Creative Partnerships
Collaborative Storytelling for Mission-Driven Projects
Aeilea Media works with a small network of trusted creative partners to deliver documentary, narrative, and mission-driven media projects. These collaborations bring together specialized expertise in directing, cinematography, writing, and editorial storytelling while maintaining a unified creative vision.
Core Creative Collaborators
Aeilea Media was founded by multimedia producer April Reneé Bailey, whose work centers on documentary storytelling, science communication, and mission-driven media. With a background in university communications and global media production, she brings a cinematic eye and editorial approach to translating research, education, and social-impact initiatives into clear visual narratives. Aeilea Media is her boutique creative studio, collaborating with partners and clients to produce thoughtful storytelling across film and digital platforms.
April Reneé Bailey,
Aeilea Media
Auri is a writer-director and co-founder of Gnomebird Productions who brings heart, humor, and purpose to every story she tells. With a background in filmmaking for environmental activism, her work includes award-winning television pilots, festival-selected shorts, and viral digital series. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts (B.F.A. Film & TV), she spent seven years at BuzzFeed, directing and producing more than 100 videos and developing successful unscripted series. Her projects have been recognized by Austin Film Festival, Outfest, and the San Diego Latino Film Festival. She now works as a freelance director focused on sustainability-driven storytelling and serves as a sustainability consultant for A24.
Auri Jackson,
Gnomebird
Shawheen Keyani,
Studio Keyani
Shawheen is a cinematographer, director, and photographer whose work is shaped by culture, storytelling, and adaptation. Born and raised in Tehran, he developed a love for cinema early on—learning English through bootleg VHS tapes of Hollywood films. After relocating to the U.S., he studied Film, Art, and Electronic Music at UC Santa Cruz before building his creative career in Los Angeles. He runs Studio Keyani, his photography and production studio, and co-founded Gnomebird Productions. His work spans commercial, documentary, and narrative projects, known for immersive imagery, cinematic depth, and a strong sense of place and emotion.
How Our Creative Partnerships Work
Aeilea Media collaborates with a small network of trusted creative partners to deliver documentary and mission-driven media projects. Depending on the needs of each project, collaborators may contribute directing, cinematography, editorial leadership, motion design, or production management. This flexible model allows the team to assemble the right mix of creative leadership and specialized expertise while maintaining a consistent commitment to thoughtful storytelling and high production standards. Each collaboration is structured around the creative and strategic needs of the story, ensuring that every project benefits from the most relevant experience and perspective.