REC
ƒ 1.4 · 24 FPS · 35MMReel 01 · 2025
For the ones
who build
with heart.
Founders Files · Vol. 01
A documentary series by Tyler Shanafelt
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A note from
the studio
the studio
Every product begins with a person. Founders Files are short, cinematic human stories of founder-led brands — the story behind the thing on the shelf, told well enough to sell it.
Case Studies · Founder-led brands
— 01
The Goods
“The story of a family-run donut shop — and what it looks like to build something good without losing what matters most.”
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— 02
Civil Coffee
“The Morales brothers built Civil Coffee from the ground up — a community-first roastery and café.”
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— 03
In Production
“The next Founders File is in the field. Inquire if you’d like it to be yours.”
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For founders
Founder-led
CPG brand?
We make one Founders File at a time — a single anchor story about the person behind the product. The story your category leaders can’t buy.
Also from the studio
Founders Files is the focus. It isn’t the whole resume.
A decade of editing sits behind the studio — including award-winning documentary as editor. It lives quietly in the archive, on purpose.
View the archive →A Place at the Operating TableEditor · DocumentaryAwarded
Sandy VansYouTube Episode—
Twelve SouthProduct—
Brand & commercial editsVarious–
© 2026 Studio Shanafelt — Oceanside, CaliforniaMade slowly, with heart.