The Innocence Project

The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone.

  • Concept Ideation
    Director Treatments
    Script writing
    Story Development + Producing
    Art Direction & Narrative Style

  • Pre Production + Tech Scouting
    Location + Talent Management
    Production + Equipment Management
    Director + DP Talent

  • Editorial
    VFX
    Sound Design
    Music Supervision
    Music Composition
    Archival Management

what i didn’t know

“ThIS powerful short film explores the challenges of life after wrongful incarceration and the extraordinary strength and resilience required to rebuild life in a vastly changed reality.”

  • Writer/Director | Ariel Ellis

  • Producer | Ariel Ellis
    Additional Photography | The exonorees, The Innocence Project

  • Post Producer | Carly Atto
    Post Production | Reprise Post
    Editor | Davis Nixon
    V.O | Joe Morton
    Composer | Louis Weeks
    Vocalist | Anesha Birchett
    Sound Design/Mix | Mike Regan
    Colorist | Dimitri Zola
    VFX | MutinyFX

In her second collaboration with the Innocence Project, Director Ariel Ellis partnered closely with their team to create a brand anthem that extends beyond the moment of release, shining a light on the emotional and psychological weight of freedom after decades of wrongful incarceration. Developed over months of research and relationship-building, the film was shaped through intimate, virtually filmed interviews—an approach that allowed for raw, unfiltered honesty.

Ariel worked with Emmy Award-winning actor and IP ambassador Joe Morton to bring her script to life.

  • Emotional Core

  • VISUAL REFERENCE

  • CONCEPT DIRECTION

  • STORY OVERVIEW

  • VISUAL LANGUAGE

  • THE SCRIPT

  • CINEMATIC STYLE FRAME

  • Sonic Direction

Happiest Moments

When you look back on your life, what are some of your happiest memories? For the more than 200 people freed with the help of the Innocence Project, those memories were stolen while they were trapped behind bars for crimes they did not commit.

For its first brand anthem in over 30 years, the Innocence Project partnered with Director Ariel Ellis to explore the weight of losing the moments many of us take for granted. Centering the lived experiences of Rosa Jimenez, Termaine Hicks, and Huwe Burton, the campaign reflects on joy and loss through the lens of wrongful conviction, with narration by Dascha Polanco.

  • Director | Ariel Ellis

  • Production Company | Hayden5

  • Post Production | Reprise Post

Awards