Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maximilian Shelton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Maximilian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, what do you think about family businesses? Would you want your children or other family members to one day join your business?

There’s something uniquely special about being part of a family business. When you’re in sync with the people you love, chasing the same vision—it’s a rare kind of win. As a director, I’ve had the chance to collaborate with my sister for years. Sure, there are tough moments, but using those lows as fuel for growth makes the victories even more meaningful. Together, we’ve directed major music videos, led global commercial campaigns, and have been a part in creating both an award-winning short film and a feature-length documentary.

On a different note, I co-own a post-production company called Industry Kids with my longtime friend Rodney. We’ve been tight for years and always shared the dream of building something of our own. When we finally teamed up, everything just clicked. Like any business, there are highs and lows—but our friendship runs deep, and that foundation lets us tackle challenges head-on and celebrate every win like it’s our first.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born in LA but raised in South Jersey, so even though I live in Los Angeles now, I’ll always feel like an East Coast kid at heart. I grew up as a musician—trumpet was my first language—but I knew early on that music wouldn’t be my career path. Instead, I pivoted to visual storytelling and went to film school at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. That’s where everything opened up for me creatively. I still had a deep love for music, but I started channeling that energy into directing—shooting music videos for local artists, sharpening my eye as a director and, just as importantly, building my foundation as an editor.

Looking back, editing has always felt like solving a puzzle. Each project brings its own set of challenges, and every editor approaches the equation differently. For me, it’s about staying grounded and bringing a calm energy into the room. What sets me apart is my background in music—my sense of rhythm and timing influences every cut I make, whether there’s music in the scene or not.

What I’m most proud of, as simple as it sounds, is my versatility. I’ve worked across so many genres and formats—in all kinds of creative environments—which has given me a roadmap for navigating any post-production challenge.

At Industry Kids, the post-production company I co-founded with my longtime friend Rodney, we’ve built something flexible and collaborative. Our model allows us to work seamlessly across timelines and creative visions—whether we’re handling one piece of the puzzle or delivering end-to-end post.

And for Max and Madison—our work as directors is rooted in that same spirit: collaboration, creativity, and always pushing the story forward.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I first met Rodney while working on a Nike project at Tastemade called Athlete’s Cookbook. He had just stepped in to lead post-producer after the previous producer moved on, so technically, he was my boss. I was just an editor at the time, but we clicked right away. After that project wrapped, we kept in touch—and every time Rodney shifted to a new company, he’d call me up and bring me on board. That mutual trust and friendship kept building over the years, and eventually, we decided to make it official. That’s how Industry Kids was born.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Not to oversimplify it, but I really think the key to building my reputation has been doing good work—consistently. Whether it was cutting a music video, a commercial, or long-form content for a major brand, I always showed up with the same mindset: represent myself well, and deliver something the client truly envisioned.

When you approach every project with that level of care, people start to notice. Your name travels—word-of-mouth, referrals, the quiet growth that comes from showing up and doing the work right. I’ve also made it a point to stay active in maintaining relationships: checking in, following up, staying open to new opportunities.

At the end of the day, you’re the only thing standing in your way. The more you show up for yourself, the more those connections and opportunities start to multiply.

Contact Info:

• Website: maxxandmadison.com + weareindustrykids.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/maximilianimages
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximilianshelton/