Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Ellis.
Hi Matt, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m currently employed as a Videographer & Editor for the Nelk Boys, Happy Dad Hard Seltzer, and the Full Send Podcast. My journey in this field traces its roots back to my hometown, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Growing up, I immersed myself in the world of skateboarding. My friends and I basically lived at the local skatepark (shout out Shell Park in Oakville, Ontario), where we captured clips and edited skate films year after year. I began sharing my work on Facebook, and it was through these initial endeavors that my passion for filmmaking and video editing took flight.
As I progressed into college, my interests started to shift from skateboarding to fitness and the gym. I ended up buying my first legit camera, upgrading from a GoPro and ventured into filming fitness and lifestyle content for my own YouTube channel. In 2018, I moved to Australia for one year on a work visa with my girlfriend as she was studying abroad. To expand my channel’s reach at the time, I proactively reached out to local influencers through direct messages, hoping to collaborate or create free fitness content for them. This was my first taste of filming for someone else and not for my own personal content. I received several responses back, which allowed me to produce my initial videos and expand my portfolio with fitness-related content.
During my stay in Australia, I established a working relationship with a fitness YouTuber I had initially reached out to. We worked together on a weekly basis, creating content for his channel, which marked my first paid gig. This connection helped me build a solid client base in the Gold Coast, primarily within the health and fitness space. It was during this period that I got a taste of entrepreneurship.
Toward the end of 2018, I entered an editing contest to become a videographer/editor for the fitness influencer Steve Cook, whom I had admired on YouTube for years. This opportunity was a significant turning point in my career, and I secured a job working with him during a fitness retreat in Australia. I edited a few of his YouTube videos, gaining my first experience in creating content for a massive audience.
In 2019, I returned to Ontario, Canada, and rebuilt my videography and photography business from the ground up. I balanced a full-time job with freelancing on weeknights and weekends. After a year of hard work, I made the leap to full-time self-employment and established myself in the Greater Toronto Area as a videographer. During this time, my girlfriend pursued her law degree at UCLA in Los Angeles, and I frequently visited for extended periods in search of opportunities to relocate to California permanently.
At the beginning of 2020, the Nelk Boys posted on Instagram that they were looking for videographers and to reach out via email. Considering their hometown proximity to my hometown in Canada and now their relocation to LA, I saw this as a golden opportunity to secure a work visa and full-time employment in Los Angeles with a team of Canadians. They appreciated my work, and I connected with the founder, Kyle Forgeard, through Instagram.
However, March of 2020 brought COVID-19, which forced me to shut down my business for approximately six months and isolate from family and friends. I didn’t hear much from Kyle and spent my time primarily editing for existing clients. Nevertheless, my most significant opportunity was just on the horizon. In August 2020, I received a text from Kyle inquiring about my interest and availability. He asked to hop on a Facetime call to discuss an opportunity, and he ended up offering me a spot on the team. With just two days’ notice, I was asked to fly to the West Coast to assist in filming a three-week road trip across the United States. I accepted the position, wrapped up my outstanding editing work, and joined the team for my first tour across the States. After a few months of work in 2021, I secured my work visa and solidified my spot here in LA.
Since then, a ton has changed. Our operations transitioned from a house in Studio City to a full-fledged warehouse and office space in Orange County. In 2021, we launched the Full Send Podcast and Happy Dad Hard Seltzer. Additionally, the Nelk Boys YouTube channel has surged to over 8 million subscribers.
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?
My journey to becoming a full-time videographer in LA has been filled with both challenges and rewarding moments. One significant obstacle I faced was the process of immigrating to the USA. This presented several unique struggles along the way. I initially wanted to bring my own business to the US and freelance here, but that didn’t seem possible at the time with how new my business was and the US immigration laws regarding work.
As a videographer, finding a job in my field that would sponsor a work visa was extremely difficult. Not all employers are willing or able to provide sponsorship, which limited my job options. This added another layer of complexity to my job search and extended the time it took for me to secure a position in my field. However, I was extremely lucky with the timing of the opportunity that came up with Nelk as I was actively trying to move from Canada (where they originally started) to LA at the time.
Beyond the legal and logistical challenges, adapting to a new country presented its own set of difficulties. Adapting to a different way of life and building a professional network were all part of the process. But I have been loving it so far!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My schedule is pretty hectic right now haha; it currently involves frequent travel as I crisscross the United States to cover events with Happy Dad Hard Seltzer. As we continue to expand into new states, we make it a point to host events at various locations that carry our product, including clubs, bars, and liquor stores. I’m the guy that captures all the videos & photos during these events, and then I edit engaging recap videos and other marketing materials to solidify the Happy Dad brand. Usually within 24-48 hrs of the event.
In addition to event coverage, I’m deeply involved in producing and editing commercial content and marketing campaigns for the seltzer and the Happy Dad merchandise. This encompasses a wide range of tasks, from collaborating with professional athletes to ensuring our product shots are dialed for the website.
I also help with the Nelk Boys’ YouTube content. Everything from shooting set-up pranks in ghillie suits to efficiently condensing hours of footage into concise 10-minute segments for the goat Ausgod (Nelks lead editor) to finalize. Balancing this mix of responsibilities keeps me quite busy. I also help out wherever needed with content production for the Full Send Podcast and any other projects that fall under the Full Send brand. It’s pretty full-on…
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/rellysworld
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@MattEllis4
