Grow Your Video Business

Have you allowed fear held you back from pursuing your passion? As creatives we often find ways to talk ourselves out of diving into passion projects, despite our, well… passion for them! While he certainly faced challenges and doubts, especially as the scope of his project ballooned in front of him, today’s guest Jason Aron stuck with it, and the resulted documentary Back In Time became the top-ranked documentary on IMDB, and distributed through Netflix. Jason was a wedding/corporate filmmaker and drone pilot who had also done a few short documentaries, when an amusing addition to a Bar Mitzvah video struck a chord in him that propelled him to dive into creating a documentary about the cultural impact of his favorite trilogy of all time, Back To The Future. He doesn’t hold back when discussing the challenges they faced daily, the struggles that their naivete around the business of making a big-time doc created, and how this passion project that he had set out to make for himself has actually positively affected people all around the world.   We also get deep into the business logistics of creating a full length feature documentary which includes tips on getting distribution, the various legalities at every turn, and what the budget expectations and constraints might look like for you. I took a ton away from this interview and received a huge kick in the butt when it comes to jumping into a passion project like this smartly. What is your project that you have been to scared to jump into? What are the fears that are currently holding you back? Leave us a comment!   In this episode: Some of the struggles and politics that you may face when shooting and editing a project like this Tips & Tricks to make the process easier, including things Jason wishes he had thought about from the get go How to budget for a large project like this if you don’t have any experience What you need to know about the business and legal side of creating a feature length project like this Preparing for the sacrifices you will have to make Tips on getting distribution   Quotes: “I think there is a big difference between criticism and failure, those are two totally different things. Failure is just something that doesn’t work while criticism is more of you put something out there and people tell you they don’t like it. It’s more of an active hatred then a passive one.” (14:25) “[Some of the big challenges were] not knowing that we needed these different insurance things, not knowing how much a colorist would cost, not knowing the process of doing a sound mix, not knowing that when you’re done and you want to get it distributed, you probably need 6-8 months. Not knowing all those things, we were working from behind a lot because we were kind of chasing our tail very often.” (29:14) “From a strict dollar and cents standpoint, there were plenty if shoots that we went on for this documentary where I could have been doing a paid shoot back in New York or wherever else that I had to say no to because of Back In Time. Dozens! So I did give up a lot of money-making opportunities to do this documentary but nothing would have yielded out the professional success that came from this documentary so I definitely don’t look twice at it.” (35:56)   Links: Back In Time Follow Back In Time on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram On Board Follow On Board on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Frequent Traveler University   

There are certain discoveries we all make in our filmmaking process that stand out as milestones, and mark a new level of quality in our films. There are few level ups as drastic and impactful however, as incorporating professional-level sound design and music placement in our productions. As today’s guest explains, this an area of film production that truly separates the pros from the amateurs, and yet most of us (I’m guilty here too) put off making this investment for way too long. Dallas Taylor is the founder and lead sound designer of Defacto Sound, and is a respected thought leader on the narrative power of sound. He is also a sought-after speaker, a contributor to many industry publications and the host of the massively popular podcast, Twenty Thousand Hertz. While Dallas is the guru of all things sound, he also gave us a lot of insight into the mindset behind running a successful business, the power of sound design within any project, and why giving yourself a break when it comes to your goals is imperative to finding balance. If you have ever felt stumped by how to start experimenting with sound design into your projects, Dallas has you covered. Do you currently utilize sound design in your projects? If not, what is the main thing holding you back? If so, what have you noticed about your productions? Leave a comment below!   In this episode: How to start thinking about and experimenting with sound design The importance of time management and hiring accordingly What to look for when hiring a sound designer What types of projects should you be budgeting sound design for, and how should you budget for it? Why you need to be ruthless in the curation of your portfolio   Quotes: “Thinking about sound, in and of itself, outside of a music perspective, makes a huge difference in the way that you approach and the way that you tell a story.” (19:50) “There is a big problem with people who expect that they’re going to put that camera up to their eye and that their masterpiece is going to come out. You have to make a bunch of garbage before you get anywhere close to anything that is even respectable, no matter how talented you are.” (32:45) “You can’t control the result, all you can control is the process. All you can control is how you treat other people. And, the older I get the more I really try to cherish the people who are around me through that process and just be thankful for that. Then we put out the work and let the rest of the world decide all that stuff, but it doesn’t matter.” (34:41)   Links: Defacto Sound https://www.defactosound.com/ Follow Defacto Sound on: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/defactosound Twitter https://twitter.com/defactosound Instagram https://www.instagram.com/defactosound/ Twenty Thousand Hertz Podcast https://www.20k.org/ Studio Sherpas Budget Maximizer Tool https://training.studiosherpas.com/store/CPFSzJZu 7 Habits To Consistently Land 5 Figure Jobs Freebie https://studiosherpas.clickfunnels.com/7-habits-to-5-figs Studio Sherpas Ascend Method Training http://ascendmethod.com

