We’re builders,
collaborators,
and storytellers.
I grew up around belief. I saw firsthand how powerful it can be when it’s handled with care, integrity, and empathy. Belief can move mountains. And in a world growing more and more synthetic by the day, authentic belief is becoming the most valuable human currency we have.
- Charlie
A storytelling studio
built on belief
Founded by Charlie Chappell, Make Belief bridges the worlds of film and brand storytelling… the small town handshake and the big city grind. At his core, Charlie is a storyteller who leads with empathy, kindness, and a genuine curiosity about people.
For more than 15 years, he’s shaped stories for brands, studios, and creators: award-winning shorts and music videos, Webby and Telly-winning campaigns for Ingram Micro, Lenovo, and Microsoft, and creative recruiting, producing, and editing for Estée Lauder, Revlon, The Washington Post, FIGS, Sephora, Ring Magazine, and the Human Rights Foundation among others.
He’s worked behind the camera, in the edit bay, and even in front of the lens with the likes of Ethan Hawke, Vincient D’Onofrio, and Dane Dehaan helping generate millions upon millions of views across platforms and mediums.
His guiding belief is simple:
Authenticity is the new standard of performance.
Make the story true.
Make the emotion real.
Build the structure and strategy that help that truth scale.
A collective of believers.
We collaborate with directors, DPs, designers, editors, animators, and strategists who share one goal:
Build belief that moves people.
Leadership
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Garret brings the visual force of Make Belief to life. He is a photographer, cinematographer, and visual storyteller with a singular eye for composition, light, and mood. His work is rooted in cinematic craft and intentional design, creating imagery that elevates narrative and forges an immediate emotional connection with audiences.
Having traveled the world to tell stories through images, Garret draws from a deep well of cultural and visual experience. His perspective is shaped not only by place, but by years spent working alongside the legendary photographer David LaChapelle, where he honed a bold yet disciplined approach to visual storytelling—balancing spectacle with meaning, and artistry with purpose.
Garret’s work spans commercials, branded content, and experiential pieces, blending technical mastery with artistic intuition to build visual worlds that feel textured, intentional, and unmistakably human. His ability to translate story into image makes him a key creative voice on every project.
At Make Belief, Garret leads visual direction, cinematography, and lighting design. He collaborates closely with producers, strategists, and sound designers to ensure that every frame reinforces the belief a story is meant to evoke. His work enhances narrative through visual rhythm, atmosphere, and cinematic presence.
Beyond the camera, Garret contributes to visual strategy—helping define how stories should look and feel in both motion and stillness. His imagery isn’t just beautiful; it’s purposeful, grounded in the belief that visuals shape perception, emotion, and connection.
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Producer and Creative Collaborator
Max is the red-bearded audio wizard behind some of the most compelling sound and podcast experiences you’ll hear.
He crafts immersive audio environments and helps shape narrative through sound, atmosphere, and editorial precision — turning ideas into experiences that feel as good as they sound across platforms.
His portfolio includes work on acclaimed and culturally resonant shows like Goalless with Russell Howard & Chris Wittynham, Pablo Torre Finds Out, Good Mythical Morning, Paul Giamatti’s Chinwag, Kasich & Klepper, and Wondery’s Killer Psyche, along with a wide range of narrative and branded audio projects.
At Make Belief, Max oversees sound design, podcast development, and audio production — bringing both technical mastery and creative intuition to every project.
He also steps into producer duties, helping guide ideas from concept to final mix with clarity and craft.
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Producer and Creative Collaborator
Lex is a multi-talented producer, host, actor, and creative strategist who brings both performance sensibility and production leadership to Make Belief. With roots in acting, hosting, voice-over, production management, and virtual production, she has a unique ability to shape ideas into compelling experiences, whether on camera, behind the scenes, or in the edit bay.
She holds an MFA in Theatre Arts and Education and has collaborated with notable creators and brands. Her work ranges from producing and starring in original series like Lex Levels Up, to co-producing music video projects with artists such as Snoop Dogg, to traveling the world with Above Board TV creating board-game content with the likes of Kevin Smith and other big hitters in the nerdom space.
Her background blends narrative instinct with production rigor and a strong sense of creative problem-solving.
At Make Belief, Lex oversees audio and visual production workflows, creative coordination, and producer duties. She helps turn strategic concepts into polished and authentic storytelling that resonates. Her experience in both performance and production allows her to bridge creative vision with seamless execution, making every project feel intentional, human, and alive.
The Problems We Solve
Most brands don’t have a content problem.
They have a clarity problem.
The Authenticity Gap
Today’s audiences can smell inauthentic content a mile away.
Symptoms include:
Low engagement
Cynical comments
Brand fatigue
Messaging that feels corporate instead of human
What we do:
We build authenticity into the core of the brand’s communication. Authenticity becomes the strategy — not just the vibe.
Teams Who Need a Creative Partner, Not a Vendor
A lot of companies have had bad experiences with videographers or agencies who:
Don’t understand the strategy
Don’t take ownership
Don’t collaborate well
Overshoot and underdeliver
What we do:
We partner.
We guide.
We think, design, produce, and build alongside you — always aligned with your goals, belief, and audience.
Unclear Brand Story (No One Knows What You Stand For)
Many companies struggle to articulate who they are, why they matter, or what belief they’re trying to spread.
This leads to:
Confusing messaging
Inconsistent tone
Campaigns that feel disconnected
Audiences who don’t remember you
So, we define the emotional truth of the brand and build a story people can feel, understand, and rally around.
Low Conversion from Video and Content
Marketing teams often make beautiful assets that underperform because they lack strategy, structure, or psychological resonance.
Symptoms include:
High bounce rates
Videos that don’t drive action
Awareness with no movement
Funnels that break after the first touchpoint
What we do:
We anchor content in belief, narrative flow, and behavioral design — turning story into strategy.
OUR DUAL-REGION MODEL
Heartland soul.
From Los Angeles to Northwest Arkansas, we merge the reach and rigor of major market production with the authenticity and efficiency of local storytelling.
Hollywood polish.
This unique model gives our clients the best of both worlds:
The highest quality storytelling
Boutique agility and care
Flexible budgets with elevated execution
A focused team who understands people, not just pixels
Whether you’re scaling a startup, elevating a regional brand, or telling a founder story… we’ve built a model that delivers belief at every level.