About us

We pride ourselves on being no-attitude creators and storytellers and dedicate ourselves to each campaign whether it is a micro-budget shoot, or a large-scale commercial production. We are not “button pushers” who simply follow orders - we are filmmakers who bring our personalities, passions, and creativity to every project.

Based in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, CA, Third Story Films produces feature films, television commercials, and branded content. Our background in both film and advertising gives us a unique understanding of the balance between art and commerce. And to be honest, we can’t get enough of it… We love what we do and we do what we love.

Producer — Director

Marc Ryan

Marc is a Director, Producer and Co-Owner of Third Story along with Mike Million. Marc started his film career at the renowned advertising agency TBWA Chiat/Day, where he eventually became a broadcast producer working on the Nissan Account. Upon leaving the agency, Marc went out on his own as an independent producer which is when he met Mike Million (at 2am in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of DC). Little did either Marc or Mike know that would be the beginning of a thriving business and friendship for 20+ years.

Marc’s goal as a producer is to give every director he’s working with (even himself) the ability to find their groove without feeling the inevitable limitations of production on a budget. As a director, Marc likes to embrace new technologies and techniques to push the possibilities of creative communication. Marc’s background as an editor encourages efficient storytelling and his technical expertise demands quality production with the right tools for each project. He’s also pretty fun to work with.

Marc sees a lot of live music, plays guitar too much during winter months and prefers two wheels as his mode of transport. He lives with his wife, two children and slightly overweight dog in Takoma Park, Maryland. Marc received a B.A. in Communications from Wake Forest University likes to spend as much time as possible on the beaches of North Carolina.

Writer — Director

Mike Million

Mike is an Emmy and Webby award-winning director, screenwriter, and producer based in Los Angeles. He has built a reputation for telling emotional stories about real people. Sometimes these stories are sad. Sometimes they are funny. As a director, Mike has created everything from intimate mini-documentaries for global brands to Hollywood feature films.

Mike started his career at The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer where he fetched lunches and soaked up PBS greatness. He then taught himself how to edit and cut his visual and narrative teeth editing literally hundreds of commercials. After getting an MFA at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, Mike returned home to DC and was fortunate enough to meet Marc Ryan at a coffee shop in Adams Morgan. In 2001, Mike and Marc founded Third Story Films with little more than a video camera and Mike’s 1989 Honda Civic. 21 years later the two have built one of the most respected boutique production companies in the U.S. 

As a screenwriter, Mike has written scripts for most of the major studios, as well as for top directors like Todd Phillips, Neil Labute, Fredrik Bond and others. Mike has had two original scripts selected to be on the highly prestigious “Black List” (a yearly list of Hollywood’s best unproduced screenplays). His feature film, TENURE (starring Luke Wilson and Gretchen Mol) premiered at the Hamptons Film festival and can be streamed everywhere. Mike currently has several feature films and a TV show in development - which means he’s usually looking for commercial work.

Mike is a proud member of the Writers Guild of America, West and a graduate of the University of Virginia. For features, Mike is represented by Verve and the Gotham Group. He lives in a craftsman house in LA with his wife, two kids and a dog - and yes, Million is his real last name.

Producer — Production Manager

Francisco Mejia

Francisco started his career in film as a Set Production Assistant on several indie films and then landed an assistant editor job at a small Northern Virginia production company, before moving up the ranks there to become a Production Manger. These experiences have instilled a unique “all hands on deck” work ethic and a critical eye for creative direction and producing. In the summer of 2018 he joined the team at Third Story, and it has been a perfect match ever since. He’s become TSF’s “Jack of All Trades” producer, not only producing and managing several projects at a time, but also handling day-to-day operations at TSF headquarters. Francisco earned is B.A. in Digital Media at Longwood University. When he’s not at work, he prefers to spend his time somewhere warm, with waves, a cold drink, and live music.

Account Manager

Madeline Tovar

Madeline Tovar is an Account Manager for Third Story Films currently living and working in Washington, DC. She attended the University of Denver before returning to her hometown of Durango, Colorado where she worked for several local businesses in the service industry. In 2020, Madeline moved across the country to Virginia where she worked in marketing for Verizon and Leaf Filter before finding the opportunity at Third Story. In her free time, Madeline enjoys exploring new places, spending time with her small dog, and listening to podcasts.

Finance — Accounting

Steve Olivera

Steve has been with Third Story since 2012 providing strategic planning and oversight for all finance and accounting operations. He came to us with a decade of experience in Hollywood on the development and production side of things, producing short and long form content including the feature film All Summers End. He holds an MBA from the University of Maryland and an MFA from UCLA.

Bookkeeping

Carol Wells

Carol is a Northern Virginia native and graduate of George Mason University. She is proud to partner with Third Story Films in achieving their vision for financial success. Carol enjoys spending time with her family, laughing with friends and relaxing in Nags Head, N.C. Her favorite time of the year is March Madness.