Today we’d like to introduce you to Wes Neil.
Wes, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always been the creative type, sketching through classes in school, then diving into the nineties graffiti scene on the east coast where I’m from. Graffiti, skateboarding, and BMX all went together back then. In the early 2000s, me and a high school friend who’s family owned a screen printing shop started an action sports clothing line. I designed, he printed. We sponsored skate and BMX athletes and traveled to events all over the country. We didn’t have the cash to pay for professional video and photography, so I had to figure it out myself. Around 2008 video recording capabilities were introduced to DSLR cameras. That changed everything. I immediately started producing quality content for our company as well as friends companies and brands. That led to the start of Black Sail Media.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been mostly smooth. The biggest struggle along the way has been marketing and sales. I’m about as introverted as it gets. So sales isn’t my strong suit, and good help is hard to find. Luckily the majority of our projects come from referrals and repeat happy clients.
Black Sail Media – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Black Sail Media is a creative production company that provides businesses with cinematic video and branded content. We specialize in creating video content for companies to use as part of their marketing strategy, both on the web and social media. We are known for our cinematic Real Estate videos because we do so many in Los Angeles. What sets us apart from others is our style of filming and editing. I can say that as a company I’m proud when I hear that a client chose us because they see an obvious difference in our work. There is no shortage of video production companies in Los Angeles. Especially in the real estate world now that anyone can buy a camera and a drone and label themselves a “company.” We film with the best gear and work with the best drone pilots and crew around.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success, for me, is running a company that stands out from the rest, produces recognizable work, and stays busy with little to no marketing, just referrals, and loyal clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blacksailmedia.com
- Email: info@blacksailmedia.com
- Instagram: @blacksailmedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blacksailmedia
