Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Bowman.
Rick, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started out doing the sound recording for an educational company (Lightspan) here in San Diego. Once they closed and was let go in 2004 I went into business for myself.
Originally I concentrated on doing sound for companies and then location sound for some films. That really got me to thinking that I really enjoyed the filmmaking aspect and wanted to pursue that direction. I loved documentaries and had started making one year before and never completed it.
So, finally around 2009 I revisited the footage I had shot and scheduled some more interviews to complete the film. I met and have since become good friends with Bill Perrine, a local filmmaker here in San Diego, and asked him to edit the film for me. We finished the film, did some screenings, and it inspired me to continue making documentaries.
I have made 3 films since then and work with other people on theirs. I’m currently working on a film about heritage breed animals and hope to have it completed by this Fall.
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 hasn’t always been smooth. I’ve been able to make a living doing sound and film work for other people and that allows me to work on my projects. When the financial crisis hit in 2008, I thought that I was going to have to give this up and look for some other type of work to survive. I took other types of work to supplement my income but still managed to get some audio and film work.
It was tough there for a couple of years and I guess it is for anyone who works for themselves and never knows how much work they’ll have month to month. I’ve always looked at John Cassavetes. He worked on other peoples films as an actor or crew member and took other jobs, to be able to make his own films. I like that and it inspired me to keep working on my own documentaries no matter what else I might need to do to finance them.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Backyard Green Films – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Well, I own two companies. I started Lethal Sounds, Inc. in 1994 recording voice-over and creating sfx for educational companies, video games and eventually branching out to do film location sound. Then in 2009, I started Backyard Green Films to work on my own film projects. I’ve since branched Backyard Green Films into doing more corporate and training videos for companies.
This past year the documentary film that I produced and directed entitled Banjos, Bluegrass, and Squirrel Barkers was selected into 8 film festivals and won 2 awards for Best Documentary. I’m very proud of that. That after 20 plus years I’m still here and doing business. I may not be the biggest or the best, but I give it my all to the project.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
To continue doing what I love. Here in the next few years, I’d like to travel for a year or so filming and documenting and at the end make a multi-episode series of that adventure.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.backyardgreenfilms.com and www.lethalsounds.com
- Phone: 619-379-4418
- Email: backyardgreenfilms@gmail.com
- Instagram: backyardgreenfilms
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BackyardGreenFilms/
- Twitter: @BkyrdGreenFilms
Image Credit:
Elara Bowman
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