For many of us as storytellers, we have ideas for passion project documentaries that we would love to get out into the world one day, but don’t really know where to start. Today’s guest is the go-to documentary filmmaker for women’s rights and is always shining the light on the strength, courage, and dynamism of women around the globe. Her latest documentary, Little Stones follows four women who are using the arts for social change, and she presents their stories in a truly heartfelt and honest way.   Sophia Kruz is an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker and TedX speaker, but the accolades don’t stop there as she’s won many more awards at some of the top film festivals in the world. She’s also the co-founder of Driftseed, a nonprofit seeking to empower women and girls both in the U.S. and around the world through the art of documentary storytelling.    Sophia is a firm believer in the power of following your passion and shares some fantastic advice on how to choose your passion projects, and how to find the perfect partners to bring those projects to life.   We also talk about the importance of networking as you fundraise for passion projects, and how those connections will have far-reaching benefits for your films beyond the initial monetary contributions. If you have ever struggled with the thought of having to network or don’t know where to start, then this episode will give you some tips that you can use from the beginning of your next project.   Do you have a documentary passion project kicking around the back of your mind? What are the struggles you’ve had in getting started? Leave us a comment below!   In this episode:   Advice on how to narrow in on your passion projects and choose the right ones to commit to Why your project partners are crucial to the success of the project The extreme and far-reaching benefits of networking The timeframes of making a documentary Some of the benefits to working for yourself or freelancing   Quotes:   “This is hands down the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but also the most rewarding.” (22:32)   “Finding partners that are truly engaged and believe in the project is another word of advice I would give to people.” (28:59)   “I don’t enjoy fundraising, but it is a great way to have a lot of people learn about your project because you are constantly asking for meetings and getting in front of people and honing your pitch and then they remember you. They are aware of your project and waiting for it to come out, whether or not they ended up donating.” (34:05)   Links:   Sophia Cruz Productions   Follow Sophia on Instagram & Twitter     Driftseed  Follow Driftseed on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter     Little Stones  Follow Little Stones on Facebook & Twitter  Little Stone Project    Panmela Castro  Sohini Chakraborty   Sister Fa  Anna Taylor    Zonta International

