Fig Media

What Fig Media does

Fig Media Inc is a Chicago-based, WBENC-certified woman-owned creative media firm founded in 1993 by James and Michele Gustin. The company operates a three-service creative production studio spanning film, photography, and DJ entertainment, sold primarily as bundled professional services on a project basis to three verticals: corporate clients (including Hermès, BMW, ALDI, Air France, Radio Flyer, CNH Industrial, and Peninsula Hotel), nonprofit and social impact organizations (including Erie Neighborhood House, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Association House of Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and La Rabida Children's Hospital), and weddings and private celebrations in the Chicago market. The company reaches customers through content marketing (blog case studies, portfolio, Instagram), industry awards (7 Telly Awards and a 2025 Emmy nomination), earned media placements, and a strong referral and rebooking loop with nonprofit anchor clients.

The company's competitive proposition centers on its proprietary 'Essence Translation' methodology — a co-creative process that translates a client's authentic identity into multi-sensory media and live experiences, often supported by trauma-informed production practices for vulnerable community subjects. Core deliverables range from same-day event sizzle reels to long-form fundraising documentaries; notable outcomes include a record-breaking $600,000 gala for Erie Neighborhood House, over $1 million raised at the 606 Above the Rails Gala, and over 800,000 YouTube views on the Monkey Shoulder bartender campaign. The technology footprint is conventional creative production tooling rather than proprietary software, with no AI/ML, APIs, or platform products disclosed. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-client through a consultative phone- and form-based sales motion, with no published pricing tiers.

The business is privately held with no external funding, no disclosed M&A activity, and no subsidiaries. Ownership and creative direction remain with the founding Gustins, supported by a small in-house team of DJs, photographers, and filmmakers (with a crew of approximately 6 referenced in the 2023 Telly Award context). Geographic scope is Chicago-headquartered with nationwide travel for select experiential and corporate engagements, and the firm has demonstrated durability through 25+ years, multi-year nonprofit client retention, and ongoing award recognition through 2025.

Name

Fig Media

Legal name

Fig Media Inc

Website

https://figgy.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fig Media Inc is a Chicago-based, WBENC-certified woman-owned creative studio founded in 1993, providing integrated film, photography, and DJ services for corporate brands, nonprofit fundraising campaigns, and weddings. The firm serves clients including Hermès, BMW, Erie Neighborhood House, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Media Production Services

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPADADAK

Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Documentary & Nonfiction Production

SECONDARYMPADADAG

Social Issue & Advocacy Documentaries

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Documentary & Nonfiction Production

SECONDARYMPADADAJ

Business, Politics & Current Affairs Documentaries

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Documentary & Nonfiction Production

Keywords

• Event film production
• Event photography services
• Dj event entertainment
• Wedding videography
• Corporate event media

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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. Film Production: Documentary filmmaking, corporate video, nonprofit fundraising films, and event highlight films produced for clients on a project basis. Projects range from short social media clips to feature-length documentaries. Revenue is earned through project fees that bundle pre-production, production, and post-production services.
2. Photography Services: Event photography, brand photography, portrait photography, and lifestyle/product photography services offered as standalone or bundled packages with film production.
3. DJ / Event Entertainment: DJ services for weddings, corporate events, galas, and experiential marketing activations. Includes custom mobile DJ suit offerings for experiential marketing clients. May be bundled with film and photo services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fig Media is a Chicago-based creative media collective producing film, photography, and DJ entertainment for corporate events, nonprofit fundraising campaigns, and weddings. Services are delivered as bundled or standalone project engagements, ranging from short social clips and same-day sizzle reels to feature-length documentaries, under the firm's proprietary "Essence Translation" creative process. The company operates nationally, with the Chicago headquarters serving as its primary market.

Product overview

Fig Media is a full-service media production company offering three core service lines: Film (filmmaking, video production, documentary creation), Photo (photography services), and DJ (entertainment and music services). These services are delivered across three main experience verticals: Weddings, Corporate events, and Non-Profit organizations. The company operates as a collective of specialists who translate client visions into multi-sensory content and experiences, combining these service offerings to create comprehensive event and media solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Film Professional filmmaking and video production services including documentary filmmaking, corporate films, event videography, and brand content creation for nonprofits, corporations, and weddings.
• Photo Professional photography services including event photography, brand photography, portraiture, and commercial photography for various industries, offered as standalone or bundled packages with film production.
• DJ DJ and event entertainment services for weddings, corporate events, galas, and experiential marketing activations, including a custom mobile DJ suit offering developed with Publicis Experiential.

