Hail to the mummichog, mud dweller!
Fundulus heteroclitus is a remarkable fish. Swimming in large shoals, their name comes from a Narragansett word meaning "going in crowds." Together these hardiest of fish survive extreme conditions, colonizing ecosystems too polluted for most life. A single mummichog can eat 2,000 mosquito larvae in a day. Small wonder they were the first fish sent into space.
Mummichog Pictures is a small-footprint production company with over 15 years of experience in documentary and narrative filmmaking. Fueled by curiosity, our work spans science communication, the arts, and social history. We took the mummichog as our namesake because we believe great things come in small packages, resilience in the face of change is crucial, and making this world a better place requires banding together.
Mummichog Pictures is led by Eben Portnoy, an award-winning filmmaker and editor with an MFA from UCLA's Film Production and Directing program. He brings grounded life experience and deep fluency in visual storytelling to work spanning intimate documentary, science communication, and commercial production. His films have earned support from the LEF Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Science Foundation, and Points North Institute; his editorial work has reached audiences across 200+ PBS stations and millions on YouTube. Collaborators have included NOAA, the National Park Service, Google Creative Collective, and UCLA research centers.
Contact us to talk projects and collaborations - we tackle everything from event coverage to educational films to long-form documentary. Known for our personal, nuanced approach, we’re driven by curiosity, love of craft, and the conviction that the people and places at the center of every story deserve to be seen.