Meet Ellie Yatsko & Cody May | Commercial Filmmakers at Freytag Films

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ellie Yatsko & Cody May and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ellie Yatsko & Cody May, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
A couple of years ago, we had a chance to work together as producer and director on a large public health campaign. That project totally opened our eyes to the larger production community here in Denver, as well as our potential as producers. We began daydreaming about finding our own clients, building our own team, and creating a portfolio that spoke to our values as individuals. A little more than a year later, we built up the courage to leave the nest and started Freytag Films in January 2024.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
It seems like an obvious direction in hindsight, but it took us a few months to realize that we wanted to focus our efforts in the world of “public good.” We’re more interested in promoting ideas than peddling products. We want to work with anyone trying to move the global needle in a positive direction: public health organizations, nonprofits, and startups promoting causes we actually believe in. There’s so much content out there already that the last thing we want to do is contribute to the noise. We want our content to be a net positive for the world. Plus, creatively, the “public good” space offers a ton of opportunities to explore relevant concepts, reveal new insights, and tell diverse stories.

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.
We’re huge fans of everything Denver has to offer, and we’re always stoked to show people around when we have the opportunity. As many in Colorado, we love the outdoors—especially in the spring and summer. On the weekends we like to take our pals climbing in Clear Creek or Boulder Canyon for a day trip, or hammock-camping in the hills of Lost Creek. We both hit the town often by foot or bike, and most days you can catch us working at our favorite cafes: Roostercat, Ti Cafe, and Bardo are in our regular rotation. In the evenings, we’re big fans of live music, and often pop into Mutiny Cafe or Skylark to see a show. A few more Denver standouts that we couldn’t not mention are Leven Deli (the best brownies), Printed Page (a perfect bookstore), and Electric Cure for happy hour.

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?
We would be honored to dedicate our shoutout to Irene and Randy Law who are owners of Analytics and Insights Matter (AIM), a data and analytics company here in Colorado. Not only have they been tireless connectors and champions as we have established our own business, but they have set the standard in our minds for how to run a company values-first, with a focus on public good. Irene and Randy conduct themselves with warmth and professionalism, and we could not be more happy to recognize them as role models and collaborators.

Website: https://Freytagfilms.com

Instagram: @freytagfilms

Image Credits
Delaney Schoenfeldt