Guest Post by Devin Shepherd
A little over a year ago, I started Wild Obscura Films, a production company, with my business partner, Nora Unkel. We focus on narrative, female-driven content created for women and by women. As creative filmmakers, the business world was new to us. Every day, we learned something more, but these are the six biggest lessons I have learned:
1. Branding is Important
Our very first step as a company was to create a mission statement. Every company has one, and it’s the most important thing you will ever write. The statement says what the company is, what it does, and how. Then, we came up with a visual style to represent our mission statement, thereby setting our “brand” as a company. We chose three keywords for our style: edgy, dark, and feminine.
To go along with our brand, we took company pictures, created a logo, and designed a website — each piece was edgy, dark, and feminine. We got a lot of response from these pieces. Many people messaged us with compliments on our incredible visuals. All these messages and praise created our company’s following. And we wouldn’t have one today, if we didn’t focus on our brand first.
2. Content Can Be Chicken & Egg
We started the company with very little content. Our goal was to first produce a feature, then move onto other content. However, during initial reach out for our feature, everyone asked, “What else have you made?”
We had made plenty of shorts, but only one as a company. When we showed the short, we heard, “That film isn’t exactly like the feature you are pitching. What have you made that’s relevant to the feature?” This happened a lot.
Ultimately, it’s best to launch your company with something already made. This should be content you have produced. Clients won’t care about the Sundance film you were a grip on. They aren’t going to trust you with their money until they see what you can give them as a producer. This is the part that can be a bit chicken-and-egg. Make what you can to the best ability that you can. Launch. Then, the bigger jobs will follow.
3. Get Vetted
We started our company at the age of 23. Very few people take you seriously at this age (or as this gender). It’s almost incredible how dismissive clients were. We talked our game, spewed our knowledge, until most people finally understood we knew our stuff. But it did take time and an exhausting amount of energy.
The easiest way to bypass this is to get vetted by someone older and more experienced in the business. No client or contractor will question you when an Executive Producer of a Hollywood franchise messages them to say that you’re a wonderful producer. This person can literally be anyone you have met or worked with. They don’t have to be big-time, just as long as they are older and have a few credits to their name. People will never question your abilities again.
4. Be 100% Clear and Communicative
As the CEO of a company, you have an image to maintain and client relationships to uphold. It’s a very high-stress job. Everything you do counts. Which means, everything your contractors do counts, too. You must lead with a strong, clear vision and know how to express it.
When you hire a contractor, be clear about their end goal. If you see a problem, address it sooner rather than later. Keep an eye out for issues, but don’t be a Big Brother. Lead, but always listen. The number one problem I have seen is the fear to be honest about issues. However, being honest has been the most beneficial thing for our company. Also, be trusting. Your contractors will have the skills to get you there if they fully understand where you want to go.
5. Learn How to Write Contracts and Make Lawyer Friends
Whenever you start a new project, you will be hiring contractors and ironing out deals with clients. The questions that come up are: Who owns the content? How much are they paid? And, where is it allowed to be shown? The answers must be written in a contract before you start the project.
A good contract addresses every foreseeable outcome. Don’t be naive. No matter how close you are with the client or contractor, there will be disputes about money or ownership. Before you do a contract, make friends with a lawyer: a friend’s parent, a neighbor in law school, etc. Have them look it over. I also highly suggest you learn how to write a good contract. Personally, I learned by reading contracts I found online or in books. I also emailed past employers and friends, asking for templates they use. You will quickly understand the basics, and will eventually get a hang of the lawyer-language. The more contracts you write, the easier it’ll be. Also, remember: it’s not just you anymore — the company, its reputation, and its future are on the line.
6. It’s Inspiring
Throughout the year, we have received messages from old high school classmates, previous coworkers, and people we didn’t even know we knew. They wrote us just to say how inspired they are by our company. When you start your company, you will be a symbol of hope to someone. Carry this wisely.
Devin Shepherd is a New York based producer and assistant director bred from southern California. She met her fellow producing partner, Nora Unkel, while attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she received a degree in Film & TV Production with a focus on independent producing and production management. Devin had aided in producing and financing short and feature-length films seen in festivals worldwide. Her love for passionate, independent films with dark themes and unique, true characters has brought her to Wild Obscura Films. Here, as a producer, Devin intends to give a voice to those otherwise unheard.
