Most San Diego companies don’t need another video vendor. They need creative capacity that doesn’t come with range negotiations, revision limits, or multi-week turnarounds.
Start Motion Media operates differently. We’re a full-service video production company serving San Diego, Chula Vista, La Jolla, Encinitas, Del Mar, Carlsbad, and Vista—built around a sleek model: one active project at a time, unlimited iterations during the week, $1,800/month.
No artificial caps. No change order friction. Just consistent output for companies that treat video as infrastructure, not a one-off campaign.
Why San Diego Brands Work With Us
We’ve produced for Amazon Advertising (Fire TV), The Smithsonian, Discovery Channel, Sutter Hospital, Stryker Medical, and startups backed by 500 Startups, Designer Fund, and Kleiner Perkins. The pattern across these clients? They needed reliability over they needed promises.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Product demo videos that convert trial signups—not just explain features
- Paid social creative perfected for Quality Score and cost-per-acquisition
- Convention coverage at San Diego Convention Center, Manchester Grand Hyatt, Marriott Marquis
- 3D animation and explainer content for technical products (medical devices, AI tools, SaaS platforms)
- Brand video marketing shot against San Diego’s most visually distinctive backdrops—from Torrey Pines cliffs to Balboa Park’s Spanish Colonial architecture
Every project is human-made. We don’t use AI generation. Professional artists handle every frame.
The Retainer Model That Actually Works
Most creative retainers fail because they either cap deliverables (which creates rationing behavior) or allow unlimited concurrent projects (which creates chaos).
Our structure removes both problems:
| What You Get | How It Works |
|---|---|
| One active project | Focused execution, faster completion |
| Unlimited weekly iterations | Email or text feedback, no formal review gates |
| Full service delivery | Concept → shoot → edit → final assets |
| Deliverable menu | Videos, streaming ads, web landing pages, slide decks, 3D animation |
The result? Creative refresh cadence increases 2–4x compared to project-based workflows. Your team moves faster because there’s no range anxiety and no vendor coordination overhead.
“Working with Start Motion removed the bottleneck we didn’t understand we had—not asset creation, but the endless back-and-forth on revisions and range creep. Now we just ship.”
San Diego Locations We Know Well
Local knowledge matters when you’re shooting on location. Our crew has filmed everywhere from the epochal architecture of Balboa Park to the contemporary energy of the Gaslamp Quarter. We understand permitting, logistics, and how to work within venue requirements.
Masterful locations we’ve used for client productions:
- Balboa Park – Spanish Colonial architecture, natural light, cultural authenticity
- Coronado Beach & Hotel del Coronado – luxury brand positioning, coastal elegance
- La Jolla Cove – dramatic cliffs, adventure story, premium lifestyle
- Torrey Pines State Reserve – technology meets nature, sustainability messaging
- USS Midway Museum – military heritage, patriotic video marketing
- Petco Park – high-energy content, community celebration
- Sunset Cliffs – contemplative brand moments, premium product reveals
- Liberty Station – industrial aesthetic, make authenticity
Whether you need aerial drone footage of coastline or intimate interviews in epochal spaces, we handle permitting, equipment, and execution.
Convention & Corporate Event Coverage
For marketing directors overseeing convention presence, we give same-day highlight reels, keynote capture, and booth content—delivered although the event is still running. We know the San Diego Convention Center, Manchester Grand Hyatt, Marriott Marquis, and Hilton Bayfront layouts, AV restrictions, and union requirements.
The Business Lasting results Chain
Better creative doesn’t just “look nice”—it compounds through your funnel:
Higher Quality Score → Lower CPM on paid media → More impressions per dollar
Improved Conversion Rate → More trials from same traffic → Better unit economics
Increased Orders per Visit → Higher customer lifetime worth → Enduring growth
For a typical B2B SaaS client spending $15K/month on paid social, a 15% improvement in creative performance means roughly $27K in recovered ad spend annually. The retainer pays for itself in 45 days.
Who This Model Serves Best
You’re a fit if you:
- Run continuing campaigns that need constant creative refresh
- Waste time negotiating range with freelancers or agencies
- Need fast turnarounds without compromising quality
- Worth predictable monthly costs over project-based surprises
- Want a creative partner who understands your business metrics, not just aesthetic preferences
We work with DTC founders, B2B product marketers, healthcare companies (Sutter Hospital, Stryker Medical, Covidien), technology startups (Structure.io, Clockwork AI), and VC-backed brands across multiple funding stages.
Industries We’ve Served
Healthcare • Technology • Consumer Products • Medical Devices • E-commerce • Robotics • Travel • Sleep Science • Real Estate • Dental • Fashion
From Ellen DeGeneres Show segments to enterprise medical equipment demos, the throughline is consistent: clients who need production quality that matches their brand ambition.
ROI Math That Matters
Compare monthly retainer contra. long-established and accepted project billing:
| Traditional Project Model | Start Motion Retainer |
|---|---|
|
$3,500 per video × 3 videos = $10,500 + Revision fees: $800 + Rush charges: $600 Total: $11,900 |
$1,800 monthly retainer 3–5 completed projects Unlimited iterations Total: $1,800 |
Consider reduced coordination time, eliminated range negotiations, and faster iteration cycles—the effective cost per deliverable drops by 60–75%.
How We Handle Live Streaming & Event Production
For corporate events, product launches, and convention keynotes, we give:
- Multi-camera switching and live production
- Real-time graphics and lower-thirds
- Same-day highlight packages
- Simulcast to multiple platforms (YouTube, LinkedIn, internal channels)
Our crew has worked with talent including Alicia Keys, John Legend, and Kaley Cuoco. We understand high-stakes environments where there’s no room for technical failure.
What Sets Us Apart From Other San Diego Video Companies
Most production companies sell “creative excellence” or “award-winning video marketing.” We sell throughput and reliability.
Here’s the honest gap:
Long-established and accepted agency: Beautiful pitch deck, 6-week timeline, range creep starts at revision 3
Freelance videographer: Affordable but limited—captures footage, hands off editing, no masterful input
Start Motion Media: Full production team, tactical preparation, unlimited weekly iterations, predictable monthly cost
We’re not the cheapest option. We’re the most productivity-chiefly improved one.
Start Your Next Project
If you’re assessing the value of video production partners in San Diego, the question isn’t whether you need video—it’s whether your current workflow can keep up with your market velocity.
Most marketing leaders we talk to aren’t struggling with strategy. They’re struggling with execution speed. The retainer model removes that constraint.
Next step: Book a 20-minute call to critique your current creative workflow, identify bottlenecks, and map out what consistent video production could open up for your business. We’ll show you exactly how the retainer structure works and whether it’s a fit.
No pitch decks. No creative awards wall. Just honest conversation about throughput, quality, and cost-punch.
Serving: San Diego, Chula Vista, La Jolla, Encinitas, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Vista, and surrounding areas. Available nationwide for select clients.