Upwards Productions, LLC is a full-service video production and digital media company built on more than two decades of experience at the intersection of broadcast craft and corporate communications. Founded by three-time Telly Award-winning producer and creative strategist PJ Barbour, Upwards Productions brings the same level of strategic storytelling and production excellence that has served national trade associations, government entities, and major organizations — to corporations, nonprofits, and associations of all sizes.

PJ began his career on the technical side of broadcast television news at NewsChannel 8 in Washington, D.C., developing a deep foundation in live production and visual journalism. That grounding in real-time, high-stakes broadcasting informs everything Upwards Productions delivers today — from concept to final cut.

For more than two decades, PJ led digital media communications for some of the country's most prominent organizations. At Vertical Aviation International (VAI), he oversaw all video and podcast content for a global audience of more than 15,000 aviation professionals — producing everything from a CEO's monthly video series to industry safety campaigns, promotional features, and technical training programs. At NRECA, a 42,000-employee national organization serving America's electric cooperatives, he directed a team producing promotional, training, and event content, managed 15–20 live-streamed events annually, and led the buildout of the organization's broadcast control room and digital media studio.

That experience is what Upwards Productions brings to every client engagement. The company stays at the leading edge of the craft — integrating AI-assisted production tools, social media strategy, and performance analytics to sharpen both creative output and audience reach. Whether the project calls for a high-profile campaign, a training series, a live-streamed event, or a studio buildout, Upwards Productions delivers with the discipline, intentionality, and technical depth of a team that has done it at scale.

Aviation is close to our roots — the name Upwards Productions is a nod to PJ's 11 years in the vertical flight industry — and we are proud to serve clients in that space. But our mission is broader: to tell diverse stories across industries and communities, for clients who understand that great video doesn't just inform — it moves people.