Overview
Wide Open Films is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based production company founded in 1995 by Dan Smith and John Wagoner. The company employs 2 people and operates from 14300 North Northsight Boulevard, Suite 126, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Wide Open Films is not a film distributor in the traditional sense. It is a digital filmmaking production company with over 20 years of experience creating TV commercials, web videos, fundraising and event videos, documentaries, and feature film development.
The company began as an advertising agency called Mediacraft, founded in 1994 by Smith and Wagoner in the Phoenix metro area. After winning top TV commercial awards at the 1997 ADDY Awards for the Phoenix market, the partners rebranded as Wide Open Films and shifted focus from advertising to producing TV commercials and episodic content. The company is currently focused on producing episodic content, with projects listed under the "In Development" section of their website.
For filmmakers in the Phoenix metro area, Wide Open Films is a local production resource for commercial work, branded content, and digital storytelling. The company does not acquire finished films for distribution, does not operate a theatrical distribution arm, and does not handle sales representation at film markets.
Services and Business Model
Wide Open Films operates as a full-service production company offering:
- TV commercials: Award-winning commercial production for Phoenix-area clients, including the 1997 ADDY Award winners for Best of Show TV Commercial and Best of Show TV Campaign
- Web videos: Digital content production for online distribution
- Fundraising and event videos: Video production for nonprofit and corporate events
- Documentaries: Documentary production as part of their project development slate
- Feature film development: The company lists feature film projects in development on their website
- Episodic content: The company's current primary focus, with episodic projects in development
- eMotive Digital Storytelling: A branded product that curates personal photos, home movies, and media into personalized digital stories for family and personal use
The company does not offer distribution services. Filmmakers looking for distribution of completed films should look elsewhere. Wide Open Films is a production shop, not a distributor.
History
Dan Smith and John Wagoner, both Arizona natives, founded Mediacraft in 1994 as an advertising agency in the Phoenix metro area. They honed their storytelling skills writing and producing ad campaigns for consumer products in the Phoenix market. After visiting several of New York City's largest ad agencies, Smith and Wagoner sharpened their vision from advertising to producing TV commercials.
In 1997, they won the top two TV commercial awards in the Phoenix market at the ADDY Awards. Following this recognition, Mediacraft became Wide Open Films, a boutique creative production shop. The company has since evolved from commercial production into episodic content development.
Smith has been the owner of Wide Open Films since January 1995, giving the company over 30 years of continuous operation. Wagoner served as writer and director at the company from February 1997 to February 1999 before moving on to other ventures.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Wide Open Films is not a film distributor and does not acquire completed films. Filmmakers seeking distribution for finished projects should not approach this company for distribution deals. The company is a local production shop focused on commercial work, branded content, and episodic development in the Phoenix metro area.
For filmmakers in Arizona looking for a local production partner for commercials, web content, or event videography, Wide Open Films offers decades of experience in the Phoenix market. The company's ADDY Award history and 30-year track record demonstrate competence in commercial production.
For filmmakers seeking traditional film distribution, this directory contains numerous actual distributors. In the Arizona region, filmmakers should look to national distributors or regional film organizations rather than local production companies like Wide Open Films.
Example Projects and Clients
Wide Open Films has produced commercial and branded content for Phoenix-area clients across multiple industries. Notable projects include:
- Harkins Theatres commercial - Brand campaign for Arizona's largest independent theatre chain, featuring families enjoying the moviegoing experience with original swing music scoring
- Shasta Pools TV campaign - Two-spot campaign for the Phoenix pool builder. The "Youth" spot won Best of Show TV Commercial at the 1997 Phoenix ADDY Awards. The "Clouds" spot introduced the campaign to differentiate the Shasta brand in the competitive Phoenix pool market
- Sunset Ford commercial - Brand spot targeting women car buyers in the Phoenix Valley, telling the story of a young woman's positive car-buying experience
- Culiver Cadillac commercial - Brand spot for a new North Scottsdale dealership, telling the story of three generations of the Culiver family and their commitment to auto customers
- eMotive Digital Stories - Personalized digital storytelling products including "The First 80 Years" (11 min), "Family Waves" (12 min), "Maui Christmas" (7 min), "A Lifetime Shared" (22 min), and "Nana's Cookies"
The company does not have a catalog of distributed films. All projects are commissioned commercial work or self-funded episodic development.
Deal Structure and Business Model
Wide Open Films operates on a work-for-hire basis for commercial clients. The company bids on commercial production projects, negotiates a production budget with the client, and delivers finished spots for broadcast or digital distribution. The client owns the finished content. Wide Open Films does not retain rights to the commercials it produces.
For the eMotive Digital Storytelling product, the company charges based on run time, number of media elements to be digitized, and production requirements (interviews, special equipment, scripting). An eMotive Story with 60 photos starts around $300, with more complex projects scaling up based on scope.
The company does not offer distribution deals, revenue sharing, or acquisition agreements. There are no MGs, no rev-share structures, and no service-deal arrangements. Wide Open Films is a production shop that sells its production services to clients, not a distributor that acquires and exploits content rights.
Typical Project Profile
Wide Open Films takes on projects that align with its commercial production capabilities. The company's portfolio shows a focus on:
- TV commercials for local and regional Phoenix businesses, particularly in automotive, hospitality, and home improvement sectors
- Branded content and web videos for digital distribution
- Fundraising and event videos for nonprofit and corporate clients
- Personalized digital stories (eMotive Stories) for individual clients
- Episodic content in development (the company's current primary focus)
The company does not accept film submissions, does not review finished films for distribution, and does not operate an open submission process for any type of content. Filmmakers seeking distribution or production financing should not approach Wide Open Films.
Recent Activity
As of 2026, Wide Open Films is focused on developing episodic content. The company's website lists projects under the "In Development" section, though specific titles and details are not publicly disclosed. Dan Smith continues as owner and primary contact, operating from the Scottsdale office at 14300 North Northsight Boulevard, Suite 126.
The company's commercial production volume has decreased as the Phoenix advertising market has shifted toward larger agencies and digital-first production shops. Wide Open Films remains active but operates at a smaller scale than during its peak commercial production years in the late 1990s and 2000s.
Watch: Trailers and Interviews
See Also
For actual film distributors in this directory, see A24 and Neon for US theatrical distributors, or Yellow Veil Pictures for genre-focused distribution. For understanding the difference between production companies and distributors, see Distribution Deals Explained.
