In the years following the dot com boom - many institutions, companies, and media platforms transitioned online. To remain competitive, they constantly needed new content but since Hollywood filmmaking was geared toward making million-dollar blockbusters and commercials, those companies and institutions needed a new med
But in 2006, something incredible happened that would forever change the independent film industry: the digital film camera.
While many filmmakers sought to use this technology to create Indie films for the festival circuit - industry veteran Kim Rocco Shields saw the potential for something with a much bigger impact.
She realized that by fusing this emerging technology with classical conventions of Hollywood filmmaking - she could create an educational product that could be compared to the polish and seamlessness of any modern TV or fIlm project - at a fraction of the previous cost.
In 2008, Genius Produced was born.
The Niche
The company quickly found its niche in the budding field of online education, and grew with the mission to solve the translation gap between brick and mortar schooling and teaching online.
Shields partnered with prominent Ivy League Schools as well as other universities, institutions and corporate clients to produce over 10,000+ video projects. But these videos aren't what you would normally think of as 'educational' -
These productions looked like they could be aired on Netflix, the History Channel, or even the big screen: All unified on the unique methodology geared to the use of cinema to engage and inspire.
Of note was the critically-acclaimed project, Love Is All You Need? Hailed one the most viral short films of all time, the film raised social awareness about prejudice, human rights and bullying, and won multiple accolades and over a dozen festival awards. Shields received a Certificate of Merit from United States Congress for her use of cinematic arts to change perspectives, specifically for the LGBT community. The project has expanded into a feature film and docuseries, set to be released in late 2020.
The "Counterculture"
Boasting an entirely ‘in-house’ operation, Genius Produced houses over 50 employees - made up of some of the most talented independent filmmakers, technology, and instructional designers in Los Angeles. it will be delivering more than 10000 video assets a year to its client partners.
Genius has evolved, it is primed to expand its content creation skills into all areas of the rapidly expanding media landscape including documentary, narrative, episodic television, feature film, and interactive programming, exploiting its core strength: storytelling to change the world.
