Our Story
In today's world of increasing complexity, powerful storytelling is essential for cutting through the noise to reach deeper truths. At Trapper Creek Media, we combine the narrative tools of cinema with the rigor of investigative journalism to tell stories that inform and inspire action. Whether we're crafting a feature documentary or telling your organization's story, we bring the same commitment to finding and shaping narratives that resonate and drive change.
Our Founder
Trapper Creek Media was founded by Emmy Award-winning producer Aaron Ernst, who discovered his passion for visual storytelling at the Nagano Olympics in Japan, where he worked as an interpreter for CBS prime time correspondents to uncover stories that brought emotional depth to the games.
At PBS Frontline, he learned the art of narrative and character-driven long-form documentary filmmaking, working on teams that produced award-winning films including "The Madoff Affair" , "Inside Japan's Nuclear Meltdown," and co-producing "Alaska Gold" with Frontline founder David Fanning—a documentary about the Pebble Mine that contributed to the project's halt.
His work has earned widespread recognition, including an Emmy Award for Vice on HBO's "Panic: The Untold Story of the 2008 Financial Crisis" and a prime-time Emmy nomination for Netflix's innovative "Losers" series, which pushed creative boundaries by blending animation with documentary storytelling.
Our Process
Through nearly two decades of creating content for major networks and streaming platforms, we have a proven methodology that consistently delivers powerful narratives while keeping productions on track and on budget. Here's how we transform complex subjects into compelling stories:
1. Define the Story
Before we begin production, we conduct exhaustive research to understand every dimension of your story—technical, political, and narrative. We identify the most compelling experts and storytellers, developing a comprehensive outline that all stakeholders can review and refine. This thorough preparation ensures we capture exactly what we need while maximizing the efficiency of our production time.
2. Get the Story
Our field teams have captured stories in some of the world's most challenging environments, from the Fukushima exclusion zone to the Marshall Islands to the deserts of Morocco. We've also pioneered remote interview techniques that maintain our high production standards while optimizing resources. Every shoot follows a carefully crafted style guide, ensuring visual consistency and excellence throughout your project.
3. Script the Story
Great footage is just raw material until it's shaped by thoughtful storytelling. Our story producers carefully analyze every transcript, frame of footage, and visual element to craft a narrative blueprint. This detailed scripting process ensures clear communication among team members and stakeholders while allowing us to validate our story structure before entering the costly post-production phase.
4. Craft the Final Cut
The edit suite is where everything comes together. Our collaborative post-production process brings together editorial expertise, directorial vision, and client objectives in a carefully orchestrated workflow. Multiple review cycles ensure the final product perfectly aligns with your goals while maintaining the emotional impact that makes stories memorable.