We're Kingdom Filmworks – a content and video production company where camera geeks and storytellers live side by side. A place where art school scholars and roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-it-done-ers concept, write and produce innovative and inspiring branded content. From television commercials and corporate communications to web content and social media videos, we create stories that capture the hearts and minds of the people we reach. Beautiful stories that differentiate your brand.
We make things. Beautiful things. Inspiring videos and branded content that propel businesses forward. Content that builds brands and makes the cash register ring. We understand that our clients have budgets – and that the videos we create must perform and drive value for their organizations. With that in mind, we’ve created a business model that allows us to right-size production based on our clients’ media spends, social platform integrations and desired results. As much as anyone, we understand the need to create work that is both beautiful and effective – art for the purpose of commerce.
There’s no doubt that Mike brings a more diverse set of skills to the set than does your typical director. His career of more than 25 years includes time behind the lens at a commercial photo studio, as an art director with Young & Rubicam, as an associate creative director at two boutique creative shops, and finally as the Executive Creative Director and one of the founders of Shine United – a nationally recognized advertising and design firm in Madison, Wisconsin. An art director by trade, Mike has the unique ability to bring a brand’s voice to life. Mike has written and directed videos for clients of all sizes – from small-budget social media videos to million-dollar Super Bowl ads.
When it comes to producing branded video content, few people have as much expertise as Tom. From writing and directing to estimating and producing, Tom brings more than 20 years of know-how to the projects he works on. Whether he’s running a multinational crew on the streets of London or a run-and-gun crew along the Carolina coastline, Tom truly understands how video content should work alongside the rest of your marketing communications efforts. That means he knows how to rightsize your production budgets to fit your goals and find economies of scale where possible so that you get the most bang for the buck.
Kristi has been in the business more years than she hasn't — holding roles both on the agency side and production side — making her an invaluable asset to every project she's a part of. She loves that her work as a producer allows her to collaborate with talented creatives and appreciates that the variety of content is continuously changing. Fun Fact: Kristi grew up on a farm and credits that lifestyle as something that has set her up for success as a producer. "It taught me to manage mine and others' time, wake up early, love what I do even though it isn't all glamorous and be comfortable getting my hands dirty!"
Britta first explored the world of journalism and entertainment news before pivoting to working in production. Bringing over a decade of knowledge and experience, she joined Kingdom as a producer in spring of 2021 and has been an integral part of the team ever since. “My favorite part of working in production is the camaraderie and the new challenges of every project,” said Britta. “The team at Kingdom is incredible and I genuinely enjoy working with them every day.” Fun Fact: Britta was once tasked with making a snowy scene at Tenney Park after an unexpected snow melt. Roughly 7,700 lbs of ice later, Britta made it happen within 24 hours.
Over the years Ben has been involved with Kingdom as a Production Assistant while he attended UW-LaCrosse, and he now brings his knowledge of sports science and audio engineering to the team. “My favorite part about working in advertising is being able to work on projects/products I believe in,” said Ben. Fun Fact: before joining Kingdom full-time, Ben was teaching high school chemistry and earth science.
After earning her degree in Radio, Film and TV from UW-Madison, Emily worked with PBS Wisconsin and WKOW 27 News in Madison as a writer and producer. Joining Kingdom as an Associate Producer/Editor she brings a unique perspective and ability to put her own spin on a storyline.
A graduate of Denison University’s cinema program, Michael Palzkill is at his best when he’s behind the camera. His ability to capture beautiful and insightful imagery has taken him around the world, allowing him to put his skills to use on some of the biggest brands in the world – including Kohler, Harley-Davidson, REI and Yeti. Well-versed with Sony, Arri and RED cameras, Michael's ability to travel light or work with a full crew is an asset to any client production. In addition to being a cinematographer, Michael is husband, father and avid outdoorsman; it’s not unusual to find him biking, hiking or playing soccer in his free time.
Michael brings a robust portfolio of experience with him, having shot content for clients including Microsoft, Marquette University, Snap-On Tools, Toyota Forklifts, Kohler, MIT, United Way, Northwestern Mutual, and Taste of Home — as well as content on Netflix including the comedy series Michelle Wolf: It's Great To Be Here and Making A Murderer. When he's not wrapped up in creative pursuits, he's tending to his backyard flock of chickens or exploring the Ice Age Trail and Wisconsin parks with his wife.
Tim has been photographing people and products throughout Wisconsin and beyond, for nearly 20 years. Originally from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Tim developed his skills behind the lens while in Vancouver, Canada, where he studied commercial photography. “When I was living in Vancouver, I woke up one morning to the sun blaring through my windows. I looked at my alarm clock and it was barely past midnight," Tim recalled. "I ran outside to see a humongous sun globe lit up to emulate the sun as a film crew was shooting a movie on my street. Kingdom brings out the same ambitions as to what inspired me as a student seeing the sun at midnight.”
A veteran of the motion industry, Chris has more than 15 years of experience working both on-set and in the edit suite. While he spent the early part of his career on the East Coast at two different shops in New York City, Chris migrated back to the Midwest where he worked on such notable brands as Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, Kohler and Coca-Cola. Originally trained as an editor on Final Cut Pro, Chris has expanded his experience and knowledge base to include the full suite of Adobe products as well as REDCINE-X and DaVinci Resolve. All of which means that Chris has the ability to go directly from on-set DIT into the edit – and then on to color grade. This cross-training means more continuity throughout the project, less time wasted on media logging and a better-looking project at the end of the day.
A graduate of the UW-Madison film school, Kyle got his start in the video world at a small production house in Los Angeles. Experience in hand, Kyle moved back to Madison where he continued to sharpen his skills working on videos for big brands like MillerCoors and TDS Telecom. And while Kyle’s technical knowledge in the editing suite is second to none, his real talent lies in his ability to combine the perfect takes in the perfect order at the perfect pacing that ultimately creates the perfect story. In addition to being a talented storyteller, Kyle also has wealth of experience behind the lens as a Camera Operator and AC – so don’t be surprised when you see him on set capturing the images he’ll soon be editing.
Few clients will ever meet Robert – and even fewer will ever understand, or care to understand, all that he does to keep Kingdom’s cache of gear operating at full strength. Heck, sometimes we don’t even understand everything he’s doing. That said, without team members like Robert, Kingdom’s productions would be a little less shiny – a little less, well, spectacular. You see, on-time and on-budget production starts with gear that performs day in, day out. And thanks to Robert, our gear does just that.
3209 Latham Drive
Madison, WI 53713
608.472.4700