ruudi productions

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Hello and welcome to Storyteller in Depth, the podcast where we go behind the scenes to learn more about the school of Communications Media Arts and designs people, places and things. I'm your host, Pat Quigley. In today's episode, we'll be speaking with three members of the production company Rudy Productions. Ashley, Alejandro and Hedy took an exciting leap to start their own company. And their advice is something you do not want to miss. We'll be exploring the turning point where they decided to create their own production company. Their tips on how to collaborate effectively, how they kick off a new project, and even how they pick the name of their company. So stay tuned. [00:00:46] Speaker B: Thank you so much guys for being on the podcast today. [00:00:50] Speaker C: Thank you. It's nice to be here. [00:00:51] Speaker D: Yeah, thanks for having us. [00:00:53] Speaker E: Thanks for having us. [00:00:55] Speaker B: Yeah, no, we're going to have a great conversation and we're going to talk about a lot of things. It's been a couple of years since I've been in the broadcasting program as we discussed kind of earlier on, and some things have changed. But let's kind of start off by going around the virtual table, if you will and if you can just introduce yourselves starting with Hedy yourself. [00:01:15] Speaker C: Sure, yeah, my name is Hedy, I was in the program. We graduated 2023 summer broadcasting program and I'm from Estonia. So before I came here, before I came to Centennial, I worked for a TV show in Estonia. And then after graduating high school, I was kind of looking out to which media school to go to and Centennial seemed the best for me because of the hands on program and the project based learning. So. So that's how I got here. [00:01:51] Speaker B: Ashley yourself? [00:01:52] Speaker E: Yeah, I'm Ashley Marciano. So basically what drew me to broadcasting program? Previously, before starting this program, I was in another program at Centennial. And then when I was looking just a one year program. And then I know that I'm very interested in filmmaking, media and all that. And when I discovered this program, I found out it was a hands on like they offer hands on learning which something that I'd prefer over just, you know, learning theoretical like theories and stuff. But yeah, I chose this program because I knew like the program name itself, there's like a lot that you can learn from it from like TV production, like even like audio and filmmaking. So that's how I ended up at broadcasting. [00:02:42] Speaker B: Very cool. And Alejandro yourself? [00:02:44] Speaker D: Hi everyone, I'm Alejandro and I'm from Mexico. And I also went to the same program as Ashley, it was called Communication Media Fundamentals. And since I was little I always knew I wanted to do something related with video and I wanted to do something more professional because first I started with YouTube videos. So it was like just like a hobby and I knew I wanted to do something more professional and for more people to watch and see my stories. So yeah, I just went also for the program because of the hands on experience and I learned with moving and touching stuff. So yeah, that seemed like pretty fair for me. [00:03:29] Speaker B: Yeah. And did you guys kind of all first meet in the same year or, you know, was there a project you worked on that allowed you to get to know each other eventually leading to you creating? Is it Rudy Productions? [00:03:41] Speaker C: Yeah, Rudy Productions. [00:03:42] Speaker D: Rudy. [00:03:43] Speaker B: So, yeah, what. [00:03:44] Speaker A: What kind of. [00:03:45] Speaker B: What drew you all together? [00:03:47] Speaker C: We were all in the same program, but Ashley and Alejandra, you. You just said you were in the communication, so you actually knew each other before. But I think it was, it was the fourth semester filmmaking that we were all in the same group, we were making the same short film and our roles were already kind of very similar to what we are doing now in our production company. So that's probably where we started. Like we became friends, we bonded, we worked well together and then after that we did other projects together too because our class was very small. Like, we worked with everyone in our program, everyone in our section. [00:04:29] Speaker B: So what are your guys defined roles? Because when you're working in a production company or you're working and doing these kinds of things, of productions, everybody kind of has a place that they fit into. So what are your roles? [00:04:44] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm usually. Well, I'm producing, but then on set I usually ad and then depending on the project, like we also all do everything, we help each other out. But yeah, I could say I'm the. [00:04:59] Speaker E: Producer AD and then as for me, I. Heidi does most of the producing, but I also help her out on that end. And for the projects that we have, I direct also. And then in some cases I also second camera because that's also something that I like to do. So. And honestly, we're like doing everything but like for the most part it's. For me it's directing and producing. [00:05:32] Speaker D: I'm more on the technical side. So I've always been behind the camera. And yeah, when I need to assume other roles like sound or grip, I also do that. But yeah, my main role would be camera or dp. [00:05:48] Speaker C: Yeah, like the roles, like what they're called is one thing, but also like, just because we got to know each other so well in the program and we worked, we were under a lot of Stress and, you know, it's a very intense program, and we did it all together, so we learned we got to know each other and our strengths and more so than