About Us
Devoted to the art of synthesizing aerial cinematography and audio engineering, JayByrd Films creates dynamic and immersive experiences that push the language and vocabulary of cinema. Our team represents wonderfully talented filmmakers, producing some of the most revolutionary videos from sports to music, commercials to feature films.
Our
Story
With an eye that transcends the ordinary and a talent for the extraordinary, Jay Christensen is the driving force behind JayByrd Films, a name synonymous with pioneering aerial cinematography. His journey began with a passion for storytelling from a skyward perspective, which rapidly propelled him to the forefront of the industry with the viral sensation "Right Up Our Alley" – a mesmerizing one-take drone flight through a bustling bowling alley that captured the world's imagination.
As a vanguard of First-Person View (FPV) cinematography, Jay's artistic vision and piloting acumen have attracted iconic brands such as The Wynn, Formula 1 Miami, The New York Yankees, the NHL, PGA, and American Idol, entrusting him to elevate their stories to unprecedented heights. His signature blend of daring precision and creative flair has not only redefined the possibilities of drone filmmaking but has also solidified his reputation as an innovator and a stalwart in the drone community.
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Jay founded JayByrd Films in 2020, surrounding himself with other leading drone operators, astounding editors, phenomenal sound designers and notable producers to ensure that our films are consistenly pushing the boundaries and achieving the highest standard in the drone industry. Our team's commitment to excellence is boundless, and we hope our viewers love our dedication to our craft as much as our team does.
Team
Jay Christensen
Followed his passion for cinematography, specifically aerial cinematography and inspired the creation of JayByrd Films. After creating the globally recognized "Right Up Our Alley", drone goes bowling one-take fly through, Jay rose to fame. Widely known as a pioneer of FPV cinematography and innovator within the drone industry, Jay has logged thousands of hours and is our chief FPV and heavy lifter pilot.
Erik Nelson
Is a producer and director of marketing at JayByrd Films. Erik has over 10 years of experience working as an Executive Producer for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx and over 20 years of marketing experience for other large corporations. Erik is passionate about storytelling, branding, and maximizing content, and providing the best experience for our clients.
Emily Erhart
Is a producer and director of operations at JayByrd Films. Emily is passionate about wildlife conservation & filmmaking. She has 8 years of experience working in the film industry from low-budget features to commercials. She enjoys storyboarding and the creative process and is the master of all things drone permitting and insurance.
Jake Woodbridge
Is a director at JayByrd Films with more than 15 years of experience, specializing in comedic commercials and awe-inspiring music videos. Jake's videos receive millions of views, and he is becoming one of the hottest directors in the music industry. Jake is passionate about pushing the limits of creativity and creating content that people actually want to watch. His positive attitude and high energy are always loved and appreciated on set. If you need a treatment or creative insight, he's your guy.
Owen Hofman
Has over 5 years of experience as an AC. He has a wealth of knowledge across all major drones and camera systems. Owen spends his time focusing on sharpening his airborne knowledge as an AC, visual observer and everyone's go-to-guy.
Patrick Conroy
Has over 8 years experience filming and flying drones. Specializing in FPV, Patrick loves filming extreme sports, racing and anything outdoors. In his spare time you can find him enjoying all the great things Montana has to offer.
Gian Lorenzo Ferretti
Is a drone pilot and timelapse photographer living in Florida. Gian was born and raised in Italy and moved to the US in 2014 after receiving a scholarship to compete for the University of Minnesota track & field team. Gian has specialized in the niche art of time-lapse and hyper-lapse photography for the past 7 years and has been lucky to travel the globe on many assignments.
Andrew Achter
Is a video editor and filmmaker with 8 years of industry experience starting his own video production business in college. His experience since then includes working on social media and tourism campaigns, broadcast commercials and drone video productions. Andrew’s had a hand in making videos for international brands like Red Bull, Nationwide and Formula 1. When he’s not working, he’s likely exploring his new home in Colorado hiking, biking and snowboarding.