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

Courtney, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my most current project, a feature documentary for a non-profit missions organization called SOS Adventure. This ministry serves the poor and shares the love of Jesus throughout the continent of Africa. I’ve worked as the Media Director for SOS Adventure for the past two years, shooting and editing content from our big festivals to promotional content for various programs within the organization.

I’ve noticed that despite the filming conditions when shooting on the mission field, some of my best work is found in these video projects because of my passion behind it. It has even landed me new opportunities in the corporate world, so it’s important as a creative to work with individuals that have values and a mission that aligns with yours. Because video production can be such a technical field, it’s important to stay focused on the bigger picture and share stories that create impact for the things you care about.

Courtney, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Sure. My name is Courtney, I’m the owner of Midnight Zone Productions, a video production company started in 2017 in Pittsburgh, PA. I found my passion for video production in middle school, starting with skits, music videos and promotional videos for local businesses. I began freelancing after high school which slowly developed into starting my business. When I started out, I left my full-time job as a manager at Best Buy and built my business through a co-working space & digital agency that supported me during the beginning stages. Then, I relocated to the Atlanta region in 2020. We offer full-service video production, which includes everything from script development, pre-production planning, shooting, post-production and ongoing project management. We work with businesses, nonprofits and event promoters to produce promotional videos, doc-style videos, short-form ads and more.

We solve problems by really getting to know the client and their needs, and offering custom quotes based on those needs. Many times a client thinks they want one video, but we offer them more value by providing package options with multiple videos that they can then strategically use over time in their marketing plans.

What I believe makes us unique is our modern style and motion graphics. I believe motion graphics, clean transitions and animated elements are necessary for just about every video, and we love to bring our videos to life through graphic visuals that enhance the message.

Another thing that’s important in my industry is having a good business structure. Being creative and able to produce quality content is only part of the process when operating a full-service video production business. What’s really important is making the experience easy and enjoyable for every client. Oftentimes clients can be very unfamiliar with the process, so they want things to be outlined clearly and expectations to be set in the beginning. That way they can be confident and stress-free during the process. At Midnight Zone, we deliver what the client is expecting and more. The process does not look the same for every client and it’s all about relationship building and serving them in the best way that works for them. For example, some clients want a more hands-on approach, so many times I will generate transcripts for them so that they can be more involved in the post-production process. Others don’t know where to start and would rather have more assistance, so for those clients we will develop a visual script for them to review and provide feedback on. I’ve learned that giving clients the proper tools not only keeps everything organized along the way, but builds confidence and facilitates strong communication.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Sure. My first year in business was the hardest so far. I was blessed to have the support of my husband Bud during that time both financially and emotionally, but I still needed to provide my portion of the household income in a circumstance that was unpredictable, being a new business owner. What was even more of a challenge were the self-doubts. I wrestled with feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty during that time, questioning everything I was doing. I learned that as an entrepreneur, you will always be trying new things, uncertain if they will work or not. That feeling does not go away. There isn’t a set path of steps to take or a formula, but that’s what makes it so exciting. Anything becomes possible. I’m learning everyday how to navigate day-to-day challenges and priorities.

The most valuable asset is time, so it’s important to really evaluate what is the best use of time because there will be very busy seasons and there will be inevitable slow seasons. When a big project wraps or slow season comes, it’s easy to feel lost and begin to strive towards the next thing. It’s important during these times to embrace that gift of rest. We weren’t designed to be perpetually busy and stressed, and we can choose not to be. Don’t let the pace of life rob you of your peace.

During a difficult slow season after moving to Atlanta, I took on a part-time job as a coffee shop barista, working 1-2 days per week while still operating my business. Even though it was a job, I would consider it to be more of a fun hobby! It was fulfilling and exactly what I needed at the time. It kept me from feeling burnt out and striving. I met so many amazing people, some of which are still close friends. It was an important lesson of living a balanced life, because especially in the creative field, most of us have turned our hobby into a job and we still need a hobby.

I currently do, but it’s not a measure of success if I do or I don’t. Success is not measured in the self-importance we feel in our busyness or in our business, it can be found in each life lesson we learn through humility and a teachable attitude. It can be found in the quietness, giving yourself the space to really evaluate what’s best for each next step- not only for your business, but for yourself personally.

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

I am so thankful for all of the different resources I have received for my business. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to grow and continue. Early on, I participated in local workshops and community trainings that were available to me. There are local group meetups, co-working spaces and business incubators, conferences and events, and more. It’s invaluable to have a community that you can learn from and grow with in your field. A really cool resource that I have used for years is Score.org, where you will be connected with a 1-on-1 business mentor. It’s a completely free program and you will meet with your mentor over Zoom or in-person, as frequently as you’d like. My Score mentor, Indi, has been extremely supportive. She challenges me, helps me set goals and shares advice from her own experience. I would also recommend taking advantage of using platforms where you can list your services to find work, such as Upwork or Thumbtack. In addition to receiving referrals and marketing your business, it’s helpful to stay up-to-date with potential opportunities that are posted regularly on these sites.

If I could give advice on one thing I would have done differently in my business, I would have taken out a business loan sooner. I waited 3-4 years into my business to take out my first larger sum loan, but since doing so it has allowed me to do so much more in my business such as hire and train employees and so much more.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.midnightzoneproductions.com
• Instagram: @midnightzone.prod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MidnightZoneProductions
• Linkedin: Courtney Plaszenski
• Other: https://vimeo.com/midnightzoneproductions

Image Credits
Dustin Durham, Alyse Myers