About

Man smiling in a red and blue plaid shirt with a black background.

Meet Jordan Baese

Founder. Storyteller. Creative.

Jordan is an award-winning filmmaker who brings 15+ years of production mastery, narrative architecture, and post-production agility to every project. From building story outlines to interviewing to editing documentaries, he’s led teams, and managed the creative process while keeping the story at the center.

“I created Story First Filmmaking to remind myself what really matters in filmmaking: the people, the ideas, the growth and the truth in front of the lens. I aim to craft experiences that move people, to feel more deeply, think more broadly, and act from a place that’s true to who they are.”

Our Process Is Built Around Story

Directors, producers, brands, and creatives seeking to create work with a life beyond the viewing experience understand that storytelling is what transforms content from something consumed into something remembered.

Our stories have been crafted for platforms such as Apple TV+, CBS, PBS, and ESPN and all reflect this commitment. Regardless of scale, every project begins with the same essential question:

What makes the heart of the story, and how can it be best served? 

A storytelling framework with three sections. The first section, "People | Emotion," asks who is the heart of the story, shown with a heart icon and keywords: Desire, Uniqueness, and Motivation. The second section, "Purpose | Impact," inquires why you are telling the story, illustrated with icons and keywords: Inspiring, Different, Audience, Feeling, and Action. The third section, "Plot | Engagement," asks what the core question is, depicted with a triangular graph labeled Hook, Conflict, Initiation, Resolution, Journey, and Jab, divided into Beginning (25%), Middle (50%), and End (25%)."

Based in North Carolina. Serving Stories Worldwide.

Passionate about storytelling, flexible in approach, and deeply collaborative. From concept to final cut, ready to join at any stage of the process, ensuring the story remains at the center of it all.