the roles. I know, like, if I have a question about camera setup, I go to Alejandro and I trust what he says. And then if I have a question about, like, writing or more like a creative approach or directing, then I. Then I go to Ashley for that. So we kind of all know each other's territories in this film world, and when we're on set. And that's why our team works so well together, because we support everyone like each other, but we have those kind of areas that each of us specializes in. [00:06:49] Speaker E: Yeah, I agree with that. I don't know. I just want to also point out that sometimes when we're on set, like, we don't. I know, like, communication is key, but sometimes we don't even talk to each other. Like, we just know what to do. We're, like, on autopilot. And then if we just need a second opinion on something, and then that's where we, like, ask. Ask someone, like, oh, is this good? Like, is this set up good? Like, does this look good on camera? And stuff like that? But, yeah, it's like, we know what we have to do, and then if we need help, then we ask for help. [00:07:21] Speaker C: Yeah, it's just. But that has come like, that. We have gotten there now, but when we started, like, of course, it was a little bit more chaotic on set, but now I'm so proud of how well we work on set as a team, because I know I can go talk to the subject because I know that Alejandra's setting up lights and Ashley's looking in the camera and moving the things in the background to make it look good. So, like, we. We can communicate without words when we're on set. Yeah, that's. That's super cool. [00:07:54] Speaker B: No, that is. That's. That's really. It's nice to have that kind of synergy. Right. And that collaboration, which is really the key to any business, especially one rooted in creativity like this one. Now, do you guys have any tips that you found working that work for all of you effectively to collaborate, but also to balance the individual creativity of each of you. [00:08:15] Speaker D: Yeah, definitely. So one of the main things that drew us all together and for us to work so well is just, like, just basic values, like, respecting each other. Yeah. Just, like, knowing how everyone works and trusting everyone on set, and that just. Yeah. Makes everything more clear and easy. [00:08:41] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. And, like, being friends first, because now we're co workers, but it doesn't really feel like work because it's something that we want to do together. And yeah, we work so well together. And we've realized that when we were in the program. So after that, like, these were the people I wanted to keep working together. We wanted to keep doing this together. So it's just. Yeah, it works. And without Centennial, I don't think we would have ever found each other. Like, we're from different parts of the world and that program brought us together. [00:09:18] Speaker B: Were there any key elements or lessons that you guys picked up from the program that you used to create the company? [00:09:26] Speaker C: A lot of technical skills, like just using the cameras, using the industry standard equipment, and how the production works. All of that we got from the program. Like, we all kind of had some experience before about storytelling and video, like making our own videos. But the higher level production skills all came from the program. [00:09:54] Speaker E: Yeah, especially for like from the filmmaking classes that we had, especially pre production. It's everything. So it helps you prepare everything that you need to prepare before the projects so that we're not all over the place when we're on set. That definitely helped a lot. And that's something that stuck to us and we make sure to do it all the time. [00:10:21] Speaker C: Yeah. And also from the program, like, because it's so well rounded, like, we are not. We do have our roles, but it really helps a lot that all of us can do everything. And that's one thing that came from this program that we were all kind of forced to do every part of the production. At first we were experimenting with different roles too. We weren't like straight from the beginning all doing the same thing. So all of us know how to use sound equipment, all of us know how to use camera equipment. All of us know how to. How to write a story, how to edit the story. So like having all of these basic skills, even if we have our specialization, we do like have the bigger picture as well. [00:11:08] Speaker D: Yeah, I think that's something super important because like, at first I was like, no, I just want to do camera. I just want to focus on camera. I want to be on camera. That was my thing. But then when I started also doing sound and knowing about lighting, I was like, okay. But all of this works together. Like half of the movie sound, half of the movie is a video. So I have to know how to do all of this. So now if maybe we're missing a sound person on set, I know how to do it. If we're missing A grip. I know how to do it, so that's really important. [00:11:42] Speaker C: Yeah. Like, Ashley said that she's doing camera, too. And our editor is also sometimes sound on set and. Yeah, and we all know how to edit, so we can all help out in post too. Even though we have, like, our main editor is Nick and our team. [00:11:59] Speaker E: Yeah, it's really good that we have all those skills, those basic skills, at least basic knowledge in all those departments. We can really help each other out so that if one person is doing too much or it's too much for them at the moment, we can jump in and help them out. Yeah, no one gets left behind. [00:12:18] Speaker B: Something. I'd be remiss, and I probably should have asked this near the beginning of the podcast instead of, you know, near the middle. Ish part, but is there