curiosity. clarity. creativity.
about
Fire‑Works is the independent studio of director Joe Posner, co‑founder of Vox Video. We’ve produced boundary‑pushing work for Oscar‑ and Peabody‑winning filmmakers, Harvard, Storyworth, and others — building on Joe’s reinvention of explainer journalism that powered hit series for Netflix, HBO, and Vox’s Emmy‑winning YouTube channel. Our collaborations span the full human spectrum, from helping teenagers find their voice to directing the likes of Barack Obama and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Along the way we’ve inspired hundreds of look‑alike formats, mentored YouTube’s fastest‑rising journalists (including Cleo Abram and Johnny Harris), and contributed early development to Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Act. The goal is unchanged: disrupt dated documentary forms with storytelling that makes complex ideas irresistible through curiosity, clarity, and unbounded creativity.
Our guiding metaphor is the prescribed burn — a controlled fire that clears limited ground so a healthier forest can thrive. Rather than accept the status quo, we embrace that spark in every project, using bold visual approaches to forge new kinds of non‑fiction filmmaking.
team
Joe Posner • Founder & Director
Joe Posner is an interdisciplinary video creator & director. He co-founded Vox Video in 2014, freely mixing his passions for journalism, animation, and music. He spent 8 years building their award winning YouTube channel and Emmy-nominated streaming franchises like “Explained” on Netflix, “Glad You Asked” for YouTube Originals and more. Previously, he created the National Magazine Award-nominated series "Op-Video," animation for documentary films such as “Freakonomics” and the Oscar-nominated “If a Tree Falls.” Since moving on from Vox he's helped launch Semafor, re-started his independent production studio, and plays bedtime concerts for his young family.
Nishtha Shanti • Associate Producer
Nishtha is a documentary filmmaker and journalist from India with a focus on social justice, gender equality, and systemic inequity. Her debut film That’s on Period, addressing period poverty, premiered to critical acclaim and is now in the process of distribution for educational purposes.
A four-time recipient of the UNFPA LAADLI Media Award for Gender Sensitive Reporting, Nishtha’s journalism has tackled issues such as caste-based violence and LGBTQIA+ rights in India. She studied Journalism and Filmmaking at Columbia Journalism School where she was also a duPont Awards fellow. When not working, Nishtha can be found collecting junk to journal with.