Inspiring Conversations with Geonni Sigl of Onni Creative

Today we’d like to introduce you to Geonni Sigl.

Hi Geonni, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I moved to Las Vegas, I got a job working in retail marketing + event management. I thrived in that position before moving to LA with my husband. Once in LA, I went back to school to earn an Interior Architecture degree from Santa Monica College and also earned a certificate in Art Direction for film/television. I’ve always been fascinated by design. After a couple other positions, I interviewed at Annapurna Pictures which later entered a joint venture with MGM as United Artists Releasing (UAR). UAR was more recently acquired by Amazon. I was the Director of In-Theatre Marketing for these different companies and then the pandemic hit. After a round of furloughs, I founded Onni Creative as a way into art + production design. As I saw the detrimental effects the pandemic was wreaking on cinemas and exhibition, OC expanded to include cinema marketing. When I was working at the studio, I was always impressed by the creative and inventiveness of the small + independent cinemas. The business continued to grow and now we serve filmmakers, brands, studios, and cinemas with our cinema and art + production services.

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?
Absolutely not–my journey has been far from linear. I actually never thought I would work in marketing. As previously mentioned, I earned my degree in interior architecture, so film marketing was not the plan originally. I grew up being told (as many of us did), “get the job, then climb the corporate ladder,” but that never resonated with me. It was challenging because with such varied interests, I never felt there was one job or role that checked all the boxes. I never gave up, trying almost every job along the way, and I truly feel all those jobs led me to where I am today. I wouldn’t be able to own and run a business without the roles I’ve played in my career.

It’s also interesting because my first foray into entertainment marketing was at a woman-owned studio. As a woman and person of color, I know how hard it can be to break into this industry, get a seat at the table, or be heard. I was fortunate to work for a woman founder that inspired me to start my own business.

Because I know the struggles of breaking into entertainment, Onni Creative has a robust internship program where we provide the opportunity for others to get their foot in the door. Our interns are invited to industry events, internal + external webinars about exhibition, and gain invaluable hands-on experience. In addition, I am currently the Vice President of Women in Exhibition (WIE), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and advancing women (and allies) professionals within cinema exhibition.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Onni Creative?
Onni Creative (OC) is a full-service creative agency serving entertainment clients. Founded with the purpose of uplifting women in the workplace, OC’s vision is to promote a creative space within the industry that welcomes all. Each project is unique, and our approach is to develop a deep understanding of our clients’ practical needs + wants and deliver impeccable service while maintaining each client’s vision, brand, and budgetary requirements.

OC houses two channels: art + production and cinema marketing. OC offers production design and art department services for film, TV, commercial, brand, and photography shoots. The company helps a broad range of commercial + entertainment clients bring their visions to life through color theory, custom lookbooks, prop + decor styling, and set design + art direction. Projects range from The Cut’s Euphoria special feature to Amazon Prime’s Blue Room at San Diego Comic Con to the Emmy-winning second season of I Think You Should Leave.

Onni Creative is dedicated to helping cinema’s elevate the guest experience through captivating marketing strategies that attract new customers and retain loyal patrons. With OC’s full-service offerings, the team provides long-term marketing + social media strategy, standout concession + promo products, and experiential design. Passionate about supporting small + midsize independent cinemas, OC advocates for independent cinemas to receive the same level of marketing support as large chains to ensure the health and sustainability of the exhibition industry. OC’s most recent cinema marketing service is CinePulse™, a social media + digital marketing dashboard specifically tailored to exhibition. This resource allows subscribers to stay on top of digital trends, create compelling content to captivate audiences, explore activation ideas to keep content fresh + new, and leverage trends to engage followers + get moviegoers into cinemas.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve learned so many important lessons. Trust your instincts. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It’s more about how you recover and grow. There have been business decisions that have gone wrong. I look back thinking “I knew that would happen.” But that’s how you learn.

It can be exhausting, but networking is completely necessary in this day and age, especially in this industry. Put yourself out there, go to events (by yourself!), send a cold email or LinkedIn message. What’s the worst that can happen–they don’t respond? At which point, you’re no worse off than where you started.

Brag about yourself! This is still something I struggle with, but I’ve learned you have to put yourself out there. You have to talk about what you’ve done, what you’re working on, and what your plans and desires are for the future. The universe can’t bring opportunities to you if you’re not voicing your goals.

Lastly, lean into your varied interests. Don’t let society put you in a box.

Pricing:

• Art production services are custom and priced upon request.
• Cinepulse™ the social media + digital marketing dashboard tailored to film exhibition – $597 annual subscription, with monthly and quarterly plans also available.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.onnicreative.xyz
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geonni/
• Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/onni_creative/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geonni

Image Credits
Onni Creative