Michael Stakelum
Video Production & Marketing Expert with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling content
“I treat every documentary as a puzzle. The pieces are already in the footage. Emotion, story, and rhythm are how they fit together. A picture waits on the other side of my attention.”
Editing that finds the story
Documentary Reel
Long-form storytelling built from interviews, archival material, and verité footage.
Motion Graphics Reel
Logos that move and titles that play. A little motion tracking when the story needs an extra push.
Social Reels
Short cuts with a clear hook. Pacing and promos that get the point across fast.
Featured projects
The Good Breast — Trailer
LMC Service
Project Zero
Alabama Tree Farms
What Went Down
LMC Accumulator
We Conduct
Video Production & Marketing Expert
Creative and detail-oriented video production and marketing expert with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling short and longform content. Skilled in writing, producing, shooting, and editing promotional videos and documentaries, leveraging Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere Pro, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Avid Media Composer, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve) to deliver high-impact multimedia projects. Proficient in producing social media and website content, coordinating live streaming for community events, and optimizing audience engagement through targeted digital campaigns, achieving increased engagement for business, educational, and nonprofit clients. Committed to delivering visually compelling stories and strategic content that align with brand goals and resonate with the right audience.
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Experience
- Brand Manager & Visual StorytellerLMC Manufacturing Inc. · Donalsonville, GAContract · Sept 2025 – Sept 2026
- Results-driven brand manager at LMC Manufacturing, specializing in visual storytelling to elevate brand identity and engagement. Craft compelling narratives through visual storytelling, ensuring brand alignment and audience connection.
- Create brand guidelines, lead video production and marketing strategies, oversee website development, and design impactful graphics for brochures, print, and digital ad placements. Manage strategic ad buying to maximize reach and impact across platforms.
- Designed and purchased branded merchandise and visual displays for conferences and trade shows. Managed two WordPress websites for LMC, incorporated SEO plugins and tracked site performance.
- Managed LMC's social media accounts, increasing follower count by 100% on Instagram, 30% on Facebook, and 30% on LinkedIn.
- Owner & Multimedia ProducerDetective Media Productions LLC · Dothan, ALSeptember 2017 – Present
- Produce, shoot, and edit promotional videos and documentaries for educational and nonprofit clients, increasing engagement by up to 40% through targeted digital campaigns.
- Design and manage social media and website content using Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere Pro, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, DaVinci Resolve), ensuring brand alignment.
- Coordinate live streaming for community events, managing production and distribution to digital and broadcast platforms.
- Deliver ongoing multimedia projects for clients including Lamps Plus, Loudoun County Economic Development, CORA Physical Therapy, Sunnybrook Children's Home, Grant Me Hope, and Common Grounds Unity, enhancing public relations and fundraising outcomes.
- Legal Video Services ProducerDetective Media Productions LLC · Dothan, ALSeptember 2017 – Present
- Spearhead specialized legal videography services, producing high-quality client testimonials, interviews, and industry education videos tailored for legal professionals.
- Produced legal video content for Liskow & Lewis in the 2020 RC Creppel case, delivering precise collision replay videos and visual aids that supported complex maritime litigation.
- Combine video, graphics, animations, and visual aids to simplify complex legal information for depositions, settlement videos, and courtroom presentations.
- Deliver professional-grade video solutions under tight deadlines, leveraging over 20 years of expertise in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects.
- Video ProducerCommon Grounds Unity · RemoteFebruary 2022 – Present
- Produced a full-length documentary, GO: The Campus Evangelism Story, narrating the history of Campus Evangelism in the Church of Christ.
- Created strategic messaging for digital channel distribution, enhancing audience engagement.
- Filmed and edited interviews, source material, and audio recordings to craft compelling narratives.
- Monitored YouTube analytics for the CGU channel and documentary, tracking views, watch time, and engagement to optimize performance.
- Video Producer (Contract)Sunnybrook Children's Home · Jackson, MSAugust 2021 – Present
- Created fundraising campaign videos, including a virtual Champions for Children event that surpassed prior years' goals during COVID.
