We were lucky to catch up with Lukas Schulz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lukas, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose through permanently asking myself whether I like what I do or not. Every day. Again and again. Does it make me happy? Do I like going to this jobsite? Do I enjoy working for this client? Now, not everything is always rosy but constantly asking yourself whether you feel fulfilled, is very important.
When I started freelancing in 2018 I was a one man band for the longest time. Operating camera, audio, lighting, creative direction, client comms and so on. This got old very quickly and I started to feel resentment towards some of the jobs I took on. I loved making videos but I didn’t enjoy some of the tasks mentioned above. By asking myself all those aforementioned questions I was able to identify where I want to be and what goal I want to work towards.
Now, I solely direct on set and executive produce our projects and have a team around me that enjoys each part of the production process themselves and frankly speaking, they do it better than I could’ve ever done it. I learn a lot from each of them.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Sure thing! I run STMNT Studios, a video agency based in San Francisco. STMNT is a full service production agency enabling agencies and businesses to create videos effortlessly. We have a 3000 square foot studio space in the heart of San Francisco. We offer in-house creative services but also tackle the execution of your production if you have all scripting done already.
I have two topics I’m very excited to talk about:
#1:
We’re excited to launch our new video content strategy services. We integrate with your current digital marketing agency and polish up all your paid media channels by creating the strategy, creatives and producing your videos.
www.stmntstudios.com/strategy
#2:
Our studio space in San Francisco is taking more shape. We opened it up to the public in 2022 and have been building new sets and adding to the space ever since. At this point we have 7 different sets built that can be used for interviews, headshots, lounging, parties etc. If you ever find yourself in SF, let us know so we can give you a tour.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Dedication: This might be an easy one but being dedicated to your goals is very important. You need a good reason to wake up in the morning, on the good and the bad days. Entrepreneurship isn’t all rosy all the time but a dedicated mindset will help you problem-solve efficiently.
Teambuilding:
A significant aspect of STMNT’s development is based on the team that has helped it grow. Focus on your strengths and outsource your weaknesses. If you love art directing, do it. If copywriting is not one of your fortés, find somebody who does it well. A good team will help you expand your vision further than you can think of.
Networking:
Your network is everything. Not just on the team-building side but also on the client side. Most of our business still comes through word-of-mouth. Especially at the beginning of your journey, you are the face of your business. Tell people about it, ask questions, collaborate, and build a network that supports what you do.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Building out the team and structuring our productions efficiently:
Video production can be very complex, and the higher the budgets, the more people you need. Gear gets more expensive, locations come at a higher price point, and so on. We aim to break through old video production hierarchies and use our crew more efficiently by having them wear multiple hats on set. This ultimately saves us time and money.
Since the start of STMNT in 2018, the core crew has remained mostly unchanged. Building out the team and ensuring they understand every aspect of production has greatly helped in bringing structure to our projects, making the experience effortless for clients, talent, and crew.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stmntstudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stmnt.studios/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukas-schulz-stmnt-studios/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stmntstudios6570
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Cat Fennell Headshot + Studio Photo Credit: STMNT Studios
