About Us
We’re friends who’ve had the pleasure of working together for more than a decade, and we bring chill vibes to put everyone on location at ease. At the heart of our brand storytelling team is trust, collaboration, and a shared love for telling great visual stories.
We’re always up for an adventure—whether that’s a studio shoot or braving the Alaskan wilderness. Ian has filmed the 1,000-mile Iditarod from the back of a snowmachine for many years, so we’ve got the gear, skills, and grit to film in some of the most extreme conditions out there.
And with decades of experience between us, we’re quick on our feet—solving problems on the fly, because when it comes to commercial video production, the unexpected is inevitable. We’re a well-oiled machine made up of kind, talented people who care about doing excellent work—and making the process enjoyable from start to finish.
Minneapolis / St. Paul Video Production
Ian and Lynn met in a TV newsroom in Anchorage, Alaska in 2001. They got married and founded 515 Productions in Des Moines, Iowa in 2006. Ten years later, their love for the cold North brought them to Minnesota. Now based in Minneapolis, video production projects continue to take them around the globe. (Bonus points if it happens to be in the Arctic Circle.)
Ian Planchon
Founder. Director. Director of Photography. Creative Director.
Ian’s philosophy on filmmaking is based on the principles of authentic storytelling and high-quality, cinematic production value. He is equally skilled at both the creative and technical aspects of film production. Above all, he prioritizes finding joy in the process, which he believes translates to a richer experience for the crew, talent and, ultimately, the audience. His credits include Discovery Channel’s The Last Alaskans, Red Bull Films’ Where the Trail Ends and the Dana Brown film On Any Sunday.
Lynn Melling
Founder. Content strategist. Writer. Director. Producer. PR advisor.
Lynn leans into her deep roots as a journalist to craft compelling stories with relevant messages that inspire action. Along her career path, she’s been an account supervisor at a PR agency and a corporate communications manager. This trifecta of experience helps her connect dots across owned, earned, paid and social media to maximize the client experience and achieve business goals. She’s also the co-host of a podcast about the outdoors, called We Do This For Fun.
Meet the Crew
We have strong relationships with highly-specialized pros across the video production industry, allowing us to flex, based on the unique needs of any given project. Here are some of the friendly faces we work with on regular basis:
Robb Moore / sound
Truth Point Media
Dave Poyzer / sound, still photography, graphic design – Canoe There
Bruce James Bales / camera op / AC
www.brucejbales.com
John Hennessey Baker / sound
Spencer Michael Smith / gaffer
Scott Just – VFX scottjust.com