Meet Robyn Ellis Kranz | Founding Partner, Executive Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robyn Ellis Kranz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robyn Ellis, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Brownieland Pictures was founded over 18 years ago with the goal of telling stories for the greater good. We work solely with nonprofits to raise awareness, create opportunities for funding, and increase engagement. Being able to give back to our community through our work has been a gift. We have worked with so many nonprofit partners over the years that have been changing the world and we consider ourselves very lucky to play a role in their success.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Being a writer/producer has been an amazing career. To be able to create a story with images and words and have it inspire someone to join a worthwhile cause, donate money or time, or just be moved in some way to act for the greater good has truly been a gift.
Since becoming a writer/producer, the industry has changed significantly. Technology alone has made my job so much easier in terms of capturing art and surrounding myself with the most creative people, like my partner, Randy Frostig, has made Brownieland’s award-winning work come alive.
Filmmaking and storytelling all start with the written word. It is the most important part of any video. Whether the words are spoken or they are captured in images, it all begins with a concept and a story.
Lessons I have learned along the way are to collaborate always to get the best result. Surround yourself with people you love to work with and you never truly work. And be able to accept other people’s ideas to improve the overall work. No one person has all of the best ideas.
What I’d like people to know about our brand is that we truly partner with our clients. We are not a one and done shop. We want to know what your story is, how you think, what you offer that no one else does, so we can share that with the world. I truly believe no one does this better than Brownieland PIctures. Most of our clients have been our partners for over a decade. That level of commitment is a testament to what Brownieland does every day.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlanta has so much to offer! Starting with the Beltline, I would take my friends to Piedmont Park to hop on the Beltline and enjoy the food and drinks and sights. My second place to take them would be to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I have been a member for years and every chance I get, I go there to soak in the beauty.

I’m a very outdoorsy person, so I would also recommend hikes in North Georgia or camping or kayaking. There is so much natural beauty in our mountains and I love finding trails and campsites in our state parks.

Of course, you have to go to the Battery and then enjoy a Braves game at Truist Park.. That goes without saying, really.

Lastly, I would take in the history of Atlanta. The Center for Civil and Human Rights, The Atlanta History Museum, The Martin Luther King Memorial are all so interesting and thought-provoking. We are so lucky to have this history right in our own backyard.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My love for writing is what got me into my career as a journalist. That’s where I began, graduating from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CA with a degree in Journalism and working for the local NBC affiliate, KSBY. Being a writer came from being a reader and loving words, and that love of reading I attribute to many people along the way. My first teacher was my older brother, Rich, who taught me to read at age 4 and helped me learn how to write, too. Amazing educators gave their love and support to me as well, including Raenelle Lees, my 3rd grade librarian, and Dave Price, my grade school principal (I still stay in touch with them to this day. It is such a gift to have them in my life).
My mom had a vocabulary that wouldn’t quit, as she would say, and she instilled in my brother and me a love of words and reading that has continued throughout my life. I am an avid reader and I think that writing is a lifelong craft that can only get better with time (and a good editor!).
Another part of Brownieland Pictures are our volunteer efforts. When you partner with nonprofits, I really think you need to put your money where your mouth is. My love of giving back was instilled in me from my time as a kid in Girl Scouts and learning how to be a part of your community. You can make a difference at any age and that is something that I cherish and have tried to share with my son, Nathaniel.

Website: https://brownielandpictures.com

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Facebook: @brownielandpictures

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YouTube.com/brownielandpictures