The Suite Life

ELI HEITIN PREFERS authenticity over flashy origin stories. His trajectory from Temple University film school grad to co-founder of the production company Suite Spot was paved with odd jobs and a refusal to romanticize the grind. After landing in New York City, he became a “production assistant, camera assistant, camera operator, editor…anything I could do for a day rate on set,” he says. His early days at Ogilvy and Mather alongside future filmmaker friends prioritized grit over glamour—an initiation that sharpened his adaptability.

THE UNLIKELY LAUNCHPAD

Suite Spot’s origins are refreshingly honest: a cramped office above STOMP’s East Village Orpheum Theater, shared with a partner and transformed into a functional workspace in three frenzied days. “We spent three days buying equipment, carpeting, painting and making the place look professional—it worked, and we were off and running,” Heitin says.

The breakthrough came when National Geographic producers needed an editing hub—an opportunity seized with pragmatic hustle. Soon after, CBS News handed them promo work for prime-time shows, complete with sage advice from a mentor in Walter Cronkite’s former office: “I know you guys are new to this, but you seem sharp—batteries and tapes when we are filming; I never want to hear that you are out of batteries and tapes.”

PROCESS OVER PRETENSION

Suite Spot operates on the simple creed: listen first, then engineer. “Every client works differently. We’re soup to nuts, but sometimes they just need execution,” Heitin explains. The team’s strength lies in its adaptive, innovative ethos.

They dissect briefs with forensic attention, balancing creative direction with technical precision. “Smart producing, transparent and tech-forward, accepting that the production world is constantly evolving,” Heitin says. “We are as operationally sound as any group in the business, extremely experienced and savvy with the marketplace— we figure out the best pathway to a successful piece of content.”

Longevity in video production hinges on outthinking. Suite Spot’s projects—from directing the Washington Capitals’ post-Stanley Cup media day to producing Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project broadcasts—reflect a chameleon-like ability to pivot between sports, music and advocacy.

“It’s about solving problems with smart people,” he notes. The goosebumps come when you see the work click—like their NBC football opener playing to 20 million people. “We filmed the band Fall Out Boy in the middle of Ohio Stadium performing the opening song for Big Ten Saturday Night,” Heitin says.

THE METRIC FOR SUCCESS

Ask Heitin about any glamorous aspects of his work, and he’ll tell you about “hauling the Stanley Cup through Minneapolis baggage claim at 2 a.m., hoping no one steals hockey’s holy grail,” or filming a high-wire act from a tent flap 50 feet up. “It’s all storytelling; brand stories of survival and excellence can sometimes be more interesting than people,” Heitin says.

He doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges. “Certainly, with the proliferation of influencers, clients often think it’s a shortcut to exposure and validity,” he says. “AI is undoubtedly affecting post-production and motion graphics work as well as set design and virtual sets.” The counterpunch? “I still go back to the story. We all follow shiny things and cool thoughts, but what is our takeaway? How do we make sure we are memorable—that we are the no-brainer production group for the next endeavor? That’s the win.”

Learn more about Suite Spot at suitespot.tv.

BY EVE GOLDEN