Today we’d like to introduce you to Skye Bleu.
Hi Skye, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always had a respect for the craft of filmmaking, though I never knew exactly which aspects sparked my interest until I got involved in my first short film. It was then I fell in love with the idea of facilitating a space where artists and creatives could come together in a collaborative way. Though producing isn’t popularly known for being creative in nature, it is the most rewarding job because I get to use my unique logistical, organizational, and negotiating skills in an environment that creates meaningful art I am passionate about. I truly knew this was my calling when I found that I could combine my skills with those of artists to create memorializing work.
Though I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the arts while at school, instead of studying film I decided to take the route of business real estate so I could ensure that my knowledge would be uniquely well-rounded for when I graduated and entered the industry.
Three weeks after graduating from Chapman University, I acquired my real estate license in preparation for expanding building our stage rental business, and soon afterward filed to officiate Skye Film Studios with my partner and co-founder, Sahvannah Rae. Since then I have worked with her building Skye Film Studios into an independent film and television studio that caters to the female voice. We have build a slate of projects we are incredibly proud of and are excited to announce that we will begin filming our first full-length feature in February 2023. Through this journey, I think the most important thing I have learned is to diversify every part of our business, so we have made it a goal to keep our focus well-rounded in terms of projects, business endeavors, partnerships, and goals.
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?
The film business is a very unique beast of an industry, so finding my way took me on a very unpredictable road. I had to learn to navigate all the unknowns of being a first-time business owner, in addition to finding a way to combat the self-doubt as well as brainstorm a way for Skye Film Studios to stand out.
I knew that creating a production company was not going to be easy, so I decided to design an unorthodox business model that would ensure an income and keep the business afloat until we were able to secure funding for our projects. By partnering with our sister companies, Skye Stages and Skye Rentals, we have been able to build a cyclical collaboration that allows us to throw events at Skye Stage venues with equipment from the production rental house, Skye Rentals. In turn, all profits we revenue from these events, whether they are from art shows, concerts, car shows, and everything in between, is able to directly fund our own film projects. With this model, we have been able to collaborate with filmmakers from around the world to build a company that at its core is authentically unique. We have been able to market and promote the business in this incredible environment that brings creatives together in an effortless way.
This model has not only been essential to our marketing but has also been able to act as seed money towards filming proof of concepts, creating decks, and funding the development scripts we are passionate about. Only then are we able to go out and pitch with well-prepared material with a confidence that our projects have been nurtured with all the right tools. As first-generation Mexican Americans, my sister and I have learned from our long line of familial entrepreneurs the value of hard work and thinking outside the box. That combined with our love of storytelling has brought us where we are today and given us something we are incredibly proud to call our own.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Skye Film Studios was started as an independent studio dedicated to creating quality content with a diverse slate showcasing authentic and original female voices. Unlike other production companies, we have created a unique model by utilizing our sister companies, Skye Stages and Skye Rentals, to create a triad of tools that our creative partners can utilize for success. Our focus has always been to build a platform where people of color, especially women, can share their unique stories. Our company is involved in all aspects of filmmaking beginning from development and ending with the distribution. We work with our creative partners from start to finish including idea and deck development, pitch creation, script development, pitching, pre-production, filming, post-production, and distribution.
Because we are a small team, we take pride in the fact that each project we decide to bring onto our slate is something that we feel incredibly passionate about. We always wanted our focus to be on the creative, and by experimenting with unique business models, we have found a way to keep art at the forefront while still sustaining a profit. In this sense, since we are a young company the film industry is so unpredictable we learned to utilize my real estate background to diversify our portfolio to ensure that there are multiple sources of income.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I have learned along the way is stay consistent, passionate, and creative in everything I do. It’s also crucial to continue to learn different aspects in your field. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, experiment, and constantly learn something new because it makes you a more well-rounded producer. I am continuously building my own set of knowledge in order to diversify my platter of skills as much as possible. I aim to understand every part of the business and am constantly challenging the norm in order to find new and innovative ways to navigate this unique industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: skyefilmstudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyefilmstudios/
Image Credits
Sahvannah Rae
