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

Madelaine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The idea for Talus Films was born out of our work within the independent film scene in Chicago, IL. I had been living a “double life” for many years – working a 9 to 5 in project management and pursuing film/theatre on evenings and weekends. Burnout is real, and I got to a point where this was no longer sustainable.

I wanted to blend my passions into something that provided value to myself and others in a fulfilling way. Looking around our film community, we saw many artists who wanted to bring stories to life but were lacking the resources to fully produce their work. This is where Jordan Graves (my co-founder) and I found that we could and wanted to help. So we started our production company.

Talus began as a project called 12×12 where we produced 12 short film pieces over the course of 1 year. 12 films in 12 months. This project provided the framework, resources, and structure that was previously missing. It allowed over 100 Midwest creatives to be a part of bringing films to life from initial ideation through production to audience viewing through a showcase, festival runs, and online distribution.

Over time and with the pandemic, our focus has shifted. But our core remains the same. We help elevate and amplify the stories of people doing good in the world. From conscious and purpose-driven brands to non-profit organizations to individuals making a difference.

Madelaine, 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?

I’m the co-founder and creative director of Talus Films. My path to starting my company is a winding one. My education is actually in theatre – both performing and backstage production work. As a professional actor, I found myself branching from the stage into film (and commercial) work once I moved to Chicago. In addition to my background in theatre and film, I also have a background in project and team management and event production. So, in founding my company, I was blending my passions and skills into one focused service I could provide folks.

Talus Films is a full-service production company that partners with purpose-driven and conscious brands to help elevate and amplify the work they’re doing through impactful video and film. We provide services through our Impact Storytelling Method which is a 3-stage process that walks our clients through story alignment, story discovery, and story realization. We help brands align their values with potential stories, uncover and develop those stories to resonate with the brand’s audience and purpose, and then we bring them to life through engaging film.

Our client’s are up to big things and are looking for effective and compelling ways to communicate their work in order to raise awareness, build trust, and prompt action from their audience.

We also know not everyone is suited to telling every story. So, we build custom production teams for each unique story we tell so the folks behind the camera reflect the story being told in front of it.

Our clients also appreciate the eco-conscious practices we bring to set while filming and the trees we donate to have planted for each project we produce.

How’d you meet your business partner?

My co-founder, Jordan Graves, and I met through an animated video series about STEM education for young women. He was producing the piece in collaboration with DePaul University, and I had auditioned to be one of the voice actors. We had a blast working together on that first project and then continued to work together on other independent film projects over the course of a few years. We just clicked. We enjoyed working with each other and found our matches when it came to dedication and passion. When I had the idea to start a production company, Jordan was the person I knew I wanted to launch with. Thankfully he said yes!

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

At the beginning of the pandemic, I was laid off from my full-time management role. I was also expecting. Stressed, lonely, overwhelmed. I had all the typical emotions that come with job loss and a new pregnancy.

This is when I decided to go full-time with Talus – which I had been building on the side for over a year. I was passionate about creating meaningful content and helping others share their stories. Before I reached this point in my career, I struggled with undervaluing myself, feeling directionless, and living my “double life”.

Now 3+ years later, my daughter just turned 2, I’ve continued to grow and refine my business, and have found my passion through impact storytelling and protecting our natural world.

It wasn’t easy juggling a new business, a pregnancy, and personal challenges, but – through it all – I learned how resilient and capable I truly am.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.talusfilms.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/talusfilms
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talusfilmsllc
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/talus-films (company page); www.linkedin.com/in/madelaine-anderson (I’m very active on LI publishing content frequently and am open to connections and followers)
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@talusfilmsllc
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/talusfilms Clutch.co: https://clutch.co/profile/talus-films