Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly LeDay.
Hi Carly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My filmmaking journey has been a remarkable adventure shaped by a series of fortunate events. From a young age, I was captivated by the magic of cinema, thanks to my dad’s influence and our shared love for movies like The Shawshank Redemption, The Last of the Mohicans, and The Batman Trilogy. Despite my initial path in marketing and entrepreneurship, fate intervened when I met someone equally passionate about filmmaking. Our instant connection and shared dream of owning a production company propelled us to brainstorm our business plan in a library. With my background in entrepreneurship and programming, I jumped at the chance to be part of the venture. In just a year and a half, we’ve turned our dream into reality, producing commercials, short films, and music videos. Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come from that initial brainstorming session, and I’m excited to continue pushing boundaries and pursuing our filmmaking dreams.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If any entrepreneur or creative says that the journey was easy, I would question the destination.
The journey hasn’t been easy, especially considering my lack of formal education in film. After brainstorming Chateaux Rouge Cinema and deciding that we would go all in, I was also trying to balance life as an MBA student, having a job, and building a film studio from scratch with the help of my father and partner. It was challenging and I can’t say all is fine and dandy now, entrepreneurship creates obstacles but my determination to pursue my passion for filmmaking and support others in finding theirs kept me going. Despite the obstacles, I remain committed to overcoming challenges and achieving success in the film industry.
As you know, we’re big fans of Chateaux Rouge Cinema. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our business is a production company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and founded by myself and my amazing partner in life and film, Bryce Miguel Williams. We’re a pair of passionate self-taught filmmakers, who love our home state and want to cultivate a community of creatives and aspiring filmmakers in our city.
We specialize in crafting narrative-driven commercials and short films and are known for our unique style of lighting the stories we tell. What sets us apart is not only the stories we choose to produce but also the partnership and our commitment to supporting and uplifting our local creative community. Despite not having formal film education, we’re passionate about every aspect of the film industry and want to take others along the way as we build our community and name.
My proudest achievement as a business owner is the impact we’ve had on the individuals we’ve worked with and the broader creative community in Baton Rouge. We take pride in always having a safe, fun, and supportive environment where, no matter what level you are at, you can always learn and also be able to teach others. Beyond our services in production, we prioritize community building and mentorship. Whether it’s through private film screening, training or just providing a space for creatives to collaborate, our goal is to contribute to the growth and success of filmmakers in our city and beyond.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The quality I consider most crucial to my success and the success of my company is adaptability. From transitioning from a background in marketing and event planning to diving headfirst into the world of filmmaking, adaptability has been key. As a Producer, I know I must adapt and also run a production where others can easily adapt when things go wrong. Pivoting based on feedback, weather, or other factors is something all Producers and production companies face – and it’s honestly a superpower. You have to be flexible and calm during the good and bad, and that will allow you to thrive in any ever-changing industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carlyleday.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carly_leday/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-leday-mba-3b711a10a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@carlylejour
- Other: https://www.chateauxrougecinema.com/