- Produced a video series on Sunnybrook's 60-year legacy, distributed on YouTube and social media.
- Utilized advanced videography and editing techniques to craft narratives for internal and external audiences.
- Developed strategic messaging for targeted video campaigns and fundraising.
- Video Producer (Contract)KLR Agency for Loudoun County Economic Development · RemoteApril 2022 – December 2024
- Produced video content based on PR messaging for Loudoun County Economic Development, collaborating with KLR Agency to promote local businesses and community initiatives.
- Created the Welcome to Loudoun video, highlighting diverse businesses to attract economic investment and tourism.
- Developed a video project celebrating Loudoun's Inc. 5000-listed businesses to enhance regional brand visibility.
- Produced video and print content for the Farmer Trading Cards initiative with Loudoun County Schools' Nutrition teams, spotlighting local farmers.
- Video Editor (Contract)Nathan Willis Films · New Orleans, LADecember 2021 – Present
- Edit video productions for clients like Penske and Project Zero using Adobe Premiere Pro to meet broadcast standards.
- Deliver adoption videos for Project Zero to increase teen adoption rates in Arkansas.
- EditorJohns Hopkins University · Baltimore, MDMay 2018 – January 2019
- Edited We Conduct, a series of documentary vignettes directed by Bernadette Wegenstein, following Marin Alsop, the first female music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
- Produced six trailers and a work sample for fundraising campaigns using Avid Media Composer, focusing on emotional impact, pacing, and a cinéma vérité aesthetic.
- Worked closely with the director to craft narratives that captured the soul of classical music, employing layered sound design described as "painting sound in overlapping layers."
- Video Production Specialist & Sales Training AdministratorLamps Plus · Chatsworth, CAMarch 2006 – Present
- Produced high-definition product and corporate training videos for a Fortune 500 retailer, reporting to the Vice President of Sales.
- Filmed and edited brand videos, product demonstrations, and commercial music videos using HD cameras.
- Developed educational testing systems and facilitated new hire webinars, improving onboarding efficiency.
- Designed branded websites via HTML/CSS for training content delivery.
Education
- Dean's Honor Roll: Spring 2001, Spring 2002
- Chancellor's Honor Roll: Summer 2001, Fall 2001
- Coursework in Intro to Mass Communication and Writing for the Media (AP style)
- Internship with U.S. Marshals Service, Northern District of Mississippi: Summer 2002
Skills
- Adobe Premiere Pro (14 yrs)
- Avid Media Composer (10 yrs)
- Final Cut Pro (18 yrs)
- DaVinci Resolve
- Advanced videography
- FTP studio workflow (FileZilla)
- Adobe Photoshop (20+ yrs)
- After Effects (14 yrs, 2D animation)
- InDesign
- Illustrator
- Motion graphics
- 3D with Blender
- Instagram, YouTube, TikTok
- YouTube analytics
- HTML/CSS
- SEO
- Visual storytelling
- Public relations
- AP-style writing
- Written and verbal skills
- Pro video and DSLR cameras
- Live streaming technology
- Post-production software
- Flexible scheduling
- Project management
- Avid Media Composer Certified User (2015)
Two decades of telling stories that move people
Detective Media is based in Dothan, Alabama, and proudly serves businesses throughout the Wiregrass and beyond. With more than 20 years of hands-on experience in video production and a company history dating back to 2017, we work with brands of all sizes to create video strategies tailored to their specific goals.
We focus on producing content that gets published where it will have the greatest impact. When needed, we can also help plan and guide media buys so your message reaches the right audience.
See our workThe VBA method
We use a simple but effective approach we call VBA: Visual Storytelling, Brand Alignment, and Audience Engagement.
Visual Storytelling
Every project is built to look strong and tell a compelling story.
Brand Alignment
The work stays true to your brand, voice, and identity throughout.
Audience Engagement
Content is crafted to connect with the people you want to reach.
Whether we're producing a commercial, social content, or a longer brand film, these three principles guide the work. We're ready to help you tell your story.