We recently connected with Director Coco Love and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Director thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Filmmaking is my full time job. I don’t do anything else. In fact, I don’t really have much time for anything else. Of course I make time for family, those daughters of mine but filmmaking is what I live for. I honestly couldn’t imagine doing anything else. It’s crazy because I dove into this head first almost instantly. I knew from the beginning that I was going to make this my full time job. So yes, it was definitely from day one. I probably would have way more money if I knew how to budget back then. I have always been an entrepreneur for as long as I could remember. I was always coming up with crazy ideas to get paid. In the beginning I was making far less money but I would always put me some “rainy day” money aside. I learned that from my momma. Lol. But, I would always put away 20% of whatever I made that day from shooting videos. I would call it “Paying myself first”. Another thing I learned from my mom. But like I said earlier, your girl didn’t know how to budget. I knew how to put money away so I could spend it later. I would pay all my bills and then that 20% I was saving, I would spend all of that. Like all of it. I used to tell myself, “It’s okay, you make your paycheck.” I quickly realized that I had to budget better if I was going to spend all my money on camera equipment and clothes. Especially because I’m not really making enough money for the work I’m doing.
Your girl got tired of being broke so I had to get myself together. I had all the experience and not the money. The first thing I did was take all that upgraded equipment and upgraded my marketing. I wanted to appeal to a bigger client and I had to the equipment to execute bigger projects so that’s the first thing I did. I knew that the client not only wants a good product but they want an experience too and people love working with me. I wanted to show them that. I started marketing the experience and that upped the price on the product.
When I started booking bigger projects, I started making more money and I started researching budgeting. I went to the good ol’ “Youtube University” with the occasional mommy call and learned how to make this money work for me. I continued “paying myself first” but I also factored in company management cost, bills, day to day living and even splurging money. Every dollar was accounted for. The 20% never got touched. When I wanted to treat myself it was put in the budget. I had never been so strict on myself before but I was so proud of myself. I invested on some side hustles, and even in stock. Once my money started working for me, I was able to take bigger projects and since I was making more, I seem to have a little more free time to work on scripts and spend time with family. If I would have known this when I started, I’d be a very wealthy woman. Lol.
Director, 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?
I’m Director Coco Love of Baton Rouge, La and I’m a filmmaker. I’ve had a passion for film since I could remember. I would write video treatments to songs since a little girl, before I even had a camera. I’ve been a videographer for over 6 years now. I shot films, commercials, music videos, weddings, events and anything you could possibly want captured on film. I create memories. I give experiences that last a lifetime. I provide my clients with forever gifts through the art of film. My job is to take your vision and bring it to life. Honestly, I wouldn’t even call it a job. It’s what I live to do. I have shot over 600 music videos and worked on countless film sets with artist like DC Youngfly, Mike Epps, Rickey Smiley and even Swiss Beatz. I found myself on the set of a hulu project. That’s just me. Making my way onto a set. My team and I are passionate about what we do. When you book us, you’re booking a team of dedicated professionals ready and eager to make your projects come to life. That’s what we do and we love it.
Any advice for managing a team?
It’s going to sound corny, but having an open communication system. It’s a lot of different personalities to work with and we all have to be on one accord to make sure each project is executed promptly and perfectly. We have to make sure the client is a happy one and a returning one. Everyone needs to be treated as part of the team. Everyone needs to know their role (what they’re best at) and understand what the role plays in making the machine run efficiently.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
My passion for film and my fearlessness. Clients know that I’m passionate about what I do and I’m going to do everything in my power to give you the best finished product. I shoot my heart out and I’m constantly staying on top of my education so I can constantly grow and level up. A client can come to me with whatever idea, no matter big or small, that they have with the confidence that I’m going to make it come to life. I’m a storyteller. They know that I’m going to make that story come to life on film. I’m obsessed with the whole process of film making and I’m not afraid to take chances. I’m fearless. They might say something else but I think my reputation is being fearless.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bearhammerproductions.com
- Instagram: directorcocolove
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DirectorCocoLove
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC87a5RO6JO_VGi6J1OszoKQ