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

Hi Subei, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I didn’t begin my career in film with the goal of being a business owner. Actually, the founding of my production company was an unintentional byproduct of working in an industry filled with so many different paths to “success”.

SK Productions was, in hindsight, a slow and steady culmination of my years in film study and production. But there is one moment I can clearly point to and say: “this is a risk I took for myself, and it ended up being the backbone of my career as a filmmaker”.

In May 2019 I spent a week filming at Ramini Mozzarella, a water buffalo farm and dairy in Tomales Bay, California.

Months previously, I had visited Ramini Mozzarella and met it’s owner Audrey. I was inspired by her story of perseverance in the face of adversity, admired her unique animal husbandry practices, and felt the strong bond she has with her water buffalo. Inspired, I developed a documentary film concept based on her dairy – complete with a shoot schedule and production timeline.

Did I know what I was doing? Not really! Besides college film projects, I had never undertaken a full film production and knew little about what it entailed. But I was confident in my storytelling and shooting abilities. So, I took the risk and emailed my proposal to Audrey. And she took a risk on her end, and accepted my offer.

My short documentary RAMINI, and it’s subsequent success in the film festival circuit, was a catalyst for so many good things in my life and career. From it, I gained the traction to found SK Productions and the confidence to work for myself as a full time freelance filmmaker. RAMINI’s positive reception also reinforced my assurance in my own storytelling abilities – which I still believe are a strength of mine.

I am forever grateful to Audrey and all of the incredible women that work at Ramini Mozzarella. Seeing their passion for the animals and watching them fight so hard for what they love has inspired me in many, many ways. I am proud of the risks I’ve taken to get where I am today, and encourage everyone to push the boundaries of their comfort zones in pursuit of their goals.

Subei, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a filmmaker from the Bay Area. My love for visual storytelling began in middle school with iMovie and my dad’s digital camera. This early passion led me to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and Psychology from Kenyon College, and to pursue a career in film ever since.

Like the video marketing climate, my career is ever changing and ever evolving. I work with clients in a broad range of industries, making video deliverables for a broad range of platforms. I believe my skillset can be a tool as much as it is an art form and, when wielded correctly, it can weave information and entertainment together as part of an engaging marketing strategy.

Whether through my own production company SK Productions or as a freelance hire through others, I bring my storytelling, curiosity, logistical and technical strengths to every production I am a part of.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The largest factor that has helped me build my reputation within the film market is that I work well with others. Both for clients as a hired videographer and for other film crew as part of a larger production team. I communicate clearly and effectively. I proactively troubleshoot and problem solve. I read group dynamics well and can step up and lead where I should, and also fall back and support when necessary.

Internally, the film industry is so dependent on team dynamics. When working on larger sets, the hours are long and the tasks are often fast-paced and grueling. Working with people whom you trust and enjoy is essential.

Externally, hiring video marketing for your business is daunting! It’s expensive and potentially overwhelming. Having somebody to support you through the entire video production processes is vital – someone that can understand your marketing needs and translate them into video production, but someone that can also connect with you on a personal level.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The through-line of my creative journey has always been to positively impact others. Whether it’s through my own personal projects or my client based work, I always want to highlight people, stories and products that are contributing to a better world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.subeikyle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/subeikyle/

Image Credits

– Sabrina Hurtado, Smiles with Sabrina
– Tory Putnam, Putnam Creative