FLAWLESS EXECUTION. BEAUTIFUL IMAGES.
MADE WITH HEART AND HUMANITY.
Circle Pictures is a woman-owned broadcast commercial production company that creates unforgettable visual stories for ad agencies and brands. Founded in 2011 by executive producer, Sue Karpfinger, Circle Pictures has built a reputation as an exceptional production partner, bringing our Midwestern work ethic and down-to-earth attitude to shoots all over the country. Beyond production, we represent a roster of passionate directors, cinematographers, writers and photographers — including several Emmy winners — who are known for work that magnifies our shared humanity. We are WBENC-Certified and work with both union and non-union crew and talent, tailoring our approach to best fit each project and budget.
From TV spots to multichannel campaigns, we’ve done it all. Over the years, both our clients and our crews have come to count on us not only for the excellent creative work we produce but also for the WAY that work gets done. . .
HERE’S HOW. . .
Our management style is low on ego and high on collaboration. We work hard to hear all the voices in the room, knowing it’s the best path to a fully-realized brand story that genuinely connects with people. Whether clients bring us in at the writing stage or, later, for production or post-production, we know how to bring a vision to life in a way the whole team feels good about.
A Circle set is a calm set. It’s also a fun one. That’s because we’re beyond ready on the first day of shooting. Besides to-a-tee logistics, we’ve anticipated the unexpected and pre-planned quick solutions for situations that might come up on set. Clients have told us we make things look effortless, which they should if we’ve done our homework ahead of time. And we do.
We build fully-resourced crews from our national network of creatives, strategists and tradespeople. Because we don’t cut corners, we’re able to deliver flawless execution, from large TV campaigns to social media content, no matter how complex the concept is.
Creating safe and fair work environments for our casts and crews has always been incredibly important to us. Incredibly. Prioritizing equity within groups and individual dignity are baselines for how we manage teams.
All of us truly love what we do. And it shows in the outcome every time. When you work with Circle Pictures, expect a cut above.
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER & Executive producer
Sue Karpfinger has been working in commercial production for over twenty years. Before founding Circle Pictures in 2011, she quickly moved from intern to line producer to executive producer at one of the largest production companies in the Midwest. From there, she went on to freelance as a producer throughout the country working with some of the most acclaimed directors in the industry and line producing the food show, Recipes of America, featuring world-renowned chefs including Emeril Lagasse. Her last stint before starting her own company was working as executive producer and lead line producer for True North.
Over the years, Sue has worked with clients like Walgreens, Toyota, American Family Insurance, Molson Coors, Havas New York and SC Johnson. In that time, she’s become well-known for her unique talent of simultaneously looking out for clients and creatives in a way that maintains the integrity of the concept and the cohesion of the team. She’s a grounding and supporting presence for everyone involved. For directors, Sue is a champion of their craft and a partner in creative strategy — always willing to offer ideas and resources to support their vision. For clients, she’s a trusted resource — a strategic partner there to help them figure out the best route to executing a project and to problem-solve along the way.
Collaborators have described her with words like fair, honest, resourceful and relentless. Sue attributes that leadership style and her professional success to the influence of the strong, compassionate women in her life — her mother and grandmother in particular.