Do you know how prospective clients view you and your work? Have you placed everything you have ever created on your Vimeo or website? You might be unwittingly making some mistakes that are keeping you from presenting yourself and your capabilities in the best light. But today we’re going through all the dos and don’ts of how to present your body of work. Cody Dulock is the Director of Content for Film Supply and he sees the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to stock footage. His insights and advice on what to include in your portfolio and what to hide from the public is essential to making sure your prospective clients see the best version of what you have to offer. He has a ton of experience in film production, wedding, and corporate videography prior to his position at Film Supply, so it’s safe to say this guy knows the in’s and out’s of the filmmaking industry. We also talk about the importance of spec work and how these types of projects can lead to opportunities you might have otherwise missed out on. If your portfolio is currently a display of almost every film you’ve ever made, Cody’s got some fantastic insights that just might convince you to reconsider. Have you ever done any speck work? Was it a passion project or self-funded? Did it turn into future paying gigs? Throw us a comment on the show notes page! **Do you want to pair a heaping dose of inspiration with a crazy fun time? Film Supply has an incredible conference focussing on both film and music. Check out the stellar keynote lineup for 2018 plus the breakout sessions!** In this episode: The importance of curating your portfolio in all public arenas How spec work can lead to doing the type of work you’re dreaming of What 3 things can help you decide if you should take on that job you’re debating Why defining your culture & values right from the start is necessary to be successful   Quotes: “People really need to connect with each other but they also need to be challenged.” (10:41) “At the end of the day, your worst piece of work is what is going to define you, if it’s public” (24:34) “Pinpointing what your culture is going to be about [is essential], even if you’re a one-person team.” (37:27)   Links: Film Supply  Film Supply’s Film Productions Film + Music Conference Follow Film Supply on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Well, we've made it to episode 50, and what a ride it’s been thus far. When we started Studio Sherpas in 2015 and this podcast a year ago, we had no idea the impact that it would have on us and our own businesses. We were driven by a desire to share our stories and knowledge to help struggling filmmakers to run better businesses and bust through obstacles that were keeping them from producing the types of films they wanted to, at the budget they wanted to. But as it turns out, we’ve ended up taking away as much as we’ve tried to give. So in this, our 50th episode, we want to look back at some of the most important lessons that we’ve learned from both our amazing guests, and the inspiring community that Studio Sherpas has become. Whether you’re a new or long-time listener of the show, we know that you’ll find the lessons we discuss in this episode as relevant now as on the original episodes, so let’s dive in! We would absolutely LOVE to hear from you on what your favorite episodes have been and some of your biggest takeaways from the show. Let us know in the comments!   In this episode: A look back at our favorite episodes, and the key learnings we took away from them The importance of community and learning from others What it means to be a Sherpa for your clients How your mental fitness is affection your business How to approach doing the work YOU want to do, and create opportunities for yourself   Links: Check out the full episodes that we mentioned today (in order of mention)   Episode 28: Does Your Business Allow You the Freedom to Take Smart Risks? w/ Abraham Joffe Episode 1: The Importance of Story w/ Patrick Moreau Episode 40: How is Mental Fitness Affecting Your Creative Business w/ Adrien Kohler Episode 18: The Business of Being Creative w/ Sean Lowe Episode 46: How to Create Your Own Dream Job w/ Whitney Powell Episode 34: Why You Need To Ditch the Shortcuts and Do the Work w/ Dane Sanders

It’s no secret that drones are currently one of the most hyped tools we have in our arsenal as filmmakers, and it’s no wonder why. In the past decade, affordable drones have unlocked cinematic shots that we were only accustomed to seeing in huge Hollywood or commercial productions. The thing is, there’s a lot more to the world of drone cinematography than just those cool shots. If you’re anything like me, you might not be nearly as well educated as you think you might be, and that can end up costing you in a whole bunch of ways you might never have even thought of. Scott Stimple is a filmmaker, the owner of The Drone Flight School and CinemAerial Visuals, has been a commercial pilot with United Airlines for over 40 years and has been hacking together DIY drones since before they were cool. Needless to say, he is an expert in the arena of flight, and one of the top experts in the world of drone cinematography. He takes us to school today on how to use these amazing tools safely, responsibly, and effectively, to make our films the best they can be.   Scott takes us on a journey through the do’s and don'ts of unmanned aircraft flight, the legalities of flying a drone and the crazy level of importance on flying smart and safe and not being stupid while in the air. I learned so much from this episode that my notebook was full of critical information, including knowing how to operate your drone when the weather doesn’t work out and how just because you’ve passed the drone licensing test, doesn't mean you know how to handle a drone properly. In this episode: The biggest mistake people make when flying drones Tips on how to get started properly once you pick up your first drone The importance of systems knowledge when it comes to high stress situations, and how this can save you thousands of dollars What your are risking by not taking the FAA test How to find liability insurance for drones, and why you need it   Quotes: “You have to leverage that tool in order to make your work stand out and stand above other people’s work, because everybody is using it.” (23:44) “Sure, something went wrong, well let’s go to the checklist. We’ve got systems knowledge, we’ve got procedures, so let’s start running down the list of options that we have.” (28:50) “To just go grab a book, study, and say I passed [the FAA test] and am now a licensed drone pilot is not doing you or our craft a service.” (40:51)   Links: The Drone Flight SchoolFollow The Drone Flight School on Facebook & Instagram    CinemAerial Visuals Follow them on Vimeo   UV Insurance  Transport Risk Insurance Maine Media Workshops  

