CineSalon
CineSalon is a privately held, bi-coastal video production agency founded in 2014 that bundles brand strategy, cinematic video production, and paid media distribution for brand marketers, creative agencies (white-label), and federal/state government clients. Operates from Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Baltimore with a proprietary ShortKlips workflow platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSilver Spring, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CineSalon does
CineSalon (legal entity DC Viz LLC) is a privately held, bi-coastal video production agency founded in 2014 by Shane Yeager, headquartered in Washington DC with a 2025-launched Los Angeles production hub and a Baltimore regional presence. The company positions itself between a traditional production house and a full-service marketing agency, bundling three capabilities — brand strategy, cinematic video production, and paid media distribution — under a single team that targets brand marketers (DTC companies, scaling startups with 50-5000 employees, enterprise), creative agencies seeking white-label or overflow production capacity, and federal/state government clients (USAF, US Coast Guard, Department of State, Homeland Security, Maryland Judiciary). Notable enterprise engagements include Toyota, Washington Nationals, Park Hyatt, Hanley Energy, Compass, and Johns Hopkins, alongside agency-channel partners LMD, VIVA Creative, LaunchSquad, and IZEA.
The technology stack combines cinema-grade capture equipment (Blackmagic URSA 12K, cine zooms, MoviPro gimbals, VR/360 rigs, certified drone operations) with a proprietary workflow platform called ShortKlips, which handles project briefs, team permissions, asset version control, real-time on-asset feedback, and a vetted Creative Talent Network with one-click contracting. Post-production covers motion graphics, color correction, 3D animation, and sound design. On the distribution side, CineSalon maintains certified partner status with Google Ads, Meta Business, Amazon Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and YouTube Advertising, enabling in-house managed campaign services.
Revenue comes primarily from project-based video production engagements priced from $5,000 minimum for one-offs to $50,000+ for full-funnel multi-platform strategies, supplemented by $500 brand audits (credited back on signing), paid media management, and recurring agency retainers/white-label partnerships. Distribution combines direct consultative sales (discovery calls via a scheduling system, bi-coastal field presence) with a channel-partner motion in which agencies route client work to CineSalon. The company has operated for 11+ years without disclosed external funding, supporting 2025 expansion into Los Angeles and securing a multi-year Maryland Judiciary master contract (K25-0071-25B).
CineSalon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CineSalon
- Legal name
- DC Viz LLC
- Website
- https://cine.salon
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CineSalon is a privately held, bi-coastal video production agency founded in 2014 that bundles brand strategy, cinematic video production, and paid media distribution for brand marketers, creative agencies (white-label), and federal/state government clients. Operates from Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Baltimore with a proprietary ShortKlips workflow platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CineSalon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Production Services
- NAICS
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Other Services Related to Advertising (54189)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Brand Advertising (Broadcast/Online Commercials) (MPADAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Product & Explainer Videos (Demos, How-To, SaaS/Product Walkthroughs) (MPADAEAD)
Keywords
Where CineSalon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Silver Spring
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
CineSalon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Video Production Services: Studio-quality video production including commercials, corporate videos, testimonial videos, recruiting videos, event videos, product videos, and branded content. Revenue is project-based with pricing ranging from $5,000 minimum for one-off engagements to full-funnel strategies at $50,000+. Productions include pre-production (budgeting, logistics, crew staffing, location scouting, casting), on-site/studio production, and post-production (editing, motion graphics, color correction, sound design).
- Paid Media & Advertising Campaigns: Targeted video distribution and ad buying services. Integration of video assets with advertising campaigns across Google Ads, Meta, Amazon Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and YouTube. Performance tracking and optimization. Certified partners with major ad platforms enabling managed campaign services.
- Brand Audit & Strategy Services: Comprehensive marketing audits covering targeting, messaging, data/tracking, and AI integration. Seven-day turnaround for multi-step roadmap plans. $500 audit fee credited back upon signing or refunded. Advisory and consulting embedded into ongoing client relationships.
- Recurring Agency Partnerships: Retainer and embedded partnership arrangements with agencies requiring ongoing video production capacity. Agencies white-label services or integrate CineSalon as overflow production support. Flexible arrangements as crew, consultants, or both on recurring basis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | One-off video production - starting at $5,000 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Full-funnel video marketing strategies - starting at $50,000 |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Pay-as-you-go | Brand audit and growth roadmap - $500 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
CineSalon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CineSalon is a full-funnel video marketing company (operating as DC Viz LLC) that pairs cinematic video production with paid media strategy and brand audits. It produces broadcast-grade commercials, branded content, recruiting videos, and aerial/drone footage for DTC brands, enterprises, marketing agencies, and government/defense clients. The firm supplements its service offering with ShortKlips, a proprietary project management and client collaboration platform.
Product overview
CineSalon is a bi-coastal video production agency offering a unified video marketing system that combines strategy, cinematic video production, and paid media distribution. The core offering includes ShortKlips, a proprietary project management system for talent sourcing and asset management, alongside full-service video production capabilities (pre-production through post-production), targeted paid media campaigns, brand audits, and recruiting video solutions. The company operates from Washington DC and Los Angeles, serving agencies, enterprises, and government clients with a focus on performance-driven creative that drives measurable ROI.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cinematic Video Production Full-service cinematic video production for DTC brands, enterprises, agencies, and government clients, covering strategy, scripting, shooting, and finishing for commercials, branded content, and broadcast/streaming-ready deliverables.
