Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Gruy.
Ryan, before we jump into specific questions about the company, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It was while attending Texas A&M University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, that I enrolled in a brand new program being offered – a Minor in Film Studies. It examined the art of film from a philosophical perspective. How filmmaking originated, the reasoning behind the why and how films were produced, and the power they could have on audiences just fascinated me! It also related to my degree; communicating through movies just seemed, cool. To target an audience and relay a specific message, well, isn’t that what good marketing and advertising is all about? I decided that this would be a pretty good skill to develop. Although these college film courses mainly inspected filmic principles, especially much older films to say the least, left me craving a “technical” or hands-on approach. To my satisfaction, I joined a film club enabling me to explore my creativity by making fun, short films. Enter my first Apple computer. Apple Computer had recently come back strong into the market with the reinstatement of Steve Jobs as the CEO and their computers shipped standard with video editing software. This allowed me with ease to enter the techy side of creating videos, thus satisfying my appetite without breaking the bank on equipment, as with traditional linear editing systems. Now that I had the tools, I just needed to hone my skills. Another great resource for me was my younger brother who was attaining a degree in Radio, Television, and Film at the University of Texas at Austin. We would often discuss filmmaking techniques and bounce ideas off of one another, as well as attending some film festivals. Shortly after graduating in 2002, I began working part-time as a Video-Graphics Media Specialist for a company in The Woodlands, Texas.
Then, Apple opened up their first Houston retail store in The Galleria, where I worked the remaining of my available hours as a Mac Specialist. It was a perfect blend of two part-time jobs, really complimenting one another. For one company, I was producing promotional video content for park openings, meetings, and other live events such as teen talent shows, triathlons, and Earth Day and National Night Out community programs. As for working in retail, I was informing prospective consumers on the many advantages of using Mac Computers. Remember, this was pre-iPhone and back in the days of the early iPods; most of the world did not use Apple products. To sum it up and put simply, I was sold on and felt a strong passion for Apple products, wanting to share the love with others, but also used the employee discount to my advantage. Yes, I totally admit to being an Apple fanatic! I was also able to work some side projects, such as video montages for weddings, birthdays, bat mitzvahs, and memorials. This gave me some underlying confidence and experience working on my own outside of my current jobs. I slowly phased out working for Apple Retail in 2006 when I was given the opportunity to go full-time at my other job. I chose this route because it was a higher-paying job with benefits and seemed to have a better, long-term future.
Boy, was I wrong! In 2007, I was part of a layoff due to a change in management philosophy, let’s just say it was an odd year. I started working for other video production houses, but the hours and pay were not that great. There was a surge in wedding videography, so I was primarily editing wedding videos that they had shot for their clients. I felt as if I was doing the bulk of the work for a small wage. Then it just clicked one day; I was spending my time building up other entrepreneurs’ businesses, why not just go solo and reap the benefits? On my dominant right hand, I felt in control, I was now able to call the shots. On my left hand, it was very scary, not knowing how to operate a business. I told myself I would rather try and fail, than not try at all. From that moment on, I find myself to where I am today. Altogether, I consider myself self-taught at my craft with humble beginnings
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Primarily, it has been a relatively easy journey. I have to give credit where credit is due. My wife has been very encouraging. As a savvy, businesswoman, she continues to give me priceless advice. I often tease her about being my “silent” business partner, as well as my “not so silent” partner for life. One of the biggest struggles though, was learning how to legitimately run a business, from accounting and legal standards. Also, as a hindrance, I had to learn how to operate the business on cash and not credit, realizing that one doesn’t have to have a team of people or the latest and greatest equipment to be successful. An individual is only as great as they choose to be, regardless of the gear they stand behind. It’s so easy to get sucked into the trap of constantly having to purchase and update one’s equipment, that one could easily find themself in a pit of debt. I would strongly encourage every business owner to always operate on a budget, trying to keep their expenses low and income high, as well as having a reserve of three to six months of savings for operating expenses when the waterfall of work dries up. Spoiler alert, I learned this from Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. This method does require much sacrifice, discipline, and diligence and does not come easy, but once mastered, it is truly rewarding!
Please tell us about the company.
Film Latte is a full-service, boutique video production company headquartered north of Houston. Similar to a great barista, I brew custom-tailored videos for other businesses that need to get their story or message out to a specific audience. I offer an overall understanding of all facets of video production to my clients from a first-time, free consultation to the finished, fresh final edit, and everything else in between. I am proud that I am very client-oriented, and aware that clear communication and correct pre-production is crucial to transcend client expectations, ultimately growing their brands. What sets me apart from others is that I keep a low overhead, so that savings are passed to the client, without sacrificing any quality of workmanship.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Looking towards the future, I am just going to keep doing what works best for my business and clients, which is to continually offer high quality videos for a modest cost. My niche market is other small businesses, helping the little guys grow and get their brands recognized. I see technology getting better and more affordable all the time, so my guess is more people will want to get into the video industry. Just look at the superior cameras on the latest smart phones and social media platforms such as YouTube. Other than helping other entrepreneurs, my dream would be to pass the torch to my daughter, if she chooses to follow in my footsteps.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.filmlatte.com
- Phone: 832-592-7242
- Email: ryan@filmlatte.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmlatte/
- Other: https://www.vimeo.com/filmlatte
Image Credit:
Ryan Gruy
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