Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brad Rundblade. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brad, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?
The most innovative highlight of my career has always been my resourcefulness. In any project, idea, or concept I endeavor to convey, I meticulously consider the tools and assets at my disposal. For instance, in filmmaking, I write scripts tailored to accessible locations, cast actors who are passionate about their craft, and utilize my own vehicles, locations, and props to enhance production design. In music, I explore the possibilities of my guitar pedals, guitars, and organ to create unique sounds. This resourcefulness has significantly advanced my career, allowing me to save time and money while maintaining artistic integrity.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I fell in love with writing at the age of 16, heavily influenced by the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Bukowski, James Frey, and Hunter S. Thompson. For 6 years, I pursued writing until I decided to become a screenwriter in Los Angeles. Moving from the High Desert, it took years to find a community of filmmakers whom I cherish and follow. To this day, I am immensely grateful to Ryan Sadler, Thomas Ouziel, David Olden, and Daniel Allen Cohen for believing in me during those early years and encouraging me to write, direct, and produce. Writing is a so profound and medicinal to my life.
As I worked on progressively larger productions, I always observed the dynamic flow of the set and how crews managed them, each one similar, yet uniquely different. I revel in the production process, a melting pot of creativity from all departments striving towards the common goal of creating a beautiful piece of art. Over time, I discovered a select group of individuals with whom I truly want to grow with, those who share a similiar vision and with whom I remain deeply engaged in mutual progress and work.
What I am most proud of up to this point is my production company, YellowVanGogh. It embodies everything I have aspired to, a unique brand that consistently delivers quality, regardless of budget.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
The most significant turning point in my life was the birth of my son, Landen, when I was 19 years old. This circumstance presented numerous challenges, compelling me to mature rapidly, especially as I was employed by the Department of Defense at Edwards AFB during my second year of college. Though my job offered stability, good benefits, and decent pay, to me it felt soulless, repetitive, somewhat cold and empty. I desired a life full of risks and believed in myself, despite the rocky aspects of my relationships with my wife, old friends, and family.
I couldn’t abandon my dreams and what I felt was right, and with patience, I am now witnessing the fruits of my labor, seeing my efforts rewarded in unimaginable ways. I have always feared the regret of a life unfulfilled on my deathbed. Instead, I choose to imagine a life where perhaps there is no deathbed—maybe one day I could be buried at sea, or devoured by a bear, die in a plane crash, or be frozen solid.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
This topic is a bit complex for me. When I initially moved to Los Angeles, I had $25,000 saved up and a dream. I quickly realized how expensive the city was and had to stretch my funds to the limit, often starving myself to save money. I remember walking to Carl’s Jr. to buy two $1 chicken sandwiches and pairing them with some 2% milk. For dinner, I would have a banana and a can of Coke that I got from the food truck that came to my neighborhood everyday at 6.
Not many people know this, but during my first year in LA, I was alone. My wife and son lived in Missouri while I worked odd jobs for artists I met on Craigslist. I later worked at Goodwill, then found a job as a valet at the Hollywood Bowl, and even spent years organizing talent managers’ paperwork intermittently. Eventually I got a job at a camera rental house and met more filmmakers.
It wasn’t until I began reinvesting what I earned working as a grip, producer in the film industry, back into my own efforts of filmmaking and writing that I finally launched my first LLC, YellowVanGogh, a multi faceted production company based in Los Angeles specializing in Music Videos, Short Films, Commercial Photography and Branded Content.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yellowvangogh.com
- Instagram: @bradrundblade
- Twitter: @EmeraldPortal
