Every story deserves to be remembered.
I’m Christian Hernandez, filmmaker and founder of Ardent Imagery. I don’t make content. I make cinema. Films that breathe, that linger, that become proof you were here.
The work starts with listening: to the pauses, the contradictions, the silences between words. That’s where the truth lives.
Behind the Lens
Twenty-two years filming and editing. Oakland raised. A musician before a filmmaker, which is why rhythm runs through every cut.
When I’m not on set, I’m wandering Oakland with too much gear, chasing the kind of light most people walk right past.
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Listen first.
Discovery call and interviews to find heartbeat.
Shape The Arc
Story beats, shot list, lighting and sound plan.
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Edit with resonance.
Cut, color, sound, and platform-ready versions.
How It Works
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Film with intention.
A directed shoot. You don’t lift a finger.
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FAQ
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Most projects deliver 10 to 21 days after the shoot. Rush is available.
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I guide story beats and interview prep. Truth over acting.
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Bay Area and beyond. Travel is billed separately.
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Every project is scoped to what it needs to do. Tell me about yours on the contact form, including your budget range, and I’ll come back with a clear proposal. No guessing, no surprise line items.
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It depends on the project, and your proposal spells it out before anything starts: how many videos, how long, and in which formats. A brand film delivers one finished piece built to carry your story. A creator day delivers a library of reels ready to post. Either way, you get versions cut for the platforms you actually use, vertical for social and widescreen for your site.
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Both. If you already have footage, I offer editing-only packages, and editing work can be done remotely for clients anywhere.
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Not if I’m doing my job. Most of my clients say the same thing before we start. I don’t hand you a script and point a lens at you. We talk. I listen. The best moments come when you forget the camera is there, and I build the shoot around getting you to that point.
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Less than you think. A short creative call up front, a planning check-in, the shoot itself, and a review of the cut. I handle the logistics, the gear, and the edit. Your job is to show up and be yourself.
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Not without a license, and licensing a hit song for business use usually costs more than the film itself. Unlicensed music gets videos muted, flagged, or taken down, often right when they start getting views. I score every project with professionally licensed music chosen to fit your story. If you already hold the rights to a specific track, I’m happy to use it.
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Yes. If you want fresh films and reels every month without starting from scratch each time, I offer monthly packages built around a regular shoot day and a steady flow of edited content. You’ll always have something new to post, and I’ll already know your brand inside and out.

