Curious | Honest | Witty | Kind | Inclusive | Gentle | Incisive | Passionate | Driven | Inspired | Insightful | Hopeful | Motivated
ABOUT VAN NESS CREATIVE
Van Ness Creative is a full-service film and video production company that specializes in raw, powerful and inspirational projects—from seconds-long videos for social media to feature-length documentaries and everything in between.
We believe that the most effective communication takes more than good technology and technique. A successful film or video production addresses passions, awakens an appreciation for what is beautiful, and inspires a person to think and act differently. The best communication changes people for the better.
ABOUT PAUL VAN NESS
Paul Van Ness, principal and owner of Van Ness Creative, is a businessperson, filmmaker, director, musician, composer, painter and all around advocate for the arts in the greater Boston community.
In addition to Van Ness Creative, Paul is the co-founder of CinemaSalem, a vibrant movie theater and live-performance venue in downtown Salem, Massachusetts, which showcases great mainstream, independent, and art films for sophisticated local film lovers. Paul is also one of the founders of the Salem Film Fest, one of America's leading all-documentary film festivals. and is also a founder of the Cabot Performing Arts Center.
ABOUT MEGAN DEFRANZA, PhD
Megan began working with Paul in 2016 creating the documentary “Stories of Intersex and Faith” as a way to bring her academic work and activism to a wider audience. Megan quickly fell in love with film-making for its power to convey complex and important ideas and emotions for any audience.
In film, she enjoys combining her academic problem-solving, writing experience, and communication skills with creativity, empathy, and fun. Megan especially loves helping people feel comfortable on camera so that they can share their stories authentically, in their own voice. “Whether they are professional stories or personal narratives, stories are powerful because they change us; they can change the way we live in the world. There is no greater honor than to sit with someone as they share with you their story.”