Trove Brands’ Post

How to go from a 16-year-old production assistant to opening your own multi million-dollar creative studio in 4 years: I started working as a production assistant at age 16, but I always knew I wanted to be a producer. So I had to start working my way up … from the very bottom. The first thing I did? Start turning down jobs as a production assistant and look for gigs that would get me to the next level. At this point, that meant hunting for “production coordinator” jobs. So I became a production coordinator. After being a production coordinator, I knew I needed to get into production managing. So I became a production manager. From there, I focused on getting into “line producing”— the next step up. Again, I turned down the stability of production managing jobs whenever possible, giving me the capacity to accept more line-producing work. So I became a line producer. This process repeated over the years — work hard to prove myself and then take the leap to get to the next level. And finally, at the age of 20, I started my own creative studio, SixTwentySix. Through every transition, from one role to the next, I consciously took the risk of losing work to make space for what I really wanted. I’ll be honest, it was a pretty uncomfortable place to be. But so many of the founders I look up to have said the same thing: Want to accelerate your own growth? Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

We often get asked what goes into the process of production as for most people they may have dabbled in the experience or have had no experience at all. We want to provide a raw, authentic insight to the process of production and giving understand the crew requirements to pull off the productions you see on the big and small screen. As a team, our average crew size is 5 on most of our shoots. This includes… . Director . DOP . Gaffer . Producer . Assistant/Second Camera Operator This can vary from shoot to shoot, but a team of 5 covers a lot of the production areas that you need to create projects efficiently, but also with attention to detail and quality at the forefront. Within this scene here we’re battling with clear blue skies and bright sunshine. In most circumstances in life this could be seen as perfect conditions for filming. However…as you can see this causes issues of over exposure, glare and hot conditions for filming. The crew has not only diffused the light, making it softer on the face but also blocked out the sun too. Production is not only about the creative and logistics but also understanding how light lays and pivoting on situations where needed. I hope you have a great start to the week everyone! #creativeagency #production #videoproduction #videoagency #videomarketing #marketing

Two fantastic opportunities in the UK

When I was working my first Production Assistant gig, I learned one lesson that has applied to basically ever other position I've worked in my career. "The smaller the production, the larger the role you need to play." Now this was told to me while I was a PA on a 40+ person television production, but it has stayed true across every project I've worked on since. This doesn't mean that working on small projects or as a part of a large organization is bad. Both environments can be fantastic for you in the right scenario. To me, this phrase helps you understand where you efforts will serve your team the best. For me now, it's taught me that I enjoy working in small to mid-size operations. These are the spaces that allow my natural desire to broaden my horizons and pick-up new skills to also be incredibly beneficial to the team as a whole. If you prefer to master the tasks at the core of your position, and add value by pushing further down one specific area of expertise, then maybe being part of a large operation is a better fit. Just my experience reflecting on the variety of environments I've been in. What do you think?

#MeetTheTeam Jessica Motler Jess, as Production Manager, oversees the entire production process from conception to delivery. She carefully selects crews and suppliers to meet client expectations within budget. Jess prioritises a smooth and happy shoot, emphasising health and safety. Her dedication ensures everyone involved is well cared for while managing each aspect of the project efficiently. What inspired you to pursue a career in this role? From choosing my options in high school, I knew I wanted to work within the media, always behind the camera and finding behind-the-scenes insights fascinating. I went on to study TV Production at university before landing my first job in TV. After plenty of unpaid work experience and brew-making, I quickly learnt that Production Management was where my skills lay. I love a well-crafted plan! Throughout my TV Production journey, I have made many close friends who have inspired me to always believe in myself and aim high, getting me to where I am today. What do you most enjoy about it? I love my team! I believe we work really well to take on jobs of all sizes with a positive, can-do attitude. Nothing is too much trouble for us, no production is too small, and no two days are the same. We never know what’s about to land, and I love that whatever happens, we enjoy each shoot and always have a funny story to tell afterwards. What value do you bring to clients? I focus on bringing together a strong, well-chosen crew based on the years I have spent getting to know them and their strengths. Having a strong understanding of each production allows me to run the jobs logistically, supporting the producers. I’m expeditious and can turn a shoot around by sourcing the right crew and equipment with ease, and adapting to change and last-minute requests. The producers can rely on me, and they can concentrate on building happy relationships with their clients. What’s your biggest career achievement to date? From an early age, I have wanted to work within the TV industry, so finding myself now as a Production Manager & Company Director of a company I can be proud to call my own is the biggest career achievement of them all. Career highlights have varied from film set shoots in the Sahara Desert to flying over to NYC to work with Hollywood royalty. No two productions are ever the same, and neither are the stories and achievements that come with them.

Don’t forget to leave room for spontaneity. This unplanned shot was my favourite! Let me explain. Something I never used to do, until I learned the hard way. Pre production planning. This step is a crucial part of any video production, big or small. Storyboarding, gear list, shot list, location scouting and contact info. It’s all planned before we film. But here’s the thing. I’m most cases, after all the planning, we like to leave a little space in our shoot day for spontaneity. That’s where this shot comes in, and it was not on the shot list. Not even thought of at all during our pre production planning. Our director recommended this behind the counter shot, for that first person feeling. Assisting this happy smiling customer. Not even realizing how well it showcased the colourful products she sells, and the beauty this store has to offer. All in one shot! I for sure learned a lot from this experience. What do you think? Do you leave time for spontaneous shots in your productions?

You Better Recognize! A talented supervisor or manager is astute enough to understand that an employee is not defined by his or her job title/description. I once worked at a film production company where I was promoted three times in six months. I started out answering phones and making coffee and was soon the Visual Effects Coordinator for the biggest budget IMAX film to that date. Why? Because the producer (who went on to found RealD 3-D) could see that my skills of working hard, doing things quickly and always saying ‘yes’ to what I was asked would translate into the 60+ hours per week on a film set. How could a ‘receptionist’ become an integral part of a multi-million dollar production? How could a production assistant for a home shopping network become the Operations Director of the network in less than a year? Yep… same guy. Thanks to supervisors, managers, executives and corporate presidents who could all assess talent and not be confined by a title. So, hiring managers… take a closer look at that resume from the person that doesn’t have the exact qualifications or job title you’re looking for. Dig deeper. Look for qualities, talents and skills rather than a direct 1:1 correlation. A more well-rounded candidate might just be available.

If you’re in need of a collaborative, talented crew, but not confident about what you can offer financially, posting a crew job online can feel uncomfortable—so we've put together this guide for developing your low-budget production here ⬇️ #Backstage #Crew #Hiring #Casting #Production #ProductionShoot

Why work for a small agency over a large one? This is a question I’m constantly asking when hiring at Nusa Films, how do we attract top tier talent who might be considering a role at a more established, bigger agency? There's a number of factors but I believe this is by far the most important: ⚙️ Being a big cog in a small machine We have a unique opportunity for creatives to work hands-on with some amazing brands like Ford, Casio & Nandos All whilst being able to fully own their roles and know that they've played an integral part in delivering an amazing piece of content And most importantly you have real automony over your role, with the ability to innovate certain areas of our work and make a real difference in the business (also if you're wondering, yes that is a small jelly bean on our ceiling) #video #videoproduction #film #filmproduction #creativeagency #socialmedia #socialcontent #contentmarketing

No matter where you are in your career or your goals, Backstage has crew and production opportunities ranging from jobs in feature-length films and popular television shows to those beyond traditional entertainment that include doing work for major brands, creative agencies, and other commercial productions. Read more: #Backstage #Production #Crew #Branding #BrandStrategy #Content #ContentStrategy #Marketing