ABOUT

shawn tanowitz

Founder & CEO

Shawn Tanowitz, owner and creative director of Pivotal Video Productions began working in the video production business in his junior year of High School. After graduating high school, he struck out on his own to create Pivotal Video Productions. Shawn knew at an early age that filming and preserving live events – wedding, mitzvahs, school graduations and talent shows – was his passion.

More than 28 years later, Shawn and his staff have shot more than 1,000 events, and have acquired the latest state-of-the-art video cameras and equipment. In additional to filming live events, Pivotal Video Productions has added business promotional videos and real estate video marketing products to their repertoire. As a long-time small business owner, Shawn understands the value of using digital marketing tools to attract new customers.

Today Pivotal Video Productions has blossomed into one of Southern California’s premier video production and digital marketing studios, providing a complete compliment of creative, production, editing, and digital marketing services for a vast array of clientele.

Luke DeJoras

Cameraman/Editor/Drone operator

Luke DeJoras started in the business by studying film and electronic arts while attending California State University, Long Beach. Since graduation he has worked on numerous feature films, commercials, shorts, music videos, and documentaries. Luke is currently the director of photography and camera operator on Larry King Now, as well as a freelance cameraman, drone camera-operator, and editor. He’s reliable, friendly and a pro when it comes to capturing those magical moments.

Ed Spanger

Cameraman/Editor

Ed Spangler is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer who also edits, directs, and offers on-location sound mixing. He has a theater degree from Arizona State University, and certificate in cinematography from UCLA. Ed’s passion is comedy, and he has traveled the globe covering live and scripted comedic events, including traveling to 9 countries in 2014 filming and photographing the GI’s of Comedy series. Along with his work with Pivotal Video Productions, Ed has recently been involved in audio work for a web-based comedy channel covering the 2016 republican and democratic national conventions.

Lee Manning

Editor/Cameraman

Much like several of his Pivotal Video colleagues, Lee has a funny bone that needs scratching. He has studied improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center in Los Angeles since 2011. Lee’s video editing education began long ago as an intern at the Promo House, where he assisted talented writers and editors. This experience spurred him to pursue formal production training first at Video Symphony in Burbank, CA, and then at Columbia College in Hollywood, CA. Since then he has worked with Funny or Die, Pitiful Creatures Comedy, and Pivotal Video Productions.

EMERSON DIBLEY

Cameraman 

Emerson Dibley is a writer, comedian, and camera operator from Los Angeles, CA. He has been filming weddings, mitzvahs, dance recitals, and school events for Pivotal Video Productions since 1998. He studied improv and sketch at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Hollywood, and currently co-produces a short-form sketch show on Pasadena Public Access. Emerson writes, films, and performs sketch comedy in his free time.

LEIGH WALKER

Producer/Cameraman/Editor/Composer

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Leigh got his start in Los Angeles as a music producer before moving into video production working as an assistant editor and producer for Stander Productions. In 2008 Leigh joined Pivotal Video Productions’ team as a freelance videographer, editor, director and producer. Along with his work at Pivotal Video, one of Leigh’s passions is app development: he is currently writing and producing two promising apps as his role as CMO and Founder of BashPros.

LISA REMBOLD

Client Relations

Meet Shawn’s right arm. Lisa is a trained illustrator, pop-culture trivia devotee, animal lover, and longtime San Fernando Valley resident. She has an extensive background in advertising, sales, marketing, and client relations, providing each client the VIP treatment they deserve.