Perspective-driven video production for public-sector missions.
FEDERAL • STATE • LOCAL
Black Shutter produces documentary, training, and public communications video and photography for federal, state, and local agencies and the primes that serve them. Certified MBE, SBA small business.
WHO WE SERVE
PUBLIC-SECTOR CLIENTS +
PARTNERS
Black Shutter brings broadcast-quality production to the agencies, primes, and partners delivering public-sector communications. Our work meets the standards of major commercial brands like Apple, Netflix, The New York Times, HBO, BET, ESPN and applies them to the missions that matter most.
Federal Agencies
Direct support and prime subcontracting for federal departments including health, transportation, defense, and civilian agencies. We deliver studio production, field crews, documentary content, training video, and PSAs at federal-grade production standards.
State + Local Government
Production support for state agencies, city governments, public authorities, transit agencies, and public health departments. NYC M/WBE certification application currently in review with the NYC Department of Small Business Services. Active vendor on NYC PASSPort.
Prime Contractors
Trusted video production partner for the integrated marketing, communications, and public affairs firms holding federal and SLED prime contracts. Our MBE certification supports prime subcontracting plan goals and small business participation requirements.
CAPABILITIES
WHAT
WE BUILD
Full-service production from concept through delivery,
scaled to project size and security requirements.
Production
Documentary and nonfiction
Training and educational video
Public service announcements (PSAs)
Recruiting and outreach campaigns
Conference and event documentation
Field production — Nationwide
Studio production — NYC
Post-Production
Editing — broadcast + digital
Motion graphics and animation
Color grading and audio mixing
Captioning + transcription
Multi-platform distribution
Pre-Production + Strategy
Scriptwriting and concept development
Subject and stakeholder interviews
Cultural consultation and community engagement
Location scouting and permitting
KEY DIFFERENTIATORS
WHY GOVERNMENT CLIENTS
CHOOSE US
01. Cultural Fluency
Public-sector communications fail when they miss nuance. Black Shutter brings the lived experience and creative perspective to tell stories that resonate with the communities your mission serves: social services, health communications, recruiting, and public awareness work where cultural fluency directly affects outcomes.
02. Broadcast-Quality Production at Federal Scale
Our commercial client list — Apple, Netflix, HBO, The New York Times, BET, ESPN, Reuters — sets the production bar. We bring those standards to federal and SLED budgets. Buyers don't have to choose between mission-aligned partners and broadcast quality.
03. Set-Aside and Subcontracting Plan Eligible
Our MBE certification and SBA small business status support agency M/WBE participation goals and prime subcontracting plan compliance under FAR Part 19. We are pursuing additional NYC and NY State certifications, plus federal contract vehicles, to expand the procurement pathways available to our clients.
04. NYC Base, National Reach
Headquartered in New York City with a vetted national crew network. We staff productions in any U.S. state or territory.
CURRENTLY PURSUING
ACTIVE PURSUITS +
FORWARD PIPELINE
Black Shutter is actively expanding our public-sector practice. We welcome conversations with primes, agencies, and partners across these focus areas.
Federal subcontracting:
Building relationships with prime contractors holding video production contracts across HHS, DoD, VA, and federal civilian agencies.
NYC M/WBE certification:
Application in review with the NYC Department of Small Business Services
NY State M/WBE certification:
Application pending with Empire State Development.
Federal contract vehicles:
Evaluating GSA Multiple Award Schedule application under SIN 512110.
Teaming partnerships:
Open to teaming arrangements, joint ventures, and prime subcontracting relationships with set-aside-eligible firms (SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone) on federal opportunities.
PAST PERFORMANCES
STORIES
WE’VE TOLD
Representative engagements demonstrating production capability, project management, and delivery at scale.
SPARK Autism Research — Documentary Series
Client: SPARK (Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative)
The nation's largest autism research community
Period: April 2024 – Ongoing
Value: $80K - $200K
Role: Prime production company
Scope: Documentary photo and video production featuring Black, Latino, and Asian families raising children with autism. Productions across Chicago IL, Greenwood MS, and Bakersfield CA. Full-lifecycle services including pre-production, subject coordination, multi-location field production, post-production, and final delivery.
Relevance to government work: Health communications targeting underrepresented populations. Documentary approach for sensitive subjects requiring trust-building, cultural fluency, and accessibility. Production model directly applicable to HHS, CDC, NIH, and state public health department campaigns reaching diverse communities.
The Forgotten Cowboys — Documentary Photography
Client: Modern Huntsman magazine (biannual print and digital publication focused on storytelling, conservation, and culture)
Period: October 2020
Value: $10K - $20K
Role: Prime — commissioned documentary photographer
Scope: Documentary editorial photography for a feature on Larry Callies, founder of the Black Cowboy Museum in Rosenberg, Texas. On-location production at the museum and surrounding sites. Pre-production research, subject coordination, environmental and portrait photography, post-production, and delivery for print and digital editorial publication.
Relevance to government work: Cultural heritage documentation, historic site photography, and underrepresented community storytelling. Directly applicable to work for the National Park Service, Smithsonian, Library of Congress (Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center), state historic preservation offices, and African American history initiatives at federal cultural agencies.