a meaning or story behind choosing the name Rudy Productions? Like, it's a very interesting name. [00:12:31] Speaker C: Thank you. [00:12:32] Speaker E: Penny can answer that. [00:12:33] Speaker C: Yeah, actually, I wasn't the one who came up. Nick was the one who came up with the name. And Rudy is my dog's name. Yeah. I have a very cute little wiener dog back in Estonia living with my mom right now. And Rudy is the name. And I don't even know if Nick had met Rudy at this point, but when we were close to graduating, we started talking about that we want to keep doing this. We want to keep working together. And Nick started calling it Rudy Productions. I wasn't actually. I loved the name, but I wasn't sold at first because I didn't want this to be my thing because it's like my personal, like, story. But it was a placeholder name at first, and then it just kind of stuck. And we all like that. We do, right? Yeah. [00:13:28] Speaker D: Oh, yeah, of course. 100%. [00:13:30] Speaker B: Now's not the time to find out. They don't. [00:13:32] Speaker C: No, no, no, I know they do. I know they do. Um, yeah, like, the. We like the. It's a simple name. It's kind of, like, become our brand now because we. The just the white Rudy logo on a black background, very minimalistic. And we kind of built it from there because the name is just short and sweet. But it's some different, too. It's not like a English spelling of Rudy. [00:13:56] Speaker E: Yeah. I find that it's unique, and that's why we kind of, like, just stuck to it, too. It's simple, easy to remember, and unique at the same time. [00:14:05] Speaker B: So what was kind of the turning point for you guys when you decided to take the leap and build your own production company and take Us take us through that journey and that process. [00:14:14] Speaker E: It wasn't like, one day we're like, oh, my gosh, we should do, like, make our own production company. It was kind of like a period of time, because the summer before we graduated, we worked on a project with Centennial, which was the Career Services, and we worked together, and then we realized that, oh, like, this is a lot of fun. We want to keep doing this, and we want to keep working together. So it was already in the talks. [00:14:46] Speaker C: But, yeah, yeah, that was the first turning point was the Career Services project. And that came through Karen, and she was helping us with this project. She was talking to the other departments at Centennial. But we had a lot of creative freedom on set, actually, like filming in together and working together. And that was like our first sort of project in the real world outside of the program. But it wasn't. We weren't. We weren't Rudy Productions yet. We were just a group of students working together that summer. And then the next summer, there was a second turning point, another Centennial project that came through. Karen and Wanda was helping us. And at that point, we were already Rudy Productions, and we did Hospitality TV for Centennial. And we had other students on set with us, too. It wasn't just us four, because we needed more people on set. We needed more hands. So that one was also one that was helping us a lot with kind of communicating with the client, helping us with the budget, with the contracts, with the invoices, like, stuff like that. She was kind of, like, managing. And then we got to do the production part, but then we learned a lot from there and kind of started running it the same way on our own, too. [00:16:15] Speaker D: Yeah, because that was something we really liked about having our own creativity. Because when you're doing a movie or a short film, you got to just, like, follow what the director's vision is and just, like, suck maybe on something. And other crew members don't really have, like, a really big opinion. So on this type of projects, we can really just like, brainstorm and have a bunch of really cool ideas and do a really nice project and also follow, of course, the client's vision. But, yeah, it's, like, super fun. We realize it's something that we want to keep doing and not just, like, losing our friendship and just, yeah, we want to keep doing more projects, being together, because we really work well. [00:17:07] Speaker B: And you guys have really done a variety of different styles of project. I took a little bit of time to check out your website and see all the different things that you guys have done. And great work. I watched the one with the chicken sandwich and I really wanted one of those chicken sandwiches. So great filming. You've sold me. But what's your go to approach for kicking off a new production? How do you ensure that your creative process aligns with each client's vision? [00:17:32] Speaker D: Yeah, so that's actually pretty hard sometimes because you got to really talk to the client and know what they want. So that's the key thing. You want to know what they want, what their vision is. But you also have to, of course, bring your ideas and everyone's idea. So this project, it's not just like a broad thing. You have to have more minds on set and more ideas. So it's unique, something that brings more people to the clients and of course to us. So it has to be something unique. So it's just having meetings with the client, talking and bringing everything together. [00:18:20] Speaker C: Yeah. What Alejandro said that to have meetings with them and ensuring that we understand what the client wants, what's the story they want to tell, what's the message they want to show in the video. And a lot of the times, the story itself or the kind of project it is, kind of dictates the approach we take. Because we've done a lot of like testimonial and documentary style work where the, the facility we go into when we're shooting, for example, the Kisko Freezy Factory, we get