Studio Sherpas Podcast

So you’ve made an awesome film and now it’s time to launch it. Sure you could go through a distribution company, but what if you could cut out the middleman and do it yourself? It’s a good thing that I have a guest today who lays out the blueprint on just how you can do this while maximizing your profits! Today we welcome Rob Hardy back to the podcast. He is a filmmaker and entrepreneur who runs Filmmaker Freedom, a blog and growing community of indie filmmakers where he guides readers on how to redefine success for themselves, according to their own circumstances, talents, and values. He is passionate about helping indie filmmakers build their online audiences so they can cut out the middleman in this process and truly support themselves doing what they love. Today we are having a raw and honest conversation about finding your audience and figuring out how to best serve them. This might involve getting your work directly to your audience without going through an expensive distribution company. Throughout thi

Knowing what your talents are worth is perhaps the most important part of finding success. It can be very easy to undersell yourself, especially when you’re just starting out. But you’re not going to get very far if you don’t hold yourself to your value. Chris Odom has learned this important lesson over his long and successful career. He is an incredibly talented business owner, drone pilot, filmmaker, and a student of the Studio Sherpas Video Business Academy. As the founder of Firefly Media, which specializes in amazing aerial video, Chris spends a lot of time (virtually) in the air filming for feature films and commercials. We talk a lot about the importance of understanding your value on this show. That’s because it’s perhaps the most important thing you can do as a business owner and therefore bears repeating. In this interview, Chris and I go deep into this topic as we explore what you can do to better know what you and your company are worth. Since Chris is also part of the Studio Sherpas community, we

Getting likes and followers on social media is nice, but it’s not what’s going to define the success of your business - sales are. However, making sales depends on a well-crafted marketing strategy which may not be what you’re interested in spending your time and energy on. I’m really excited to have Chris Smith here today to help break down this daunting topic. Chris Smith is the co-founder of Curaytor and the author of The Conversion Code. His company helps other businesses with digital marketing and advertising campaigns so that they can quickly find their perfect customers. In less than four years, Chris used the blueprint in The Conversion Code to grow Curaytor to nearly $15 million in annual recurring revenue. His work has been featured in Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur Magazine and many other publications. Throughout this interview, Chris shares what he knows about building sales alongside building your brand. This takes both being up to date on the latest trends in sales, but also sticking to time-tested

If you’re at all like me, you may have been resistant to jumping on the YouTube bandwagon. But YouTube can be incredibly helpful for both you and your clients and you ignore it at your peril. If you’ve been thinking about optimizing your channel, you’re not going to want to miss this!  Tom Martin is certified by YouTube as an expert in audience growth and digital rights. He has led YouTube strategy for some of the world’s largest and most successful media companies gaining them millions of subscribers and billions of views. Few people know the ins and outs of YouTube better than Tom which makes the knowledge he shares with us today incredibly valuable. This interview is a deep dive into the role that YouTube can play in your business. Tom shares what it really is that YouTube is looking for and how you can give it to them. He discusses the determination and perseverance needed to make this platform work for you. Tom also shares his knowledge on conducting research on your target audience before you invest too

Reinvesting your time, money, and energy in your company is essential to its growth and longevity. But just where do you decide to focus? How do you determine what’s most important right now? Today’s guests, the ReelBros, have asked themselves these very questions and the answers have been invaluable. Brandon Main, John Hebrank, and Alex Schreer run a full-service production house that has recently shifted its focus towards providing its clients with unique camera shots that they wouldn’t find anywhere else. As they put it, they run the line between where technology meets art and where engineering meets filmmaking. They and their business may be young, but they’re already producing outstanding work for some pretty amazing clients. This energetic episode is all about investing in yourself and business. The bros tell us all about how they came up with the idea for their company and got it off the ground in only a week. They discuss the importance of constantly reinvesting in your company to help lead it to succ

Who doesn’t want a massive YouTube following? It will help you connect to other filmmakers, find clients, and showcase your skills all in one place. Garnering a huge number of subscribers may seem like the Holy Grail of video on social media, but with the right approach and dedication, it’s totally possible! And today's guest, Kelsey Brannan is the go-to person for growing your following and creating an epic Youtube channel that will work to showcase and grow your business. Kelsey is the creator of Premiere Gal, a YouTube community of over 117,000 subscribers which is focused on video, photo, and audio production. After getting a Masters degree in documentary filmmaking from Georgetown, Kelsey worked as a filmmaker with the State Department. She’s since moved on to helping others learn the ins and outs of her craft and is the head of creative growth at Wipster, a video feedback and collaboration platform for creators, teams, and businesses. In this interview, Kelsey talks about what it’s like to grow a YouTub

Our jobs rise and fall on customer service. Providing your clients with quality work is one thing, but keeping them happy is often something else. Today’s guest, Lee Cockerell, has a lifetime of insight into providing invaluable customer service as part of some huge companies that you can start applying right away! In addition to being one of my favorite experts on leadership ever, Lee is the retired exec Vice President of the Walt Disney World Resort, a position he held for 10 years. Before Disney, Lee spent eight years with Hilton and Marriott International. Lee is the author of four books on leadership, management and customer service and hosts a weekly 15-minute podcast, Creating Disney Magic. Having worn so many big hats, Lee has plenty of expert advice to share on time management and customer service. In this interview, Lee takes us through his journey of how he learned the importance of treating everyone with caring and respect. This led him to dedicate himself to helping others by sharing his knowledg

