Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carlos Malache. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Carlos, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Back in January 2019, I walked away from a full-time job as at an ad agency in the automotive world. It wasn’t some dramatic exit but I just knew I was starting to turn into someone I didn’t like. The agency had just lost a major client, the pressure was relentless, and I could feel myself hardening in ways that didn’t feel right. Looking back, it was because I wasn’t on the path that would fulfill my creative goals.

I spent a few years there as a producer and production manager, building on my knowledge of the production process. Learning how clients are pitched, how jobs are won, how budgets work, the inherent risks in the production process and how to deal with difficult personalities. It was valuable experience. But I also knew that I wanted to be creating the work, not managing it. I was on the producer / agency creative path which I had skills in but it wasn’t my passion.

At some point, I started getting sent out on shoots myself. Small videos for pitches, nothing fancy. It lit something up in me. The production company the agency was partnered with wasn’t thrilled about it, mostly because it meant I could do what they did. That was the first time I realized that maybe I’m ready to bet on myself.

So I quit. No business plan, barely any savings, and zero idea how to sell creative work. It was risky in every way—financially, professionally, personally. But I knew that if I didn’t take that risk, I’d stay stuck in a version of myself I didn’t respect.

Six years later, I run Portal Film Co.—a production company focused on brand-defining work. We help companies tell stories that shape their identity and direction and only on things that actually matter. It’s still hard. Every project, every client, every year brings new pressure. But I’m still here. I have a family, a home, and a company that’s lasted far beyond the two-year lifespan most creative businesses see.

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that risk-taking isn’t some grand gesture. It’s a muscle. It’s necessary. It takes risk to make great work, risk to start and run a business, risk to even get put into a position where you’re even worried about that stuff in the first place. It’s betting on yourself over and over again, even when it’s uncomfortable. You don’t need to wait until you’re “ready.” You just need to be confident enough in your plan to take the next step and deal with what comes.

A lot of people want the creative career but maybe don’t realize that it’s not glamorous. It’s hard, anxiety-ridden and messy. There’s this quote from Ronnie Coleman, the bodybuilder: “Everybody wanna be a bodybuilder, but ain’t nobody wanna lift these heavy ass weights!” That line sticks with me. Because that’s what it takes. Lifting the weight, every day, for years and years.

For me, the risk wasn’t just about leaving a job. It was about becoming someone I knew, respected and could live with.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a director and founder of Portal Film Co., a video production company based in Denver. I have spent my career behind the camera in one form or another. First as a producer and production manager, then as a cinematographer and director. That path gave me a deep respect for both the craft and the impact that story can have.

Portal grew out of that experience. We make brand-defining films, commercials and originals that give people confidence in the moments that matter most. Think launches, openings, campaigns, and fundraising pushes where a brand’s credibility is on the line.

We’re not an agency. We don’t do retainers or media buying. We focus entirely on video production: writing, directing, cinematography, and post. That’s where the story becomes real. Most vendors sprint straight into execution. Portal is proactive in the production process and results-oriented for companies that can’t afford to miss when the spotlight hits.

Every project starts with what we call a Portal Session, a discovery process that aligns goals, story, audience, and stakes before we ever talk about getting on set. It’s how we protect outcomes and make sure clients aren’t wasting marketing dollars chasing the wrong idea.

What I’m proud of isn’t one specific project. It’s the standard we hold ourselves to every time. I care about process, reliability under pressure, and delivering work that earns trust. What sets Portal apart is our sense of responsibility. We understand that our clients’ reputations are on the line, not just ours. That perspective changes how we operate.

What I want people to know about me and about Portal is simple. We care about the story and the results. We understand what’s at stake and take that just as seriously as our storytelling. The work should hold up everywhere. On screen, in the boardroom, and in the moment it matters most.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yeah, there is. The goal that drives everything I do is truth.

That means being true to myself, to the people I’m collaborating with, and to the story we’re telling. It also means being honest about what our work actually does in the world. A lot of people want easy and fast and big results. The problem is that if you want big results, they never come easy or fast. We hold our work to that standard: the real results. I take that part seriously.

For me, my job is to make something true and useful. A story that actually serves a purpose, that earns its place in the world. That’s what keeps me doing this.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn was that being busy means you’re getting somewhere.

It’s easy to fall for that, especially in the creative world where everyone’s posting behind-the-scenes clips and announcing new projects. It looks like movement, but that’s not always true. I used to think I had to stay visible to stay relevant. The truth is, the people doing the most meaningful work are usually the quiet ones. They’re not talking about it every day because they’re busy actually doing it.

I had to unlearn that impulse to perform productivity—to show people I was busy. It doesn’t serve me. If something isn’t true to what I’m actually doing or thinking, I can’t do it. For me, the real work is focused, quiet, and deliberate. The results speak for themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carlosmalache.com/ , https://portalfilm.co
• Instagram: @carlosmalachedp , @portalfilmco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosmalache
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@portalfilmco

Image Credits

Steven Paschall
Graham Johnson