Today we’d like to introduce you to Cy Abdelnour.
Hi Cy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I first started when I was in college (University of Michigan) as a freshmen. I was playing around with photography and this is when they first placed the video function in DSLRs. At the time it was an afterthought for Canon but wounded up being the most revolutionary time for us as filmmakers. My friend Obie asked if I could shoot a music video and I said I’d give it a shot. I think I made maybe $50-100 on my first shoot ever. After that local artists in Ann Arbor started to ask me more and more for videos. This is when I started to realize this could really be a business.
For the first 5 years my focus was music videos till I was about 25 then I started to shift over to the documentary space and commercial. My old business was Cylent Media Productions however it was a little too edgy and not corporate enough to attract those types of clients. Wanting to move away from music videos and produce mostly commercial work I created Angles. Mind you I was working a full time job while doing this business. I have been working nearly 12 hour days for the past 12 years. A decision although tough, paid off today.
In 2024 I was let go from the City of Detroit without warning. I had a child on the way and I was getting married. I was super confused and concerned of my financial security.I had to make a decision. Do I put trust in getting another job and hoping that pans out or do I bet on me. Ultimately I trusted in myself.
Fast forward and the business is doing well. This is my first full year and I’m doing better than I was before the last. It’s a viable business and I’m doing the things I want to. I’m glad I put in the leg work to build up clientele while still holding down a job so this transition wasn’t as harsh. I really owe a lot to my friends and colleagues that helped make sure I didn’t fall off when I was in a tough position. We all need help whether in the form of an opportunity or just a shoulder to lean on.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
At one point during my career I have had $500 in my account. That was my lowest point. I was super unhappy working at the city and I wasn’t getting projects I wanted on the side. However my wife encouraged me and I got right back to it.
We’ve been impressed with Angles Media, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
So we specialize in two things; one, is content creation for brands, companies, and small businesses in the Metro Detroit area and two, director of photography work where I gather a team of specialists to execute filming documentaries, commercials, and narrative works. We have worked on projects for StockX, Shinola, Pattern Beauty, Puma, Google, Newlab, Invest Detroit, Spotify, Redbull, Kingsford, and many more. Work has also been featured on Rolling Stone, USA Today, FX, Hulu, Paper, and Highsnobiety.
What sets us a part from other video production groups today is that we really have a boutique mindset and spend time learning about our clients. Understanding your clients is super important in terms of being able to produce them content that they like. I also attribute my collaboration skills from being a team player from when I used to play lacrosse for the University of Michigan. I have the hard work ethic it requires to run a business and the humbleness to listen when needed.
We are also young and bring in young talent. I am 34 and I hire mostly 24-30 year old sub contractors. However, I have enough experience to have seen everything that the industry throws at us and guide the team to making successful stories and content.
Lastly, we make an effort to connect with the community when we can. I have made workshop opportunities for people and also have performed free work for non-profits. Two that we have worked with is Autumn Sun Film Festival and Zaman International. In these pictures I was working with a fellow Creative Wesley Amica to host a workshop on lighting and cameras for youth.
What I am most proud of brand wise is that we consider all angles when it comes to stories and subtle nuances of those stories to keep the messaging genuine. I think that representation in terms of who we are telling stories for matters. So for certain jobs I hand pick talent that reflect that story. I am not tied down by employees, I’m making sure the talent I pick understands your story and is also excited to be apart of that job.
So again we provide content creation, social media content, documentary filming, event filming, and higher level commercial work. Since everyone’s ideas and concepts vary we don’t offer standard rates, we custom tailor solutions to your needs.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The most important quality to success is consistency. People come back to me because they know I consistently hit the mark, I don’t miss. To maintain consistency, being adaptable is another trait you must have when you’re in the thick of a situation. Everything doesn’t always go to plan, and being ready for every situation is important.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.angles.media
- Instagram: thisisangles
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/angles-media-detroit
