We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabby Moukhaiber a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Gabby, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?
My fellow owners and I feel that the education around Film, especially post production needs to be adjusted. Many times in our career we have met some amazing candidates that went to various schools and programs, only for us to be a let down by some and how what they were taught has to almost be untaught and then retaught from scratch. We are always talking to post production prospects about how they need to know multiple NLEs (non linear editors) in order to stay active in the job market. It is truly heartbreaking to hear them say “I wish I was told this while in school” and that reality has to hit them when they need work the most, right after graduation. I know teaching multiple programs can be difficult and time consuming, but sadly with the client demands we are given it is the new reality. Knowing one thing and expecting work in just that is slowly becoming a thing of the past, we have had to learn various programs, work on Mac and PC and know how to adjust accordingly. We also know that time on set with hard deadlines can make or break an editor, but “calm seas don’t make for a skilled sailor” as they say.
Gabby, 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?
Honestly it’s an odd story, I always loved movies but never ever considered a career in it. I left high school and went into computer programming thinking that was my life calling.. only to realize math and I don’t get along haha. While sitting around at Grant MacEwan campus I watched a crew film a segment on the school and kindly bothered them about what they did. Thankfully they were sweet enough to explain and showed a real love of it, so then I decided sure let’s go pursue this. The 4 of us who would later form Alpacalypse Productions, met up in our Motion Image and Design program in Grant MacEwan, we were in differing graduating classes and did our own thing for a few years after graduation, until we met up again and said.. let’s make some youtube Action and Horror shorts! We always loved entertaining audiences and thinking outside the box! After a while we developed some skills in post production and actual clients with actual budgets began to approach us for VFX and post work. Eventually in 2017 we decided let’s become an actual business instead of just college colleagues that meet up every week haha. To our surprise, our love and passion for film making and working with diverse folks from all walks of life made us very cherished and beloved in the film community here. We are so thankful for the opportunities and chances folks took on us early on, and we always aimed to make sure they are treated as friends and family, not just clients. So if you are looking to do just about anything in VFX and Post Production we would love to chat and help make your next project amazing! As for the name we always get asked but it’s a play on Apocalypse but with our favorite fuzzy animal, as to why the Apocoalypse motif because it comes at the end… just like Post Production work, we are the last to touch it before it’s sent off.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Oh boy, I would have to say humility was a hard lesson to learn. Coming out of school I was very selective on what I worked on and out right refused opportunities, because I believed I knew everything and anything to do with film. Throughout the years this has come back to humble me and teach me that I have so much to learn.. and that I in fact knew nothing lol. Through working with various advocacy groups and marginalized folks and respective organizations, it helped remind me why I truly do what I do. This has helped me shed that ego (still shedding it away lol) and learn to remain open, flexible and appreciative of opportunities. That last one I often lean on Sun Tzu with “Opportunities multiply as they are seized”, which helps remind me to take them on rather then find excuses not to.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Honestly one that is under appreciated and I’ve hardly seen used, is leaning on your positive relationships with clients. “What are you talking about Gabby?” Often times after we have worked with one client, when we meet and chat, follow up or catch up I make it a thing to share what we have going on next. This may seem odd or off putting but it’s actually amazing to hear “oh I’ve heard of them” and more often than not “oh I know so and so there”, this has helped us ask for introductions, meets or proper email correspondence that is more than emailing info@so and so. It is especially wonderful because it allows our current client to say nice things about us (they don’t have to but more often than not will do so) as they make that introduction, thus making the lead or opportunity much better than cold calling/emailing. Obviously take this with a grain of salt and please make sure you aren’t asking about a competitor.. because that has the complete opposite effect lol.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alpacabomb.com
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- Facebook: Alpacalypse Productions
- Linkedin: Alpacalypse Productions
- Twitter: @alpacalypse_productions
- Youtube: Alpacalypse Productions