About Us

Director/Shooter/Editor/Company Founder Shane Seley started Wide Awake Films in 2001, with the idea of producing high-quality historical and commercial projects with the very latest in emerging technology. Soon, Producer/Production Manager/Relationship-Builder Extraordinaire Ed Leydecker signed up, lending his excellent communication and production management skills to the company. The guys had worked together since 1991 at a large regional video production facility before venturing out on their own. Since then, Shane and Ed have traveled the world as business partners and friends, producing historical documentaries, museum films, television programs, commercials, corporate videos, and web media for an impressive list of national and international clients. They’re joined by a handful of video professionals and a stash of amazing freelancers who keep it real with a low-key approach to producing film. No stuffy sets with huffy producers and arrogant directors here. This crew believes that our business is FUN. And that shows in our work every day.

We’re totally into:

• Creativity, artistry, and innovation
• Great-looking, cutting-edge, high-definition video and film (and hyphens, apparently)
• The Viper Filmstream Camera (the most awesome camera you can even imagine)
• Blu-ray technology
• Our eclectic collection of clients and collaborators – their products, their people, their ideas, and their goals
• The Historic City Market, where our studio resides
• American history, especially the Civil War
• The art of grilling meat, especially pork ribs
• Any new technological gadget that tickles our fancy
• Funny YouTube videos
• Explosions and fire of any sort
• Jimmy Johns sandwiches

Shane Seley, Partner – Producer, Director, Videographer, Editor - Shane is a compulsive pen-clicker. We can always tell when he has a lot on his mind by the clicking noises emanating from his general direction. Also, Shane hearts the Civil War. A lot.

Ed Leydecker, Partner – Producer, Production Manager - Ed is hilarious, without even trying. He’s definitely Most Likely to Appear on Our Office Quote Board.

Dave Constine – Post-Production Supervisor, Editor - Dave likes to mop the floors while he’s rendering. And he owns a cat farm.

Amanda Curtis – Producer, Production Coordinator - Amanda makes sure everybody eats lunch. Seriously, it really stresses her out if you don’t eat.

Jeff Van Bockern – Editor – Jeff initiates shots at happy hour. He’s partial to rum.  Plus, he always knows the weirdest YouTube videos. Poodle aerobics. Check it out.

Jace Brewster – Production Accountant – Jace is the founder of “Big Pimpin’ Fridays” — we watch Jay-Z’s music video at the close of every week, usually accompanied by a dance party.

Keith Johnson – Visual Effects Artist – Keith is constantly drinking coffee and would otherwise not be able to function.

Brian Rose – Associate Producer/Archivist - Brian is quite an accomplished runner. He wins things sometimes.