Jacob Schmiedicke shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Jacob, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think one of the things that people don’t realize about video production is the amount of technical knowledge, skill, and equipment that goes into it. It’s so much more than pointing your camera at something and hitting “Record.” On the technical side, there’s a knowledge of lenses, camera specs, bit-rates, etc. On the creative side, there’s the knowledge of composition, lighting, camera movement, and how to use all that gear to get the best shot.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jake Schmiedicke, and I’m a freelance film-maker. For over 10 years I have been creating video content for clients – small business promos, music videos, event recaps, travel videos, as well as documentaries and narrative films. I take pride in being able to produce high-quality films as a solo-creator – I script, shoot, and edit everything by myself on most projects.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
Growing up on a small farm, my dad taught me a strong work ethic. Do what you say you’re going to do, don’t quit a job until it’s done, do it right the first time. These principles served me well growing up and have continued to serve me well in running my own business and delivering high-quality projects to my clients in a timely manner.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have definitely been times when I felt like giving up, particularly times when I felt like I was working harder than ever, but wasn’t making any progress. It’s hard running a small business, because in some sense you’re always “on,” and that difficulty is only compounded when you feel like that constant work isn’t paying off – either financially or in career growth. I’ve definitely had moments in my journey like that, and it was hard to keep persevering through them and get to the other side. But I knew that my wife and kids believed in me and were counting on me to keep going, so I was able to get through those rough patches.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
There’s definitely a strong belief in the video production industry that gear is all that matters. This is good for equipment sales of course, but it’s also partially true, which is what makes it so effective. Gear does matter. Having the right tools for the job can make a huge difference. I would much rather use my professional camera for a client project than use my cell phone (despite cell phone cameras getting better and better every year.) However, gear is not the only thing that matters. Everything that makes me valuable as a film-maker is inside me. The experience, the skills, the knowledge, the creativity. You can’t buy that. That’s earned and learned.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I think if I only had 10 years left, I would figure out a way to get out of doing client work and back into making my own films. I am very grateful to my clients and the work that they have provided of course, but I’d like to get back to my first love, which was creating my own short and feature films.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.storyquestvideo.com/
- Instagram: @jake.schmiedicke
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-schmiedicke-3b120717
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacob.schmiedicke
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@storyquestvideopro
Image Credits
All pictures are my own or from my video work.
