Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorenzo Leyva.

Hi Lorenzo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

So, I started my professional video career as an unpaid intern at two different editing houses in Chicago. One was for a non-profit called Kindling Group which made small, personal documentary features about all kinds of social causes. And the other was The Colonie, which was a commercial editing post-house, that were editing commercials for Wal-Mart, Toyota, McDonalds. Because of these two internships, I got to learn how to do it professionally when you’re making actual documentary features and how it all works and is organized, and then I got to how professional commercial editing works. Client sessions, speaking and working with corporate clients, I got both sides of the coin, when you have money, and when you don’t have money, how does it affect the creativity. I didn’t really get any tasks, but I got to observe a lot. At Kindling, they actually had me editing small things they probably never used, but it was valuable experience nonetheless. Unfortunately, the pandemic happened shortly after completing my internships, which disrupted things a bit. Kindling used me a few times as a freelance assistant editor, but work wasn’t enough at all. So, I started PA’ing on professional commercials through a friend. While also freelancing as a shooter, editor, whatever, I just wanted to work. And would do whatever if it paid. It led me to working with A LOT of different production companies of all shape and size. And shoot all kinds of events and projects. Also, from PAing on commercials, I got to learn how productions actually ran when you have money and do it actually professionally. Set protocol, etiquette, hierarchy, all that vital real-world knowledge. Then I would go and try something that I saw on set, kind of like that. I would learn a lot and push myself a lot. I’ve shot documentaries, music videos, short films, commercials, and have worked with all kinds of industries. I had to PA for a while though, I did both for about a year and half before I told myself that I had to choose a path. Go the “industry” way and work myself up the ladder. Or just go my own way and start my own journey. I decided I was experienced to start freelancing as my own business. I had already put a year or so in of learning and observing from all the guys more established around me, and I felt like I understood the philosophy required to undertake doing it on your own. In particular, I worked with a company a lot that were some of the worst and cheapest jobs possible. But then I had realized about a year in to having shot almost all their Chicago projects that the clients started getting better and more legitimate. Clients that weren’t just cheapskates or delusional. But I actually hated working for that company because I felt like their “CEO” was doing it all poorly. And unethically. So, I told myself that I added so much value to his company that he started getting better clients as the portfolio naturally grew. I decided I would need to be paid right to do that, or do it for myself. Which leads me to where I’m at now. I run Chicago Valley with my Business Partner, Marius Rudzevicius. A production company. We’ve already worked with all kinds of clients, our most notable being the Chicago Public Library.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

I would say the road’s been bumpy and not a straight path at all. I’ve gotten used to not celebrating anything too long or else you get complacent very easily. Some of the main struggles have been really just figuring out what I wanted to do. Opportunities are presented, and you try to seize them and capitalize on them, make sure you do a good job and whatnot. But I had no idea what direction I was headed based on what I had around me. There’s was a lot of times where I didn’t know what I was doing or if I was gonna be stuck doing what I was doing. Making a couple hundred bucks for a job that should be getting paid way better. But I figured I just needed to keep at it. But to recount all the struggles would take a novel to talk about. You make a lot of mistakes along the way and I try to make sure that any problems are never from my own fault or neglect. There’s constantly a struggle about the kinds of jobs I want to take and for what pay. And that question is tough to answer, because you don’t know what you can see yourself doing the rest of your life. I don’t want to just do weddings, but back then they were the only thing that actually paid decent. So, I was the wedding guy for awhile, but I also used that period to teach myself more things, to not stop learning. But I was always worried if I’d get enough work each month. I had to learn how to manage that stress and anxiety. It’s not easy. And I’m still figuring it out, but struggles can be lessened overall. Like, you can just do better and you won’t have to worry about the things you want to control. And I learned that too through the process. Luckily no struggle ever felt like it was the end. And every struggle has a lesson. I learn from it, and I don’t have that struggle as often. But the video industry is changing very very quickly. Ai is legitimately a threat to all creators if we don’t collectively agree that using Ai is like not fair. I’ve seen all kinds of apps that go so far as to remove the need for a production company or videographer at all. All that is to say, that no matter what struggles are gonna pop up and continue to plague your life. So, you have to be able to adapt well to them and not let them take you down.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?

We are a full-service production company. We were built on a foundation of strategic collaboration, technical
proficiency, and authentic storytelling. We specializes in high-quality, narrative-driven video content mostly categorized simply as creative commercial and events. Our nimble structure allows us to be responsive to opportunities that vary in scope and services. Our portfolio spans many categories and industries, but the quality never changes. We always deliver professional and creative videos that far surpass our client’s expectations. Most recently I just got a job where I’ll be helping a law firm produce a documentary series, the first episode is taking me to Guatemala. Marius has been going all across the country helping a multi-hyphenate CEO as she promotes her app, events, and services. We’re currently in the works of a project that’s taking us Sacramento for a few days, shooting a big annual event for a non-profit organization and just pitched to potentially produce commercials for Iowa State Tourism. So, we stay busy working every day a bit differently. Our most proud accomplishment so far has been working with Chicago Public Library on their largest video campaign to date. We handled their “One Book, Once Chicago” promo video as well as event coverage for the release and launch. We developed a full script and produced a commercial within Harold Washington Library, the same place where I used to study. It was a huge milestone for us.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?

The road to get where I am was long and difficult and was nothing but an uphill battle. I wouldn’t recommend it for anybody. You have to do a lot of work and all responsibilities depend on your ability to be consistent and continue doing what is needed despite whatever you may be dealing with. There’s a lot of community as well, and you have to find and create your community because you really cannot do it alone. It takes a village, and you have to recognize that no one ever comes up alone. So, I try to remember that everything I do isn’t done alone. I lean on Marius a lot and am very thankful for his friendship and work. I try to give myself time away from work. I enjoy my time as I can. I try not to overwork. I go visit my family often. Being a business owner means being able to be completely independent and able to handle a lot of responsibilities and stress. You have to remain strong. And you have to be able to admit your own weaknesses and lean on your community as needed, and give back as often as you can. Give to those that have given to you, together we can all support each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chicagovalley.com
• Instagram: @enzo.shootz