Production / Black Crowe
Black Crowe Productions
The production company behind the work.
Black Crowe Productions turns a defined communication problem into the crew, process, and finished assets needed to address it.
Ahren Steis leads strategy and creative direction, then builds the right production around the assignment.
THE STRUCTURE
AHREN LEADS.
BLACK CROWE BUILDS.
Ahren Steis is the strategic and creative lead. He identifies the communication problem, defines the job of the work and establishes the creative direction.
Black Crowe Productions is the structure built around that direction. It assembles the appropriate crew, manages production and carries the assignment through post-production and delivery.
The result is direct senior involvement without forcing every project into a one-person production model.
THE TEAM IS BUILT AROUND THE ASSIGNMENT.
PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES
THE ASSIGNMENT DETERMINES THE PRODUCTION.
Black Crowe can lead a complete production or work inside an existing client, agency or production-company team. Scope is determined by the communication problem, intended use and level of production the assignment actually requires.
BRANDED DOCUMENTARY
Company stories, founder narratives, customer experiences and documentary work built around credible people and visible evidence.
EPISODIC + STREAMING
Repeatable show formats, original programming, interviews and multi-episode productions designed to maintain a consistent identity.
CAMPAIGN PRODUCTION
Principal films, demonstrations, interviews, social edits and supporting assets planned as one connected production rather than unrelated deliverables.
LIVE + EVENT PRODUCTION
Multi-camera recording, live switching, event coverage, broadcast support and material designed for use after the event ends.
POST-PRODUCTION
Editorial, sound, visual effects, color, finishing and versioning shaped around where each asset will be used.
HOW THE PRODUCTION IS BUILT
THE CAMERA IS NOT
THE FIRST DECISION.
01 DEFINE THE JOB
Define the problem before defining the deliverables.
Clarify what the audience must understand, believe or do...
and what the finished work needs to accomplish.
03 CAPTURE WHAT MATTERS
Film the story and evidence the audience needs.
Film the story, demonstration, testimony and visual evidence needed to make the central idea credible.
02 BUILD THE PRODUCTION
Build the right crew and technical approach.
Choose the format, crew, locations, schedule and technical approach the assignment requires.
04 DELIVER A USEFUL SYSTEM
Finish each asset for the job and platform it serves.
Finish the principal work and supporting assets for the platforms, audiences and lifespan they were designed to serve.
SHOOT WHAT HAS A JOB.
DELIVER WHAT CAN BE USED.
THE RIGHT TEAM
THE RIGHT TEAM. A PURPOSE-BUILT CREW.
Black Crowe works with a trusted network of producers, camera, lighting, audio, art and post-production specialists. The team scales around the assignment, with Ahren directly involved in strategy and creative direction.
Black Crowe can lead the complete production, work alongside an agency or production company, or strengthen an internal team.
SELECTED EXPERIENCE
WORK BUILT ACROSS
DIFFERENT PRODUCTION ROLES.
Ahren’s production experience includes branded documentary, episodic programming, live production, commercial content, interviews, and post-production.
Selected work has involved Ralph Lauren, We The Free, Armstrong Williams, Xzibit, Print Shoot Repeat, Kentucky Ballistics, What The Kicks and other collaborators.