About SeaState Productions
Journalist.
Storyteller.
Pilot.
I'm Erik Olsen — an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and one of the earliest adopters of drone technology in professional media. Before I ever picked up a drone controller, I spent decades in newsrooms learning the thing that actually matters most: how to find the story. I was also the first person to fly a drone for The New York Times, and produced one of the first major stories ever published about drone racing.
As a former Senior Video Journalist for The New York Times (New York & Berlin) and West Coast Video Correspondent for Quartz, my work has appeared in National Geographic, BBC, Scientific American, Popular Science, CNN's Great Big Story, MSNBC, and more. I've directed for PBS NOVA, conducted hundreds of interviews with scientists, executives, and everyday people alike, shot aerial drone footage for documentary films, spent weeks at sea with the world's top oceanographic institutions, and once dove to over 2,000 feet in a submersible.
SeaState Productions brings that same editorial eye and narrative instinct to every project — whether that means sitting someone down for an interview that reveals who they really are, structuring a story that keeps viewers watching to the end, or getting the aerial shot that ties it all together. Great storytelling and stunning aerial work shouldn't be reserved for Hollywood budgets, and with decades of real-world experience behind the camera (and the controller), I deliver both at honest rates.
Narrative-First
Decades finding and shaping the story before the camera ever rolls
Interviews
Skilled at drawing out authentic, camera-ready conversations
PBS / NOVA
Produced & directed an hour-long episode for PBS NOVA
NYT Pioneer
First drone pilot to fly for The New York Times
Ocean & Air
From 2,000ft below sea to thousands of feet above it
FAA Part 107
Licensed, insured & flying commercially since day one
What I Do
Story-Driven Work,
Ground To Air
Finding the narrative is the hard part — it's my specialty. From concept to final cut, I build documentary-style stories that hook an audience and hold their attention to the end.
Sit-down interviews, executive profiles, and testimonials that feel like a real conversation. Decades of newsroom experience means I know how to ask the right question at the right moment.
Cinematic B-roll, brand films, and commercial footage that makes your project look like it had a million-dollar budget. Dynamic movements, smooth tracking shots, custom color grades.
FAA-certified aerial photography and video that gives any story its establishing shot — landscapes, facilities, events, and hard-to-reach vantage points captured in 4K.
Portfolio
The View
From Up Here
Video Showcase
Watch The
Magic Happen
Transparent Pricing
Great Rates.
No Surprises.
Every project is unique, so every quote is custom — but here's what you can expect. I believe in being upfront about costs so you can plan with confidence.
Perfect for small properties & quick jobs
- Up to 2 hours on location
- 10–20 edited aerial photos
- 1 edited video clip (60 sec)
- Online delivery within 48 hrs
- 1 round of revisions
Ideal for real estate, events & branded content
- Full day on location (6 hrs)
- 30–50 edited aerial photos
- 2–3 edited video segments
- 4K resolution deliverables
- Color graded LUT applied
- Priority 48-hr delivery
- 2 rounds of revisions
For construction docs, long-term contracts & productions
- Multi-day scheduling available
- RAW footage included
- Full production package
- Inspection & reporting
- Dedicated project manager
- Unlimited revisions
Get In Touch
Let's
Talk Shop
Ready to take your project to new heights? Fill out the form or reach me directly. I respond to all inquiries within 24 hours and offer free consultations for every new project.