Brent S.

Brent Sumner As a versatile filmmaker, my commercial expertise includes filming and editing national commercials for prominent brands such as Toyota. This work has allowed me to apply storytelling techniques and visual creativity to high-profile advertising campaigns, creating dynamic and engaging content that resonates with diverse audiences. I was educated at Brooks Institute of Photography with an emphasis in film, and as a Santa Barbara documentary filmmaker, I have worked on numerous productions through my company, Studio 8, for nearly twenty years in locations ranging from California to Australia to Russia. My work as a cinematographer, editor, and director has ranged from reality network television to PBS programs to a variety of documentaries based on local interests. I received a Gold Medal at the International Film Awards for both cinematography and editing of a documentary featuring Robert Duvall. Inspired initially by a scuba diving accident at Santa Cruz Island nearly a decade ago, I have since turned my camera towards California’s Channel Islands, ultimately creating a three-part PBS series revealing the human history of the islands, “West of the West: Tales from California’s Channel Islands.” I continue to document the human history as it unfolds on the islands. In my most challenging but rewarding endeavor to date, I edited a feature documentary featuring James Cameron and David Attenborough recounting the life of Mike deGruy, famed marine biologist and filmmaker. Opening the Santa Barbara Film Festival in 2019, “Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy” was well received by critics, with me recognized by the Hollywood Reporter: “The tightly paced doc (editing by Brent Sumner) covers a good deal of ground in a swift 80 minutes.” Now distributed by Gravitas Ventures and playing on Apple TV.