Documentary films and series
From script to release. We shoot in a modern cinematic look, at series scale, with our own gear and transport — on a fixed budget and on schedule.
Wire transfers, NDA, tender or grant specs as required.
“Historical Detective” — 14 episodes for the Internet Development Institute
Cinematic quality without overpaying
A flexible team, transparent estimates, no markup for a huge permanent staff and equipment pool
Our own gear and transport
Production trips across Russia without expensive rental markups on the road
Fixed budget and on-time delivery
A dedicated producer and approvals at every stage
What films
we produce
Five formats for corporate, foundation, tender, and private projects. If yours is not on the list, we will discuss a custom approach.
Company film and anniversary piece
A prestige documentary for a milestone or strategic launch. We work with archives, leadership interviews, and story dramaturgy — so you get a film, not a slide deck.
What it includes
- Leadership interviews
- Company archive work
- Script with dramaturgy, not a list of facts
- Presentation level for a gala dinner
Who the service
is for
This page is for projects with budget, paperwork, and real cost of failure. If “we will shoot it ourselves” is the plan — we are not your vendor.
Tender teams and production companies
Agencies and studios that win grants and public contracts — IRI, the Presidential Foundation, sector programs. We take a series under your brief: script, crew, shoot, post, on time and on a fixed estimate.
Large business and state corporations
PR and corporate comms, CMOs, owners. Image films for anniversaries, strategic launches, transitions, or founder milestones — suitable for a gala with partners and government.
Foundations, NGOs, and historical institutions
Foundations, RVIO, historical institutes, museums, government programs. We connect archives, experts, and strong dramaturgy — films with real reach, not shelf pieces.
Private clients and principals
Portrait films, biography, family legacy. Tactful, mature work with the hero, full confidentiality and NDA.
14 episodes
in 4 months
Client: IRI. A large documentary series delivered to one standard — from script to release.
Series episodes
Release a series of documentary films to a major grantor’s brief — dense facts, archives, and expert interviews. Critically, one standard from episode 1 to 14.
Full cycle: script and beat sheet, host casting and expert pool, travel, archives and footage licensing, edit, grade, sound, graphics, and motion. Episodes delivered on schedule.
6,092,600 views in the first month of release. For documentary under a grant, a metric often planned on a year-long horizon.
What is included in production
The full scope of work — no hidden extras mid-project. Everything needed for turnkey film delivery is already in the estimate.
01 · Pre-production
Script, structure, characters
- Concept and director’s plan
- Beat sheet and talking points
- Host casting
- Expert search and booking
02 · Production block
Producing and shooting
- Producing
- Logistics and travel
- Shoot crew
- Studio build and props
03 · Post and delivery
Edit, graphics, release
- Archives and footage
- Edit, grade, sound design
- Graphics, motion, AI tools
- Release control
Efficient budget
Lower than a giant production house — thanks to team structure and owned gear. Three reasons our estimate comes in lower without sacrificing the result.
Our own gear and transport
Cameras, lighting, lenses, audio, stabilization, and transport for travel. For many competitors this line item is rental from a third party.
A vetted team without middlemen
We staff directly from a pool of directors, operators, gaffers, and sound. No agency commission — you pay for people, not intermediaries.
Producer-controlled budget
Estimate and schedule are locked before kickoff. Scope changes only with your sign-off. No “send another 500k mid-project.”
Why not a big film studio or a freelancer
Every option has weak spots. Here is where they are — and how we close them.
Cinematic quality without inflated fees
Big-studio picture — without the overhead markup
Major film studio: bloated staff and rigid process, markup for keeping a large team and office
The same cinematic ambition without staffing overhead. Flexible schedule and fast approvals
A team with backup at every stage
The project does not hinge on one person
Freelancer / solo director: one person — one risk. Illness, burnout, a new gig — production stops
A team of 20+ specialists with backup at every stage. The project keeps moving
Documentary directing, not “reporting video”
A documentary pipeline is its own discipline
Event agency with “their” director: no documentary pipeline. You get a report, not a film
Documentary direction, dramaturgy, archive work — a core studio competency
One turnkey vendor
The project producer is the single point of responsibility
Patchwork vendors: stitching writer, operator, and editor yourself. No one to hold accountable
One turnkey contractor. The project producer owns responsibility and communication
How work on
a film unfolds
Six stages with checkpoints. At each one we align on the deliverable so the project does not drift.
- 01Stage 01 / 061–2 weeks
Brief and concept
We unpack the task, talk to principals, and find the story core
Checkpointagreed concept and beat outline - 02Stage 02 / 062–4 weeks
Script and director's plan
We write the script, build the beat sheet, prep expert questions, and assemble a visual reference map
Checkpointapproved script - 03Stage 03 / 061–3 weeks
Pre-production
Host casting, locations, archive work, travel logistics, agreements with contributors
Checkpointready for the shoot block - 04Stage 04 / 063–8 weeks
Shooting period
Studio and location shoots. Block schedule with daily offload and quality control of material
- 05Stage 05 / 064–10 weeks
Post-production
Edit, grade, sound design, graphics, motion, AI tools. Approvals: rough cut → fine cut → master
Checkpointmasters in required deliverables - 06Stage 06 / 06as agreed
Release control
Asset delivery, platform mastering, support through publication
Checkpointfilm or episode is published
Timelines are indicative; the final schedule is set after the brief. At every stage you see interim results before moving on.
We take a series under a won tender or grant
If you already hold the grantor’s brief and need a studio executor — we can join at any stage: concept, script, or finishing an existing series.
We work to tender or grant specs
We fit your paperwork: brief, deadlines, reporting — as the client or grantor requires.
Budget in reporting format
A line-item estimate suitable for reporting to IRI, the Presidential Foundation, or public procurement.
Wire transfer, contract, NDA
With a legal entity and full documentation. Deferred payment on tender projects — where possible.
One standard across a series
Episode to episode — one visual language, one quality bar. Proven on 14 episodes of “Historical Detective.”
What we put
in writing
A documentary project is long money and reputational risk. Five things we document before kickoff.
Fixed budget
The estimate is approved before start. Scope changes only with your signature. No “pay more mid-project.”
On-time delivery
A schedule with checkpoints in a separate document. The producer keeps shoot and approval cadence.
Three revision rounds on the final
Up to three revision rounds on the final edit are already in the estimate. More — by addendum, no surprises.
Wire transfer billing
With a legal entity, under contract, with closing documents. Deferred payment on tender projects — where possible.
Rights to materials
We transfer full rights on closure: archives, footage, music, interviews.
First we align on format and estimate
30–45 minutes with a producer. No obligation and no hard sell. We unpack the brief, suggest a format, and give a budget range. If we are not a fit — we say so.
Reply within 2 business days. The consultation is free.
Common
questions
Documentary films and series, turnkey: budget, timelines, tenders, and rights.
Estimate production for your film
or describe the task in the form
We will unpack the brief, suggest a format, and prepare a preliminary estimate. If you already have a tender or grant brief — send it on Telegram or MAX.
- Fixed budget, on-time delivery
- Work to tender / grant specifications
- NDA and wire transfer billing
- Our own gear pool and transport