We recently connected with Travis Myers and have shared our conversation below.

Travis, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

One of the biggest trends I’m seeing in the film industry is the growing importance of creating a strong online presence. While this isn’t entirely new, it’s become even more crucial now. For instance, I’ve experienced firsthand how powerful this can be—one of my videos went viral, reaching millions across multiple platforms. This experience highlighted the immense opportunity in consistently sharing what you do online. People are finding success simply by taking the time to showcase their work regularly. If I were to start over, I’d definitely focus on creating more content around my daily work, as there’s incredible power in building that online presence.

Travis, 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 started making videos back in junior high when I got a lightsaber for Christmas. I made a goofy video and somehow convinced my teacher to show it to the class. Everyone was probably laughing at me, but one kid asked to buy the VHS for twenty bucks. That’s when I thought, “Hey, I can make money doing this!” Although it took a while to turn that realization into reality. Initially, I pursued dentistry in college but quickly realized that I hated working with the human mouth. My first real dive into the industry was at Americom Marketing in Beaumont, where I honed my skills in advertising videos.

On the side, I’ve been focusing on content creation. I used to be in front of the camera a lot, but I’ve shifted towards directing photography and bringing others’ visions to life. Recently, I’ve decided to explore my creativity further through my YouTube channel. One of my videos got around 700,000 views on my channel and millions more on other platforms, showing me that creativity can flourish in many ways.

Ultimately, I’m a freelance cinematographer and I do a lot of work with Joshua Productions in Beaumont, Texas. Together we have made video content for local and national brands such as Lamar University and Jason’t Deli. I also help out as a gaffer with Flatcap Productions and I run my own company, Bronco Media where I mostly produce corporate documentaries. Through an interesting series of events, I’ve also become the official photographer for the National Ice Cream Association, so I get to fly around the country taking pictures of (and eating) a lot of ice cream. I don’t have a real preference when it comes to media creation. Whether it’s a mayonnaise commercial, a short film, or a corporate piece, as long as I can make something look great, I’m all in.

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

There was a pivotal moment when I was working at an advertising job, where I felt unfulfilled as most of my time was spent editing social media videos and stock video content instead of the larger productions I had hoped to be a part of. At home, I had started a podcast called Hometown Hollywood, interviewing people outside major film cities who were making a name for themselves. Their stories inspired me to take a leap. I decided to step into freelancing, but rather than taking a giant leap, I took a baby step by finding a part-time job at a clinic, making videos for their waiting room and building chairs a couple days per week. This allowed me on my days off to build my network and eventually transition fully into freelancing. Because of this decision I am full-time freelance and running Bronco Media, and my wife was able to start our wedding and event business , Myers Film & Photography. This journey taught me the value of taking calculated risks and finding the right path at the right time.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

One of the advantages of freelancing in the film industry is that you don’t always need a significant amount of capital to get started. I was fortunate to have my parents help with my first camera, but most of my equipment purchases have been gradual. I follow the “buy once, cry once” philosophy, focusing on acquiring high-quality, industry-standard gear from the start. This approach means I invest in reliable equipment that lasts, saving money in the long run. Over time, I’ve built up a substantial collection of gear that allows me to take on more jobs, rent gear out on projects, and produce higher-quality work. Looking back, I might have been more aggressive in investing directly into spec projects, but I’m satisfied with how things are turning out. Going forward, I’m planning to shift focus towards investing less in gear, and more in spec projects to further grow my career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bronco.media
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travismyers_dp/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tallguytrav