Cinematic Documentary Storytelling for Visionary Brands
Our Mission
At A9NY Studio, we recognize great brands and projects as an epic story waiting to be told. Our mission is to transform real-world narratives into cinematic experiences that captivate audiences and stand the test of time. We collaborate with visionary clients in hospitality, fashion, luxury real estate, architecture, and cultural institutions to craft prestige documentary films that celebrate their legacy and future. Each project is approached with a boutique, bespoke mindset – ensuring your story is told with authenticity, artistry, and unwavering attention to quality.
The Power of Documentary Storytelling (Why Documentary?)
Depth & Authenticity: Unlike a quick social media clip, a feature-length documentary allows for rich storytelling. It captures the genuine people, process, and passion behind your brand – forging a deeper emotional connection and trust with your audience.
Lasting Impact: Social media content is here today, gone tomorrow. A documentary, however, becomes an evergreen asset. Its narrative remains relevant for years, continually reinforcing your brand’s values and vision.
Prestige & Differentiation: Commissioning a cinematic documentary signals confidence and excellence. It’s a prestige storytelling piece that sets your brand apart from the noise.
Engagement & Emotional Resonance: A 60–90 minute film offers an immersive journey. Viewers aren’t just scrolling past content; they’re invested in a story.
Versatile Exposure: Host an exclusive premiere, stream it online, use it internally or for press. One great film amplifies your brand far beyond traditional campaigns.
Internal Culture Builder: A documentary doesn’t just market to the outside world. It becomes a rallying point for your team – a unifying narrative that boosts morale, aligns purpose, and shows employees the bigger picture they’re part of.
Our Offering – Your Custom Feature Documentary
Bespoke Feature-Length Film (60–90 minutes): We produce a full-length documentary tailored to your story– whether it’s documenting a flagship launch, a landmark construction, a major transformation, or the heritage of your brand. The film is crafted to feel like a cinematic journey, not a commercial, ensuring it resonates on a human level.
Cinematic Production Quality: Every documentary is made to broadcast standards with a cinematic flair. Our team handles end-to-end production – from concept development and script research to on-site filming, interviewing, editing, color grading, and sound design. The result is a polished film on par with those in theaters and on premium streaming platforms.
Collaborative Process: This is your story. We work closely with you at every step to capture the details and themes you care about. You’ll be involved in key reviews (for factual accuracy and brand alignment) while we handle the heavy lifting to deliver a compelling narrative. It’s a partnership designed to ensure the final film aligns with your vision and goals.
Exclusive Ownership: Upon completion, full ownership rights of the film are transferred to you. It becomes 100% your asset – meaning you can distribute or utilize it however you wish without limitations. Unlike typical productions, there are no licensing strings attached; the documentary and all its footage belong to you outright.
Investment: $100,000 (Flat Fee): Our pricing for this turnkey 60–90 minute documentary is $100K, which covers everything – pre-production, production, post-production, and deliverables. This all-inclusive, fixed rate gives you certainty and peace of mind, with no surprise add-ons. (Travel or special requirements outside of NYC can be accommodated – any additional costs would be discussed upfront.)
Our Process & Timeline
Discovery & Story Development: We begin with in-depth consultations to understand your story, brand, and goals. Through research and creative development, we identify the compelling narrative threads and define the documentary’s direction. (Output: treatment/outline for your approval.)
Pre-Production Planning: Next, we map out a detailed plan for the film. This includes scheduling interviews with key personalities, location scouting at your venues or projects, gathering archival materials, and assembling the ideal crew. Every detail is planned to ensure an efficient shoot that captures all critical moments.
Production (Filming): Our team films on location to capture the story as it unfolds. We conduct cinematic interviews with founders, stakeholders, or experts, and capture b-roll footage of your project in action (construction, design process, events, day-to-day operations, etc.). We minimize disruption to your business, working discreetly and professionally. (Typical shoot duration: a few days spread over important milestones of the project.)
Post-Production & Review: Here’s where the story comes to life. We edit hours of footage into a compelling narrative, complete with professional sound mixing, music scoring, and color grading for a rich cinematic look. We share drafts with you for feedback at agreed milestones. Your input is incorporated to ensure the tone and message are on point. (Includes up to two rounds of revisions to fine-tune the film.)
Delivery & Premiere: We finalize the documentary (picture-locked, fully polished) and deliver the master files to you in the desired formats (e.g. 4K UHD digital files, HD versions, etc.). With the film in hand, we assist you in any preparations to showcase it – whether that’s an internal screening, a launch event, or uploading to your channels. Ownership is formally transferred along with all related assets.
Deliverables
Feature Documentary (60–90 min): A fully edited, color-graded, and sound-mixed film delivered as a high-resolution digital master. You’ll receive the film in formats suitable for web streaming, large-screen projection, and broadcast use (common formats include 4K UHD and 1080p HD, in both MP4 and ProRes codecs as needed).
