Matthew Echelman

Education

Equipment

My Equipment/Kit: CAMERA Canon C300 Mark II Canon EOS R5 Canon 5D MK IV LENSES Canon - EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Telephoto Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM Lens Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Ultra-Fast Standard AutoFocus Lens CANON EF 2X III EXTENDER Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens AUDIO Sennheiser MKH416-P48U3 SHORT SHOTGUN MIC 2x Sennheiser EW112P G3 LAV SYS/SKP 300 G3 MIC KIT Sennheiser EW 112P G4 Camera-Mount W

I can use: Final Cut Pro / X

About me

Before I reached the age of 22, I faced the sudden loss of my father in a car accident, followed by the slow defeat of my mother in her second battle with breast cancer. Under the heavy burden of grief, I found solace in the remarkable compassion and courage displayed by those around me.

My neighbors transformed into my teachers, each sharing their stories as guiding lessons. Neurodiverse children, charting unconventional educational paths, imparted their resilience. Survivors of war, genocide, and female genital mutilation taught me forgiveness as they reconciled with their pasts. LGBTQIA+ individuals and indigenous tribes, uniting in peaceful protests against persecution, revealed the sanctuary of solidarity. Asylum seekers, enduring precarious roads for the safety of their loved ones, showed me the true meaning of bravery. Broadway performers, channeling their passion to confront systemic racism, instilled me with a fervent pursuit of societal reform. Fashion workers, raising their voices against abuses of power, nurtured my empathy and vulnerability as a man. Cancer patients, facing mortality with hope, unveiled a profound lens on life’s true priorities.

These stories etched an indelible mark upon my soul, sparking a desire to share them and create a positive impact in others’ lives, just as they had shaped my own. Yet, in today's media-saturated world, brimming with misinformation, I saw the potential to enlighten and uplift, set against the perilous backdrop of potential exploitation for entertainment. Mere amplification of these stories felt insufficient; it felt imperative to ensure the well-being and dignity of those depicted, safeguarding their integrity throughout the creative process. Storytelling alone seemed inadequate; a more substantial commitment to driving social change seemed essential, breaking free from the cycle of perpetuating harm through the commodification of both media and human experiences.

Guided by a moral conviction akin to the Hippocratic Oath, I firmly believe that media should be governed by the principle of ‘do no harm,’ so equipped with a degree in Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought from Amherst College, I have steered my course into the realm of the arts. Over the past decade, I have dedicated myself to mastering the art of storytelling through hands-on experiences and the wisdom gleaned from my own mistakes, cultivating a real-world education encompassing writing, filming, photography, directing, editing, and producing. This journey has led me to establish ‘eek media’—a collective of intersectional storytellers dedicated to advancing equity, entertainment, and knowledge through media. Rooted in a commitment to social impact, our work integrates the creative process with community outreach, academic research, investigative journalism, and public policy initiatives.

My work has garnered recognition on platforms such as CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, HBO, and VH1, and has been featured in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, Playbill, and Us Weekly. Over the past decade, I have produced, directed, shot, and edited films for a diverse range of clients, including Pearson Education, Equality Now, the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation, Libraries Without Borders, OPERA America, Model Alliance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Broadway Advocacy Coalition, BlackFem, Artsy, and IMG Media's Apple TV channel, ‘Made 2 Measure.’

License & Passport

Skills

Secondary Job Title	Photographer
Job Titles	Video Editor, Director, Producer, Studio Producer / Director, Cinematographer, Director of Photography (DOP), Videographer, Photographer
Years in industry	6+ years