Most chosen
Essence Film
from $3,500
A stage-ready opener for one person and one moment.
- Essence interview and signed brief
- Script with two narrator options
- 60–90 second film, 1080p
- Title still, captions, two revision rounds
Short films for the human story
Before the first word,
a reason to listen.
Essence Capture makes 60–90 second narrated films that distill a person's arc and the one idea they stand for. They're made for a specific room and moment: keynote openers, speaker introductions, leadership announcements, tributes.
Rooms don't remember credentials. They remember a promise, a path, and a lesson they can carry out the door.
Most speaker videos stitch together footage and titles. We start somewhere else: with a conversation that finds the one idea you stand for. Then we build a film that earns the room's attention before you take the stage.
The method
The Essence Arc
Every film follows six beats. Each one has a job. Together they turn a career into a story a room can feel in ninety seconds.
The human commitment underneath the career.
The question we ask“Before the titles, what did you promise, to yourself or to someone else?”
We use modern tools to make the film.
We never use them to replace the person.
What you receive
A film, and the story underneath it
- The Essence Brief
- One page that names your thesis, your six beats, and every fact we'll use, with sources. You sign off before a word of script is written.
- A script written for a human voice
- 150–200 words. Short sentences, real pauses, concrete scenes. Never a list of titles.
- The film
- 60–90 seconds in 1080p, with cinematic imagery, natural narration, an original score, and typography that holds up on a ballroom screen.
- Stage-ready extras
- A title-slide still and captioned versions. With the Kit, you also get 30-second, 15-second and vertical cuts, plus a rewritten bio.
The process
Ten business days. Two signatures.
You approve the story before we write it, and the script before we make it. That's how films land on time and say exactly what you mean.
- Day 1–2
The conversation
A 45-minute interview. We listen for the promise, the turning points, and the words you'd never use.
- Day 3 · Gate one
Essence Brief
Your thesis and six beats on one page, with every fact sourced. You approve it, or we refine it.
- Day 4–5 · Gate two
Script, look & voice
The narration, style frames, and two voice samples. Teams with a review process run it here.
- Day 5–7
Production
Imagery, narration, score, and composition, checked for legibility, contrast, and sound.
- Day 8
First cut
A private screening link and one consolidated round of notes.
- Day 9–10
Delivery
Final film, stills, captions, and a plain-language usage note.
Offerings
Start with the story. Scale to the series.
Essence Brief + Teaser
$1,500
Your story clarified: interview, signed brief, a rewritten bio, and a 20–30 second teaser. Fully credited toward a film within 30 days.
Start with the brief →Essence Kit
from $6,500
One story, everywhere: the film plus 30s, 15s and vertical cuts, captioned versions, a speaker-page bio and three social drafts.
Choose the Kit →Series
from $4,000 per speaker
For speaker series, conferences and leadership programs. You get a shared visual identity, a film for every speaker, a series opener and a consistent end card. Quarterly retainers are available for ongoing programs.
Plan a series →Organizations and regulated industries (pharma, medtech, health systems) are scoped with review-ready scripts, a fact-source table and an extra revision round. Rush delivery in five business days is available.
Made for
People who walk into rooms that matter
Series and program leads
Make every session feel premium and on-theme, with one look across the whole program.
Keynote speakers and authors
An opener that travels with you to every stage, and a story you can reuse everywhere.
Conference and association planners
Speaker introductions that turn a ballroom's attention toward the stage.
Executive and communications teams
Announce a leader, honor a career, or open a board meeting with something people will remember.
Principles
Your likeness stays yours.
- I
No digital doubles
We never synthesize your face or clone your voice. The only exception is a separate, specific request from you in writing. The default is none.
- II
Every fact is sourced
Every claim in the film appears in the brief with its source. You approve personal details before anyone sees them.
- III
Human stories, not product claims
We introduce people and ideas. We don't make medical, product, or promotional claims, and your review process stays yours.
- IV
Plainly disclosed
Each delivery includes a note listing what was generated with AI tools, so you decide how to present it.
Try it
Find your first line
Three questions from our interview. Answer in a few words each and we'll sketch the opening beats of your arc. Nothing is sent until you choose to.
Your sketch will appear here.
Begin
Tell us about the moment
It takes about four minutes. We reply within two business days with a fit check, a timeline, and next steps.
Received
Thank you. Your story is in good hands.
Your reference is . We'll reply within two business days with a fit check and a proposed timeline.
Questions
Do you need footage or photos of me?
No. We create cinematic imagery around your story. If you'd like real photos included, you choose which ones. We never generate your likeness unless you ask in writing.
Can our compliance or brand team review the script?
Yes. Gate two is built for it. You'll get a review-ready script and a fact-source table. The production clock pauses while your team reviews.
Who owns the finished film?
You own the delivered files and can use them for the events and channels agreed in your scope. We keep our templates and method.
What do AI tools do here, and what don't they do?
They help produce imagery, narration, and score. The story, interview, script, and every editorial decision are human. Each delivery includes a disclosure note.
How fast can you deliver?
Ten business days is standard, from receiving your deposit and materials. Rush delivery in five business days is available for most projects.