Wideshot is a collaborative media company dedicated to widening access to meaningful creative work by supporting artists, partnering with marginalized communities, and abundantly sharing ideas, creative tools and resources.

Wideshot Productions grew out of a creative partnership between Ron Nelson, and his  daughter, Emily.  It began when Ron directed a production of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” at the Frankfurt American Playhouse in Germany, and hired 13-year-old Emily to run the lights. This was her introduction to the world of theater production and the beginning of a lifelong Dad & Daughter Super-Duo collaboration.

Ron continued his work in theater and the arts along side his career in the military, and after retiring from the U.S. Army, pivoted to the arts full-time as a Visual Arts and Stagecraft teacher.

After her debut at the light board, Emily worked at the Frankfurt Playhouse for a few more years, then pursued acting and performance in high school.  After getting a degree in Vocal Music Education, she went on to teach theater, choral and vocal arts in all levels of public schools, and build a side career as a theater director, actor and voice over artist. 

For more than a decade Ron worked as set designer and technical director in the high school theater program Emily directed. 

When covid-19 disrupted schools and arts programs, Emily began reimagining how creative work could support her students and their communities more directly. The ideas behind the Wideshot mission emerged from that moment.