Rob Arevalo of 17 Projects on launching a video company two months before COVID, marketing with no budget and then with real money, cold calling in New York, government RFPs, toning proposals down for corporate buyers, and why client retention drives growth.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:46 Meet Rob Arevalo and 17 Projects

3:13 From the Air Force to launching during COVID

6:35 Why keep going when the industry stopped

8:13 Corporate clients and the easiest path in

10:31 Client retention beats chasing new clients

12:59 Systems that keep clients happy as you grow

14:38 A two-person core with a deep freelance roster

15:57 A thousand cold emails: marketing with no budget

18:56 The marketing bets that took 17 Projects full time

20:18 How Lapse grew: SEO over paid ads

22:40 Evolving the marketing mix year to year

24:03 Do mass cold emails still work?

27:32 Cold calling in New York

29:07 Timing, brand awareness, and staying on the radar

32:08 Government contracts and RFPs

38:38 What RFPs teach you about proposals

39:32 Corporate proposals: make them boring

44:24 Expanding to LA, Chicago, and Miami

48:54 Competing in NYC: do your recon

51:01 Why the name 17 Projects

Creatives Grab Coffee is produced by Lapse Productions, a Toronto video production company. (https://www.lapseproductions.com/).

To learn more about the show, visit: https://www.creativesgrabcoffee.com/

Gabe Nazario, founder of Offbeat Creative in Jersey City, joins Dario and Kyrill for a candid, tactical conversation about the business of video in the New York metro. He built Offbeat on the side of producer and editor roles at Fox, Disney, and JP Morgan, then went full time once the profit matched his salary. In this episode: growing slowly and hiring deliberately, why a lean 1099 crew sometimes scares clients, treating AI consulting as an SEO play, the tools that speed up the work, chasing simple-deliverable retainers, and why in a market where everyone makes good videos, you win on trust and follow-up.

Guest: Gabe Nazario, Offbeat Creative (https://www.offbeatcreative.co/)

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:19 Meet Gabe Nazario and Offbeat Creative

2:07 From Fox, Disney, and JP Morgan to going solo

5:09 Making the leap from a corporate job

8:51 A lean core team plus 1099 crew

10:26 Why a small team spooks some clients

12:29 AI consulting as an SEO play

16:39 The AI tools Offbeat actually uses

28:32 Social media: phone-tier content and volume

33:08 Corporate and commercial: the bread and butter

35:00 Chasing retainers for a monthly pillow

42:30 Google reviews, SEO, and the 70/30 split

45:31 Take the one-off

46:59 Jersey City vs New York

49:41 Competition and winning on trust

53:14 The sale is closed on the hello again

1:01:42 The story behind the name Offbeat

Creatives Grab Coffee is a podcast on the business of video production, hosted by Dario Nouri and Kyrill Lazarov and produced by Lapse Productions (https://www.lapseproductions.com/).

What happens when a sales guy, not a camera guy, builds a video production company?

Rob Weiss started MultiVision Digital 15 years ago in New York City with no portfolio and no editing skills, and has since produced more than 1,700 videos. In this episode he sits down with Dario Nouri and Kyrill Lazarov to break down the system behind that run: batch producing so one shoot day becomes ten deliverables, selling clients on a video-first strategy instead of one-off projects, a trade show sales machine built on business cards and a script he has used for years, niching so hard into manufacturing that he launched a second website, and going chest-deep into AI without burning through the budget.

In this episode:

- Batch producing, and why you never make just one cookie

- How to sell clients on a video-first strategy

- Where clients really are on video adoption (a 1 to 10 scale)

- The 14-FAQ-video story: aligning budget to goals

- A trade show playbook built on "I just want to say hi"

- Niching down until you need a second website

- The YouTube Shorts epiphany and repurposing to TikTok

- Using AI in real client workflows, and pricing it with contingency days

Chapters:

00:00 Intro: A Sales Guy Who Built a Video Company

03:29 Batch Producing: Why You Never Make Just One Cookie

05:23 Stop "Just Carving Out Snippets," Plan Your Reels

08:41 Selling Clients on a Video-First Strategy

11:19 Where Clients Really Are on Video (a 1 to 10 Scale)

