DMS Production Services
DMS Production Services is an independent film company that produces and distributes "Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future," a documentary about space artist Chesley Bonestell, monetized via physical media, streaming, and institutional and community screening licensing worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What DMS Production Services does
DMS Production Services, Inc. is an independent film production company that created and distributes "Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future," a 96-minute feature documentary about the influential space artist Chesley Bonestell (1888–1986). The film includes rare interview footage of Bonestell himself and commentary from over 20 astronauts, artists, engineers, and historians who knew him, alongside high-resolution reproductions of his paintings including "Saturn As Seen From Titan." The Blu-Ray edition adds approximately 80 minutes of bonus features. The company monetizes this single title across multiple distribution channels: physical media (DVD and Blu-Ray) through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and other retailers; transactional and free ad-supported streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, and Google Play; theatrical and DCP screenings at museums, planetariums, and cultural institutions; and a Community Screening Program that licenses group screenings to organizations and individuals. Distribution and screenings have reached the United States, France, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand.
The core production asset is the documentary itself, built on archival access, original interviews, and reproductions of Bonestell's artwork, with no proprietary technology platform or software product. Distribution is executed through standard third-party retail, streaming, and licensing infrastructure. The company has secured notable institutional partnerships — including NASA (Bonestell as an "electronic passenger" on Artemis 1), the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (inclusion in the "Destination Moon" exhibition), the National Space Society, the International Association of Astronomical Artists, and Blackbird Interactive — which lend validation and access to educational and enthusiast channels.
The business model is transaction-based rather than subscription or enterprise: revenue is generated per DVD/Blu-Ray sale, per VOD rental or purchase, per ad-impression on Tubi, and per institutional or community screening license. Customer segments include space/science enthusiasts, film and art collectors, educational institutions (museums, planetariums, libraries), and cultural cinemas. The team is led by filmmaker Douglass M. Stewart, Jr. (Producer/Director), with co-producers Ron Miller (Hugo Award-winning author and space art authority) and Melvin Schuetz (a researcher of Bonestell's bibliography for over 50 years). Operational footprint is small at approximately five employees.
DMS Production Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DMS Production Services
- Legal name
- DMS Production Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://chesleybonestell.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- DMS Production Services is an independent film company that produces and distributes "Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future," a documentary about space artist Chesley Bonestell, monetized via physical media, streaming, and institutional and community screening licensing worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DMS Production Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Documentary Film Production and Distribution
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Historical, Biographical & Archival Documentaries (MPADADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Feature-Length Documentaries (MPADADAA)
Keywords
DMS Production Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Physical Media Sales: Revenue from selling DVD and Blu-Ray copies through major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, DeepDiscount.com, MoviesUnlimited, Oldies.com, and Record Store Day.
- Streaming/VOD: Revenue from streaming platforms including Amazon Prime Video (paid rental/purchase), Google Play, and Tubi (ad-supported free viewing).
- Screening Licensing: Fees charged to organizations, venues, and institutions for hosting screenings of the documentary. Organizations must submit a Screening Request Form and pay licensing fees. Includes option for filmmaker attendance at additional cost.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free ad-supported streaming on Tubi |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Paid streaming on Amazon and Google Play |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Screening licensing fees for venues |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
DMS Production Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DMS Production Services produces and distributes the feature documentary "Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future," a 96-minute film chronicling the nine-decade life of space artist Chesley Bonestell and his influence on Hollywood filmmaking, architecture (Golden Gate Bridge, Chrysler Building), and the American space program. The film is sold through physical media (DVD and Blu-ray with 80 minutes of bonus features), streaming/VOD platforms (Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, Google Play, YouTube), and licensed theatrical/community screenings at museums, planetariums, libraries, schools, and film festivals.
Product overview
DMS Production Services produces and distributes the documentary film 'Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future' about space artist Chesley Bonestell. The company's product portfolio consists of a single core documentary (96 minutes) distributed through multiple channels: physical media (DVD, Blu-ray with 80 minutes of bonus features), streaming/VOD platforms (Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, Google Play, YouTube), theatrical/DCP screenings, and organized community screenings via the Host a Screening program. The company does not operate a software platform or offer additional products beyond this documentary.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future (Documentary Film) A 96-minute feature documentary chronicling the nine-decade life of space artist Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986) and his influence on Hollywood filmmaking, architecture (Golden Gate Bridge, Chrysler Building), and the American space program. Features rare interview footage of Bonestell himself and perspectives from over 20 participants including astronauts, artists, engineers, and historians. Directed by Douglass M. Stewart, Jr. and co-produced by Ron Miller and Melvin Schuetz.
- Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future (DVD) Physical DVD format of the documentary film for home viewing, sold through major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, DeepDiscount.com, MoviesUnlimited, and Oldies.com. The DVD version contains the 96-minute documentary without the bonus features included on the Blu-ray edition.
- Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future (Blu-ray) Physical Blu-ray format of the documentary with 80 minutes of bonus features, including behind-the-scenes content and additional interviews not available on the DVD version. Sold through major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, DeepDiscount.com, MoviesUnlimited, Oldies.com, and Record Store Day.
- Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future (Streaming/VOD) Digital streaming and video-on-demand distribution of the documentary through multiple platforms: Amazon Prime Video (paid rental and purchase), Tubi (free with ads), Google Play (paid rental and purchase), and YouTube. Available globally with platform-specific pricing.
- Host a Screening (Community Screening Licensing) Licensed public and community screenings of the documentary at venues including schools, libraries, museums, theaters, conferences, and film festivals. Organizations and individuals submit a Screening Request Form, pay licensing fees, and select among DCP, Blu-ray, or DVD formats. Optional filmmaker attendance (Douglass M. Stewart, Jr.) is available for additional cost.
Quantifiable outcome
- The documentary won the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival's Best Documentary Award
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use DMS Production Services
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
DMS Production Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
DMS Production Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NASAcoreNASA made Bonestell an 'electronic passenger' aboard Artemis 1, orbiting 250 miles above Earth. Previously, Bonestell visited Mars aboard the Perseverance Rover in 2021. The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum restored Bonestell's controversial moon mural for their Destination Moon exhibition.
- Smithsonian National Air and Space MuseumcoreThe Smithsonian restored Bonestell's controversial moon mural which had been out of public view for over 50 years. It is now part of the new Destination Moon exhibition. The museum has hosted screenings of the documentary.
- National Space SocietyminorFeatured in Ad Astra Magazine and partnered for promotional purposes. The documentary was shown at International Space Development Conferences in Los Angeles (2018) and Washington D.C. (2019).
- International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA)minorChesley Bonestell was a founding influence on the IAAA. The organization featured the documentary and space art legacy in Pulsar Magazine.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DMS Production Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Strand Releasing: Independent film distributor specializing in documentary, art-house, and specialty films for theatrical and home video release. Comparable as a specialty distributor with curated catalog and similar educational/institutional sales channels.
- First Run Features: Independent distributor and producer of documentary films sold through theatrical, home video, educational, and digital channels. Highly comparable as a small specialist focused on niche documentary content distributed via similar channels (educational licensing, streaming, physical media).
- Gravitas Ventures: Independent film distribution company specializing in documentary, indie, and niche genre films across VOD, digital, and physical media. Comparable as a small distributor with multi-platform release strategy targeting streaming, retail, and educational buyers.
- Icarus Films: Specialist distributor of independent documentary, art, and foreign films to educational and institutional markets. Directly comparable business model: small independent distributor selling to universities, libraries, museums, and film festivals with curated catalog of niche titles.
- Kartemquin Films: Independent, mission-driven documentary production company based in Chicago known for socially impactful films like 'Hoop Dreams' and 'Minding the Gap.' Comparable as a small-team independent producer of feature-length documentary films distributed through festivals, educational channels, and streaming platforms.
Broad incumbents
- Cinedigm: Multi-channel content distributor serving streaming, theatrical, and physical media markets with a portfolio of independent films. Comparable as a broader independent distributor but operates at greater scale across more titles and platforms.
- Magnolia Pictures: Independent film distributor and theatrical exhibitor with a large documentary and specialty film catalog. Comparable business model with VOD, theatrical, and home video distribution of independent documentaries but at significantly greater scale and title volume.
- PBS Distribution: Major distributor of documentary and educational programming across streaming, broadcast, and home video markets. Comparable in targeting educational and institutional buyers for documentary content but at vastly greater scale and catalog breadth.
- Neon: Acclaimed independent film distributor handling documentaries, art-house, and specialty releases through theatrical, streaming, and home video. Comparable distribution strategy but at major-festival scale (e.g., 'Parasite,' 'I, Tonya') with broader audience reach.
Emerging players
- Cinedana (Documentary Streamers): Specialty documentary streaming platforms like CuriosityStream and MagellanTV that curate documentary libraries similar to niche titles like the Bonestell film. Comparable as an emerging distributor of niche documentary content to streaming-first audiences, though they operate as platforms rather than single-title producers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DMS Production Services social profiles
Digital presenceDMS Production Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DMS Production Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
DMS Production Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DMS Production Services 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 DMS Production Services
What does DMS Production Services do?
DMS Production Services produces and distributes the feature documentary "Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future," a 96-minute film chronicling the nine-decade life of space artist Chesley Bonestell and his influence on Hollywood filmmaking, architecture (Golden Gate Bridge, Chrysler Building), and the American space program. The film is sold through physical media (DVD and Blu-ray with 80 minutes of bonus features), streaming/VOD platforms (Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, Google Play, YouTube), and licensed theatrical/community screenings at museums, planetariums, libraries, schools, and film festivals.
Is DMS Production Services a public or private company?
DMS Production Services is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DMS Production Services founded?
DMS Production Services was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does DMS Production Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Physical Media Sales are the primary driver. The others are streaming/VOD and screening Licensing.
Who are DMS Production Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Strand Releasing, First Run Features, Gravitas Ventures, Icarus Films and Kartemquin Films. Broad incumbents are Cinedigm, Magnolia Pictures, PBS Distribution and Neon. Cinedana (Documentary Streamers) is listed as an emerging player.
Does DMS Production Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for DMS Production Services.
What industry is DMS Production Services in?
DMS Production Services's product category is Documentary Film Production and Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADADAE, Historical, Biographical & Archival Documentaries, with a secondary code of MPADADAA, Feature-Length Documentaries. Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 7812.