We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lucas Piety a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lucas, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

In late 2024, just before two major hurricanes hit the Suncoast of Florida (where I call home), in the midst of an uncertain election cycle, and after 10 years of producing short films and commercial video, I decided to take the leap and create my own video production company. Despite the seemingly ill-timed move, I’ve never been happier. I’ve found that my own creativity has flourished and the ability to dictate the tone, vision and direction of a production has left me feeling excited and energized about getting to do what I love every day.

Just before my big leap, I had been told by a previous employer that “the work isn’t out there.” And while I’m still very green in the grand scheme of my business, I can firmly say that the work IS out there. If you’re hungry and willing to learn about new industries, the work will find its way to you. It seems that the moments when I kept my nose to the grindstone, working through the insecurities I had (and have) about my own work, were the moments when previously unthinkable opportunities came knocking on my door.

It’s easy to get caught up in feelings of inadequacy when comparing yourself to others’ work, but by learning from mistakes, continuing to show up, and creating a welcoming environment for clients, coworkers and even competing vendors, comparison can become a powerful tool for cultivating opportunity, rather than the thief of joy.

Lucas, 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?

My name is Lucas Piety, and I’m a creative producer from Bradenton, FL. I have a BS in Film Production from the University of Central Florida, and I’ve been producing both short films and commercial video in the Sunshine State for nearly a decade. In late 2024, I created my own company Taller Tale Productions.

Taller Tale Productions specializes in video production and digital design for clients ranging from 501(c)(3) nonprofits to real estate teams with over $50 million in pending and closing volume. Taller Tale is comprised of a series of local producers that work in tandem to create video and photo assets, employ web design & application, and assist with any aspect of digital design for our clients. In our short but impactful tenure, we’ve overhauled a local community theatre’s website, print assets, and digital marketing strategy to give them one of their most successful seasons in their 76-year history (and in a year with two direct hurricane impacts to the island they call home, Anna Maria Island). We’ve also assisted three local schools in promoting their yearly galas to increase charitable donations for low-income scholarships, providing students opportunities in STEM, athletics and the arts.

Our mission at Taller Tale Productions is to increase the standard and accessibility of cinematic quality video production on the Suncoast and beyond. One of my firmest beliefs is that stories bind us together and make life worth living, so it’s my personal goal to help as many people tell their story as I can. Taller Tale makes our clients’ stories larger-than-life.

One of my greatest achievements thus far was producing and hosting a documentary featuring the oldest community theatre in Manatee County, The Island Players. During an 88-day production, the crew and I told the 160-year history of the building the Players occupy, as well as the intriguing story of the building being cut in half and moved by barge to its current resting place on the north end of Anna Maria Island. The documentary debuted at the Sarasota Film Festival in 2023, and the recognition the theatre has gotten in recent years (although not nearly commensurate with what they deserve) has been a pillar in my career that exemplifies my love for a good tale.

To check out that film, head over to Grey Matter Studios’ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXRRzsF2aks

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The creation of my company was a pivot in and of itself. I had always wanted to build my own brand, but it was an ever elusive 3-year-minimum to get to it to the point where I could make the leap. Life has a tendency to push you in the direction you’re meant to go in however, and when a mass exodus struck my previous place of employment, I decided to utilize my 5+ years of promotions and marketing experience to venture out under my own company, Taller Tale Productions. That’s not to say that pivot, or anyone else’s leap into business ownership, was easy, but it was the only path forward for me, making it the easy choice. The freedom and ability to set your standard of work and change frustrating, antiquated modalities truly makes work cease to be work. It’s been my pleasure to collaborate with a handful of incredibly talented producers, an opportunity I would not have had without pivoting, and the prospect of creating a supportive, cooperative, and creative environment gets me out of bed every morning.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I was a theater major my first year of college. I quickly learned I could have a love for the theater, but also that my love could be from a distance. Then I found filmmaking. At first, it was a group of college friends creating one silly short film about a delusional detective, which turned into a festival winner and brought our small indie studio to Atlanta, where we discovered that we could make films. Not particularly good ones then, but the idea persisted. 15 some odd films later, we debuted our first documentary at the Sarasota Film Festival in 2023 and brought some much need recognition to a cultural gem in Southwest Florida, The Island Players, Manatee County’s oldest community theatre. From there we forged relationships with local bands, community organizations, and other producers. Looking back, each person we met cut a path for the creation of my own video production business serving clients ranging from 501(c)(3) nonprofits to real estate teams with over $50 million in pending and closing volume. The most important resources in any industry are its people. Treat other’s well and there will always be space at the table for your endeavors.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tallertaleproductions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tallertaleproductions/?igsh=MTh5cGgyNXJlMnZidA%3D%3D#
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TallerTaleProductions/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tallertaleproductions/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TallerTaleProductions