Quantifiable outcome

• Erie Neighborhood House raised a record $600,000 at its annual gala, with revenue growing 25%+ since first contracting with Fig in 2015.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Publicis Experiential (PubX)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFig Media's DJ team partnered with Publicis Experiential to create a custom mobile DJ suit for experiential marketing activations. The partnership was used for a nationwide tour promoting a new food product.
• Thrive ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrive Chicago led the My Brother's Keeper city initiative in Chicago. Fig Media was part of the powerhouse team including Chicago's largest nonprofits and city services, tasked with creating a digital companion documentary that brought youth voices to life for the MBK Action Plan.
• My Brother's Keeper Alliance / Obama FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMy Brother's Keeper was initiated by President Obama in 2014 and brought under the Obama Foundation umbrella in 2017. The initiative provides seed grants to develop action plans tackling challenges facing youth. Fig Media's films for the Chicago MBK Action Plan became the cornerstone of the report and a national template.
• The Hatcher GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBaltimore-based The Hatcher Group contracted Fig Media as a film crew to document Humanim's decommissioning of the Motorola campus in Libertyville. The Hatcher Group wrote the script with Fig Media's direction and served as the project coordinator.
• Lookingglass Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFig Media artist Alvin Black III has worked with Lookingglass Theatre Company on their annual gala 'glassquerade' since 2007 — a decade-long creative collaboration. Alvin created visual landscapes reflecting each year's unique gala theme.
• CS Magazine / Chicago Social MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFig Media's film and photography work for BMW's Chicago Ambassadors program was featured in CS Magazine and Chicago Social / Modern Luxury Magazine, providing brand visibility and media placement.
• Young Chicago AuthorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFig Media partnered with Young Chicago Authors to commission poet Jasmine Barber for the 'Revolution in My Backyard' Shriver Center fundraising film, integrating spoken-word poetry into the documentary.
• Lyric Opera of Chicago (Lyric Unlimited)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFig Media has been contracted for three consecutive years to document Lyric Opera of Chicago's Chicago Voices Community Created Performances program — a multi-year initiative led by soprano Renée Fleming. Films are used on the Lyric's website, at live performances, and in board presentations to funders.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Civic Films: Boutique documentary and branded content studio focused on social impact, nonprofit, and corporate storytelling. Closely comparable to Fig's branded documentary / nonprofit fundraising film niche.
• Pivot Creative: Boutique creative agency producing film, photography, and brand content for corporate clients. Comparable in integrated service model and mid-market corporate focus.
• Boulevard Films: Corporate video production company producing branded content, commercials, and event films for enterprise clients. Comparable in B2B client mix and integrated production capabilities.
• Lumière Productions: Creative video production studio producing brand films, event coverage, and documentary content for nonprofits and corporations. Similar boutique scale and storytelling-led value proposition.
• Coolfire Studios: Mid-sized corporate video and event production company based in the Midwest, offering film, photography, and event content for B2B clients. Comparable to Fig Media in its integrated media production model and corporate/nonprofit client mix.
• Voltage Productions: Event video and photography production company serving corporate events, conferences, and brand activations. Highly comparable in event-driven GTM and multi-channel content delivery model.
• Hencar: Chicago-based video production and creative agency producing corporate films, brand content, and event coverage. Directly comparable in geography, B2B focus, and integrated production services.
• Beholder: Creative video agency producing brand films, event content, and digital media for corporate and nonprofit clients. Comparable as a similarly-sized integrated content shop.

Regional players

• Hard Work (HardWork): Chicago-based creative production company producing films, brand content, and commercial work. Comparable geographically and in creative-driven storytelling approach.

Broad incumbents

• Branded Content Network (BCN): Larger content production and distribution company working with major brands on sponsored video content. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the branded video space Fig competes in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/figmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/figmediainc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Fig Media