There are the subtle touches you can make to your videos that will take them to the next level. Much of this has to do with the color grading you use. It can set you apart from your competitors and get you noticed in ways that you hadn’t been before. The best part is that anyone can learn to do it! Denver Riddle is a colorist with a true passion for sharing what he’s learned about color grading with others. He’s the founder of Color Grading Central and has worked on countless feature films and commercials. Denver has developed numerous color grading tools, including the original color presets for Instagram’s video feature, so you may even have used his work without knowing it. In this interview, Denver tells the story of how he discovered the role color grading can play to make an ordinary film look epic. He’s used his skills in coloring to showcase the quality of his work which has paid dividends when on the job hunt. Denver explains just why having well-done color grading can make all the difference to the

The journey of improving and refining your business may seem vast and daunting. If you’re trying to do it all at once, you’ll likely end up frustrated and not much further along than you are already. But if you can move that needle forward just a little bit every day, then you’re going to see significant improvement before too long. And, today's guest, Travis Hull, knows all about how the small steps can make for major positive changes! Travis is the founder of Talking Heads Studio and his studio works with businesses and brands from around the country as well as at home in Orlando, FL. Travis helps all sorts of clients tell their stories through video, photography, and event production, be they a local non-profit or the NFL. Travis and I sit down to talk about finding businesses to work with that share his mission of helping people improve their lives and the challenges and rewards of that endeavor. We also chat about what it means to make meaningful relationships as a filmmaker and the countless ways that t

Perhaps the biggest difference between an entrepreneur that makes it and one who doesn’t is their mindset. Being intentional on how you overcome your internal conflicts makes all the difference. Few know this better than my guest today, Dallin Nead. Dallin, with Content Supply, has been working in corporate, travel, film and broadcast video production for over ten years. His work has taken him all over the globe as he makes outstanding content to help people and businesses share their stories. Dallin is a filmmaking entrepreneur focused on helping other entrepreneurs take their business to the next level by providing strategy, production, and distribution service.   Today, you’re going to hear about how Dallin got into helping other entrepreneurs through video. He’s learned a lot along the way and he shares some key concepts about the importance of mindset and how it differentiates you as a freelancer or business owner. Dallin also tells us about his sales process that he uses to connect with potential client

How do you charge your clients more with confidence? I know many creatives like us have trouble asking for more money because they’re afraid that it will somehow pollute their craft or drive away customers. Don’t fall into this trap! I’m really excited to have a guest today, Blair Enns, who knows all about offering great value to your clients and successfully charging more without feeling bad about it. Blair possesses a truly amazing mind and an amazing gift to be able to help people like you and me. If you’ve heard of him, it’s likely because of his book, The Win Without Pitching Manifesto. Honestly, this book has changed the way I engage with my clients. In addition to his books, Blair runs a training program where he and his team of coaches help other entrepreneurs win more business. This episode is all about what Blair says is the number one thing you need to do to make more money. We chat about two differentiators which will allow you to charge more from your clients, how price anchoring will help build

Imagine if you were so afraid to try filmmaking that you never did it. Sure, most of us have been scared at some point in our professional journeys. That’s okay. There are times when a little fear is healthy. Not allowing that fear to hold you back and share what you can create is the important part. Ryan Welch is the owner and Creative Director of AO Films in Oregon, a small team of filmmakers and creative collective. Ryan has a lifelong passion for telling great stories using the power of images. He has directed and shot a number of award-winning films with a blend of narrative and documentary storytelling. In this interview, we talk about fear and how it will dictate what we do and don’t do if we let it. It begins with being part of your client’s team so that you can work together as smoothly and openly as possible. We talk about how it also comes from having intentionality and purpose in your work so that it aligns with your values. Ryan goes on to shed some light on how he finds validation in his work th

How do you find work if you live in a place that might not have many opportunities? It’s going to take some creativity, determination, and flexibility for sure, but the work is out there. Today’s guest, Barry Andersson, has made a career out of taking what he calls “intelligent risks” to find amazing work in unexpected ways. Barry is an award-winning director and cinematographer. He has made a career in television and video production which includes five feature films, many short films, three TV pilots, and numerous commercials. He uses his real-world experience to work for clients like Disney, Skype, and ESPN to instruct seminars globally about best practices for filmmakers. He’s consulted with groups like the US Marines, the NFL, NBA, and some prestigious universities. As if that weren’t enough, he’s also the author of the DSLR Filmmaker’s Handbook. Today, we’re talking about unconventional ways to find work in this business. Barry has found work that he truly enjoys doing and we talk about discovering jobs