We all have those evil little fears that roll around in our heads and try to get us to give up, or worse, not even try in the first place. These gremlins of doubt and uncertainty will keep us from achieving or even reaching for some of our biggest goals and dreams, often things we know we have the talent to achieve. Well in today’s podcast we explore these fears and get actionable steps to conquer them. Amy Johnson is an Emmy winning filmmaker who specializes in both weddings with One Fine Day Productions and big sporting & corporate events including a ton of work with Fox Sports, the Milwaukee Brewers and others with Captivate Film Company. She was highly requested by our Studio Sherpas community, and we are so excited that she was able to sit down and talk to us. Amy is super honest about her journey, and we dig deep into how building your team with subcontractors according to each job’s needs can open up your business to big jobs you might never have considered, why checking your ego can help you maintain healthy relationships with your clients, and why her favorite celebrity moments included Martha Stewart. If you want real insights into the world of filmmaking and sports, then this is the podcast for you! What fears have you allowed to hold you back? What fears have you conquered and kicked to the curb? Leave a comment below!   In this episode: Tips & tricks on taking risks and getting over fears How making an investment in one job can lead to a ton of future opportunities How the competition mindset can destroy your momentum, and some of the practical reasons to consider other film companies as your allies How the heck you’re supposed to budget for a job like working with Fox Sports. Amy breaks it down!   Quotes: “You try to do everything and you can’t. There is no physical way you can, and if that was all I was doing, I would never have any time to do anything else.” [8:38] “It’s the challenge of I am going to figure out how to do this and not be scared.” [18:45] “It’s okay to hire someone who is smarter than you that knows something more about this, and that’s the only way you are going to be able to grow. Otherwise, you just limit yourself to what your capabilities are. There is so much more you can do if you can get past that.” [26:41] “It’s okay to get rejected, sometimes it [doesn’t feel] the best, but you never know until you try.” [40:08]   Links: Captivate Film CoFollow Captivate Film Co on Facebook  Milwaukee Brewers Game Day Experience Video One Fine Day ProductionsFollow One Fine Day Productions on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Vimeo Check out episode 37 with Raj Dhillon and on how to break into the commercial advertising video world Check out episode 22 with Lighthouse Films for another strategy to get into the commercial world 

Many of us started our careers focussing on the wedding film industry. And while many filmmakers eventually expand their businesses to include corporate and commercial films, getting established in the wedding in the first place is something that often gets glossed over. If you’re looking to make the leap into the world of wedding filmmaking, maybe leaving your day job in the process (woot!) Matt Johnson has some great tips on how to grow a wedding film-based business.  Matt Johnson is a filmmaker/storyteller and owner of FilmStrong, who specializes in stunning wedding videos. He also gives out a ton of free advice, and tips & tricks on his extremely popular Youtube channel which is a must watch for anyone wanting to break into the biz. We also talk about how getting the right people into the proper roles can be the thing that takes you from being in the hole financially to being profitable. Plus, Matt gives us actionable steps for all the people starting out and I mean genuinely just beginning. This is the perfect episode for newbies and for people who are looking to scale their business. In this episode: How to take your business from scraping by to profitable The extreme importance of having the right people in the right roles Should you ever work for free? Tips and tricks for scaling your business beyond yourself   Quotes: “By pushing at a higher luxury market and getting a very good vision and direction of where you are heading in your business, you can make more money by doing fewer weddings.” (26:46) “If you are not on the math side, like I am not, hire someone.” (30:28) “Be very selective with weddings and with the work that you put on your website. Don’t just have it be everything.” (42:46)   Links: Find Matt on his website Let Matt help you grow and scale your business  FilmStrong  Follow Matt on Facebook, Youtube, Vimeo, Instagram, Twitter 

