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

Hi Benjamin, thanks for joining us 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?

Life is a risk. Every action we take is a risk, and the only way to avoid taking a risk is by essentially doing nothing. To me, doing nothing isn’t life, it’s death.

Of course this is much easier said than done. Self preservation dictates that you take the path of least resistance and avoid risk when at all possible. I think the challenge is finding the right balance between risk and recklessness.

I had the luxury and privilege to know that I wanted to work in video and film since I was about 12 years old. I was able to found my business when I was 18 and still living with my parents. I had a safety net, so I don’t see me starting my business as a huge risk. However, there came a time when I had to double down on that decision. Would I go the safe route and pursue a job at a production company? It offered job security, direction from someone other than myself, employee benefits and more. The other option was a more risky option: stay in business for myself and try to make my own path. I chose the latter.

It was, and still is, a scary path. My (and my company’s) success or failure is predicated by the decisions I make every day. Do I invest my money in new equipment? Do I invest my time in drafting up project proposals that may or may not be accepted? Do I take on projects with companies who have contrasting values to mine, but pay better than other options at the moment? Do I pay myself enough this month to put money in savings, or do I put that money back into the company? Every day is a new decision to make, and every day is a new risk to potentially take.

This is where your values really come into play. What kind of life do I want to live? What impact do I want to have? Will I be proud of the decisions I made when I’m looking back on my life 40 years from now? I’ve found that the easiest way to confront these questions is by knowing who you are and what your purpose is. For myself, I want to be able to be unapologetically me, and positively impact the world around me. I want to use my strengths to lift up others, and I find my success in their success. Know that your ideas are worth sharing. Your opinions matter and hold weight. It is worth it to take that risk and bet on yourself.

If I had played it safe and not taken the risks I had, I am certain that I would always have that nagging feeling of “what if I had?”. Failure is subjective, and by staying true to myself and what I want out of life, I don’t believe I can ever truly fail.

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 first knew I was interested in film when I was 12 years old. I remember sitting in my basement with my best friend watching a movie and commenting on how amazing it must be to work in film. It was at this moment I had a an epiphany of sorts, and said “Why not?”. That was the moment I realized that there wasn’t anything keeping me from pursuing my dreams other than myself.

I did what most filmmakers tend to do when they start out. I borrowed a camera and started filming things with my friends. Things I hope never see the light of day, but nonetheless were crucial to me getting to where I am today. Everyone has to start somewhere and then build from there. I have also
battled anxiety my whole life. It is something I’m not afraid to share because it is something I’m not ashamed to admit. Anxiety can be a very internal struggle, but it is a hard thing to hide from those you love. My family noticed I didn’t like taking risks and doing new things, and that really stifled me, I remember, though, that right after I graduated from middle school my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. It was on his deathbed that he said something to me which ended up changing my life. He said “Don’t be afraid to try”. It really stuck with me, and I carried that advice with me as I embarked on the terrifying journey known as high school.

I was presented with countless new experiences and opportunities. Opportunities I previously would not have pursued had it not been for that ever-present voice in my head saying “Don’t be afraid to try”. That voice pushed me to join the school tv program, where I met friends that I still work with to this day. In fact, I’ve produced three films with my friend Garrett Adams, whom I met in that club and still collaborate with today.

I owe a lot to my grandfather, and my grandparents in general. I know it sounds pretty cheesy, but that is why I named my company “Grand Production Films”. The “Grand” stands for grandparent. Over the next several years I started freelancing on various projects and producing my own projects. I found strength by trusting in my abilities and surrounding myself with talented people who shared similar values and whom excelled in areas that I did not.

I went to business school and earned a degree in business administration with a focus in marketing. With the marketing knowledge I gained, and continue to build upon, I was able to position the company as an organization that creates unique artistic videos that drive results for our clients. It is crucial to understand a project’s marketing implications from the very beginning: the concept. In many ways, the marketing implications and requirements are a type of barrier. However, that barrier is an opportunity that drives a distinct type of creativity.

We pride ourselves on our ability to excel no matter the type of video. We’ve created social media ads, website promos, educational videos, PSAs, event sizzles, real estate videos, and more. The breadth of project types offers an exciting challenge and keeps the workplace interesting. A few of our notable clients to date include Final Draft, The Critics Choice Association, and the Eastman Kodak Company.

In June of 2023 we rebranded the company from “Grand Production Films” to “Bmore Grand”. We will be launching a separate rebranded production company for narrative work in the near future, while Bmore Grand will focus on any project outside of the narrative film scope. This rebranding was imperative to our growth. It provided the opportunity to rework our business plan and re-focus the trajectory of our company. Our mission and vision statement, as well as our core values, are as follows:

Mission: To evoke passion around powerful ideas.

Vision: To be a prominent partner and catalyst in the creation of the sustainable, healthy, and inclusive world that we wish to see.

Core Values: Authenticity, Collaboration, Creativity, Passion, Growth, Impact

It is these core principles that drive everything we do. As part of our rebranding, we re-identified our purpose. As such, we have been focusing on working with clients who share our values and support impactful causes. For Bmore Grand, these are best represented by, although not limited to, the mental health and environmental sectors. We’ve found that by finding synergy with our clients, we enjoy what we do more than ever before, and we put more of ourselves into our work.

Bmore Grand is based in Baltimore, Maryland, and it must be said how important that is to us. Baltimore is filled with amazing people and a diverse mix of cultures. There is such a depth of art and history in our city. Unfortunately, for many people on a national scale, the first thing that comes to mind when they think of Baltimore is the issues that have been plaguing the city for decades. However, there is more to our city than the pain it has endured. There is creativity, innovation, comradery, and beauty. There is life. It is for this reason that we place such an emphasis on working with local business and organizations to lift up our community. There is a vibrant film and video production community in our city as well. While there is competition, many of us are working towards the same goal, and we support each other because in the end we all rise together. Baltimore has so much to offer the world, and we are committed to supporting the people of our city. This is a commitment that will never waver.

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

In my experience, there is a common theme in business to constantly frame things in terms of competition and threats. As I’ve grown, I’ve learned to shift my perspective from competition and threats to collaboration and opportunities. This is not something that happens over night. It is a never ending journey of growth. Many businesses have failed over time by viewing change as a threat rather than an opportunity. They refuse to grow and change, and it becomes their demise.

I work closely with several other production companies in my area and I’ve consistently been proven correct. It’s hard to properly convey how beneficial collaboration can be. I learned early in my career that I don’t have all the answers. You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with. While my heart is in creative direction, I’ve largely been a producer in an attempt to better understand the people I work with. As a producer, you learn about every department and phase of production. You learn what each department needs, the struggles they face, and how you can put them in the best position to succeed.

When you build a great team, understand what they need, and actually care about the people you work with, not only does the quality of your work heighten, but so does the quality of your experiences. If I were to view everyone as competition, and every challenge as a threat, I’d be a very lonely person and my work (our work) would have no heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bmoregrand.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmoregrand/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Grand-Media/100092093014103/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-mehr-784162134/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bmoregrand
• Other: For business inquiries, feel free to email [email protected]!

Image Credits
Reid Collins, Alex Chin, Liam Arnold