Ponderosa Hills Production is a family-run business based in Newcastle, Wyoming, proudly serving the greater Black Hills region with high-quality commercials, tourism promotions, and drone cinematography.
Founded by Dan and Melissa Lanctot, who bring degrees in audio production and media/broadcast along with years of hands-on experience, the company launched full-time after relocating to the area in 2021. What started as a dream amid Dan's successful but unfulfilling software career quickly grew into a focused business dedicated to helping local entities tell their authentic stories.
What truly sets Ponderosa Hills apart is Melissa's evocative editing style—prioritizing engaging, heartfelt narratives over flashy effects to deeply connect audiences with the people and emotions behind each project. "My favorite part of this job is getting to know people and seeing their reactions when I tell their stories in a way that moves them," says Melissa. "We've gotten to meet some really inspiring people!"
Complementing this is Dan's extensive audio engineering background, from studio recordings and voiceovers to live mixing. "People don't realize how important audio is to video until they watch one with bad audio," Dan notes. "Audio is at least fifty percent of a good video—it makes or breaks the experience."
From planning and shooting—with carefully researched, strategically upgraded equipment—to post-production, the team thrives on technical precision and creative storytelling. In 2025 they expanded their portfolio with meaningful work for museums, small businesses, and tourism initiatives across Wyoming and the Black Hills. Highlights include quadrupling the reach of a tourism client‘s Facebook account, and a 49% year-over-year increase in December sales for a local boutique.
Many Black Hills businesses choose Ponderosa Hills for the rare combination of professional quality and approachable pricing. As a lean, family-run operation with no big-agency overhead, they offer high quality video storytelling at rates that are often significantly lower than clients expect—while still investing the time, skill, and equipment required to deliver results that genuinely move the needle for local businesses.
Dan and Melissa love the family-friendly Black Hills lifestyle, allowing their three children to learn skills related to the business—their oldest daughter, Madeline, can often be found on set operating audio equipment.
As a committed investor in Elevate Rapid City, Ponderosa Hills Production supports economic growth by empowering regional businesses and attractions with professional visual storytelling that highlights why the Black Hills is such an exceptional place to live, work, and visit.
Check out their latest work and get in touch at www.ponderosahillsproduction.com!