Today we’d like to introduce you to Sahir Champion.
Hi Sahir Champion, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started off in post-production. While I was in college, I worked at the Syracuse editing suite and had my first intro to editing. After college, I got a job as a runner, then eventually asst. editor with a commercial editing company. After a few years, I went freelance and moved to Los Angeles.
Once in LA, I was introduced to the agency world. When I was an editor, I got to work on the inside-working for great agencies within their internal editing departments. Being in that room was so enlightening, hearing the conversations and workflows and thoughts and ideologies, not to mention all the talented people in the building. Those relationships taught me a lot as well.
It was around that time that I started shooting my own projects. That was back when it was still film. I’d take 20k and re-invest it into myself by creating my reel. No one is going to believe in you more than you! I had no one to produce for me, so I started producing myself. By the time I looked up because I was freelance for so long- I could agency produce, production produce, post produce, direct and edit and supervise finish. I learned so much by freelancing rather than being a staffer. I’m not gonna lie and say it was easy, but it was worthwhile to be able to acquire so many different skill sets. This is what I believe make a great producer, someone who has done many diff jobs to know how it all works together.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
By all means, it has not been all peaches and cream. In the opening soundtrack to “Power”, 50 cents said, “I never took a straight path to nowhere, life’s filled with bumps and bruises, you live you learn” And that’s the absolute truth. I’ve faced hardship and struggle, but the struggle is what builds character. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. I’m not afraid of hard work.
There have been many struggles along the way. I grew up in NY during the 80s and it was tough and beautiful at the same time. I saw the 1st hand effects that crack had on our community. Crime was normal. I had family members who hustled and were in the streets. They always taught me hustler ideologies, but they didn’t want me in the streets doing what they did. That’s what you call FAMILY! So I was around hood stuff and saw a lot. It’s here that I learned that you can take street knowledge and apply it to anything else and prosper. Either way, you gotta handle your business before your business handles you!
My thoughts and priorities have changed as I matured. I’ve asked myself how badly do I want this? Remember the Ray Allen clip? Do you want it as bad as you want to breathe? What am I willing to do to achieve my goal? No one wants to hear why not, only why! Provide solutions rather than problems. Aspire to inspire!
Even in the face of adversity, it is my time to outshine any obstacle by being my best self. Every obstacle is an opportunity to build, grow, learn and to be better.
Some of my biggest obstacles have been systemic racism, fear, doubt and being broke. No matter the adversity, it is my duty to overcome. I take full responsibility for the things I want to occur in my life. Sometimes, you gotta go thru it to get to it!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d like to think of myself as a creative juggernaut. I like to create period. Some projects I produce and direct, others I agency produce. It all really depends on how we package the project.
S7 Studios specializes in docu-style and beauty genres within commercial production, which also includes any advertising & branded content. We also have a division that handles long format, like docs, features, and tv.
I’m most proud that we are now paying it forward by implementing a mentoring program. We take Black & Brown folks and get them hands-on training and internships to show someone our various departments. For example, if someone’s interested in sound, we mentor them from on-set recording all the way thru the finishing in regards to the sound. This includes music, mixing, splits and final delivery.
Each mentee can see someone like themselves doing the things they didn’t think possible, thus opening a direct lineage in the industry and the opportunity to grow. I, myself, have had several mentors in my life and I’ve learned different things from each of them. S/O to Jeff Richter, Wayne Isham, Chris Applebaum, Gil Green, Martell Rose, Hype Williams, Chris Robinson, Nico Beyer, Jesse Terrero, Rocky Morton, Jake Scott, Pam Thomas, Glenn Martin, Joel Marcus, Rick Lawley, Jon Hopp, Susan Munro, Dan Bootzin, Life Garland, Jack Douglas. RIP Michael Bartoli, my guy! I feel as though it’s my duty to pay it forward as so many have mentored me. As Maya Angelou said, If you learn, teach, when you get, give.”
What sets me and S7 Studios apart is our why, our raison d’etre, if you will. We are dedicated to eradicating racism and injustice. And of course, we want to do great creative work. We love using colorful palettes to help set the right mood.
We created S7 during the pandemic, right after the George Floyd brutal attack. We were frustrated and decided we needed to do our part and create content/ work that aimed to help thru understanding. We decided, right then and there, that we needed to tell unique stories from our experiences as Black and Brown people. There are so many amazing stories out there that depict various life situations that we go thru that others don’t. It’s perspective on how we can help develop, create, and sustain our communities and ourselves thru mentorship. We make stuff and believe there is a voice that needs to be heard. We are here to make a difference, period!
What makes you happy?
Happiness is a state of mind. I’m just happy to be here and have another day. Someone didn’t wake up today. We all have a chance and a choice every day. Gotta make the most out of any situation.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://s7studios.tv
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahirselfsavior
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sahirselfsavior
- Other: http://instagram.com/s7studios
Image Credits
Stephen Brooks S7 Studios
