Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenden Masar.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brenden. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve worked for an advertising firm since graduating college in 2005. I was the lead copywriter for several years, writing mostly real estate-related marketing material. In 2009, during a trip to Russia with a friend, I picked up a video camera for the first time since film school and re-discovered my love of filmmaking. This was around the same time that DSLRs were becoming widely used to capture professional-quality footage for a fraction of the cost of cinema cameras. We used our existing client base to pitch video work and slowly expanded our portfolio and capabilities. Over time, my work for MJAD generated enough work that I was able to start my own production company and I balance my time between the two companies as projects needed.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s often a struggle getting a video project across the finish line. It’s common for clients to dream up grand video projects that never materialize due to a combination of factors, including time and budget. Technological advancements made it possible for independent videographers to form their smaller companies in the shadows of large production houses, but those advancements continue to put smaller, better, cheaper options into the hands of consumers. During some pitch meetings, I can almost sense the client thinking, “why should I hire these guys when I can just use my nephew’s GoPro?” You need to be able to demonstrate to your clients that your expertise–and your equipment–is worth the expense.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The work that has gotten me the best feedback and generated the most new work has been my construction diaries. It’s a basic concept–filming a construction project from start to finish–but the key is to make the viewer feel an emotional attachment to the building. It should become a character and you should feel like you’re experiencing its story. One of my friends joked that he almost cried watching one of them.
My business model is to produce videos for a significantly lower cost than a comparable competitor. Video production is usually a bloated affair and a lot of companies hire on more crew than they need—that’s something I avoid. Combining quality with affordable pricing has gotten us projects that clients didn’t even realize they could afford.
What were you like growing up?
I was a cinema junkie as a kid. I still am, of course. I vividly remember seeing “Braveheart” in the theaters in sixth grade with just a friend, no parents. My mom never had a problem signing me into rated-R movies when I was young. Now that I think about it, I bet she never asked the other kid’s parents if it was okay that he see that movie. That’s probably not okay…
Contact Info:
- Website: www.masarvideo.com
- Phone: (619) 993-8379
- Email: brenden@masarvideo.com
- Instagram: @masarvideo
Image Credit:
Reed Kastner
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