Meet the Founders

Ben & James have worked together on and off for almost 15 years at 3 different companies. Their on-again-off-again business relationship is now solidified in Pearl’s marriage of marketing and filmmaking.

Ben Roberts

The Marketer

aka Co-Founder / Executive Producer / Host / CFO / COO

After being fired as a car salesman, Ben’s marketing journey started as a freelance web designer, then along the way he pick up each piece of the marketing puzzle until he landed a Marketing Director job with a sustainable building product.

His time within the building community rekindled his love of architecture and telling stories about the people that make beautiful buildings happen.

  • 100 Interviews with industry leaders

  • 40 under 40 industry award winner 

  • 10+ years of marketing experience in the building industry 

  • Producer/Host of the award-winning Design vs. Build series 

James Burniston

The Filmmaker

aka Co-Founder / Director / Editor / Cinematographer

A graduate of the highly-respected Full Sail University, James has been making videos since the days of the camcorder. From award-winning documentaries to feature-length films, he has a keen eye for the perfect location, lighting, and camera placement.

A video is nothing without a compelling story, and James brings the attention to detail needed to make something one-of-a-kind.

  • Filmed over 1,500 different videos.

  • 15+ years in creative film production

  • Worked on short to feature-length films

  • Award-winning cinematographer

  • Director of award-winning Design vs. Build documentaries

As award-winning marketers, we know how to make content that converts into brand awareness and loyalty.

As award-winning filmmakers, we can tap into the human experience and make content relatable and interesting.

5 Countries.
16 Straight Days.
32+ Videos.

Watch us speed run through the process of filming across Europe in our most complex shoot to date.

Reviews

  • Ok team, you officially brought a tear to my eyes.  This is an amazing testament to your creativity - to the entire team’s participation, drive and passion - to our clients - wow!  This is absolutely brilliant and we will do everything in our power to share this and send folks your way!"

    Daniel Woodroffe
    President, dwg. landscape architects 

  • Pearl Marketing Filmmakers are so much more than their name suggests. They are passionate advocates for their subjects and clients, engaging storytellers and trustworthy collaborators.  They are focused listeners with a keen eye towards beautiful and striking images. Their super power lies in their accessibility.  Ben and James really want to understand who you are and why you do what you do.... Bottom line, I am proud of the work they did and I am so glad we did this.  The experience was fun and engaging.  The value added to my studio and our messaging was way more than anticipated and I really look forward to our next collaboration.

    Michael Goorevich
    Owner, Michael Goorevich Architecture

  • We've been working side by side with Pearl for almost 2 years now across multiple projects...This isn't just another marketing company; this is a group of incredible professionals that are truly vested into everything they do. The growth and success of their clients is top priority and making it look good along the way is one hell of a perk! I couldn't recommend anyone higher than I do this team.

    Brad Whitman
    Owner, LBR Homes

  • I've had the pleasure of working with Pearl featuring a few projects I've been involved in, and I can say with confidence—they are far more than a film company. They are masterful storytellers who understand how to capture the soul of a project, especially within the realm of design and the built environment. Their ability to translate complex design and construction processes into compelling, cinematic narratives is truly remarkable... Pearl became an essential creative partner in how we communicated the story behind our projects. If you're looking to capture not just what you’ve built, but why it matters—this is the team to trust.

    Jason Radcliff
    Principal/Director of Technology, TBG Partners

  • Ben and the Pearl MF team...did an exceptional job editing to deliver a polished, professional video in record time. Most of all, I was impressed with his excellent customer service and follow through. I look forward to working with Ben and Pearl MF again soon! 

    Ponara Eng
    Digital Marketing Director, Hearth & Home Technologies