14:21 Aligning Budget to Goals + the 14-FAQ-Video Story

17:34 A Softening Market and Smarter Client Questions

20:38 Trade Shows, Business Cards & Planting Seeds

24:05 The "I Just Want to Say Hi" Sales Approach

29:01 Postcards, QR Codes & Email Sequencing

33:57 Running Sales While Running a 5-Person Team

40:09 Coming From Sales, Not the Camera

43:25 Long-Term Freelancers and a Team Mentality

47:21 Why Manufacturing Became the Niche

49:55 A Separate "Video For Manufacturing" Website

53:46 The YouTube Shorts Epiphany

57:40 Going Chest-Deep Into AI Video

1:04:07 Pricing AI Work With "Contingency Days"

1:08:29 Where AI Video Editing Goes Next

Guest: Rob Weiss, MultiVision Digital — https://multivisiondigital.com

Hosts: Dario Nouri and Kyrill Lazarov of Lapse Productions — https://www.lapseproductions.com

Creatives Grab Coffee is a weekly podcast about the business of video production. If you are enjoying the show, follow and leave a review, it genuinely helps. Watch the full video episodes on YouTube and find every episode at https://www.creativesgrabcoffee.com

In this episode of Creatives Grab Coffee, we sit down with JD Gonzalez, founder of LivaLittle, a boutique production company based in Brooklyn, New York. JD is a cinematographer, producer, and director who's built his business around a unique philosophy: experience-based hiring — rotating crews and giving people the opportunities they need to grow their careers.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Intro: Meet JD Gonzalez of LivaLittle

01:50 – Experience-based hiring & a DEI-focused production company

03:58 – Building a network by rotating crews

10:23 – Getting remembered in a new market: consistency over time

12:17 – JD's backstory: film school & teaching high school film

17:00 – Crafting the Image: running free filmmaking workshops

23:46 – Virtual production & partnering with rental houses

25:09 – Why film education should be free

27:19 – No one can steal your perspective

30:10 – Could Creatives Grab Coffee go live & in person?

31:21 – Why JD moved from Denver to New York City

34:30 – Breaking into the NYC market

36:38 – Does owning a camera still win you work?

39:11 – Consigning gear with a rental house

40:41 – The logistics of filming in NYC: trucks, insurance & freight elevators

48:22 – Branding, SEO & landing direct-to-client work

51:23 – Running a lean, direct-to-client production model

53:05 – Building PrepViz: a scene design & previz app made with Claude Code

56:31 – Pre-Checklist: simplifying gear lists & prep

58:49 – Teaching yourself to build apps with AI

1:02:41 – Building a custom CRM

1:03:54 – Are you locked into one AI platform?

1:09:44 – The ups and downs of the AI train

1:11:41 – Standing out when everyone uses AI: you get out what you put in

1:16:04 – Wrap-up & where to find JD

Connect with JD Gonzalez:

Website: https://www.livalittle.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdgonzalesdp

🎧 Hosts:

Dario Nouri & Kyrill Lazarov — Lapse Productions, Toronto

https://www.lapseproductions.com

🎙️ About Creatives Grab Coffee:

Creatives Grab Coffee explores the business of video production, featuring candid conversations with studio owners and filmmakers around the world on scaling, creativity, and industry evolution.

👇 Follow & Subscribe:

Website – https://creativesgrabcoffee.com

Instagram – https://instagram.com/creativesgrabcoffee

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/company/lapseproductions

#VideoProduction #Filmmaking #Podcast #CreativesGrabCoffee #VideoBusiness #Cinematographer #ClaudeCode #AITools #NYCFilmmaking #ProductionCompany

Brigitte Sachse of Bee Video Productions returns for her third visit to talk shop with Dario and Kyrill. We get into how Bee Video landed a documentary series on TVO ("The Nature of Design"), why animation became their secret weapon, and the recurring theme of the whole episode: diversifying your work, your income, and even your project timelines so you never have all your eggs in one basket. We also dig into whether AI video is actually a threat (spoiler: not yet), the great raw-footage-and-project-files debate, the pain of government RFPs, public pricing, SEO, and a couple of brutal "client didn't pay us" war stories — plus the copyright-strike trick that gets you paid.

