ABOUT - Lensea Film

We want to tell your story. With honesty, emotion, and unapologetic passion.

FRAMING THE FUTURE THROUGH AN UNWAVERING DRIVE TO DO BETTER.

Creative

From the ground up, our team of strategists, artists, and storytellers will help you shake the ground beneath your audience.

Concepting
Creative Development
Copywriting
Scriptwriting
Storyboarding

Production

Our team is built around the desire to do great work with technical excellence and intention at the forefront of production.

Commercial
Documentary
Animation
Design

Support Solutions

We are stoked to join you in your journey to creating great work. From gear to people, we have the best.

Gear Rental
Staffing
Creative Execution
Production Support

Post

Our post team is fueled by the curiosity and intently focused on connecting your brand to people.

Editing
Color Grading
Composting
VFX
Sound mixing/design

OUR PARTNERS

Always leading with intention. Layered between technical expertise and the unshakable drive to do better for our cohort, our community, and our clients.

MEET THE

TEAM

Destyn Patera
Director / DP

With more than a decade of experience under his belt, Destyn founded Lensea in 2016. The intent? To foster a team and community of like-minded contemporaries in an effort to reach wider audiences. Together, they create award-winning work—enhanced by Destyn’s leadership and meticulous attention to detail throughout every project phase. His love for film is seconded only by the pursuit of adventure and travel, usually with a camera in hand.

“BE THE LABOR GREAT OR SMALL, DO IT WELL OR NOT AT ALL.” – QUINCY JONES

“THERE’S A LOT OF BEAUTY IN ORDINARY THINGS…” – PAM BEESLY-HALPERT, LAST LINE OF THE OFFICE

Austin Owens
Art Director

From art directing, to managing our rental department, to operating cameras, Austin is the ultimate support arm. A true Lensea OG, Austin is no stranger to any type of creative work or long set days. His attention to detail brings a level of intention into every single frame that shapes Lensea’s visual impact. When he’s not conducting all things camera on set, you can probably find him sketching on his ipad and a skateboard in arms reach.

David Cooke
Camera Dept. Lead / 1st AC

Whether it’s shaping light, building cameras, or assistant directing, Dave’s Swiss Army skill set promises smooth set days that stay true to the creative. He brings an unmatched energy and life to any production role, and when there’s gushers on set he’s unstoppable. Simply put – he’s just a damn fine human being and makes us a stronger team!

“YOU’RE ONLY GIVEN A LITTLE SPARK OF MADNESS. YOU MUSTN’T LOSE IT.” – ROBIN WILLIAMS

“COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF JOY.” – TEDDY ROOSEVELT

Jared Cramblet
Producer

Jared’s here to make the game plan, and ensures our work is not only made well but made right. While keeping the project on-track, he keeps our team focused and on-time. His affinity for great beer, creative writing, and deadlines makes him the MVP of the creative process.

Sean Peterson
Audio Engineer

Sound is to the picture as Sean is to Lensea. One doesn’t work without the other. His efforts to prioritize sound on set has reshaped the way we work. Stemmed from a deep and lifelong appreciation for music, Sean has passion for sound and is no stranger to long days on the road, having lived the last 20 years as a touring musician. His residency at Lensea creates an intentional soundscape that speaks out.

“THE MORE ONE MATURES, THE YOUNGER ONE GROWS.” – HERMANN HESSE

“UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER. IT’S NOT.” – DR. SUESS

Lani Thomas
Project Manager

Books are Lani’s jam, and she’s helping us write the book we want to read. From managing projects, to organizing all things, Lani keeps the wheels turning. Her curiosity for all things story constantly inspires us to explore and her compassion for the planet inspires us to do better. When she’s not on set she can be found exploring in nature, journal in hand, and pups at her side.

