We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kent Youngblood. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Kent, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Although film and video production is creative, there’s also a lot of problem solving involved. Schedule hiccups, budget increases, location issues, crew and equipment bookings… there are logistical and technical problems that need be solved all the time to keep everything moving smoothly.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve been working in the industry for most of my professional life with over 25 years of experience producing film, television, and branded content. As the Founder and Executive Producer of Movie Mogul Productions, my production company has led projects across nearly every format – including feature films, documentary series, scripted and reality television, national ad campaigns, music videos, and corporate video production.
Like many people, I had humble beginnings starting as a Producer at KTVS in Sterling, Colorado before moving into feature films. One highlight was working as a Production Assistant on Die Hard 2. I learned a lot about the inner workings of movie production from that experience. After that I moved into television series in Washington DC, slowly working my way up the ladder. Every job taught me something and I became known for my ability to bridge the gap between creative vision and production logistics.
Today, I’m a big believe in giving back and mentoring the next generation of visual storytellers. I teach the occasional film production course at various colleges and am a frequent speaker on production strategy, creative leadership, and the use of artificial intelligence in media.
I still create my own content and have been fortunate enough to have my work screened internationally and received critical acclaim, earning accolades that include two Emmy Awards, eleven Telly Awards, two Addys, and two ProMax/BDA Awards.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Several teachers in high school saw me before I saw myself. Ken Foster, my first acting teacher, helped me break out of my shell and blossom on stage. Peter Redmond, my English and debate teacher, taught me the value of hard work and rigorous research in making a claim or argument. And Jim Armstrong, my Shakespeare teacher, opened the doors to not only Shakespeare but English literature in general. His guidance and strong hand helped me in communicating my thoughts creatively.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Film and television is a rough business and there’s close to a 70% failure rate for production companies. I experienced that first hand with the failure of my first business, Surfing Shakespeare Productions. It was very difficult. We were too exposed with tech companies and when the dot com bust happened in 2001-02, we lost the majority of our clients because they couldn’t survive the economics. I had to shut down the business, let the entire staff go and pay off various loans. I vowed to never own a business again.
But 10 years later, I got a second wind and learned from my mistakes. Have a broad base of customers, low overhead and stay nimble and flexible during changes in the marketplace.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I believe you never stop learning and I definitely have interests across a wide range of areas. As for my personality, I’d say I’m more introverted than people realize. But the public-facing me knows you have to get out there and network, make sales and pitch your services. You have to break through the introversion and make yourself seen. As the saying goes, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
You’ve heard the phrase, “fake it until you make it.” I live by those words and don’t turn down a challenge. I’ve rarely been out of my depth because I have a strong support system of friends and mentors. If I feel that I don’t know the answer, I reach out to them for assistance. Learning is a lifelong process and if there’s something I don’t understand, I want to learn more about it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.moviemogul.tv
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moviemogulproductions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ktyoungblood
- Twitter: https://x.com/MovieMogulProd
- Other: https://www.youngblood.photo