- Paid Media & Search
- Brand Audit
- Recruiting Video Campaigns
- Grip & Electric Equipment Rental
- Aerial Imaging & Drone Production
- ShortKlips Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ million combined views generated across client campaigns
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use CineSalon
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CineSalon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CineSalon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LMD (Lynch Management & Design)coreLMD (Contract's Prime) partnered with CineSalon and LMO for US Coast Guard recruitment video campaigns since 2018. CineSalon serves as out-of-house video creative option integrated with LMD's government contracting position. Ongoing relationship producing various video campaigns on diverse budget scales.
- LMO AdvertisingminorPartner agency alongside LMD for US Coast Guard recruitment campaigns. Three-party agency trifecta producing award-winning creative for government client.
- VIVA CreativecoreVIVA Creative (advertising agency) hired CineSalon to create 18 video spots for Washington Nationals baseball team stadium promotions. Raised production value with cinematic look while delivering for broadcast within tight 2 two-day production periods.
- WooshiiminorUK-based agency that CineSalon worked with on Park Hyatt project. Used Wooshii's brand data to influence what to capture at each hotel property based on past guest stays.
- IZEAcoreInfluencer marketing experts partnered with CineSalon on Toyota Tundra campaign. IZEA handles creator relationships while CineSalon manages production and post-production. Resulted in 45 million views with lowest cost-per-click for brand.
- LaunchSquadminorPR and communications agency that partners with CineSalon for visual storytelling on client campaigns. Allows LaunchSquad to focus on PR and campaign reach while CineSalon handles video production.
- Google AdscoreGoogle Ads Certified Partner. Enables managed campaign services and optimized video advertising on Google platforms.
- Meta (Facebook/Instagram)coreMeta Business Partner with certified expertise in Facebook and Instagram advertising. Custom audience feature integration using hashed personal data.
- Amazon AdscoreAmazon Ads Verified Partner enabling advertising on Amazon platforms.
- Microsoft AdvertisingcoreMicrosoft Advertising certified partner for Bing and Microsoft ad network campaigns.
- YouTube AdvertisingcoreYouTube Advertising certified partner for video ad campaigns on YouTube platform.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CineSalon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sandwich Video: Los Angeles-based creative video production shop producing commercials and branded content for major brands. Directly comparable in service mix (commercials, branded content, social-first) and in targeting tech and DTC brand clients.
- Vidico: Video production agency producing brand videos, commercials, and explainers for tech and consumer brands. Comparable in offering (commercials, product videos, brand storytelling) and in focus on performance-driven creative.
- Tool of North America: Bicoastal production company and creative studio producing commercials, branded content, and short films. Closely comparable in delivering high-end cinematic output for agencies and enterprise brand clients.
- Lemonlight: On-demand video production company with a vetted-creator network and bi-coastal presence. Closely comparable business model — project-based video production for brands and agencies, with tiered pricing and standardized workflows.
- Studio Maku: Boutique creative studio producing commercials and branded video for tech, CPG, and entertainment brands. Comparable in size, cinematic aesthetic, and brand/agency client base.
- Giant Ant: Animation and motion-graphics studio producing commercials and branded content for agencies and brands. Comparable in offering branded video production with strong post-production capabilities.
- Column Five: Creative agency specializing in content production, infographics, and branded video for mid-market and enterprise clients. Comparable in targeting brand marketers and combining strategy with production execution.
Broad incumbents
- Ogilvy: Global advertising and creative agency with a large production services arm. Overlaps with CineSalon in producing commercials and branded content for enterprise clients, but operates at significantly larger scale and across all marketing services.
Others
- MKG (creative agency): Experience-driven creative agency that often subcontracts production to specialist partners. Comparable as a buyer-side counterpart whose client work CineSalon could support, and adjacent in producing brand activations and video campaigns.
Emerging players
- HooplaHa / Superside-style content production shops: Subscription-based creative production platforms delivering video and design at scale for marketing teams. Comparable in offering on-demand branded video production, but competes via tech-enabled subscription model rather than agency-style engagements.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CineSalon social profiles
Digital presenceCineSalon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CineSalon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
CineSalon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CineSalon 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 CineSalon
What does CineSalon do?
CineSalon is a full-funnel video marketing company (operating as DC Viz LLC) that pairs cinematic video production with paid media strategy and brand audits. It produces broadcast-grade commercials, branded content, recruiting videos, and aerial/drone footage for DTC brands, enterprises, marketing agencies, and government/defense clients. The firm supplements its service offering with ShortKlips, a proprietary project management and client collaboration platform.
Is CineSalon a public or private company?
CineSalon is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CineSalon founded?
CineSalon was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CineSalon based?
CineSalon is headquartered in Silver Spring, United States, in the North America region.
How does CineSalon make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Video Production Services are the primary driver. The others are paid Media & Advertising Campaigns, brand Audit & Strategy Services and recurring Agency Partnerships.
Who are CineSalon's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sandwich Video, Vidico, Tool of North America, Lemonlight, Studio Maku, Giant Ant and Column Five. Ogilvy is listed as a broad incumbent. MKG (creative agency) is listed as an others. HooplaHa / Superside-style content production shops is listed as an emerging player.
Does CineSalon have an API?
No public API is recorded for CineSalon.
What industry is CineSalon in?
CineSalon's product category is Video Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAEAA, Brand Advertising (Broadcast/Online Commercials), with a secondary code of MPADAEAD, Product & Explainer Videos (Demos, How-To, SaaS/Product Walkthroughs). Its NAICS code is 5418 and its SIC code is 7812.