Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Leon.
Carlos, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Havana, Cuba, in the summer of 1983. My family left the island, ruled by an oppressive regime and emigrated to the United States. From a very young age I had an interest for cameras, electronic media and the arts. As a teen, I self-taught myself to design websites and edit videos.
at 19, I packed my bags, took out a loan and without a vehicle or any acquaintances in the area moved across the country to attend Full Sail University; one of the top multimedia trade schools located in Orlando, Florida.
In 2003, I graduated with a degree in Film and Video and almost immediately began a production company from scratch. I began making websites and videos from the corner of a room in my parent’s modest mobile home. I placed my company’s first advertisements on a local directory and with this small leap of faith, began to acquire my first local clients. It was also during this time that the first local television commercials were also produced and aired. This was the beginning of CML Productions.
At 21 I opened my first office on a major boulevard in my hometown of Whittier, CA. Just shy of my 23rd birthday in 2006, I open up my first commercial production facility in North Hollywood, California called CML Studios in a multi-complex warehouse space.
At the same time, I launched a Spanish online entertainment channel from Universal City-Walk in Hollywood, California called “Gentevision”. The online channel covered some of the biggest Latin celebrities and events in Los Angeles, Miami and Puerto Rico including the Oscars and the Latin Billboard Awards. Other ventures included a record label called “CML Music” with two signed artists and a model agency.
In a very short time, the first CML Studios grew from an empty warehouse with a couple of lights and a desk, into a full production facility with a range of multimedia projects with high-profile clients such as Sony, VH1, Fox Sports, Discovery Channel and NBC. National and international clients would soon hail from as far as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Dubai.
In 2008, I had the honor of being named one of “America’s Best Entrepreneurs under 25” by BusinessWeek Magazine, being voted top 5 by the readers of BusinessWeek.com and called a “media mogul in the making” by the publication. Articles about this occurrence appeared in press outlets throughout the US, Europe and Asia.
In 2009, I took an even bigger step by announcing the launch of my very own building with a one year countdown. On October 10, 2010 (10-10-10) at midnight I launched the new CML Studios in Glendale, CA, a 10,000 square foot facility with full production capabilities. This included a 55′ Green Screen, 50′ White Cyc, meeting rooms, production support areas, production offices for rent and much more. The celebration a show that included video presentations, artist performances, a bike crew that entered the facility with me to help count the final seconds of the year countdown and a performance by a dance team to close the extravaganza.
The second location has grown tremendously with clients from all over the world. Some of the biggest brands in the industry and some of the biggest celebrities in film, music and television. This includes companies like Paramount, NBC, Fox and virtually every major network and celebrities such as Tyra Banks, Charlize Theron, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, Val Kilmer, Melissa McCarthy and many others. The studio has also produced countless projects for many clients including commercials, music videos, industrials and photo campaigns.
In 2017, I expanded the production division by turning CML Productions into an ad agency. After months of resume submissions and a whirlwind of interviews, the new CML Productions Ad Agency was born. 25 freelance creatives that range from directors, producers, writers, composers, wardrobe stylists, editors, motion graphic artists, and branding experts are represented by the agency.
The agency was launched at an event at the company headquarters that also coincided with the 10th anniversary of CML Studios, the production facility.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. Graduating from film school with $80,000 in debt and without any investment money, guidance or mentorship was not the best way to start a business. The first struggle was figuring out a way to work for myself.
One of the first business ventures I was part of turned out to be a failure. I was convinced by a group of partners to join them in opening up a bridal boutique where I would be able to have my first office offering video production services for events. Since I was the youngest with the cleanest credit, the lease and responsibility was put in my name. The day after I signed the lease and had to distribute the keys to all of the partners, one of them confessed they had rented the place next door which was much bigger to open their own venture with a business partner.
The business partnership failed before it even started and for a year I awkwardly expanded my video production company among wedding dresses and tuxedos that collected dust because no one ever came to work. This prompted me to work 14 hour days in order to maintain the financial responsibility of the location and save enough money to move to Los Angeles and open up a studio.
I rented a truck and loaded it with all of my personal belongings and rented an empty warehouse in the bad part of North Hollywood, CA. From there I built a production studio from scratch living at the location without a shower, bed, climate control or a comfortable living environment until I saved enough money to open my own building 4 years later.
CML Studios and CML Productions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
CML Studios is a full production facility located in the city of Glendale, CA. The first facility opened in North Hollywood in 2006 and the second facility opened in Glendale in 2010. Combined, the company has been offering production facilities for over 10 years.
The facility offers a full space for productions ranging from music videos, commercials, short films, industrials and photo shoots. The space includes a 55′ Green Screen, 50′ White Cyc and several support areas for talent, makeup, wardrobe, catering, post-production and production office space.
The company also has an ad agency division producing content for brands, marketing campaigns and artists. The agency represents 25 freelance individuals ranging from directors, writers, stylists, editors, branding experts and motion graphic artists.
What sets us apart from others is that we are a one-stop shop. We are able to produce any type of content from A-Z, from the writing, to the production of the marketing campaign to the launch of the brand or product at an event at our facility. This streamlined method reduces costs and speeds up production by getting everything done in-house under one roof.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For me success is having the freedom to do with your time what you wish but still maintaining a high standard of living. It means being able to have the freedom to travel when and where you wish or work on projects that you have a passion for. Success is working for yourself and waking up in the morning knowing that the possibilities are endless.
For me success isn’t necessarily just having money just for the sake of having it, but enjoying it and having experiences and creating memories. I know many people that have lots of money who only work and do not enjoy the fruits of their success. This can include hobbies, passion projects, charity work, travel and mentorship.
Contact Info:
- Address: 326 Mira Loma Ave., Glendale, CA 91204
- Website: http://www.cmlproductions.com
- Phone: (818) 396-4121
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmlstudios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cmlstudios/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cmlstudio
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cml-studios-glendale-2
- Other: http://www.cmlstudios.net
Image Credit:
Picture #1: Nathan Martell (Me with countdown)
Picture #2: Rafael Paiva (Team shot of agency)
Picture #3: Rafael Paiva (Corporate headshot)
Picture #4: Picture of me at the Oscars red carpet)
Picture #5: Matthew Mitchell (Promo shot at CML Studios)
Picture #6: Nick Amrhein (Picture featured in BusinessWeek)
Picture #7: Fay Ftouni (On stage with my team at the launch of my agency)
Picture #8: Jhan Nicolay (Overlooking Bogota, Colombia)
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
