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Fifty-one plates are unassigned.
Who this is for
One founder doing something genuinely iconic inside their industry. Not the largest company in the sector. The one doing the thing nobody else is doing.
If the interesting thing about your company is your growth rate, this is probably not for you. If the interesting thing is how the work actually happens, it is.
What you receive
- The finished documentary film, seven to ten minutes, published on Forbes.com
- A written feature published alongside it, on the same page
- Three 15 second cutdowns for social, and a 60 second cinematic trailer
- A press release written for your announcement, and social copy to go with it
What you control
You have editorial control from the first planning call. You decide how broad or how narrow the story is, which of your executives appear, and where the sitting happens. You sign off the final cut, and nothing publishes before you do.
What we control
The register, the structure of the nine minutes, the grade, the score, and the fact check on every claim made. The register is the reason the films get watched, so it is not adjustable.
The licence
Once the film is published we assign you a full royalty-free licence to the finished film. Post it, share it, run it in paid media, cut it up for your own marketing, for as long as you like. No expiry, no usage fees, no territory limit.
What it costs
One fee covers production, publication and every deliverable above. The figure depends on whether the sitting is on location or captured remotely, so it is confirmed on the first call rather than published here. There is no retainer and nothing recurring.
What happens next
A fifteen minute call, so you can hear how we would tell it and we can hear whether there is a film in it. If there is, a second call to build the story. Then the sitting.
Common questions
What is 52 Icons?
52 Icons is a documentary series of fifty two films, one founder each, published on Forbes.com. Each film runs seven to ten minutes and observes a founder the way a natural history film observes a species in its habitat. It is produced by Fifty Two Icons, and Jeremy Levitt is the Executive Producer.
What does it cost to be in the series?
One fee covers production, publication and every deliverable. The figure depends on whether the interview sitting happens on location or is captured remotely, so it is confirmed on the first call rather than published here. There is no retainer and nothing recurring.
How much of my time does it take?
One directed interview sitting, plus a fifteen minute first call and a second call to build the story. Up to four of your executives can appear in the sitting. Everything after that is production work you are not required to attend, until you review and approve the final cut.
Do I get editorial control?
Yes. You have editorial control from the first planning call. You decide how broad or narrow the story is, which of your executives appear, and where the sitting happens. You sign off the final cut and nothing publishes before you do.
What do I actually receive?
The finished documentary film published on Forbes.com, a written feature published alongside it on the same page, three fifteen second cutdowns for social, a sixty second cinematic trailer, a press release for your announcement, and social copy to go with it.
Can I use the film in my own marketing?
Yes. Once the film is published, Fifty Two Icons assigns you a full royalty-free licence to the finished film. You can post it, share it, run it in paid media and cut it up for your own marketing. There is no expiry, no usage fee and no territory limit.
Is this advertising or journalism?
It is a produced documentary with an editorial standard. Every factual claim is checked against a source before it is spoken, and where a figure comes from the company rather than an independent record the narration attributes it to the company in those words. Production methods, including the use of artificial intelligence tools, are disclosed on the disclosure page.
Who is a good subject for a film?
One founder doing something genuinely iconic inside their industry, which is rarely the largest company in the sector. If the interesting thing about your company is the growth rate, this is probably not for you. If the interesting thing is how the work actually happens, it is.
Last reviewed July 2026
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