What if something tragic occurred and you needed time away from your business? Yeah, I went there. But let’s imagine that you needed to take an undefined break from your work to handle an unexpected turn of events. Is your business set up in a way to handle that? Because of the way Mason Gray structured his business he was able to handle just such an unexpected turn. Mason Gray is the co-owner of Gray’s Studio in Texas. This studio has been around for more than a century so it’s had to adapt a lot to stay in business. Mason has helped bring his studio from being based purely in photography into the world of video and marketing. This episode is all about how the digital landscape has changed and how as filmmakers we have a built-in advantage to work smarter rather than harder. Mason talks about how transitioning to digital ads has significantly upped his profits while reducing his active workload. We also discuss finding clients who sell everyday needs-based products and services. We go on to talk about how Ma

How do you handle a call from an interested client if you know that they’re also looking at other companies? What price do you quote them? How you handle this call might determine the entire future of your business. No pressure, right? Today, I’ve got an amazing guest who will put your fears and worry to ease. If you haven't heard of Chris Do, he started doing motion design back in the 90s before it was even a real thing. Chris is the CEO and chief strategist of Blind and the founder of The Futur. He has immeasurable amounts of experience in the world of video and works with some really amazing clients. Chris’ work has even won him an Emmy in Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation. This not to be missed interview is about challenging the way that you approach new work. We talk about how you can create competitive estimates and how you should communicate the value of the work that you do. Essentially, this chat is about how to close that deal over the phone, and it’s probably not by doing what you thi

Too often the safety and security of a “real job” keeps us from following our own professional dreams. But for those of us who realize that we have a deeply ingrained desire to do something else, to follow our own creative journey, the time comes where we have to take that scary leap and give it a go. Today’s guest just did something amazing and terrifying, he quit his job of four years and went full-time freelance. Josh LeClair, a Studio Sherpas Community member, now has his own freelance business based in northern Michigan and has been working with some really great brands. In today’s interview, Josh shares his journey of deciding on a career as a photographer and then pursuing it on his own terms. The decision was full of uncertainty but not regrets. We consider just what goes into a move like this and how to know when you’re ready. We also talk about how you can best help clients. It can only come from forming a relationship with them in which they trust you to do the best work for them. We discuss how to

Working with national brands doesn’t have to be some crazy, out of reach goal. In fact, being the director of a creative video company who does this work doesn’t have to a pipe dream! All it takes is a little ingenuity, bravado, and a sense of adventure. Today’s guest took a chance while working as an editor for a talent agency. JP Bolles admired the work of his Adam, the owner of Sandwich Video, and when he saw he was looking to bring someone on board, reached out. Together, JP and Adam have built a company of 20 employees and work with brands across the country. In this interview, we talk about what it takes to be a creative director of a large, and growing, creative company. We look at the creative process and how you should start to share your projects with your clients, even when it might be taking longer than you thought it would -- and what was agreed. And perhaps most amazingly, we’re looking at Sandwich Video’s collaboration with Wistia. This documentary, One, Ten, One Hundred, is a behind the scenes

When starting out as a filmmaker, it’s not uncommon to have doubts about how to break into the industry. Filmmaking may not have the stability and security of a “traditional” job, but for those of us with a passion for it, the risk of not acting is greater than the risk of taking the leap. Perhaps nobody knows this more than Joyce Tsang. Joyce had an unconventional start when she decided to become a filmmaker. Before picking up a camera, Joyce worked as a research and development engineer. Now she’s an Emmy award-winning filmmaker who’s killing it making films for some big brands like Facebook and Nike, as well as docs, and narrative films. Today Joyce and I break down what it’s like to switch careers and make your start as a filmmaker. The decision to go this less than conventional route comes with its own set of challenges and payoffs which we discuss. We also talk about learning and growing your business through collaboration and building strong professional relationships. Did you get into filmmaking after

If you’re just sitting there twiddling your thumbs as you wait for your next big job, you’re missing the point. It’s up to you to move your business forward. I know it can seem scary, especially when you’re just starting out. The important thing, as my guest is about to tell you, is to have confidence in your abilities and to just start creating content in any way you can. Parker Walbeck, from Full Time Filmmaker, knows what it is to be successful in this business. Before starting his own film school and production company, he spent several years making amazing films with DevinSuperTramp (seriously, check these out) and working with some big brands all over the world. He has trained thousands of students on what they need to become successful in this line of work. Parker is a true wealth of knowledge who makes it his mission to share what he knows with other eager filmmakers and entrepreneurs. Today’s conversation is about creating the right formula that will lead to a successful video business. We talk about

It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone! 2018 has been incredible here at Studio Sherpas. We had our 100th podcast episode not to mention the incredibly amazing and talented guests we’ve had. I know I learned a whole bunch and I hope you did too! With the year coming to a close, it’s time for some reflection. I’m going to share three of my biggest takeaways from 2018. They all revolve around the ideas laid out by Patrick Lencioni which are to be hungry, be humble, and be smart and I’m going to go over each of them with you here today. You’ll also hear some clips from five amazing guests that we’ve had on here over the past year. So get excited all over again as you listen to some incredible people in this industry drop some wisdom all over again! What are your biggest lessons learned during 2018? Drop a comment on the episode page!   In this episode: Why you should always be hungry for more knowledge and the dangers of being satisfied with what you know All the books that Ryan read in 2018 t