Trailer/Teaser (1–2 min): To maximize the impact of your documentary, we include a short cinematic trailer. This highlights key moments and themes from the film – perfect for generating excitement on social media, in press releases, or at events prior to the full film’s release.
Project Archive: All raw footage, interviews, and project files can be handed over to you upon request. We maintain an organized archive of everything captured. Since you own the content, we’re ready to supply the source materials should you ever need them for future projects or edits.
Usage Rights Certificate: We will provide written confirmation transferring full usage rights to you. This document affirms that you have exclusive, perpetual ownership of the film and all its footage, music licenses, etc., ensuring you can distribute or modify the content at your discretion without any further permissions required.
(In addition to the above, we’re happy to deliver any other specific formats or materials you might need – for example, a version with subtitles, or a shortened cut for a particular use – just let us know and we will accommodate either within the project or as an add-on.)
Optional Add-Ons (Enhance Your Documentary’s Impact)
In addition to the core deliverables, we offer a range of add-on services to further elevate the reach and experience of your documentary. These can be included as part of the project for an additional fee, based on your needs:
Premiere Event Coordination: Turn your film’s debut into a red-carpet occasion. We’ll help organize an exclusive premiere screening for your documentary – whether it’s a private event for VIP clients and stakeholders, a public showcase in a theater, or a gala at your venue. This includes event planning support, AV coordination, and even capturing photos/video of the premiere itself as part of your story.
Social Media Cutdowns: To leverage your documentary content across digital platforms, we can create a suite of short videos optimized for social media. For example, 15-second teaser clips for Instagram, 30-60 second highlights for LinkedIn or Facebook, and behind-the-scenes vignettes. These social cutdowns distill key moments from your film into shareable pieces that drive viewers to the full documentary.
Distribution & Festival Support: If you aim to reach a broader audience, we offer support in navigating distribution. Drawing on our network and experience, we can assist with submitting your film to documentary festivals, arranging press coverage, or connecting with distributors/streaming platforms. Whether your goal is to get on a streaming service, local television, or international distribution, we’ll advise on the best strategy and help with the submission process and deliverable prep (transcoding, metadata, etc.).
(Each add-on is entirely optional – you can mix and match based on what aligns with your goals. We’ll discuss these options during the planning stage and can provide separate detailed proposals and costs for any add-ons you’re interested in.)
Case Study – Making La Grande Boucherie
Project Overview: A 73-minute feature documentary that chronicles the creation of La Grande Boucherie – a Parisian-style brasserie and Manhattan’s largest restaurant.
Story & Challenge: The film celebrated the artisanship and vision behind the transformation of a mid-block alley into an iconic venue in Times Square. It captured the process of French craftsmanship, New York construction, and the resilience of the hospitality industry.
Our Execution: A9NY Studio handled production from start to finish. We coordinated with the restaurant’s owners and creative teams, captured interviews, design and construction, and told the full story from blueprint to launch.
Success & Impact: The film premiered in New York City to a packed audience of industry professionals and media. It secured global distribution via Journeyman Pictures and brought the story of La Grande Boucherie to international audiences. The project is a testament to our ability to deliver complex, high-end documentaries with excellence.
(For a glimpse of the film’s style and quality, the trailer for Making La Grande Boucherie is available on our website. It showcases the cinematic approach and storytelling sensibility we bring to every project.)
About A9NY Studio (Why Us)
A9NY Studio is a boutique documentary production house rooted in New York City, led by award-winning filmmaker Ben DiGiacomo.
Proven Experience: Founded in 2012 by Ben DiGiacomo, we have over a decade of experience delivering premium production and post services.
Trusted by Top Brands: Our team has worked on projects for Netflix, HBO, Nike, Samsung, Chanel, Squarespace, LVMH, and more. We understand the expectations of high-caliber brands and deliver accordingly.
Cinematic & Story-Driven: We approach each project with a story-first mentality. Our goal is to create visually stunning, emotionally resonant films.
Boutique Attention: Selective project intake means each client receives personal attention and hands-on direction from Ben and his team.
(For more on our team and to see additional projects we’ve worked on, please visit A9NY.com or ask us for a portfolio. We’d be happy to share relevant examples and references.)
Next Steps – Let’s Tell Your Story
Your story deserves to be told with the artistry and depth that only a documentary can provide. Ready to turn your brand’s journey into a cinematic film? Let’s get started:
Contact: Ben DiGiacomo (Founder & Director) – ben@assembly9.com
Website: www.a9ny.com
We invite you to reach out for a consultation. We’ll discuss your vision, answer any questions, and outline how we can make your documentary project a reality.
Slots for new documentary commissions are limited – we take on only a select few projects each year to ensure utmost quality. If you have a major story or milestone on the horizon, now is the time to capture it. Get in touch with us to secure your project in our schedule. We would be honored to craft a film that immortalizes your brand’s legacy. Let’s create something extraordinary together!