How I Went From Entry-Level Video Producer to TV Show Executive

There are 5 key habits I’ve traced along my career journey that helped me get to where I am today. 

If you’ve ever wondered:

• How will I turn my passions into my full-time?
• Where do I start?
• What’s my next move?
• Is it worth it?

This is for you.

Where I Started

When people open up to me about their struggles, it brings me back to 2020 when I was laid off from my entry-level digital video producer job and collecting unemployment.

I’d check my empty bank account, unsure how I would make ends meet. I’d stare at my computer screen, struggling to fill out job applications.

I had plenty of passion projects on the back burner, but no way to support myself in order to pursue them.

I had to make a decision:

A. Get another job at a company ("not risky").

B. Make my side hustle film projects my full-time gig ("risky").

 I decided to take the risk and go 100% all-in on my film projects.

Little did I know, this decision would change my entire life.

How It's Going

1 year later, I sold the original film concept for what is now my first unscripted TV show and first-ever women's sports documentary on Prime Video.

I’ve since worked for global brands like Nike, The Olympics, and Red Bull Media House, and in partnership with A-list celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Gabrielle Union, to name a few.

My work has been featured in The Emmys, ELLE, and Forbes, among others.

I never thought that in such a short amount of time, I would be making 6-figures off of filmmaking and traveling the world to shoot my film & TV projects.

My number one takeaway? Over the years, I put in consistent time and effort to execute my film ideas little by little.

And now it’s finally paying off. 

So the best thing you can do as an emerging filmmaker?

Start now!

Let’s dive into what worked for me.

My 5-Step Foundation I Built My Career On

Step 1: Consistency

I lived and breathed filmmaking and put in the time.

Since 2016, I’ve created original short films around women and people of color in sports. Most were low-budget and/or self-funded.

I spent a minimum of 5 days a week working on my passion projects for the first 2 years. I planned my entire life around it. Even with a 9-5 full-time job, I would work nights and weekends.

It takes sacrifice to start dialing in the fundamentals of filmmaking and developing your craft.

There are no shortcuts, just a lot of trial and error. 

If you feel this type of obsession, you are on the right path.

Step 2: Building and promoting my personal brand

Once I had my first few short films ready, I decided to upload them to social media and YouTube.

I took advantage of the opportunity to get shown to millions of people at the touch of a button.

My first big opportunities came from uploading content to the internet. 

Local brands in the action sports space started to take notice. And within just a few months, producers working for companies like Nike, Vans, and World Surf League were interacting with my posts. 

These initial interactions turned into paid opportunities down the line. 

Eventually, a producer from a leading women’s sports media company, reached out via Instagram. This connection led me to pitching and selling the original concept for what became my first unscripted TV show.

In my experience, mastering social content has been the most effective marketing tactic for me, and I believe it should be a part of every filmmaker’s workflow.

If you aren’t promoting yourself and your work, why would anyone else?

Step 3: Timing

Paying close attention to the current state of film & TV is crucial.

If the genre of film you are making is trending upwards, your odds increase.

I broke through the noise with a mix of timing and conviction in what I was making. Since 2016, I have focused on building my own organic community and movement in the women's sports space. 

That just so happened to be the next train that was leaving the station.

Stay up to date with the entertainment industry and adapt accordingly. Be willing to pivot.

Some people may frown upon thinking about "art" this way, but any successful business is constantly doing market research and building products around that research.

It's a lot easier to create a big wave in your career when what you're making is in alignment with the overall industry.

Step 4: Community & network building

Just 2-3 years into filmmaking, I basically knew of everyone in my pocket of Los Angeles that was involved with action sports. 

I continued that by going to events every week to meet new people and network. 

I started to meet connections that knew my content from social media, and those connections turned into collaborators, and in some cases, branded & commercial job opportunities. Imagine if I never posted?

Every single person you meet increases your odds of opportunity. 

Everyone knows networking is beneficial (duh), but how many filmmakers are going to make it a point to go out every single week for years? 

Big opportunities happen in real time. 

Step 5: Mentorship

In my opinion, having experienced mentors or peers around you is the fastest way to grow. 

I was lucky enough to have worked with amazing creatives, directors, producers, and filmmakers in previous jobs that showed me the ropes of film & TV production. 

Not everyone was willing to help, but I kept those who supported me very close.

This was the big inspiration behind creating my Filmmaker Accelerator Program.

Face to face time with someone who's already done it is the easiest way to jumpstart your filmmaking career. 

Do everything in your power to surround yourself with like-minded people, become a part of a community, and learn from someone who has walked the walk.

Summary

I credit a lot of my success to going the extra mile in these 5 categories, which really helped push my career beyond just learning to make films.

1. Consistency

2. Personal brand & self-promotion

3. Timing & market trends

4. Community-building & networking

5. Mentorship