We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ryan Mjoen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ryan below.

Ryan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I personally hate working alone. Sometimes getting in the zone by yourself can be great but when it comes to day after day I don’t think we are meant to work in isolation. Our core mission is to bring a spotlight to the amazing work people do and to do that together. We want to collaborate with our clients but also with other creatives on the project. The 4137 in our name is a call back to an apartment I lived in where late at night creatives from all mediums and walks of life were able to come together and work alongside one another. Even if we weren’t working on each others projects we were able to bounce ideas and find a real powerful community. That was several years before 4137 Productions started but that mantra of keeping people and community at the center of work has never changed.

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 have always loved film and story telling. Since 5th grade I wanted to be a film director and it wasn’t till my junior year of high school that I knew documentaries were the direction I wanted to go. The stories are already there and often I find myself more drawn to the stories that are real and have impactful. I went to DePaul in Chicago to studied documentary film making. Right out of college I started 4137 Production as a way to bring together all the talented artist I met and to create a space where we could all work and still value each other as people at the end of the day.

Our work is pretty diverse we do everything from documentaries, video lesson series, podcasts, brand video and more. We partner with companies that are trying to make a real impact on the world. We just use our skills and talents to bring light to the awesome work of our clients. Often when we work with clients we want to collaborate with them and find that telling their story is often what bring others to see what they are doing. Sometimes clients come in and just don’t know where to start and so that process of finding their sore spots and finding creative ways to help them is life giving. At the end of the day we want to solve clients problems and be authentic while doing it. Alongside that we also produce our documentaries as passion projects.

One thing about 4137 Productions that I’m really proud of us that I really try to make it a community before a business. Growth and profit are necessary but I never want to lose ourselves in it. I want people to really feel like that they are put first wether they work here, are a client, or just walk into the office to say hi. 4137 Productions is a name to remind me of that. It can be so easy to stuck in the numbers and growth. 4137 represents that time in college where just getting together and working on our passions was enough.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I think really spending time before contracts, estimates, or preproduction packets are made to just to get to know the client personally. When I work with someone I’m always thinking about them holistically. What are their goals, what are their values, and what are their passions? I want to come work with them to reach their goals, not just to work for them. Often we can both learn wether it’s a good fit to work together early on but when we do I find it leads to longer relationships and less misunderstandings. Keeping that relationship healthy and transparent just leads to better work all around.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I think there are two aspects that really are the most fulfilling one before the project is made and one after. When someone really trusts me to tell their story and I get to experience and see their story through their eyes. I think it is often more collaborative than people think and getting this birds eye perspective on someones life is so special. I think the other aspect that is rewarding is when the documentary is made and someone I don’t know connects to the story and feels the same thing I did while making it. When we can all relate and be drawn and moved by someones story and I get to be a part of the process its so life giving.

Contact Info:

• Website: 4137productions.com
• Instagram: @4137productions @ryanmjoen
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-mjoen-919566103
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbsmN-59pcffab6aJh5Cag