We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful John Bombay. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with John below.
John, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.
Having already started on my feature filmmaking journey with my company, I was seeking a way to generate a new income stream, and refine my filmmaking skills. West America is now producing acting reels and other video services for a combination of clients in Canada and Los Angeles.
West America Film Company produces assets ranging from corporate videos to social media content. We create high-quality videos for brick and mortar businesses, as well as digital businesses and products. The value we bring to our clients is discovering and highlighting the stories that define their business, product, or service.
We started our journey shooting on an iphone, and have slowly added equipment to our inventory and experience to our methods. Our investments include a number of cameras, lenses, lights, and microphones. We have the tools to create, and we do so with passion and efficiency. Recently, we had the privilege of documenting the temporary closing of the historic sixty five year old San Pedro Fish Market, as they transition to a new location a short walk down the waterfront. Talking to customers, employees, and community members, allowed us to give voices and faces to the many people that love and support one of the top destinations in California for fresh seafood. Hearing about all the birthdays people have spent at the restaurant was beautiful. The response our videos received quickly led to new clients, and the investments we made in equipment paid off. Our most recent video showcasing their brand new location was featured on a KTLA segment of the local news.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I left behind a successful non-profit in New Mexico, which I founded, and booked a one-way ticket to Los Angeles with a backpack and $100. I have now lived in Los Angeles for four years, and I’m proud to be the founder and CEO of West America Film Company, a production company with international and national award winning feature films, as well as video services.
We are extremely proud of the awards our most recent feature film, To Matter, has received. I received Best First-Time Director awards from the Los Angeles Cinematography Awards and the London Independent Film Awards. The film also received a Best Actress Award from the Dubai International Film Festival, for Michelle Vogel, the film’s lead actress. Her performance was brilliant and I’m beyond proud of her. I’m also overjoyed and humbled by the Best Feature Film award we received from the Ukrainian Dream Film Festival. To Matter has just started its journey through the festival circuit and we are excited for all of the places it will go.
New clients and filmmakers can reach me through the West America website. We specialize not only in telling compelling stories through our feature films, but we also specialize in finding the stories within the footage we capture at live events for our clients. This is one of my greatest strengths. Finding and telling stories through my edits. My clients know that when I show up with my gear, I will deliver engaging content with emotions that transcend the screen and connect with their audiences.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
It may seem overly simple, but my strategy for growing my clientele has always been to take one opportunity at a time, overdeliver, and invest in the possibility of a relationship with repeated business, as well as word of mouth referrals.
Every opportunity to demonstrate the quality of our work matters. Our clients know this, because we put a lot of thought into our decisions and we get things done. We also are mindful and attempt to nurture our working relationships, so that the network of professionals we call upon, all deliver high-quality work.
Another strategy that has increased our West America clientele is showing up when opportunity calls. Life happens sometimes, and we all should be patient and understand when it happens. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. This is why I personally always try to show up for people, no matter the ask.
I’m excited to talk about my most recent client, IMMORDL Nitro Super Coffee. It’s my go-to drink before long hours on set, and I’m excited for people to see the engaging content we were able to create for such an amazing product. We also have a growing relationship with The San Pedro Fish Market, who recently moved to a new location, called The Landing, on the waterfront in San Pedro. The food is still great, the giant beers and micheladas are still fun, and the mariachis are back to serenade family and friends. The videos we create for them generate thousands of views and comments, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their respected history.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Our goals for West America in the short term, are to continue to connect with people in the industry, and forge relationships with talented and reliable people. Beyond that, my goal is to see my film, To Matter, screen in-person at a local Los Angeles film festival, so I can share the film with the many people I love and have been supported by during my short journey here. My production company will release at least one feature film for the rest of the decade. Each film will be a sequel to the last, creating a uniquely bright and retro collection of films from this decade, the 2020s. There are currently two feature films in our 20s Collection, Aguanta (2021), directed by Felipe Martinez, and To Matter (2023), which I wrote and directed. The third film in the collection, Red Flamingos (2024), is currently in post production, which I wrote and directed as well.
We enjoy and appreciate meeting good people. And we understand the importance of investing in the right people. Someone I want to acknowledge that I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with is Beki Colada, one half of the famous Australian rock band, The Maivis’s. Beki’s song, “Stay With Me,” is the theme song for my newest film, To Matter. The song is timeless and resonates with people of all ages. Her brother Matt (Video Video), the equally talented other half of The Maivis’s, also features on the soundtrack of To Matter, with his solo single, “Flames,” as well as the upbeat hit, “Standing in the Dark,” from The Maivis’s catalogue.
Music is such a huge part of my creative vision, and I also have the goal of re-popularizing music with retro vibes. We are the kids that grew up in the age before the Internet and cellphones. And we’ve grown up and become the creators. This is our decade.
Contact Info:
- Website: westamericafilmcompany.com
- Instagram: @westamericafilm
Image Credits
West America Film Company, Roman Galasun, Michelle Vogel, John Bombay Gutierrez