We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Paulina Lagudi Ulrich. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Paulina below.
Paulina, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Resilience is a muscle. I don’t believe you get it from one particular source. I don’t believe you inherit it. I believe we all are born with the ability to be resilient, but it only comes from exposing yourself to really difficult things and choosing not give up. This industry is not built for the faint hearted. Choosing a freelance career and then building a business is not easy. I built so much of my resilience over time just being a competitor in one form or another. Writing scripts, making shorts, bidding on commercials, all of it faces rejection more times than it doesn’t. There are so many times I’ve wanted to give up, but choosing to keep going, to be resilient, has lead to enough success to make a living doing what I love.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My husband and I co-own a commercial production company named Say Little. We’ve spent years collaborating as a director/DP duo on commercials and narrative projects, which inspired us to launch our own venture. Our background as creatives and crew members informs our approach to production, prioritizing efficiency and direct collaboration between the creative vision, client objectives, and production process.
As a husband-wife team, we foster a positive, enjoyable environment on set, pushing creative boundaries and maximizing production value. We aim to create a familial atmosphere, unlike the often isolating dynamics found on many sets. Collaboration is key for us; we emphasize working closely with both the agency and client to ensure a cohesive and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
What sets Say Little apart? It’s us. With distinct strengths in both creative and business aspects, we complement each other perfectly. While I handle client interactions and creative oversight, my husband manages budgets, logistics, and crew coordination. Our deep trust and understanding of each other’s roles allow us to operate seamlessly, enabling extensive prepping and fostering a unified crew dynamic on set.
Our recent work includes impactful campaigns such as ACEs Aware and Never a Bother for the CA office of the surgeon general & office of public health, as well as collaborations with influential figures like Megan Thee Stallion on mental health initiatives.
The decision to establish Say Little stemmed from our observation of inefficiencies in commercial and narrative sets, from communication gaps to misallocated resources. We believed our unique situation as married creatives and producers could streamline operations. We advocate for a lean, efficient team structure, minimizing unnecessary roles and fostering trust between production and crew.
Moreover, I bring my experiences as a director, writer, and mother into our leadership approach. My maternal instinct creates a caring and trusting atmosphere, both within our team and with clients. We’re proud to be a women-owned business, challenging taboos surrounding motherhood and career success in the industry. Say Little is not just a production company; it’s a testament to our shared vision, efficiency, and commitment to inclusivity and impactful storytelling.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three qualities/skills/areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey were ambition, self-reflection/awareness, and committing to self-created deadlines. So, with that said, my advice to folks who are early in their journey is GO. FOR. IT. My ambition got me up and dreaming about what to create. My commitment to self-created deadlines got me executing what I had set out to create and completing those projects. Finally, my self-reflection/awareness forced me to be brutally honest with myself about where I needed to improve as an artist, which, ultimately, motivated me enough to push for the next project.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Being a mother of 2 little ones and running a business, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed. What I have learned is overwhelm occurs when we look at the big picture of everything all at once. So I break it all up. I write down a few things to tackle right now and then chip away at what feels overwhelming. Truly, taking it one step at a time, one day at a time. That’s what works best for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saylittle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saylittle_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulina-lagudi-ulrich-0940ba112/
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