Synthetic Pictures

What Synthetic Pictures does

Synthetic Pictures is a private, bootstrapped commercial and branded content production company founded in 2002 by Justin Corsbie with $500 of personal seed capital and headquartered in Los Angeles, with additional offices in Austin and New York City. The company operates across three core service lines: commercial production (TV and digital advertising), branded content (brand-integrated video campaigns), and filmed entertainment (feature films and documentaries). It represents a roster of 14+ specialized directors covering automotive, comedy, lifestyle, sports, tourism, fashion, music videos, kids content, and documentary styles, and runs an in-house post-production and visual effects division called SP/FX that handles animation, VFX compositing, and finishing work.

The business model is project-based professional services: Synthetic Pictures is hired by ad agencies (BBDO, Leo Burnett, JWT, Publicis, GSD&M, Team Detroit, and others) and directly by brands (Ford, Toyota, Starbucks, Burger King, Shell, Amazon, Samsung, Chevrolet, and others) to produce campaigns, generating revenue through production fees, post-production fees, and usage/license fees. The company has expanded into feature film production, with 'Hard Luck Love Song' released theatrically in 2021 through Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate, and has extended into episodic digital content (Life Hacks for Kids, 750M+ views) through its DreamWorks partnership.

Synthetic Pictures remains an independently owned private entity with no disclosed institutional funding, no parent company, and no public listing. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Recent operating activity through 2025-2026 includes ongoing brand campaigns, new director signings, and select international project work in South Korea.

Name

Synthetic Pictures

Legal name

Synthetic Pictures L.L.C

Website

https://syntheticpictures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Production Companies (Live-Action) (MPAAAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

3D Product/Explainer Animation (MPAHACAD), Live-Action Short-Form Production (Short Films, Web Series) (MPADABAE), Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO) (MPADADAK), Interactive & Immersive Content Production (AR/VR/3D) (BPAFAIAL)

Keywords

• Commercial production services
• Branded content production
• Film production company
• Advertising video production
• Visual effects post-production

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commercial Production: Production of TV commercials and digital advertising content for brands and their ad agencies. Revenue generated through production fees, post-production fees, and potentially usage/license fees.
2. Branded Content Production: Creation of branded entertainment content, brand films, and non-traditional advertising content for brands seeking to connect with audiences through storytelling.
3. Feature Film Production: Production of independent feature films, with 'Hard Luck Love Song' released theatrically by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate in 2021.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Synthetic Pictures is a boutique production company that produces television and digital commercials, branded content campaigns, and feature films/documentaries for major brands and ad agencies. The company also operates an in-house SP/FX division providing visual effects, animation, compositing, and finishing services, and represents a roster of 14+ directors with diverse specializations across automotive, comedy, lifestyle, sports, and other categories.

Product overview

Synthetic Pictures is a boutique video production company founded in 2002 with offices in Los Angeles, Austin, and New York City. The company operates three core service lines: commercial production (television and digital ads), branded content (brand-integrated campaigns), and filmed entertainment (feature films and documentaries). The company maintains an in-house visual effects and post-production division called SP/FX, and represents a roster of directors specializing in diverse categories including automotive, comedy, lifestyle, sports, tourism, music videos, animation & VFX, docu-style, fashion, kids content, and experiential marketing. Notable original productions include the feature film 'Hard Luck Love Song' (2021).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Production Production of television and digital commercials for major brands across automotive, food & beverage, sports, technology, and lifestyle sectors. Services are delivered to brand clients and ad agencies such as BBDO, Leo Burnett, and Team Detroit.
• Branded Content Production Creation of brand-integrated video content, brand films, and non-traditional advertising campaigns for brands seeking to connect with audiences through storytelling. Delivered to enterprise brand clients.
• Filmed Entertainment Production

Quantifiable outcome

• Life Hacks for Kids achieved over 750 million views online
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Roadside AttractionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTheatrical distribution partner for 'Hard Luck Love Song' feature film. Roadside Attractions acquired the film and released it nationally in theaters in Fall 2021, working with Lionsgate for distribution.
• LionsgatecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-distribution partner for 'Hard Luck Love Song' theatrical release alongside Roadside Attractions.
• Dime Box EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of 'Hard Luck Love Song' indie feature film and E Pluribus Texas docuseries with The Texas Center at Schreiner University.
• Yessian MusicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of annual 'South By Kick Off' (#SXKO) party during SXSW and Cannes pool party events. Long-term event partnership spanning 6+ years.
• Apache DigitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host partner for industry events including SXKO party during SXSW festival.
• Union EditorialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host partner for industry events during SXSW festival.
• LaundryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host partner for industry events including SXKO party during SXSW festival.
• The Tombras GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAd agency partner for Orangetheory Fitness first national campaign 'More Orangetheory - More Life'.
• DreamWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent production partner for DreamWorksTV including 'Life Hacks for Kids' series which was brought to broadcast television on Universal Kids Network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hungry Man: Commercial production company producing award-winning commercials and branded content for major agencies and brands. Same boutique production-services model targeting the same agency and brand clients.
• Tool of North America: Bicoastal production company and director representation firm producing commercials, branded content, and integrated campaigns. Closely comparable roster-driven commercial production business with an LA/NYC footprint.
• RSA Films: Ridley Scott's global production company producing commercials, branded content, music videos, and feature films. Directly comparable as a director-driven commercial production company serving the same Fortune 500 brand and agency client base.
• Epoch Films: Bicoastal commercial and content production company representing a roster of directors producing commercials, branded content, and short-form projects. Comparable boutique, director-led production house serving major agencies.
• Anonymous Content: Los Angeles-based production company and director representation firm producing commercials, branded content, and feature films for global brands. Closely comparable business model to Synthetic Pictures — multi-discipline production house with integrated representation, post-production, and film capabilities.
• Smuggler: Bicoastal commercial and content production company representing a roster of directors across film, advertising, and music videos. Directly comparable operating model and agency-facing commercial production business.
• Partizan: International production company with offices in multiple cities, producing commercials, music videos, branded content, and feature films. Directly comparable multi-market production house with a director roster and integrated post capabilities.
• Prettybird: Creative production company producing commercials, branded content, music videos, and feature films with a director roster and integrated post-production. Same multi-format, director-led production services model.
• Radical Media: Globally recognized production company producing commercials, branded content, documentaries, and feature films. Same model as Synthetic Pictures with a director roster, integrated post-production, and award-winning work for major brands.
• MJZ: Globally recognized commercial production company with a prestigious director roster producing commercials and branded content for major brands and agencies. Operates the same agency-channel, director-driven business model as Synthetic Pictures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/syntheticpix
• Instagraminstagram.com/justincorsbie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Synthetic Pictures