Our Story

Rooted in Omaha, Expanding Everywhere

Dinosaur Cinema was created from the belief that the best stories come from the places and people who live them. While our projects now reach from Omaha to Chicago and Los Angeles, the heart of our work has always been in the Midwest with its grit, creativity, and community spirit.

I’m Brandon Hinsley, the cinematographer behind Dinosaur Cinema. I first picked up a camera as a kid in Omaha, making early comedy skits with friends for the first wave of YouTube. Those experiments turned into a passion for visual storytelling that kept growing year after year. By high school I was filming newscasts, shooting for the yearbook, and constantly trying out new ways to tell stories with a camera.

That early passion led me to study at Northwestern University’s National High School Institute for Film Production where I trained in cinematography, directing, lighting, color grading, and long take techniques. My path has since carried me through Chicago and Los Angeles where I worked with some of the largest camera rental houses in the world, including Keslow Camera in Los Angeles and Atlas Lighting in Chicago, inspecting and testing the same equipment I hope to one day use on my own sets.

During that time, I was mentored by filmmakers and gaffers like Stephen Wester, whose guidance in both G&E and cinematography helped shape how I work today.

Along the way I’ve also drawn inspiration from Omaha-born Academy Award winning filmmaker Alexander Payne, whose career shows that stories from Nebraska can reach audiences across the world.

Today, Dinosaur Cinema brings all of that influence and experience into every production. We create films that are intimate and cinematic, grounded in authenticity yet crafted with a polished and professional finish. Whether working with nonprofits, small businesses, or larger productions, the goal is always the same: collaborate honestly, tell meaningful stories, and create work that lasts.