Muted Tones. Real Emotion. Joel Bernstein’s lens Hits Different.

Joel Bernstein

In an era where storytelling is dominated by digital precision and fleeting content, Joel Bernstein, founder of Two Star Films, is taking a slower, more intentional approach. Based outside of Washington, D.C., and now operating under his company, Bernstein crafts nostalgic, emotionally resonant visual stories through digital format and a medium many don’t immediately think about: a Super 8 camera from 1967. 

That exact camera belonged to his grandmother, who introduced Joel to the power of physical film when she screened old family footage on a projector one summer. “She showed me her life in motion,” he recalls, “and then handed me the camera that captured it all.” That moment sparked a desire in Joel to pass on the same kind of warmth and memories through his work, especially during life’s most pivotal events, such as weddings and milestone moments.

But Joel’s journey didn’t start with film. Back in 2010, he and his high school friends would shoot playful videos on camcorders for fun. One day, a stranger asked if they were shooting a music video and offered to pay them to film one. “It was terrible,” Joel laughs, “but we realized this could be something.”

Filmmaking runs in his blood. His father left a corporate job to become a photographer, and both of his older brothers also pursued creative visual paths. “I guess it kind of runs in the family,” Joel says. “I didn’t go to school for film. I learned it by doing. Like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets.”

That philosophy is evident in Two Star Films. Each piece, whether shot digitally or on his Super 8, is drenched in feeling. The muted color tones, grainy warmth, and carefully matched music create a deeply personal atmosphere. His viral wedding film, shot for a couple named Oscar and Tzvetelina, married digital footage with vintage overlays, evoking tears and awe.

Now, having traveled to places like the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Switzerland, Joel approaches filmmaking like crafting digital postcards. His visuals are cinematic, but more importantly, they're honest. “I’m not chasing numbers,” he says. “I just want people to feel something real.”

And through Two Star Films, they do.