🎧 More episodes: https://www.creativesgrabcoffee.com/episodes/

Timestamps

00:00 Catching Up with Brigitte (Bee Video Productions)

01:00 "The Nature of Design": Pitching a Doc Series to TVO

05:20 How Animation Became Their Secret Weapon

07:30 Working with a Broadcaster vs. a Corporate Client

11:10 Making a Passion Project Profitable

14:15 Why a Diversity of Timelines Prevents Burnout

19:35 Why Is Everyone So Busy Despite the Economy?

21:45 Is AI Video a Real Threat?

29:45 Raw Footage, Project Files & the "Costco Hot Dog" of Post

41:45 Government RFPs: The 50-Page Slot Machine

55:00 What's Next: Personalized Video & a Shared Studio

01:03:30 The Real ROI of a Podcast + SEO

01:06:15 Should You Make Your Pricing Public?

01:14:40 Getting Stiffed & the Copyright-Strike Fix

01:25:35 Wrap-Up

🎧 Hosts:

Dario Nouri & Kyrill Lazarov — Lapse Productions, Toronto

https://www.lapseproductions.com

🎙️ About Creatives Grab Coffee:

Creatives Grab Coffee explores the business of video production, featuring candid conversations with studio owners and filmmakers around the world on scaling, creativity, and industry evolution.

👇 Follow & Subscribe:

Website – https://creativesgrabcoffee.com

Instagram – https://instagram.com/creativesgrabcoffee

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/company/lapseproductions

#CreativesGrabCoffee #videographyhacks #videography #videographer #videoproduction #businesspodcast #videoproductionpodcast #lapseproductions #videomarketing #videoproductioncompany #videoproductionservices

Welcome back to another episode of Creatives Grab Coffee! In this episode, we are joined by Ed Rowe and Celia Hodgson from Tiny Studios. Tiny Studios is a B Corp certified production company based in London. They work across various sectors to produce impactful web and social content that truly shifts the needle. Today, we dive into their journey from freelance life to agency ownership, the importance of building a healthy on-set culture, and what it's like to navigate an agency acquisition while staying true to your core values.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tiny Studios

07:00 The Journey from Freelancer to Company

13:56 Building a Team and Company Structure

19:57 Navigating Client Expectations and Budgeting

29:02 Lessons Learned and Future Aspirations

29:48 Building Through Word of Mouth

34:25 Navigating Gender in the Industry

37:47 Creating Inclusive Spaces for Filmmakers

41:06 Challenging the Burnout Mentality

49:29 Understanding Client Value Propositions

53:42 The Journey of Acquisition and Integration

01:04:37 Building a Pipeline for Success

01:06:55 Navigating the Acquisition Process

01:09:59 The Value of B Corp Certification

01:16:00 Preparing for B Corp: A Guide for Businesses

01:21:04 The Importance of Documentation and Processes

01:25:01 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

01:30:02 Outro

🎧 Hosts:

Dario Nouri & Kyrill Lazarov — Lapse Productions, Toronto

https://www.lapseproductions.com

🎙️ About Creatives Grab Coffee:

Creatives Grab Coffee explores the business of video production, featuring candid conversations with studio owners and filmmakers around the world on scaling, creativity, and industry evolution.

