Eli Watson is a documentarian, director, and freelance photographer based in Southern California. Working at the intersection of history, folklore, and wilderness conservation, his work focuses on uncovering forgotten regional narratives, natural history, and cryptid lore.

With a background in screenwriting and editorial direction, Eli has helmed feature documentaries and series exploring regional legends and high strangeness—most notably in partnership with Small Town Monsters. His current slate includes the feature documentary INFERNO, alongside ongoing research into early Southern California history and landscape photography shot through an analog lens.

Former co-creator of the Cryptid Campfire podcast and director of multi-episode docuseries, Eli’s storytelling is driven by a deep reverence for nature, historical preservation, and the power of the printed and filmed record."