Once Films
Cinematographer
Cheerleaders for St. Louis since their inception, Once Films is a documentary-style commercial production company that champions the stories of both leaders and underdogs, locals, eccentrics, community-centric groups, passion-driven people, characters, companies large and small, nonprofits, and just about anyone willing to take a risk and forge their own path. With a studio in the heart of Midtown, their work exists at the crossroads of original content and advertising, blending the best of both worlds. Discover more at oncefilms.com.
![Once Films Crew](jpg/once_films_videographer.jpg)
Contributions
One of a Kind
From the depths of the caves to its 10-story slide, City Museum continues to find new ways to delight and…
![](jpg/241-city-museum_js-5670-3-992x986.jpg)
2022 Year In Review
Take a look back at this year's STLMade stories.
![](jpg/214-big-muddy-adventures_once-461-992x992.jpg)
Planting Roots
Noboleis Vineyards and Root Food + Wine draw St. Louisans to the natural beauty of Augusta.
![](jpg/221-augusta_js-120-992x992.jpg)
Fine Print
At Central Print, Marie Oberkirsch passes on the art of traditional letterpress printmaking to future generations, while using the craft…
![](jpg/216-central-print_js-5885-992x992.jpg)
Float On
From the Boathouse to the Mississippi, Big Muddy Adventures offers St. Louisans a chance to connect with the region's waterways.
![](jpg/214-big-muddy-adventures_once-550-992x992.jpg)
Notes of Community
Soul artist turned community facilitator Brian Owens helps lift up young creatives in St. Louis.
![](jpg/209-brian-owens_mt-6022-992x992.jpg)
Hive Mind – Part Two
A team of local scientists work together on how to improve produce yields in urban orchards and community gardens.
![](jpg/193-urban-pollination-project_mt-0997-992x992.jpg)
Hive Mind – Part One
With the goal of helping community gardens produce more fresh food, scientists from six different St. Louis institutions are collaborating…
![](jpg/193-urban-pollination-project_mt-9347-992x992.jpg)
Historical
Perspective
With unique bus and walking tours throughout the metro area, Amanda Clark helps people see St. Louis differently.
![](jpg/187-amandaclark_seestl-3392-992x992.jpg)
Turning the Tables
David Stine crafts one-of-a-kind wood furniture for restaurants and homes around the country, all made from fallen trees on his…
![](jpg/175-davidstinefurniture_cr_5j7a1161-992x992.jpg)
2021 Year In Review
Take a look back at this year's STLMade stories.
![](jpg/160-forest-park_rj-4920-992x992.jpg)
Empowering
Women
In Fox Park, nonprofit Rung for Women helps women take their personal and professional lives to the next level.
![](jpg/166-rung-for-women_js-dsc2090-992x992.jpg)
Reclaimed
Treasure
With Refab, Eric Schwarz gives new life to St. Louis' past by repurposing the pieces of its architectural history.
![](jpg/168-refab_cr-5j7a0959-992x992.jpg)
A Home for Art
In Gravois Park, St. Louis Art Place Initiative has completed the first of 20 units of single family housing at…
![](jpg/141-art_place_initiative_website_no_address_new-992x992.jpg)
Homegrown
Market
Local farmers and entrepreneurs build their businesses and a strong community through the support of St. Louisans at the Tower…
![](jpg/154-towergrove-market_rj-3109-992x992.jpg)
Building the Future
Dream Builders 4 Equity aims not only to transform Hyde Park in the next five years, but also to serve…
![](jpg/youth-extras-25-992x992.jpg)
The Courage to Dream
Dream Builders 4 Equity empowers young St. Louisans to achieve their goals.
