Envision Media Arts (EMA) is an award-winning, Los Angeles based, company that finances and produces feature films. Its mission is to create entertaining and meaningful content for a global market.
The company is focused on concept driven projects with strong, relatable characters and its development slate includes an eclectic mix of independent and studio films, as well as television series.
Founded by Lee Nelson in 2002, EMA began in TV commercial production, collaborating with hundreds of international brands, and creating memorable ‘brand stories’ that inspired and moved audiences.
In 2007, Nelson and director Marcus Nispel developed the thriller PATHFINDER, alongside Phoenix Pictures. The film was made at 20th Century Fox, with Nelson Executive Producing and Nispel directing.
In 2011 the company shifted its focus away from commercial production into the finance and production of feature films, hiring executives to lead that effort. Achieving critical and financial success out of the gate with CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER, which the company fully financed. The film premièred at the Sundance Film Festival where it was bought by Sony Pictures Classics for domestic theatrical release and Sierra/Affinity for the rest of the world.
Since then EMA has produced feature films with budgets ranging from two million to twenty-five million dollars. These movies have starred talent like Eddie Murphy, Liam Neeson and Laurence Fishburne and have screened at numerous film festivals including Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca and Sitges.
LEE NELSON, president and ceo
Lee Nelson is the President and CEO of Envision Media Arts (EMA), the award winning Production Company launched in 2002.
Over his career Nelson has Executive Produced and Produced award-winning commercials for Coca-Cola, Sony, Ford, Toyota, and T-Com among hundreds of other prestigious brands. Notably, his commercials have aired during both the Academy Awards and the Super Bowl.
Nelson has an extensive career in the motion picture industry. Through EMA he financed and produced films including Sundance Film Festival hit CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER (2012), directed by Lee Toland Kreiger, starring Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg which had its domestic theatrical release by SonyPictures Classics. Nelson also produced MR CHURCH (2016) starring Eddie Murphy, BLOOD MONEY (2017) starring John Cusack and DEATH OF ME (2019) starring Maggie Q and Luke Hemsworth, GIRL (2020) starring Bella Thorne and ICE ROAD (2020) starring Liam Neeson and Lawrence Fishburne.
Previously, under a five-picture deal with Mike Medavoy’s Phoenix Pictures, Nelson co-produced the feature film BASIC (2003), starring John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson and developed and Executive Produced the feature PATHFINDER (2007) for 20th Century Fox.
Nelson is also a founding board member of The Temper of The Times Foundation which underwrites advertising that promotes the conservation and restoration of native wildlife, plants, and ecosystems around the United States and the Caribbean. Since its inception the Foundation has given Millions of Dollars to more than seventy different Environmental Organizations.
Nelson moved to Los Angeles from New York as a screenwriter and independent film producer. He graduated from Bard College with a degree in history and received a Certificate in French civilization from the Sorbonne in Paris. Nelson lives in Los Angeles, CA with his actress and activist wife, Gina Philips and three children.
DAVID TISH, evp of creative affairs
David is a Producer and oversees the slate of EMA’s film and TV projects. He produced the Liam Neeson, Laurence Fishburne action film THE ICE ROAD, the Darren Lynn Bousman psychological thriller DEATH OF ME, the John Cusack thriller BLOOD MONEY (2017) and the Eddie Murphy drama MR CHURCH (2016). David also served as a Production Executive on the Sundance favorite CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER. Prior to E.M.A., David worked in original program development at Starz on the series PARTY DOWN, SPARTACUS and CRASH. At Dreamworks Animation he worked on the SHREK, KUNG FU PANDA and MADAGASCAR franchises. He started his career at the talent management company The Firm.