a lot of the content from the real world, but then the story itself to what kind of story it is and who's telling it. Because the interviews, for example, the hospitality tv, we didn't meet the people before, so we didn't really get a lot of like, we couldn't do a pre interview or anything. We had limited knowledge of the people going into it. So we just had to have a plan, but then find the story when we're interviewing the people. But also, yeah, like going back to the client and understanding the client's vision. So for example, we were filming for two years now for Estonian foundation of Canada. We went to film for their Christmas market. And one of the things that for us it was like the first instinct was to shoot the vendors and to show the market the beautiful table setups and the crafts and the beautiful things that people were selling and buying. But from the first meetings with the client, we realized that for them, the Christmas market, it's not about say, buying and selling things for them, it's about people coming together to celebrate the Christmas time and interacting with each other and seeing each other. So kind of that kind of made us go into it with this mindset that we're. Instead of filming the tables and the product exchange at the market, we were trying to find those emotions, to find those hugs and greetings and smiles and the kids running and, and the bottom line is just to have meetings to talk through to understand what the client wants and then how we can make that happen. [00:20:51] Speaker B: There's obviously been a lot like it's been a learning process. Right. For you, for all of you. And has there been any unexpected lessons where you've learned, you know, since launching and how has it shaped the way you approach your work now? [00:21:04] Speaker E: So one thing that we, we learned and took from, from the program, from the broadcasting program is the structure of storytelling. And, and like the Christmas market, like we film everything from setup to like people coming in to like everything happening. And yet later on we realized that, that we don't. I mean there is that part of the storytelling too. But like we don't have to stick to, from the beginning to middle to end. We can just highlight like the arc of it and basically just film, learn to film the things that we know we will use and things that are actually useful for the final video. And that's something that we learn. Now we don't just film mindlessly and film whatever it is. Like we actually think about what we're going to film and wonder if it's going to look good in the video and, and things like that because we know how our editor works too. So we know what to film and what not to film. Now that's, I would say that's an unexpected learning, learning experience for us. Yeah, yeah. [00:22:16] Speaker D: And also I think all of this is a little bit new because it used to be like pretty like. Yeah, like filming setup and then whatever is going on and it used to be like super linear, but now everything is just like super fast, super quick, just straight to the point. And I also remember like when I used to do YouTube videos and I used to watch them, everything was like that. Like videos used to take a lot of time. They were like maybe 20 minutes, they recorded the whole thing. But now it's super quick, straight to the point. So now the storytelling has changed a little bit, the structure of storytelling. So yeah, that's something pretty new to us. So yeah, that was pretty unexpected actually. [00:23:10] Speaker C: Yeah, learning that and that we have learned that through work. And another like sort of unexpected lesson maybe would be leaving room or leaving it more open for the story to come out more in the documentary style videos because we were in the program. We were taught to have so much pre production, to have everything figured out, everything planned out. And when we went on these sets where we couldn't really do that before, we kind of felt a little bit unprepared because we didn't have a shot list, we didn't have a storyboard. We couldn't do all that in advance because we had never, like, we didn't have an option to do tech survey. We had to figure it out on the day off on set. And it felt like we felt a little bit unprepared at first. But then actually we have realized now that, yes, we do have a plan going on set, and we do know the main thing we want to get out of it. But actually the story might turn into something entirely different. And you have to be open to that and not get stuck in what you initially thought the story will be. Because, for example, the hospitality TV too. We were interviewing Imran from Northern Smokes, and all we knew about it is that he founded his barbecue smokehouse and it was going to be a story about the smokehouse. But when we were interviewing him, so much more came out of it. The story went so much deeper than we thought. He was telling us all about how, like, in their first years, they were giving out their leftover food to homeless people and how he supports hockey kids who don't have enough money for equipment and how that's really important to him. And all of these, like, personal stories came out of it that we had no idea about. So just kind of knowing that, yeah, you can have a plan, but then being open to the plan changing when you're on set and being open for the story to unveil itself on set and not being so worried about the preparation beforehand and having this all figured out before you go into production. [00:25:32] Speaker B: Oh, for sure. [00:25:33] Speaker D: I know. [00:25:33] Speaker B: I remember the documentary classes back when I was a student, and it was the same thing as like, okay, here, prepare, prepare, prepare, prepare. And then the ones that we did in college were a bit more easier and not