Today we’d like to introduce you to Giovanni Jennings
Hi Giovanni, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Giovanni, and I started my own video production company when I was 18 years old. Video and film has been a passion of mine since I was 15, starting off working on short student films. Once in my first year of college, I continued the student film route, participating in the film production club at Western Washington University. However, in that freshman year, in which I was studying geology, I realized I wanted to pursue the industry full-time and on my own terms. Upon completion of my freshman year of college, I dropped out and moved back home to a suburb near Seattle, WA, with the hopes of starting my own video production company focused on commercial and music video production. Since then I’ve been in Seattle working on my business and growing my client base. I’m only now starting to see the results of the initial efforts that at the time seemed fruitless.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been far from a smooth road. My biggest challenges were learning laws and requirements of owning a business/LLC, as well as learning how to obtain and continue gaining new clients.
As far as legal requirements of owning a business go, I had to create many different accounts with various departments of Washington state. Although I was able to do it myself, I spent hours filling out online forms, pdfs, and other tasks that seemed to drain any sort of creativity that was left in me.
Finding clients continues to be an effort that I have to keep up daily, whether it’s responding to leads, updating my business profiles for better SEO performance, or searching online listing sites for video production bids. One day I hope to have a client base that supports the business with less input from my end, that way, I can focus on the creativity and video production itself.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Middle Fork Films is my full service video production company based in Seattle WA. We provide clients with a range of video production services. This can include individual services within the pre to post production stages, such as filming, editing, or scriptwriting. We also provide services as a full service production company, meaning we can be involved in the entire video production process, from concept to completion. We primarily focus on commercial/corporate video production within the greater Seattle area.
I’m proud of Middle Fork Films attention to quality on each and every project. We prioritize the end result, regardless of the size of the project, and I think I really shows in client satisfaction and overall video performance.
I’d like readers to know that we also offer event and non profit video production, in addition to the commercial and music video services already mentioned. Check out our website and see our projects firsthand: https://www.middleforkfilms.com/
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’d like to thank my parents, Robert and Melanie, who were always supportive of my decision to pursue my business full time, and also provided a place to live while my business was in it’s developing stages. Without this, Middle Fork Films would not exist the way it does today.
Evan Soloway, Isa Jennings, and Carolyn Dean, for starting, and keeping, the creative energy alive in my filmmaking. When working alongside them on their projects, I am reminded why I started this journey in the first place. Not the money, but the art and the camaraderie.
Mike Hatfield, of Hatfield Media Productions, who continues to be an incredibly supportive colleague, and a creative partner to continue to bounce ideas off of: https://www.hatfieldmediaproductions.com/
Buddy Bland, my high school video production teacher, who fostered a positive creative community for myself and many students alike.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.middleforkfilms.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middleforkfilms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/middleforkfilmsllc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middleforkfilms
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/middleforkfilms
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@middleforkfilms
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/middle-fork-films-seattle
Image Credits
Last two photos of me holding a gimbal, credit Mike Hatfield