What do you do when the struggles get to be too much? How do you deal with the fears and frustrations of being an entrepreneur? We have all been there, and they will happen throughout your career, but today’s guest Whitney Powell has some insight and inspiration to share that will help you break free. Whitney began her career in LA after graduating from film school but soon realized that the Hollywood life was just not for her. So she changed everything. Her love of travel, storytelling, and endurance racing lead her to create her own company that fuses those passions together with social media branding for clients. She opens up about how while her life might look amazing on Instagram and Facebook (and believe me, it does), that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been filled with struggles, frustrations, and fear. She gets brutally honest about all of this, including what she does to pick herself up and continue moving forward even in the darkest times. If you have ever felt like taking your business in another direction more in line with your deepest passions, then this is a podcast that you cannot miss. I learned a ton from this conversation, and I strongly suggest you listen to it twice because it is just that good. Have you ever felt like throwing in the towel? How did you get yourself past that point? Let us know in the comments! In this episode: What does entrepreneurial life really look like, and how does it differ from what we see on social media? Tips on how to recover when you are feeling like giving up Why it’s so important to be honest and upfront on social media How to think outside the box when it comes to making a career in the film and video industry   Quotes: “You need to know what you are worth and say no, ‘I am going to stick to my guns and follow the path that I envisioned & not accommodate what other people’s visions are.” (34:13) “Get mad and get proactive.” (35:29) “What do I want? Nobody else is living my life. I have to live my life, so what do I want to be doing with that time. We only have so many hours in a day to make those choices so what are you going to do with it?” (36:46)

How often do you feel like you are overworked and underpaid? I'm sorry to say this, but you only have yourself to blame. Today on the podcast, Matt and I (Ryan) are opening up about the struggles we've faced in our businesses, both early on and more recently, and how we overcame them. We cover a lot of the info you probably never though about when you got into business in the first place including hiring, firing, pricing, and the fine art of setting boundaries for yourself. We also talk about the insane importance of allowing yourself time to recharge and that working 80 hours a week isn’t impressive, it’s stupid. And, how you are setting yourself up for failure if you don’t carve out time to work on your business and not just in your business. As we discuss, there are always new challenges to tackle at every stage of your business, but with this episode we're hoping we can help you avoid some of the pitfalls that held us back early, and give you a look into the future of a growing film business so you can plan ahead! Have you been struggling with how to grow your business past a one-person band? What have you tried to help you scale it? What worked and what didn’t work? Let us know in the comments below!   In this episode: Some of the things that stunted us early on and kept us from growing our businesses? How do you raise your prices without you losing all your clients? The necessity of having an end goal in sight when you first start out. The reason that 96% of creative businesses fail.   Quotes: “Make some boundaries, make some rules for yourself, know when you are turning off and turning on. Get some recharge time with your family and friends. Get some sleep.” (29:04) “But having that end in sight and really saying in a year from now how can this business look different so that I am working a little less inside my business and a little more on my business, so that I am not pulling my hair out.” (27:48) “We knew the clients that we wanted, we knew what we were worth and we attracted those people.” (37:16)   *** For even more insight into how we grew our businesses and price what we know we're worth, make sure to check out our free ebook, 7 Habits To Consistently Book 5-Figure Corporate Video Jobs ***   Links: Check out Studio Sherpas online Follow Studio Sherpas on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook    Email Matt & Ryan Hey@StudioSherpas.com Podcast Interview with Colleen Bezich  Evernote Expensify Gusto The E-Myth Revisited (Book) Necessary Endings (Book) The Four Hour Work Week (Book)