We were lucky to catch up with Brandon Geisler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Brandon , thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
I believe there is an antiquated view of the film industry when it comes to Narrative filmmaking. A lot of people out of college are not prepared and want to move from North Carolina to other places like Atlanta, New York, and (of course) LA; however, those moves to a different places do not always prove fruitful. I find with my journey that investing in yourself by working with local film crews results a network that can create opportunity. For instance, Me and my partner are in the mitts of making a Narrative Music video for this Artist name Nige Hood for $3,200 as our overall budget. We made the budget go pretty far through the use of favors and relationships. We were able to secure a Austin Healey 3000 as our picture car and three locations.
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.
My journey in filmmaking began at a Charlotte community college, sparked by an inspiring professor and one film class. Graduating with a BA in Film Studies & Communication from Wilmington, I honed my skills on big-budget sets for major production companies. Learning from experienced Gaffers & Key Grips, I became a cinematographer. In the past year, my partner Stephanie Roman (an indie film director/producer) and I returned to Charlotte to tell meaningful stories with our technical expertise. Our focus is on stories with soul, setting us apart in an oversaturated industry. Our services span Narrative, Commercial, Music Video, and Documentary. Notably, our parody commercial “Dirty Secret” stands as a proud achievement. Find us on Instagram: @solray_films.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Early in my journey, I made the mistake of overcharging, thinking my time equated to high prices. For instance, when I was in Charlotte I ran into this very talented artist who wanted make a music video. I really wanted the business so I said that I could $100 for music video. And then realized once we had our first consultation she wanted to go two hours out of the way and a lot of extras with costume, I realized that $100 is not gonna be enough. I quoted her a price of $1,200 at the next consultation meeting which made her upset. I believed the notion that time equals money without understanding the market or having enough experience to quote an equivalent budget for a vision.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
After college, faced with a pivotal decision, I had two career paths. The first was a stable job at a marketing firm for $25 per hour. The second was delving into the volatile film industry—unpredictable hours, limited promotions due to nepotism and union strikes. Despite the challenges, I chose the latter. It wasn’t about the shortcomings but the opportunity to learn from the best and eventually create something of our own. In life, I’ve found a consistent truth: “When it has become too easy, you are no longer growing. The only way to grow is when you feel slightly uncomfortable.”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @solray_films
Image Credits
– Brandon Geisler