OUR TEAM
FREDERICK BERNAS — Founder / Director
Frederick is a filmmaker and musician whose creative practice explores the synthesis between image and sound in audiovisual storytelling – developing ways to fuse these elements into an organic hybrid language.
In the documentary sphere, he seeks to illuminate pressing societal issues through a cultural lens – informed by many years of criss-crossing the globe as a freelance journalist, tracking down stories in more than two dozen countries for media outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, the BBC and VICE.
That extensive travel experience is refracted through Frederick’s music, which combines influences as divergent as dub, drum&bass, Ethiopian jazz and Balkan beats – with a strong emphasis on groove and improvisation. He’s played saxophone in groups spanning punk funk, hip-hop and free improv, performing with a blues band at Glastonbury and busking Latin classics on the streets of Bahia, Berlin and Buenos Aires.
Now living in Brooklyn after stints in Argentina, Brazil, Spain and Mexico, Frederick can often be found spinning DJ sets, jamming, playing tennis or scheming up travel plans. He founded Storydeep in 2025 as an umbrella for his professional and artistic activities, gathering talented folks under the same roof to produce meaningful work that stands out in a forest of forgettable content.
CAGNEY ROBERTS — Creative Producer
Cagney is a filmmaker, writer and archivist working between London, New York and Jamaica. Currently a Senior Producer for the BBC, his diverse portfolio spans short-form documentary, long-form journalism and historical archiving. He focuses on untold black stories, the politics and science of the body, and examining personal histories through a Caribbean lens – embracing a style he describes as “distinctively surreal, yet crystalline and queer.”
Cagney has worked on projects showcased across the UK, Europe and the US – including the BFI London Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Third Horizon Festival. His team at the BBC has won Webbys for Best Virtual Festival (2023) and Video Team of the Year (2020), as well as Editorial Team of the Year at the Drum Online Media Awards (2021).
Beyond his creative pursuits, you can find Cagney exploring the world on his bike, playing records from his vast vinyl collection or reading books in his local green spaces. He was drawn to Storydeep as an outlet for taking artistic risks, supported by the collective imagination of inspiring creatives.
MARLON FUENTES — Creative Technologist
Operating at the intersection of culture, technology and human expression, Marlon’s practice spans immersive storytelling, AI operations, filmmaking, music, curation and spatial media. He’s spent the last 10 years working on emerging technology with Meta, Colossyan, Ericsson, Leia and Red Bull – as well as embarking on artistic side quests like the time he was Shakira’s opening DJ at a packed stadium.
This has given Marlon the magic power of sensing cultural shifts before they happen. He was part of BuzzFeed’s formative era of content experimentation, helping shape short-form video formats that defined viral media as we know it today. Later, as Head of Global Music at The Recording Academy, Marlon combined his ethnomusicology background and street credentials to expand the international footprint of the award show – leveraging audience trends to spearhead creation of the Best Global Music category at the Grammys.
When he’s not delivering shareholder value, Marlon is preparing tapas with an FC Barça game on, or spinning vinyl sets at hi-fi bars. He may also be simultaneously traveling or surfing in El Salvador. He is excited to collaborate with Storydeep as part of his mission to develop more human ways of telling stories through emerging tech – bringing his love of all things analog into the digital and virtual realms we increasingly inhabit.
LANI CONWAY — Editorial Producer
Based in the Bay Area, Lani is an editor, writer and journalist with over 15 years of experience in digital and analog media. Covering food, travel, culture and entertainment, her editorial work encompasses storytelling across print publications, social platforms and newsletters as well as project management.
Lani loves guiding ideas from concept to production – shaping creative direction, branding and content strategy. Some of her favorite projects include hosting a virtual cooking demo series, publishing a pop culture coloring book and appearing on Comic-Con panels about fandom, shipping and AI in pop culture.
She’s currently expanding trusted restaurant recommendations for cities including San Francisco, Barcelona, Madrid, Mexico City and Paris as a Senior Editor at The Infatuation. In her free time, Lani masquerades as a floral designer under the moniker “Pink Paloma” and enjoys hosting candlelit dinners – as well as maintaining an infamously impressive travel schedule. She got involved with Storydeep to apply her seasoned editorial eye to creative projects.
DIANE GHOGOMU — Documentary Producer
Diane works at the intersection of media and ritual – creating spaces where sound and image reconnect us to our humanity. As an anthropologist, educator and performer, her practice synthesizes documentary and ceremony across Africa and the Americas.
A Harvard graduate and Fulbright recipient, Diane has spent 15 years documenting African and Diasporic communities, writing for publications including The New York Times and VICE. She directed/produced the documentaries “Buenos Aires Rap” and “Buenos Aires Black,” which have screened internationally.
Diane chronicles her spiritual adventures in weekly essays that have been distilled into a practical guidebook for cacao ceremonies – which she frequently leads as co-founder of Cacao Love, a regenerative company that trains facilitators worldwide. She also created Afrocosmic, a non-profit foundation supporting African and Indigenous wisdom keepers and artists.
When she’s not in ceremony, carrying out fieldwork, composing music or running her business, Diane loves gathering people wherever in the world she happens to be. She joined Storydeep to collaborate with other cross-disciplinary storytellers.
ANDRE KELMAN — Audio Producer
Andre is a creative problem-solver who believes that great sound lives at the intersection of art and precision, with more than 20 years of experience across music and post-production. Whether collaborating with filmmakers or singers, his goal is always the same: To deliver a finished product that sounds incredible, feels authentic, and clearly serves the artistic vision at hand.
In the musical realm, he’s worked with the Beastie Boys, Gogol Bordello, Phoenix, Yoko Ono and Norah Jones among others. In film and television, credits include sound department contributions for titles such as “Palm Royale,” “The Diplomat,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Smurfs.”
Andre emphasizes groove, balance and emotional impact, not just technical perfection – bridging creative intent with technical execution. He helps artists translate ideas into finished records and soundtracks that connect deeply with listeners, translate across playback systems, and stand up in the real world.
Outside the studio, Andre can often be found analyzing craft ales or jamming on his bass guitar. He joined Storydeep driven by a continual pursuit of growth, creative evolution and collaboration.
JACK THOMPSON-ROYLANCE — Director of Photography
Bringing a wealth of commercial experience to the Storydeep squad, Jack is a British cinematographer who recently relocated to New York. His portfolio features award-winning projects across advertising, music, events, documentaries and features.
His latest film, “Son of the Soil,” is a Nollywood action thriller set in the backstreets of Lagos – where he spent five weeks shooting in 2025. “Swede Caroline,” which Jack also produced, took home a prize from the 2022 Raindance Film Festival before its global streaming release.
As a founder of London studio Deadbeat Films, Jack’s creative vision was integral to collaborations with brands such as Heineken, Audible, TCL and Vinted. He also channeled his passion for humanitarian storytelling into projects such as “Matar” – a short film about migrant workers now being adapted into a feature by the BBC, with BFI support.
When he’s not floating around on maverick production quests, Jack loves analog photography, tinkering with old cameras and going to the theater.