming platforms, and festival screenings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- When Claude Got Shot A documentary following three African-American families confronting gun violence as they navigate the criminal justice system and journey toward physical and emotional healing. Produced for PBS Independent Lens and public broadcasting audiences.
- American Reckoning A documentary investigating the unsolved murder of NAACP leader Wharlest Jackson Sr. during the civil rights era, examining how the FBI and US Government failed Black families. Produced for PBS Frontline.
- Messwood A sports documentary following the 2019 season of an integrated football team formed by two high schools — one white, public and suburban, the other Black, Catholic and urban — exploring race, class, and boyhood. Produced with Participant Media.
- American Coup: Wilmington 1898 A documentary examining the 1898 coup in Wilmington, North Carolina, where white supremacists overthrew the biracial government. Produced for PBS American Experience.
- As Goes Janesville A feature-length documentary following three years in the lives of laid-off GM workers, business leaders, and a state senator during the aftermath of the General Motors plant closure in Janesville, Wisconsin. Produced for PBS Independent Lens.
- Almost Home A cinema vérité documentary chronicling a year in the life of a nursing home striving to be more humane, featuring intimate stories of residents, families, staff, and management. Targeted at public broadcasting and documentary audiences.
- Penelope A documentary about residents with dementia collaborating with playwright Anne Basting and Sojourn Theater to create a play reinterpretation of Homer's Odyssey from Penelope's perspective. Targeted at public broadcasting and arts audiences.
- Hard Earned
Quantifiable outcome
- 2022 Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use 371 Productions
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
371 Productions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
371 Productions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Kartemquin FilmscoreCo-production partner on multiple documentary projects including As Goes Janesville (PBS Independent Lens) and Hard Earned (Al Jazeera America). Long-standing collaboration in documentary development and production.
- PBS FrontlinecoreBroadcast partner for American Reckoning documentary on civil rights era murders. Frontline series provides national distribution and audience reach for investigative documentaries.
- International Tennis Hall of FamemajorPartnership for Ashe '68 VR experience documenting Arthur Ashe's 1968 US Open victory and civil rights activism. Provided archival materials and expertise for immersive storytelling.
- Planned ParenthoodmajorExecutive producer on Across the Line VR experience depicting healthcare access challenges at abortion clinics. Partnership for immersive documentary on reproductive healthcare.
- The New York TimesmajorDistribution partner for VR content including Aline's Story (Alzheimer's caregiving) and Milwaukee Polar Plunge. NYT publishes and distributes immersive content.
- Participant MediamajorProduction partner on Messwood documentary following integrated football team. Participant Media provides funding and distribution support for social issue documentaries.
- Frontline (PBS)coreBroadcast partner for American Reckoning documentary on civil rights era murders. Frontline provides national distribution and credibility for investigative journalism.
- American Experience (PBS)coreBroadcast partner for American Coup: Wilmington 1898 documentary (2024). American Experience series provides premium historical documentary platform.
- Al Jazeera AmericamajorBroadcast partner for Hard Earned documentary series on economic inequality and Wisconsin's Mining Standoff. Al Jazeera provides production funding and broadcast distribution.
- Sundance InstitutemajorFestival premieres for Ashe '68 and Across the Line VR experiences. Sundance provides premiere platform and industry credibility for documentary and VR projects.
- Tribeca Film InstitutemajorFestival partner for VR premieres including Ashe '68 and Across the Line. Tribeca provides festival platform and industry recognition for immersive content.
- Milwaukee Journal SentinelmajorMedia partner for Precious Lives radio/podcast series. Provides weekly articles, podcast distribution, and collaborative reporting on gun violence.
- WUWM Milwaukee Public RadiomajorBroadcast partner for Precious Lives radio/podcast series. Provides weekly radio broadcast at 10:45 a.m. Tuesdays and podcast distribution.
- Wisconsin Center for Investigative JournalismminorCollaborative media partner for Precious Lives project providing investigative journalism support and distribution.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
371 Productions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kartemquin Films: Chicago-based independent documentary production company and 371's repeat co-production partner (As Goes Janesville, Hard Earned). Operates the same social-justice, long-form documentary model with foundation funding and PBS distribution.
- Emblematic Group: Immersive media and VR journalism studio founded by Nonny de la Peña — a cited collaborator on 371's VR work. Most direct comparable for 371's virtual reality documentary practice (Ashe '68, Across the Line).
- Moxie Firecracker Films: Independent documentary production company producing award-winning feature-length and series documentaries for HBO, PBS, and Netflix. Comparable mid-scale documentary shop with similar PBS/broadcaster commissioning model.
- Submarine Entertainment: Independent documentary sales, distribution, and production company representing prestige docs at festivals and to broadcasters. Comparable to 371's distribution model across Sundance, PBS, and streaming platforms.
- Field of Vision: Filmmaker-driven short and feature documentary production unit supporting directors creating short-form and feature docs on social issues. Comparable in mission and commissioning environment to 371's short documentary work (Metcalfe Park, Kohler Arts Center).
Broad incumbents
- Participant Media: Los Angeles-based impact media company and 371's partner on Messwood. Larger and better-capitalized social-issue content producer spanning film, TV, and digital, with the same editorial orientation toward civic-impact storytelling.
Emerging players
- Concordia Studio: Independent production company focused on feature documentaries and non-fiction series with social-impact themes. Comparable in mission to 371 Productions and operates in the same PBS/streaming commissioning environment.
- XTR: Documentary streaming and production company commissioning and distributing feature-length non-fiction. Operates in adjacent documentary commissioning/distribution channels that overlap with 371's PBS and festival pipeline.
Others
- ITVS (Independent Television Service): Public media funder and co-producer backing independent documentary for PBS — a current partner of 371 Productions. Functions as an ecosystem enabler for the same independent documentary production model.
- The New York Times Magazine (VR/Immersive): Editorial VR/immersive journalism operation that distributes 371 Productions' VR content (Aline's Story, Milwaukee Polar Plunge). Functions as both distribution partner and comparable practitioner of immersive editorial storytelling.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
371 Productions social profiles
Digital presence371 Productions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
371 Productions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
371 Productions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
371 Productions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 371 Productions
What does 371 Productions do?
371 Productions is a documentary film and immersive media production company that produces feature-length documentaries, documentary series, short documentaries, radio/podcast content, and virtual reality experiences. The company focuses on socially conscious storytelling around social justice, civil rights, healthcare, and civic issues, producing content commissioned by and for public broadcasters (PBS Frontline, American Experience, Independent Lens), Al Jazeera America, foundations, and festival audiences. Distribution occurs via broadcast, streaming platforms, film festivals, and VR platforms.
Is 371 Productions a public or private company?
371 Productions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 371 Productions founded?
371 Productions was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is 371 Productions based?
371 Productions is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does 371 Productions make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Documentary Production Contracts are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Institutional Grants and film Sales and Licensing.
Who are 371 Productions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kartemquin Films, Emblematic Group, Moxie Firecracker Films, Submarine Entertainment and Field of Vision. Participant Media is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Concordia Studio and XTR. Others are ITVS (Independent Television Service) and The New York Times Magazine (VR/Immersive).
Does 371 Productions have an API?
No public API is recorded for 371 Productions.
What industry is 371 Productions in?
371 Productions's product category is Documentary Film and Immersive Media Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADADAA, Feature-Length Documentaries, with a secondary code of MPADABAE, Live-Action Short-Form Production (Short Films, Web Series). Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.