We were lucky to catch up with Bryan Babcock recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Bryan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?

Since middle school, I’ve been captivated by the idea of capturing moments and telling stories that matter, stories that move. Growing up in Maryland, my passion for storytelling runs as deep as the Chesapeake Bay that shaped my childhood.

That passion guided every step of my journey: I earned a degree in Mass Media/Film from Salisbury University, followed by a Master’s in Emerging Media from Loyola University Maryland. I had the privilege of turning that passion into a career, one opportunity at a time.

From cutting my teeth in the newsroom at WBOC-TV, to producing local commercials for small businesses across Delmarva, to creating internal content for the Social Security Administration, to filming in the operating rooms of Johns Hopkins Medicine. I’ve been lucky to tell stories that matter. Real people. Real impact.

Then came 2021, when I was offered what felt like a dream job: Digital Media Producer at PayPal and Venmo. I created help videos and marketing content aimed at making life easier for consumers. Within the first year, my work helped save the company over a million dollars in abatement costs. I was ecstatic. Leadership took notice, and I was promoted to Digital Media Team Leader, guiding a small but mighty team of creatives and interns.

Then came February 1, 2024.

A day I’ll never forget.

Like thousands of others, I was laid off. Just like that, I went from leading impactful projects at a global company… to being unemployed.

I was devastated. Not just for myself, but for my team. I’ve always had a strong work ethic and deep loyalty to my craft. Losing that role left me feeling lost hopeless even. I kept asking myself: How did I get here? What now?
But in the silence that followed, I heard something else: Reach out.

So, I did.

I started emailing industry friends. One name that stands out is Marty Jenoff of Focal Point Productions, someone I’d freelanced with over the years. He didn’t hesitate to send freelance work my way immediately. Then came calls from Lasser Media, Dew Point Media, and RL Productions. My network stepped in not just to help me survive financially but to help me rebuild emotionally.

That support gave me more than a paycheck. It gave me my confidence back. And it gave me the courage to finally do something I’d dreamed of since 2013: start my own video production company.

I called it Mason Dixon Media, a name that pays homage to the Mason-Dixon Line I grew up near, a border that represents both separation and connection. Much like the moment I was living through: ending one chapter and beginning another.
In our first year, Mason Dixon Media has done better than I could’ve imagined. We’ve grown in clients, partnerships, and purpose.

And most importantly, I’ve grown. That layoff? It turned out to be the best thing that could’ve happened to me. It forced me to bet on myself.

So if you’re reading this and you’ve faced failure or you’re staring it down know this: failure is not final. Sometimes it’s the push you need to find your true path.

And if you’re looking for your next opportunity, don’t isolate. Reach out. Connect. Network. You’ll not only find work you’ll find community, confidence, and maybe even a dream you’ve been putting off for too long.

Bryan , 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?

In 1763, astronomers Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon set out to chart what would become one of the most iconic boundary lines in American history. Their work was a blend of precision, innovation, and exploration—values that deeply resonate with me and serve as the foundation of Mason Dixon Media.

My name is Bryan Babcock, and I’ve been telling stories along the Mason-Dixon Line since 1985. Raised in Maryland, with the Chesapeake Bay in my backyard and the historic Mason-Dixon markers not far from home, I’ve always been drawn to the power of place and the stories it holds. Since middle school, I’ve known that I wanted to capture moments and turn them into something meaningful.

After earning a degree in Mass Media/Film from Salisbury University and later a Master’s in Emerging Media from Loyola University Maryland, I dove headfirst into the world of video production. My career has taken me through an incredible range of industries and environments from newsrooms at WBOC-TV, to operating rooms at Johns Hopkins Medicine, to digital studios at PayPal and Venmo.

Wherever the camera has taken me, one thing has remained consistent: my commitment to authentic storytelling that builds trust, drives engagement, and creates real connection.

At Mason Dixon Media, we specialize in video production, brand storytelling, and digital content strategy. Whether you’re a small business looking to introduce yourself to the world, a nonprofit aiming to inspire action, or a corporation in need of clear, compelling internal communications. We’re here to help you tell your story with clarity, purpose, and heart.

Our services include:

Video Production – Promotional, testimonial, training, internal comms, and social-first video content

Story-Driven Marketing – Narrative-driven campaigns that connect with your audience

Editing & Post-Production – Clean, professional editing and graphics for any media need

Creative Strategy & Scripting – From concept to script to screen

Freelance & Consulting Services – Creative direction, team management, and digital media education

We approach every project with the same curiosity and care that Mason and Dixon brought to their historic survey. Your business is unique, your media should be, too.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Without question, the most effective strategy for growing clientele at Mason Dixon Media has been relationship-based networking, genuine, consistent connections built over time.

When I was laid off in early 2024, I didn’t have a marketing budget. What I did have was a network: former colleagues, freelance partners, business owners, and creatives who knew my work, my reliability, and my passion. I reached out, personally and those relationships immediately turned into freelance gigs, referrals, and eventually repeat clients.

People want to work with someone they trust. Someone who shows up, listens, and delivers. That’s what I strive to do and that reputation has become my strongest marketing tool.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

For over 15 years, I worked in structured environments: newsrooms, government agencies, corporate offices. I had managers, directors, and layers of approvals. I knew how to thrive within systems. I knew how to meet expectations. And I took a lot of pride in that.

But I always had this voice in the back of my mind: What if you ran your own production company? What if you called the shots?

When I was laid off in early 2024, I was forced to confront that question head-on. For the first time in my career, I didn’t have a title. I didn’t have a team. I didn’t have a safety net. What I did have was a camera, a network, and a dream I’d been sitting on since 2013.

So I pivoted.

I launched Mason Dixon Media and let me tell you, starting a business after years in the corporate world is both scary and freeing. Suddenly, I wasn’t just the video producer…I was the sales team, the project manager, the bookkeeper, the marketer, the client liaison, and yes… still the editor.

There were nights I wondered if I’d made the right call. There were projects I underpriced, contracts I learned the hard way to tighten up, and moments of doubt that crept in between gigs. I had to unlearn habits that served me in big organizations, like waiting for approval and replace them with action, adaptability, and self-trust.

But every challenge brought clarity.

For the first time in my career, I wasn’t just telling other people’s stories, I was living my own. I was building something from the ground up, and I could finally shape my work around my values: creativity, authenticity, and connection.

I get to decide who I work with, how I tell their story, and how I serve them best. That freedom is powerful. And the reward? It’s not just financial…though I’m proud of how far Mason Dixon Media has come in year one. The reward is ownership. Of my time. My craft. My future.

The pivot from employee to entrepreneur wasn’t smooth…it was a leap. But it was the leap I needed. And if you’re standing on the edge of something scary but exciting, know this:

It’s okay to be afraid. Just don’t let fear make your decisions for you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mason-dixon-media.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mason_dixon_media/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/61560452334007/about/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mason-dixon-media/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mason-dixon-media
• Soundcloud: [email protected]