Today we’d like to introduce you to Spencer Haydo.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was fortunate to get started in the film industry pretty young, working as a PA on a no budget indie feature. That gave me an opportunity to be around a film set, learn how the different departments worked, and eventually find my way into the camera department. I spent about three years working as an AC before deciding to switch over to lighting simply because I wanted to try something new.
That ended up being the thing that clicked. I found my stride and a real passion for lighting, both creatively and technically, and my company Ascension Light grew from there.
The business started small and grew alongside my career as a gaffer. I would run into a limitation on a job, invest in something that could solve it better the next time, and gradually build out the equipment and infrastructure around what productions actually needed. A collection of lights became a truck package, then multiple trucks, more equipment, more crew, and eventually a full service grip and lighting company.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not always a smooth road. This is a very equipment and capital intensive industry, so one of the biggest challenges has been figuring out how to grow responsibly. There’s always another light, truck, or piece of equipment that could make us more capable, but learning when to make those investments and when to wait has been a big part of building the business.
We’re also based in a smaller production market, so growth has meant finding ways to expand our reach while still taking really good care of the clients and relationships that got us here. There have certainly been slow periods, long days, equipment failures, last minute changes, and plenty of lessons learned along the way.
As you know, we’re big fans of Ascension Light. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Ascension Light is a Michigan-based film lighting rental and service business supporting commercials, narrative films, music videos, and other motion picture productions. We provide thoughtfully built grip and lighting packages alongside experienced crews, with a focus on making the lighting side of production creative, efficient, and dependable.
What really sets us apart is pretty simple: we care. We care about the story, the people we’re working with, and the final image. Whether it’s bringing an extra piece of equipment we think might help, finding a creative solution, or staying engaged at the monitor all day long, we service the story of the project.
I’m proud that as we’ve grown, we’ve been able to build the company around that mentality. We’re investing in better equipment, larger truck packages, and expanding the service area, but the goal isn’t simply to become a bigger rental house. We want to earn the trust in our community of filmmakers and support the projects we do.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My first day on set I was 14. It was a long day and I just remember having all the energy in the world after that day. It was incredible to see the scale that it took to make a quality film, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it going forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ascensionlight.co
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ascensionlight.co
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/SpencerHaydo
- Other: https://Instagram.com/spencerhaydo
