Documentary Filmmaker & Creative Director
Joel
Bryant.
Great stories don't just show us the world,
they make it feel a little more human.
Documentary Filmmaker & Creative Director
Great stories don't just show us the world,
they make it feel a little more human.
Who Am I
I'm a documentary filmmaker and creative director based in Byron Bay. I've spent my career chasing the stories that actually matter. The ones that reveal something true about what it means to be alive, and our shared connection to each other and this earth.
I believe the best work comes from people who are fully themselves. That every frame is a choice. That craft without meaning is just noise. And that a camera, in the right hands, can bring more human connection into the world.
I picked up a camera at 14 and never put it down. Since then it's taken me across Australia, through Indonesia, Kenya, and beyond, documenting the people and stories that remind us what life is really about. My films have screened at international festivals. I've worked as Creative Director for some of the world's most-watched creators. And I've spent years building a creative life that funds itself... without compromising the work that matters.
"My camera saved my life and gave me purpose, now I use it to tell stories that matter."
My work
Documentary · Festival Selected · 2025
"Painting country, on country, with country."
A solitary traveler, surfer, and artist roams Australia's remote coastlines, turning weathered wood into stunning aerial seascapes — navigating themes of nature, solitude, and healing.
Documentary · Storytelling
A documentary exploring the stillness and intention behind retreat — what it means to step away from the noise, return to something essential, and find clarity in the act of slowing down.
Documentary · Storytelling
A documentary about gathering — about the table as a place of meaning, the ritual of sharing food and conversation, and what it reveals about the people who come together around it.
Foundation Documentary
A documentary following the work of a foundation bringing clean water access to communities in Kenya. A story about human need, generosity, and what it means to show up for strangers on the other side of the world.
Brand Film
Brand Film
Commercial
Brand Film
Brand Film
Brand Film
My journey
I built a filmmaking career from scratch. No safety net. No mentor and no film school network. Every lesson was earned the hard way. What took me a decade to figure out, I now teach in three months...
A GoPro changed everything.
A camera gave my creativity a language. A trip through the Kimberleys opened the world. And the connection between a lens and something real was made, and never lost.
The Kimberleys, 2014
First paid gig, 2018
First paid work — real estate videos.
The first money I made with a camera. Proof that the craft could become a living. The connection between art and income clicked for the first time.
YBS Youngbloods — Lead Videographer & Editor.
I moved to Western Australia to work inside one of YouTube's biggest ocean adventure channels with Brodie Moss. I learned what it took to make viral content, and how to harness the power of social media.
Western Australia, 2020
Byron Bay, 2024
The leap — Move to Byron Bay.
I chose nature over job security and moved from Sydney to Byron Bay. I built my personal brand from 9K to 40K through sharing my craft in a 30-day filmmaking challenge. No shortcuts. Just showing real work every day.
'Flowing Wood' won Best Byron Bay Film.
My documentary Flowing Wood was selected for Byron Bay Film Festival (winner), Noosa Film Festival, and France Anglet International Surf Film Festival. Three international selections.
Flowing Wood, 2025
Filming in Sumatra
Giving aspiring filmmakers the path I never had.
Teaching the full system: craft, brand, income, and meaningful work - while continuing to tell the stories that matter. Everything built the hard way, now passed on so others don't have to figure it out alone.
Northstar Academy
The freedom, the clients, the following, the career, none of it came with a manual. I built the system myself through years of trial, failure, and figuring it out alone. Now I give that system away to filmmakers who are serious about doing this for real. No film school. No expensive gear. Just a camera or iPhone, the right system, and three months of real mentorship. If you're ready to stop watching from the sidelines, I'd love to see if you're a good fit. Your move.
Free strategy call · No obligation · Limited spots
Got a project?
Whether it's a documentary project, brand film, or creative direction — if you have a story worth telling, get in touch. I take on a limited number of projects each year to ensure the work gets the attention it deserves.
Fill out the form and I'll be in touch within a few days.