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

Alright, Jason thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

My journey began with a passion for video trailer editing and a curiosity about the inner workings of the entertainment marketing machine, as well as the studios themselves. After film school, my roommates and I embarked on an adventure, leaving Wisconsin behind for the promised land of the West Coast. Armed with a mere $500 and no connections in the city of Los Angeles, I immersed myself in networking, gradually weaving my

I recall landing my first significant editing gig at Disney, a culmination of years of hard work. Yet, as I worked in this Studio’s creative realm for three years, I sensed a deeper calling. It was the craving for something more, that extended beyond a single studio. I envisioned a future where I could spread my wings, collaborating with different clients and perhaps even curating my own formidable team of creatives.

Leaving the comfort of the Disney job was not easy, but I knew it was necessary. Thus, I took the bold leap, ensuring I had enough work from Disney to sustain me as I launched my own endeavor from the comfort of my home. Soon, my reach expanded, and I found myself collaborating with a diverse array of individuals and networks. The demand for our services grew exponentially, and my home could no longer contain the operations thus moving and scaling into bigger places as the years passed.

Over the next 12 years, I came to understand that the key to my success lay in assembling the right team—individuals who shared my passion and commitment to building something special. Rather than becoming just another creative marketing agency in the oversaturated Los Angeles landscape, I envisioned creating a dynamic squadron of creatives. This squadron would seamlessly integrate with networks and studios, elevating their creative campaigns to new heights.

Jason, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello, I’m Jason Scherbert, the owner of Squadron, a creative marketing and production agency. My career took off in the world of visual effects and video editing during my time at Disney.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by the magic of movies and always wondered, “How do they create those incredible scenes?” To quench my thirst for knowledge, I’d devour every bit of extra content from DVD menus that I could find about the industry.

Now, let me introduce you to Squadron. We’re not your typical agency. We’re a highly respected, full-service production company with a focus on innovative campaigns and cutting-edge new media content. Our range of services covers everything from editorial and motion graphics to project management and live-action production, and we’re always ready to tackle any challenge.

What truly sets us apart is our ability to step in and handle any overflow work for our clients at a moment’s notice. We’re deeply committed to our clients and take pride in being an integral part of their success. We thrive on the satisfaction of seeing a great story come together for our partners. If you have a project in mind or need creative solutions, Squadron is here to help you bring your vision to life.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In the ever-evolving world of the entertainment industry, change is the only constant. The current landscape is a testament to that, with actors and writers on strike and studios clashing with unions. It’s undeniably a tough time, and the outcome remains uncertain.

However, in the midst of all this uncertainty, I have an inspiring story of adaptation to share. The game-changer was the arrival of COVID-19, which upended our industry as well just two years ago. Before that, we were deeply immersed in live productions with on-site actors and crews. But when the pandemic hit, we had to think fast. Many of our clients were considering shutting everything down, hoping the crisis would pass quickly.

Yet, the pandemic persisted for two years, and we had to act. Instead of halting our interview and show content creation, we decided to pivot to virtual at-home productions. We provided our talent and actors with the tools they needed to maintain decent production quality. Squadron was determined to set a new standard for virtual productions.

Our efforts paid off as we successfully delivered over 100 episodes for our friends at Xfinity/Comcast during this challenging period. We not only retained our entire team but also stayed ahead of the curve while other agencies were closing up shop.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

A few years back, Disney approached me with an opportunity to pitch an opening sequence for one of their hot shows at the time, “Lab Rats.” The show revolved around high school kids who received tech and power upgrades from a super-smart millionaire, a bit like The Avengers. To prepare, we dove deep into all things Avengers and Iron Man, absorbing as much inspiration as we could.

So, we geared up for the pitch, presenting the idea of a linear timeline where each character would showcase their unique power, transitioning seamlessly, just like a classic superhero story intro. The room where we pitched was packed with about 20 high-ranking Disney executives. I stood up, acted out the storyboards with passion, and poured my heart into selling the concept.

When I finished, the room fell silent, all eyes turned to the man seated at the head of the table – clearly, he was the big boss. He didn’t say a word. In fact, he stood up and walked out of the room. Did I fail at selling the idea? Did it seem too similar to Disney’s other superhero stories? Not at all. It turns out that when he left the room like that, it was his way of giving the green light, and no further words were necessary.

Our production was a great success, and the show climbed to the number one spot on Disney XD when it was released. Sometimes, in the world of pitching creative ideas, silence speaks volumes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.squadron.tv
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_scherbert/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonscherbert/

Image Credits
Lab Rats – Disney Three Day Blinds Brandon Widener Matt Weber Rishi Garg Chris Baugh – Top Gun