as in depth and stuff. But then when I got out to my actual job, you know, suddenly you go on, you. You do the same thing, the same process. You go out and then you find out that this wrestler that you're interviewing just lost his father and opened up about that and how his dream was to do all these things. Or, you know, you go out and you take a hard left, turn down an alleyway, and suddenly you're dealing with people who are dealing with substance abuse and you're like, okay, how do I deal with this? What do I do with the camera? How do I like. And you just kind of. You gotta think on your feet, right? [00:26:22] Speaker C: Yeah. You gotta adjust and. And if you try to stick to your initial questions or anything, you might miss that. You might miss the bigger story or the deeper story behind that or just something interesting that comes out that you weren't expecting. So learning to. To expect that and adjust to that has. Has been a big thing for us. [00:26:44] Speaker E: And. [00:26:45] Speaker B: And creating a successful production company is definitely no small feat. So what do you think has been the key to standing out in such a competitive industry? And what advice would you give to other entrepreneurs looking to follow a similar path as yourselves? [00:26:59] Speaker D: Definitely contacts and relationships. Like, definitely. We wouldn't be here if it wouldn't be for our teachers. Karen, Wanda. Like, they've really given us a lot of opportunities with Centennial and working with other people and with other Centennial students. In one of our projects, we worked with three of them. It was really amazing. They worked so well with us. So, yeah, definitely relationships is something to keep in mind if you want to grow and if you want to be successful. [00:27:40] Speaker C: Yeah. Networking, having these contacts. And it's been so valuable to us. Not only the professors, but also other students from the program. Not even from our year. Every bigger project we've had so far, we've had other. Other students or grads come on set with us if we need. Like, there's only four of us, and in a bigger production, we need more people. So we have some people that we can call to come on set with us. We have people who can come help us with GRIP or we have people who can come and help us produce. So this network is the biggest thing. [00:28:24] Speaker E: Yeah. And it's good to maintain it, and it's good that they're there for us. We don't have to worry about if they know how to use the equipment. You just bring them on set and they're ready to go. And that's been a great thing for us and they've been really helpful. Yeah, yeah. [00:28:42] Speaker C: And Centennial, like, we've done a lot of Centennial events and Centennial has been our client now. So, like, the word of mouth, marketing that goes from there, because if they get a video that they like and they enjoy the process of working with us, then they will show that to their department, their friends, and then it grows from there. So that has been so great for us. [00:29:10] Speaker B: So just before we wrap up, I do want to find out about the future. So what's next for Rudy Productions? And are there any industries or styles or, you know, types of productions that you guys want to work on in the future? [00:29:25] Speaker D: So we definitely know we want to keep doing this. This is something we really, really love, something we're passionate about. And we might try different niches, if that's what you mean. Yeah. Maybe like we were thinking about music videos or something else that could potentially work for us or interest event videography. We're still figuring out some stuff. [00:29:55] Speaker C: Yeah. But what we do now, we really like it and we're open to all kinds of projects and yeah, just keep doing this. Taking on. It's very important for us that we are making content that we are proud of and that we're taking on work that matters to us. We don't do it just for like, we don't take on any project that brings us money or just any, like, work that we find or we, we want to do things that we choose to do and things that the matter. Tell the stories that matter. And that has been like our main principle, doing this Rudy Production, because it's not our full time job right now. We all kind of do other things on the side and then Rudy Productions is this great thing that we're doing together. [00:30:50] Speaker E: Yeah. At this moment, we don't want to make it our main responsibility yet. We kind of just want to create content because we enjoy it and it's something we want to tell the story and it's something that we're all, we all agree with and we're all happy about. Yeah. [00:31:07] Speaker C: Yeah. And we still keep growing individually and as a company. [00:31:11] Speaker B: Well, that is. That's amazing. And I wish you guys the best of luck with the future and for future productions. You know, thank you so much for being on the podcast today. [00:31:22] Speaker C: Thank you. [00:31:23] Speaker E: Yeah, thank you. [00:31:24] Speaker D: Thank you so much for having us. [00:31:25] Speaker E: Yeah, thank you. [00:31:26] Speaker B: We'll have you back in five, ten years or so and we'll do a recap on the last, like the last decade and see how it all. [00:31:34] Speaker E: Yeah. [00:31:34] Speaker C: And then have interns from the broadcasting program. You know, the cycle will keep going. [00:31:48] Speaker A: It's always great to learn about the journey behind a company's creation. So thank you to Ashley, Alejandro and Hetty for sharing their story. We cannot wait to see the exciting projects you take on in the future. Now, if you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or let us know on our Instagram storyartcenter. Until next time, I'm your host, Pat Quigley, and this is Storyteller in Depth.