Meet The Founders
Rufus Burnham
Rufus has spent 35 years in film and entertainment, founding Panavision's commercial & music video division and The Camera House, helping grow businesses while mentoring hundreds of emerging creators. Known for spotting opportunity and fostering collaboration, he brings the same Walter Mitty spirit into The Village — helping others dream big and make it real.
Devi Brulé
Devi is a filmmaker, strategist, and creative leader whose work spans commercials, branded series, and award-winning shorts. With experience from Paramount to Ashton Kutcher's KatalystHQ to global campaigns for Unilever and Burt’s Bees, she blends artistry with business savvy. At The Village, she's devoted to building a sustainable creative community rooted in storytelling and collaboration.
How The Village Came To Be
The journey to this point wasn't by chance; it grew slowly, the way all meaningful partnerships do. Initially, Rufus was looking through young DP and director reels as he likes to do, and came across Devi's directing work in beauty and fashion. Struck by her particular eye for capturing nature and the feminine, he saw special potential for her unique lens in the world of motion control. His genuine outreach email led to a zoom call, then a meeting, and eventually visits to check out motion control studios together.
From their first video chat, Devi saw in Rufus a rare candor, transparency and genuine love of the craft. When Rufus later shared his long-time vision for The Village, the conversation flowed and their shared enthusiasm for the vision gradually deepened.
In 2025, recognizing their complementary skills along with the industry's clear need for revival, it was finally time to make The Village real. Over three years, Rufus and Devi had grown their mutual respect into a solid bond of trust and shared purpose. The Village is something neither of them could have built alone, and was only possible with the strength of their friendship and the community of incredible professionals who believe in it.
With their strategic and financial acumen, and a deep understanding of the craft and artistry of storytelling, Devi and Rufus are uniquely equipped to build a community that endures. Between them, they’ve mentored emerging creators and taught foundational business principles to entrepreneurs — a rare vantage point that combines creative heart with economic clarity to grow a Village that truly thrives.