👇 Follow & Subscribe:

Website – https://creativesgrabcoffee.com

Instagram – https://instagram.com/creativesgrabcoffee

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/company/lapseproductions

#CreativesGrabCoffee #videographyhacks #videography #videographer #videoproduction #businesspodcast #videoproductionpodcast #lapseproductions #videomarketing #videoproductioncompany #videoproductionservices

In this conversation, Andrei from Tone Films shares his journey of starting a videography business during the pandemic, the challenges he faced, and the strategies he employed to grow his company. He discusses the importance of SEO, building a reliable team of videographers, and the creative processes involved in producing high-quality content. Andrei also reflects on his aspirations for the future, including a potential transition into accounting and the importance of work-life balance.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Birth of Tone Films

03:08 Learning the Videography Trade

05:43 Expanding the Business

09:03 Building a Reliable Team

12:09 The Importance of SEO

14:56 Vetting Videographers

17:47 Editing and Delivery Process

21:00 Creative Projects and Pre-Production

23:48 Communication and Client Relations

27:09 Future Aspirations and Career Transition

46:43 Reflecting on Life and Happiness

49:06 Balancing Work and Personal Life

51:37 Daily Routines and Time Management

54:03 Exploring Career Paths and Future Aspirations

57:06 The Challenges of Live Production

01:00:08 Building a Business and Future Ventures

01:03:41 Outro

🎙️ About Our Guest

Andrei Tone

Founder & Creative Director — Tone Films

🎧 Hosts:

Dario Nouri & Kyrill Lazarov — Lapse Productions, Toronto

https://www.lapseproductions.com

🎙️ About Creatives Grab Coffee:

Creatives Grab Coffee explores the business of video production, featuring candid conversations with studio owners and filmmakers around the world on scaling, creativity, and industry evolution.

👇 Follow & Subscribe:

Website – https://creativesgrabcoffee.com

Instagram – https://instagram.com/creativesgrabcoffee

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/company/lapseproductions

SPONSORS:

Canada Film Equipment: www.CanadaFilmEquipment.com

Audio Process: www.Audioprocess.ca

#CreativesGrabCoffee #videographyhacks #videography #videographer #videoproduction #businesspodcast #videoproductionpodcast #lapseproductions #videomarketing #videoproductioncompany #videoproductionservices

In this episode, we sit down with Noam Shalev, founder of Highlight Films, to discuss a side of the production industry few get to see. Based in Israel, Noam’s team handles everything from high-end corporate shoots to gritty news coverage in active conflict zones. We dive into what it really means to be a "fixer" , how remote production technology has allowed directors in LA to direct crews in Tel Aviv , and the massive logistical pivot Noam’s company made on October 7th—shifting from seven corporate productions to managing 15 news crews overnight. Noam also opens up about the emotional toll of documenting history , the safety protocols required when filming under fire , and why, despite the chaos, he refuses to leave.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

00:21 - From Doc Filmmaker to "The Fixer"

02:08 - Defining the Role: What does a Fixer actually do?

02:45 - How COVID changed remote production forever

07:17 - Why Noam started doing corporate work

11:09 - October 7th: Pivoting from corporate shoots to war coverage overnight

15:56 - Safety Logistics: Walkie-talkie apps and missile alerts

17:22 - Storytime: Hiding tapes in underwear in Iraq

20:55 - The emotional toll of interviewing survivors

34:55 - The impact of political instability on the tech sector

37:40 - Managing a business when staff are called to reserve duty

43:12 - Why stay? The pull of "Home" vs. moving to LA

47:51 - "Real Chaos": Why cameras are treated like weapons

50:47 - Building a reputation without advertising

56:01 - Protecting the business: Deposits and spotting bad clients

1:05:40 - Closing thoughts

🎙️ About Our Guest

Noam Shalev

Founder & Creative Director — Highlight Films

🎧 Hosts:

Dario Nouri & Kyrill Lazarov — Lapse Productions, Toronto

https://www.lapseproductions.com

🎙️ About Creatives Grab Coffee:

Creatives Grab Coffee explores the business of video production, featuring candid conversations with studio owners and filmmakers around the world on scaling, creativity, and industry evolution.

👇 Follow & Subscribe:

Website – https://creativesgrabcoffee.com

Instagram – https://instagram.com/creativesgrabcoffee

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/company/lapseproductions

SPONSORS:

Canada Film Equipment: www.CanadaFilmEquipment.com

Audio Process: www.Audioprocess.ca

#CreativesGrabCoffee #videographyhacks #videography #videographer #videoproduction #businesspodcast #videoproductionpodcast #lapseproductions #videomarketing #videoproductioncompany #videoproductionservices