Hi, welcome to Thrill Wave. We make cool films that move people.
Who we are
Good people. Stories that matter.
We're a video production company based in Phoenix, AZ, that makes films for organizations, businesses and, most of all, people. We like making cool videos with good people about what matters, because we believe the stories we tell today shape the world we leave tomorrow. Keep browsing to see our work, then message us to make something.
What we do
We make complicated stories simple.
The stories worth telling are rarely simple. Our job is to find the one thing that matters and say it clearly, beautifully and in a way people remember. We do the research, the shoot and the final cut, and the same crew stays with you the whole way. You can bring us in for one part or all of it. Here's how we can help:
Our services
- 01
Story
We research your world, find the idea, write it and plan where the film will live.
- 02
Production
We plan the shoot and run it: casting, locations, directing, camera, light and sound, on the ground and in the air.
- 03
Editing
We cut, color and finish the film, then make a version for every screen.
- 04
Photography
We shoot stills with the same eye: brand imagery, portraits, products and behind the scenes.
- 05
Rentals
You can rent our cinema cameras, lenses and lighting, with or without our crew.
Who we serve
Built for people with something to say.
We work with anyone who has a story worth telling, from our own neighbors and communities to organizations of every kind. Still, a few kinds of clients come back to us again and again, from filmmakers, publishers and nonprofits to schools, museums, government offices and businesses. What they get from us is the same every time: a crew that shows up prepared, keeps its word and tells the truth. Here's who we work with most:
-
Film
We make documentaries, docuseries and shorts with filmmakers and studios, from the first treatment to the festival cut.
-
Media & publishing
We do field production, segments, promos and series for networks, public media, news outlets and publishers, delivered to broadcast spec.
-
Nonprofits & public service
We make films for nonprofits, NGOs, tribal councils and public agencies that move people to give, join and act.
-
Schools & institutions
We make films for universities, schools, museums, art spaces and research centers that help people learn, visit and believe in the work.
-
Businesses
We make explainers, culture films and stories that connect people with what a business does, from the bakery down the street to a national company.
-
Agencies & PR firms
We produce for creative agencies and PR firms under your name, to your brief and on your timeline.
Fields
Every field has its own story.
Athletics, the arts, academics: wherever we look, we find people striving, overcoming, achieving and discovering something new. Each field has its own language and its own stakes, so we learn them before we film. That has taken us from hospitals and council chambers to construction sites and factory floors. We're glad to film in any field, and these are the ones we work in most:
-
Tribal Nations
Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
-
Government & Public Affairs
Inter Tribal Council of Arizona · Paradise Valley Mountain Preserve Trust
-
Medical
Boston Scientific · Thermo Fisher · Nektar · Andres Plastic Surgery
-
Education & research
Nektar · Thermo Fisher · ITCA Tribal Epidemiology Center · New Pathways For Youth
-
Tech
Uber · Opendoor · Ridgeline
-
Professional Services
UBS · State Farm · 1st Bank
-
Sports
NFL · UFC · Golf Digest
-
Live Events
Relentless Beats · Music Celebrations International · Wonderspaces
-
Arts & culture
Wonderspaces · Music Celebrations International · Wax Society · Relentless Beats
-
Food & hospitality
High Vibe Kitchen · PB Americano
-
Builders & makers
Rumco · Citgo & Brundage Bone · IMS Builders
-
Products
Kindred · Hypnotik · Neighbor
Clients
From neighborhood names to household names.
We'll make a film for anyone with a story worth telling. Some of our clients are down the street and some are known around the world, and every one of them gets the same care. Here are a few of the names we've made films for:
Our work
Films that stay with you.
These are a few of the stories we're proudest to have told. Each one started with a question worth answering and ended with people who felt something. Here's what that looks like:
Case studies
Every film has a job to do.
A good-looking film is only half the job. Each project we take on is made to do something specific, like reach new people, teach something or move people to act, and the case studies show how it went. Here are a few to dig into:
-
Education
Tribal mothers speak straight to other mothers, so families trust WIC enough to enroll.
See the work -
Exposure
Our aftermovie lets fans relive the night and puts next year's festival in front of everyone who missed it.
See the work -
Sales
We made a team film that lets prospective clients feel the service before the first meeting.
See the work -
Awareness
Tribal health leaders explain vaccines to their own communities, in their own words.
See the work -
Exposure
We filmed a family pop-up event so the fun reached far beyond the families who came.
See the work
Our process
From first idea to final cut.
Whether it's your first production or your fiftieth, it helps to know how things will go. Our process has five steps, and the same crew carries your project through all of them, from the first conversation to the final frame. Here's how it works:
- 01
Idea
Bring us an idea, a brief or a blank page, and we'll find the story in it together.
- 02
Discovery
We listen first: to your people, your history and what you hope the film will do.
- 03
SITREP
We research your craft, your peers and your industry, then bring you a point of view on the story.
Zoom in - 04
Production
Our crew shoots it with cinema cameras and real care, on location or in the studio.
- 05
Completion
We edit, color, mix and deliver it, and we make it to hold up for years.
How we work
A few things stay the same on every project, no matter its size:
- 01
Research before we roll
We do our research first, so we know the story worth telling before a camera turns on.
- 02
Straight talk on scope
You get the plan, schedule and budget up front, so there are no surprises later.
- 03
Made for where it's watched
We cut every film for the places people will actually see it.
What sets us apart
SITREP: we do our homework.
SITREP is our research. Before we film, we dig into your craft, your peers and your industry, like an outside R&D department that cares about your story as much as you do. Here's how it works, with a quick look at the tool we built for it:
Dig in
We study your craft, your peers, your industry and the sector around it.
Find the story
We bring you a point of view on what's worth saying and why people will care.
Make it
We film that story with real people and plan where it will be seen.
Intel
The stories behind the stories.
Intel is our blog. We write about what we learn on set, what turns up in our research and the gear and craft behind our films. Here are the latest posts:
The team
Your friendly neighborhood filmmakers.
We picked up cameras for the love of it and built a company around the stories that matter. We stay close to every frame because we care how it turns out. Here are some of the people you'll be working with:
-
Chris Kuzman
Co-Founder, Strategy
-
Tony Swann
Co-Founder, Director/DP
-
Ari Everett
Co-Founder, Producer/Manager
Start a project
We'd love to hear your story.
Tell us what you're working on, even if it's only a hunch so far. We'll do the homework, and then we'll help you find the best way to tell it. The easiest way to start is to write to us here:
Write to us