We recently connected with Chazlee Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chazlee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

My hero is my dad. It might sound cliché, but the impact he had on me growing up shaped who I am today – not just as a professional, but as a person. He taught me the value of kindness above all else. The world can be unpredictable, even chaotic at times, but one thing you can always control is how you treat others and how you show up for yourself.

Beyond kindness, he instilled in me the importance of hard work and doing things the right way. This lesson has guided me through every aspect of my life – from how I approach my career to how I care for my home and nurture my relationships. He also taught me the power of determination. When things get tough, you don’t back down – you push forward. That mindset has carried me through some of the biggest challenges in my journey.

One moment that stands out is when I first moved to San Diego from Washington with little more than a dream of becoming a producer. For six months, I job hunted and networked relentlessly, talking to anyone who would listen. Eventually, I landed an on-call gig as a Production Assistant. It wasn’t much, but I saw it as an opportunity. On my very first shift, I was asked to move some props from storage to the studio for a shoot. I could have just done the task and left, but instead, I noticed the props actually needed to be built. So, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work, assembling 12 grills – yes, literally Weber grills – from scratch. It took me all day, but that moment got my foot in the door with the senior producer. That hustle led to my first full-time job as a Producer. She became a mentor to me, and to this day, I credit that work ethic – instilled in me by my dad – as the reason I was able to turn a small opportunity into a career.

Outside of work, that same tenacity drives me in my personal life. Just last summer, I climbed Mt. Rainier with my fiancé and dad – who’s 59 by the way. It was a grueling two-day climb, but every moment was worth it. That experience, like so many others, reminded me how much of my resilience, grit, and determination I owe to my dad. His influence is in everything I do, and I carry his lessons with me every single day.

Chazlee, 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?

I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and attended the University of Washington, where I earned a degree in Psychology. For a long time, I never considered video production as a career -until one trip changed everything.

I had the chance to visit my uncle in New York, who worked at NBC approving scripts for Saturday Night Live and late-night shows. The moment I stepped into that building, stood on the SNL stage, and walked those iconic halls, something clicked. It was like my brain was screaming, “Hello! This is your career!” The people I met on that trip were some of the most intelligent, hardworking, and passionate individuals I’d ever encountered. They carried this infectious energy – equal parts chaotic, fun, and inspiring – and I knew I wanted to be part of that world.

From that moment on, I committed to pursuing a career in video production. I made my way to San Diego and found my place in commercial and advertising production, which I fell in love with. What excites me most about producing is that no two days are ever the same. Every project brings a new challenge, a new story to tell, and a new brand to elevate.

I’ve worked in the eCommerce and direct-to-consumer (DTC) product space, but my focus has since shifted toward more human-centric storytelling. That transition has been incredibly fulfilling because I get to merge my experience in narrative and scripted storytelling with unscripted, documentary-style work. At Minivan Productions, our mission is simple: we tell stories that push brands forward. But what makes our approach unique is that we don’t just bring people into our world, we step into theirs.

We always say, “Minivan is parked in San Diego, but we’re built for the road.” That’s because our work takes us wherever the story is. Instead of flying someone out to sit in a studio, we walk their favorite trail with them, sit in their living room, or shadow them at work. That kind of authenticity is what makes our work resonate. Even if we’re working with a brand that might seem completely unexpected for a certain audience, the stories we tell always find a way to connect – because at the end of the day, they’re deeply human.

That’s what I love most about what we do. We don’t just create videos; we capture real moments, real people, and real emotions. And seeing those stories resonate with audiences, no matter how niche or unexpected, is the most rewarding part of it all.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

I’ve been fortunate to work on many incredible projects over the years, each with its own unique challenges. As a Producer, attention to detail is critical, but just as important is truly understanding the client, their brand, and their needs. I love collaborating with clients to brainstorm ideas, pushing creative boundaries while ensuring the final product makes a lasting impact.

One of the most challenging yet rewarding projects I’ve worked on took us to Phoenix, Arizona, where we filmed with the Phoenix Rescue Mission. The goal was to capture real stories of real people impacted by their work. Sounds simple, right? Well, there were a few major hurdles.

For one, we were filming in the middle of summer – 110-degree heat, no cloud cover, and long shoot days, and I had to make sure my crew was well taken care of. On top of that, we had only a few days to capture all the content we needed, and because of the nature of the project, we weren’t able to location scout in advance. That meant walking into shoot days without knowing exactly what we’d be working with – a producer’s nightmare.

To set ourselves up for success, I built out the most robust storyboard and production schedule possible, coordinating with as many individuals as I could ahead of time. But at a certain point, we had to embrace the unknown and trust that our preparation would guide us through.

And it did.

Despite the unpredictable conditions, we created a powerful piece that told the real, human-centered stories behind the Phoenix Rescue Mission’s work. The best part? When the video launched, it helped raise over $40,000 on the first day alone. Seeing the direct impact of our storytelling was incredibly fulfilling, and it reaffirmed why I love this work so much.

This project was a perfect example of why solid pre-production is everything – but also why flexibility, problem-solving, and trusting your team are just as crucial. Some shoots test you, and this was one of them, but the end result made every challenge worth it.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There are definitely things I wish I had done differently, and things I’m really glad I did.

Looking back, I wish I had taken more advantage of the opportunities available to me in college – joining more clubs, trying different internships, working in different industries, and just exploring. I went into college with one idea of what I wanted to do, but the reality is, by the time we’re 18 and off to school, we’ve only been exposed to a fraction of the careers that exist. College should be a time to test different paths, step outside of your comfort zone, and discover what truly excites you. If you’re still in school, my advice is: explore more. Try everything. You never know what will click.

That said, if you’re like me and didn’t find your calling until after college, the best thing you can do is talk to people. When I realized that video production was what I actually wanted to do, I reached out to anyone who would give me 15 minutes of their time. I soaked up everything I could from people in the industry – those who had my dream job, those who could offer advice, and those who were simply willing to share their experiences. And it paid off.

Kyler and Chris, the founders of Minivan Productions, took a conversation with me when I was in those first few months of job searching. We kept in touch, and when they were ready to expand their team, they thought of me. And here I am.

So, if there’s one resource I highly recommend, it’s networking with curiosity – not with the goal of landing a job, but with the goal of learning. If you approach conversations with genuine interest, people will remember you. And more often than not, opportunities will follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.minivanproductions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minivanproductions/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazlee-johnson/