Chris Vargas
Lead Editor

With a keen eye for detail and a passion for visual storytelling, Chris has honed his craft to create stunning and emotionally impactful work. With experience in every department and a wide array of projects under his belt he’s proven himself to be a master of his craft. Leading with intention and with a deep focus on story, he brings an unmatched creative vision. When paired with his technical proficiency and embrace of new technology he captures the full potential of every story he puts his stamp on. From full-length features to one-man-band passion projects, Chris’s dedication to his craft and his vision harnesses an impactful response from audiences across the nation.

“BE HUMBLE, HUNGRY AND THE HARDEST WORKER IN ANY ROOM.” – DWAYNE JOHNSON

“ABSURDITY IS WHAT I LIKE MOST IN LIFE” – DAVID LYNCH

Doug Stanford
Director of Photography

Doug’s an award-winning commercial cinematographer with more than 20 years of experience working in various markets throughout the U.S. He has spent his career honing the foundational principles of cinematography: light, composition, and motion. Since relocating from the Shenandoah Valley in 2016, Doug has won over 40 awards for his cinematography and post-production work on commercials in the Gulf Coast of Florida and beyond. His passion is to support stories with a visual narrative that adds depth, contract, and emotional resonance to a directors vision with every frame.

Bridget Topp
Producer

As a seasoned Emmy nominated Producer, Bridget thrives on orchestrating complex projects with precision and creativity, leveraging her diverse skill set to bring ideas to life. With a keen focus on both the big picture and intricate details, she ensures each production exceeds expectations while staying within budget and timeline constraints. Bridget’s collaborative nature fosters strong relationships with team members, enabling seamless communication and streamlined workflows to deliver exceptional results. She also has not met a dog she doesn’t like! Credits include The Blue Angels, Emmy nominated Challenger: The Final Flight, Tread and countless commercials.

“IN A WORLD WHERE YOU CAN BE ANYTHING, BE KIND” – CLAIRE POOLEY

“BE THE LABOR GREAT OR SMALL, DO IT WELL OR NOT AT ALL.” – QUINCY JONES

Destyn Patera
Director / DP

“THERE’S A LOT OF BEAUTY IN ORDINARY THINGS…” – PAM BEESLY-HALPERT, LAST LINE OF THE OFFICE

Austin Owens
Art Director

“YOU’RE ONLY GIVEN A LITTLE SPARK OF MADNESS. YOU MUSTN’T LOSE IT.” – ROBIN WILLIAMS

David Cooke
Camera Dept. Lead / 1st AD

“COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF JOY.” – TEDDY ROOSEVELT

Jared Cramblet
Producer

“THE MORE ONE MATURES, THE YOUNGER ONE GROWS.” – HERMANN HESSE

Sean Peterson
Audio Engineer

“UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER. IT’S NOT.” – DR. SUESS, THE LORAX

Lani Thomas
Project Manager

“BE HUMBLE, HUNGRY AND THE HARDEST WORKER IN ANY ROOM.” – DWAYNE JOHNSON

Chris Vargas
Lead Editor

“ABSURDITY IS WHAT I LIKE MOST IN LIFE.” – DAVID LYNCH

Doug Stanford
Director of Photography

Doug’s is an award-winning commercial cinematographer with more than 20 years of experience working across the nation. He has spent his career honing the foundational principles of cinematography: light, composition, and motion. Since relocating from the Shenandoah Valley in 2016 Doug has stacked awards for his cinematography and post-production work in the commercial sphere. His passion is to support stories with a visual narrative that adds depth, contrast, and emotional resonance to a director’s vision with every frame.

“IN A WORLD WHERE YOU CAN BE ANYTHING, BE KIND.” – CLAIRE POOLEY

Bridget Topp
Producer

As a seasoned Emmy nominated Producer, Bridget thrives on orchestrating complex projects with precision and creativity, leveraging her diverse skill set top bring ideas to life. With a keen focus on both the big picture and intricate details, she ensures each production exceeds expectations while staying within budget and timeline constraints. Bridget’s collaborative nature fosters strong relationships with team members, enabling seamless communication and streamlined workflows to deliver exceptional results. She also has not met a dog she doesn’t like! Credits include The Blue Angels, Emmy nominated Challenger: The Final Flight, Tread and countless commercials.