![](jpg/137-db4e_cr_5j7a8957-992x992.jpg)
Dreaming Big
Michael Woods and Neal Richardson knew a new approach was needed for real estate investment to make lasting change in…
![](jpg/137-db4e_cr_5j7a9227-992x992.jpg)
What’s Possible
Marian Middle School students find inspiration for their future in the history-making election of the first Black female vice president, Kamala…
![](jpg/130-marion-middle-school_cr-72-992x992.jpg)
Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future
Michael Allen pushes back against the traditional view of preservation, and wants St. Louisans to embrace and appreciate all parts…
![](jpg/118-bricksarchitecture_mbt_4261-992x992.jpg)
Starting Up
St. Louisans on why they chose to start their businesses here — and why they’ve flourished.
![](jpg/106-c.-oliver_cr_119-992x992.jpg)
Into Existence
Nationally-recognized artist and St. Louis native Aaron Fowler shows his work in St. Louis for the first time in a…
![](jpg/109-aaron-fowler_cr_6-992x992.jpg)
In Full Bloom
At Oliver’s Coffee + Flower Bar in Maplewood, Olivia Ridgel's focus on creativity and inclusion have blossomed into a magical,…
![](jpg/106-c.-oliver_cr_126-992x992.jpg)
Full Circle
Okunsola M. Amadou is improving health outcomes for Black women with a wraparound model of care at Missouri's first equal…
![](jpg/20200710-stlmade-097jamaa-birth-village-0230-992x992.jpg)
Brewing Community
St. Louis brewers find new ways to connect with beer lovers and continue their businesses during the pandemic.
![](jpg/051-beer-mt-sixmile-784-992x992.jpg)
Novel Tees
In St. Peters, Shirt Kong is Screenprinting T-Shirts to Support Small Businesses throughout the Metro Area.
![](jpg/20200414-stlmade-082-shirt-kong-0075-992x992.jpg)
‘Round and ‘Round
For 50 years, Mathew and Niah Foggy have built community while circling the roller rink at Skate King.
![Man and woman standing at skate rental counter](jpg/030-skate_king_rj_1598-992x992.jpg)
Home(Town) Brew
Here in one of the nation's top beer cities, St. Louis brewers are shaping the industry's future.
![A man pulls a beer tap in a brewery](jpg/051-beer_rj_millpond_3k9a6325-992x992.jpg)
Making a Mark
In creating custom wood pieces through Mwanzi Co., Jermain Todd is taking the St. Louis maker movement around the globe.
![Jermain Todd produces custom wood pieces at Mwanzi.](jpg/b-roll.00_04_23_08.still029-992x992.jpg)
Call of the Wild
For Kari Musgrave, honing her veterinary skills at the world-class Saint Louis Zoo is a dream come true.
![portrait of st. louis veterinarian](jpg/031zoovet_-_mt_-_302-2-992x863.jpg)
Urban Oasis
Theo Smith thought he’d become an urban planner, but Kennedy Forest in Forest Park beckoned.
![](jpg/032-forest-park-theo_mbt_5556-992x992.jpg)
Sweet Dreams
La Patisserie Chouquette co-owner and executive pastry chef Simone Faure has become the maven of macarons in St. Louis.
![baker](jpg/baker-992x853.jpg)
Masters of Light
Just as their great-great grandfather did, Aaron Frei and his siblings are coloring St. Louis with hand-crafted stained glass.
![Emil Frei](jpg/025_emilfrei_stainedglass-129-992x992.jpg)
Cool Rider
Sump Motorcycle owner and mechanic Mike Henneberry just might love your bike even more than you do.
![Sump Motorcycles](jpg/018-sump_cr_1284-edit-1-992x992.jpg)
Planting Seeds
Angi Taylor found meaningful work in St. Louis’s growing agriculture industry.
![](jpg/010-danforth_3k9a1209-992x992.jpg)
Barrelling Along
Creating barrel-aged beard oils helped Jeremy Allen Stanton rediscover his fire.
![](jpg/barrel-still-002-chris-ryan-once-films-992x992.jpg)
Family Matters
Angie Smart is an accomplished violinist with the St. Louis Symphony – a career her son Theo Bockhorst might want,…
![Angie Smart and Theo Bockhorst rehearse in the green room at Powell Hall.](jpg/011-slso_mbt_6380-992x992.jpg)