A cinematic site for an independent film production house. Dark, deliberately slow, structured around the reality that commissioners watch reels first and read second.
Role
Web Designer
UI Design · Development
Timeline
4 Weeks
Concept through delivery
Scope
Film studio website
Design · Build · Launch
Tools
Figma
HTML · CSS · JavaScript
The Challenge
MAD Production had 15+ years of award winning work across feature films, commercials, and documentaries, but their website wasn't telling that story. A generic template was underselling years of award winning work and failing to attract the decision-makers who commission major projects.
The Gap
Film production websites typically lean on reels and PDF portfolios. They show the work without building the institutional weight behind it. For a studio with that depth of work, a generic template was turning a world class body of work into just another services listing.
The Brief
Build a cinematic digital presence that leads with credentials, surfaces proof of scale immediately, and converts visitors into project inquiries through bold, high-contrast visual language that matches the productions themselves.
Research & Discovery
I reviewed four production house archetypes to map how film studios communicate credibility online and where most fail to convert the commissioning decision-makers who matter most.
Weta Workshop
World-class visual effects studio with strong IP and cultural cachet. But Weta's site functions more as a fan destination than a B2B pitch: it celebrates the work rather than converting the commissioning decision-maker.
The Mill
Premium VFX and production company with strong visual identity. The reel-forward site works for creatives but assumes the prospect already knows the brand. Cold traffic from brand marketers needs more context to convert.
Local Production Houses
Typical regional studios: a Vimeo embed, a services list, and contact details. Scale and credibility signals are absent. When price is the only stated variable, commoditization is inevitable.
Freelance Directors
Individual reel sites that showcase craft but can't communicate the institutional backing of a full house: production management, crew depth, equipment, delivery. For large commercial briefs, a single portfolio isn't enough.
| Criteria | Weta Workshop | The Mill | Local Houses | MAD Production |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credentials above fold | No | No | No | Yes |
| B2B pitch clarity | Weak | Medium | None | Strong |
| Scale signaling | Implied | Implied | None | Explicit |
Design
Cinematic Dark Aesthetic
Near-black base with high-contrast red accents and film-grain textures, a visual language borrowed from the productions themselves. The site feels like an opening sequence, not a corporate page.
Four Service Pillars
Feature Films, Commercials, Documentaries, and Director Services, each with its own visual identity within the page. A clear taxonomy that helps commissioners instantly identify where they belong in the offer.
Featured Works Grid
A curated three-production showcase positioned immediately after the services, named projects with still frames that transform the credibility claim into visible proof before the visitor reaches the contact form.
Process
01
Defining a visual language rooted in cinema: dark, dramatic, and authoritative. The brief: the website must feel like the work, not describe it.
02
Jet black base, cinematic red accents, bold display typography. Hero with "CRAFTING VISUAL STORIES" headline, a declaration, not a tagline. Stats placed to land before doubt can form.
03
Hero → Credentials → Services → Featured Works → CTA. A sequence designed to establish authority first, then demonstrate range, then invite the project conversation.
04
Full front end development, responsive across all devices, fast loading even with cinematic imagery, and built to scale as the productions portfolio grows.
Results
100+
Award-winning productions, now surfaced as the centrepiece credibility signal
4
Service verticals clearly defined: Feature Films, Commercials, Documentaries, Director Services
Delivered
Completed and delivered, mobile-first, built to convert visitors into project inquiries
MAD Production now has a website that communicates the scale of their work before a single project is clicked. The cinematic aesthetic positions them above generic production houses, and the structured service layout makes it easy for commissioners to see exactly where their project fits.
Next Project
Web Design · UI/UX · E-Commerce