Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Boyter.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Anna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Bear Hands Media Group was founded in 2014 where I started seeking out the best Filmmaker talent Houston had to offer. I wanted true artists with a keen eye for aesthetics as well as the ability to objectively tell engaging stories. I also knew I needed to build a team of artists that played off of each other, inspired one another and valued being in a constant state of growth. Also, what I’ve found doesn’t work well is hierarchy. So, I’ve built the business with the standard corporate bureaucracy turned on its head. Each project, we treat differently and sometimes even within the same project we’ll adjust roles. Sometimes, I act as Director and sometimes I take out the trash. It’s the same for the entire crew. We are stronger in each aspect of production than most because we all step up to accomplish production goals no matter how big or small our role is. I’ve found it fosters a creative environment where crew is less concerned about the titles they hold and more invested in working together as a team of artists to produce the best possible films. Everyone is equally respected and valued as leaders here.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The game is changing very quickly as there are more opportunities for creative industry entrepreneurs to find success. Yes, you hit plenty of road bumps along the way. I have doors slammed in my face regularly whether it’s pitching a new feature film screenplay or failed submissions to film festivals or a slower than expected wedding season (…thank you, Harvey…). My advice is simple. You have to be strong enough to remain relentless and humble enough to ask for help when you need it. For every door that shuts on you, considers constructive criticism from your peers, adjust if you need to and then goes and knocks on a thousand more. It’s all about creative solutions, finding others you respect if you need advice and pushing forward no matter how challenging the current climate may seem.
Please tell us about Bear Hands Media Group.
I speak for the team when I say we are so proud of every piece we produce. Each project is our baby, we put everything we have into the stories we tell. We specialize in Wedding Films, Episodic Productions, Feature Films, Commercial Work and Digital Content for Social Media Advertising. Katie’s working on a fleshing out her lead project, Rookie Bride Move, a super fun bridal informational series for digital outlets. Justin’s leading production on an unscripted series called Small Town Returns and a narrative feature film, Print The Legend. I’m leading an unscripted series, Show Us Your Goods and working on finalizing a narrative feature film screenplay, Bogart’s On The Boulevard. Christine is helping us lead production on several large-scale commercial projects and, of course, we all take different leadership roles on our wedding story short films. Needless to say, we are all very busy leading our own projects and working together as a team to accomplish our production goals.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
I’ll expand a bit. Relentlessness is something you can train yourself to be if you’re not. I’m not! I’m extremely quiet and naturally antisocial. The more you speak in public, the more you pitch your projects, the more you interact with clients, the easier it all gets. So, you have to seek out those opportunities relentlessly. Also, a revelation I had in this process is bigger, corporate giants, like the ones that will slam a door in your face, are sometimes just as insecure and just as lost as you might feel as a new entrepreneur. As industries are changing, so is the recipe for achieving and maintaining success. I learned very quickly that, sometimes, strategizing your projects differently than they (whoever’s standing in your way) have, will open that same door again. Because now, you know something about what works in the industry that they don’t, think for example unique social media and grassroots strategies. “Staying humble enough to ask for help when you need it” is the other piece to that puzzle. You’ll figure out who the other successful people are in your industry that is producing work you respect. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them for advice and direction, you’d be surprised who will pick up the phone if you just call. And that input is invaluable in your journey to success. Confident, successful people understand the value of working with their up-and-coming competition, not against them. Collaboration is a very powerful thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: BearHandsMedia.com
- Phone: (970) 729-8799
- Email: hello@bearhandsmedia.com
- Instagram: @bearhandsmedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bearhandsmedia
- Twitter: @bearhandsmedia
Image Credit:
Team Photos by Chris Bailey Photography
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