Elevate Studios - 2026 Pitch
Stories that move people.
Stories that move culture.
Tom Clement, Stephen Graddick IV, and Brian Canavan — a team built at the intersection of global storytelling, platform-native content, and cultural competency.
Great nonfiction storytelling is a team sport. It takes a director who can earn trust in the field, a journalist who understands the communities being documented, and a producer whose logistical command matches the creative ambition of the project. Together, we cover the full range of what serious documentary work demands — our team has over 35 years of documentary film production experience.
Together, our team covers every dimension of modern nonfiction production: series development, directing and cinematography, editorial, cultural competency, production logistics, and platform strategy. We have produced under institutional constraints — Smithsonian, federal facilities, correctional systems — across multiple time zones and on tight turnarounds. We know how to move fast and deliver clean.
C2 SHOW REEL
Key Strengths of C2 Productions
Proven Track Record
35 Years of Collective Experience
Institutional Fluency
DMV-Based Operations
Boutique Team Structure
Technical Excellence
Multi-Camera Shoots
Digital Streaming Expertise
Direct Communication
Flexible Workflow
Competitive Pricing
Long-Term Partnership Potential
Meet the Team
Tom Clement
Emmy-nominated documentary director and cinematographer based in Washington, D.C. His film Projecting Protest — nominated for the 2026 Outstanding Short Documentary Emmy — required multi-city coordination, on-the-ground verité work, and interview-driven storytelling around a politically charged subject. Tom has spent years working with Smithsonian, Vice News, A&E Docs, and The Pulitzer Center. In the field, he specializes in cinematic verité and dynamic interview work with small, efficient crews — bringing a calm, attuned presence to high-stakes subject matter.
Stephen Graddick IV
Journalist, cultural strategist, and former Fox 5 morning show host in Washington, D.C. In that role, Stephen became a genuine gateway figure for the local community — a trusted on-camera presence who meets people where they are, amplifies their stories, and earns access that most journalists never get. That credibility translates directly to nonfiction work at scale: sitting across from a changemaker and drawing out the story underneath the story. Stephen is also the architect of SPIN 4, a media equity framework helping institutions rebuild local storytelling power and counter misinformation.
Brian Canavan
Webby Award-honored documentary producer-editor and cinematographer based in Baltimore. His credits span National Geographic, Smithsonian Channel, and Natural History New Zealand. Brian has managed 12-month multi-location production contracts with hundreds of deliverables — the kind of disciplined project management that globally-distributed series demand. He leads projects from concept to completion, blending editorial precision with a collaborative presence that keeps complex productions on track.
WORK SAMPLES
Light Talks: Show and Tell with Smithsonian | Washington DC
We produced, directed, and edited Light Talks, an 18-episode web series created in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo. The series offered intimate, expert-led portraits of some of the Zoo's rarest and most endangered species, blending scientific storytelling with visually compelling cinematography. Working closely with Smithsonian staff and subject matter experts, we coordinated all aspects of production — from lighting and camera work in challenging live-animal environments to post-production editing and finishing. Light Talks earned a Webby Award Honorable Mention and is available on the Smithsonian Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Plex.
Contact: Chris Tuss; chris@runriotfilms.com; 202.330.1247
Wild Inside the National Zoo, Smithsonian | Washington DC
Our team filled the Director of Photography and Editor positions on both seasons of Wild Inside the National Zoo, a Smithsonian Channel original web series produced in partnership with the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The series took viewers behind the scenes with the Zoo's rare and endangered animals and the caretakers who protect them. Season one garnered over 10 million video views, and season two followed with continued success across Smithsonian Channel's digital platforms, YouTube, Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV. Our work spanned aspects of field production and post, capturing intimate animal and human stories within the Zoo's dynamic environment — work recognized with a Webby Award Honorable Mention.
Contact: Chris Tuss; chris@runriotfilms.com; 202.330.1247
Boulder Crest Foundation | Multiple U.S. Locations; HQ in Bluemont, VA
Over a 12-month contract from 2022 into 2023 we produced over 100 short-form educational videos, coordinating production across six U.S. cities and managing complex stakeholder approvals. In 2025, we produced a 22-minute documentary for BCF in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, requiring security coordination, facility access negotiation, and multi-stakeholder approvals. This project demonstrated our ability to handle sensitive subject matter, navigate institutional requirements, and deliver under tight timelines.
Contact: Greg Morin; greg.morin@bouldercrest.org; 540.554.2727
Scripps News: "Projecting Protest" | Washington D.C., Seattle, New York, Florida
Our Director of Photography Tom Clement directed this Emmy-nominated documentary exploring how unsanctioned light projection has become a tool for activists across the political spectrum, pushing the boundaries of free speech. The film required multi-location coordination, interview-driven storytelling, and editorial collaboration around a complex cultural issue.
Contact: Zach Tombs; zach@evidentmedia.org; 214.500.6780
Federal Stone Industries | Thurmont, MD
Over the past several years we have produced a variety of branded content for Federal Stone Industries including a 20-minute documentary exploring their connection to skateboarding culture. This long-term relationship reflects our ability to maintain quality across diverse deliverables and demonstrates our capacity for ongoing branded collaborations.
Contact: Brandon Rethemeyer; brandon@federalstone.com; 301.271.7121
Stephen Graddick IV, Personality Demo Reel
Stephen is a journalist, storyteller, and cultural strategist who helps leaders, brands, and communities navigate change with clarity and composure. With a background in broadcast journalism and a reputation for calm authority in high-stakes moments, Stephen speaks to what it means to lead and communicate with intention in a world defined by speed, noise, and constant disruption.
