About
Mission
We believe in the power and freedom of human expression, which means we have a strict anti-AI (artificial intelligence) mindset. In any creative media-related venture we partake in, it shall be mastered in the most high-quality and authentic way possible.
Vision
Our projects tend to focus on protagonists on a journey in the physical, mental, or spiritual form. And though it is not always the case, it usually takes place in the Midwest.
Values
Organic, thought-provoking method of storytelling
Anti-AI creative stance
High-quality work for and by independent creative artists
Daryn Kirscht
Co-Founder and CEO of Oak Valley Media.
Daryn Kirscht is an award-winning & bestselling author, podcaster, entrepreneur, and elementary educator.
He graduated from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts degree as an English major. Daryn wrote a few articles for the campus newspaper, University Register, and was an online content writer for Odyssey during his time there.
Until 2021, he served as a contributing writer for three different entertainment websites: Cinema Cure, Reel Anarchy (formerly DC Films Hub), and The Pop Break.
He partnered with Paper Raven Books in October 2021 to publish The Snyderverse Saga: The Culture-Shattering Phenomena Behind Zack Snyder's DC Film Universe. It was the recipient of the Nonfiction Authors Association's gold award. The book also topped Amazon's free bestseller rankings in six of its seven categories, with the eBook nearly reaching 1,000 downloads in its first week.
In early 2022, Daryn launched his own movie-themed podcast: Round II: The Film Sequel. He occasionally makes appearances on the Level 33.1 roundtable episodes of the Always Hold On To Smallville podcast and is also a member of the Independent Film Critics of America.
In late 2022, he co-founded Oak Valley Media and became the company CEO. Shortly after, he published The SAFE Journal: 120 Pages - A Journal for Kids and Teens.
During the summer of 2023, he launched OVM Editing, a program offering services for writers looking to self-publish a book. He became a certified member of the Professional Book Editors Association via Paper Raven Books and is also a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Daryn lives in northwestern Minnesota with his family. In his spare time, he can be found playing Clue, enjoying some good lemonade, and writing his next book.