Introducing the first in what we hope will be many short interviews with the creative community. Every so often we get a chance to sit down and chat with some local creators, ask them a bunch of questions (some rational, some weird) and learn about what they do and why they do it.
Dan and Brenton from West & Social are busy wrapping up their first year as a company, but recently took time out of their busy schedules to meet with Spacefy. They share their insights into being a small production company and their secret to making your films look good.
1. Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Dan Slater and I’m one of the founders of advertising agency West & Social. I’m also the Creative Director of film production company Multiname Productions.
I’m Brenton Mowforth and I work a lot on the marketing at West & Social. I got my start in photography but wanted to move into freelance advertising so we came together and started West & Social.
Dan Slater and Brenton Mowforth
2. What is the best and worst part of your job?
D: The best part is creating, starting with an idea and seeing it through to the final product. It’s great to learn about the other company and see their passion come to life.
The worst part is that I don’t sleep, but I’m used to it. When you’re building your own brand, you can’t stop, you always have to be thinking of the next step.
B: We’ll be on location and at the same time, negotiating media packages for the next project. We have to find the next job while working on the current one.
3. What are you working on right now?
D: We’ve just finished the end of our first year as a company. We’ve found our niche as a video production company. We’re looking to move into being a full service agency but video production is our bread and butter. Companies who can’t afford big promotion and commercials, we help make their ideas come to life for a lot less.
B: When you work with a big agency, you have to compete for their attention with all the other companies they’re working with. We’re a smaller company so we’re able to give more attention to our clients.
4. You’ve worked with Spacefy, how do you think filmmakers can use it?
D: Spacefy can be used a lot by filmmakers, because location is 50% of filmmaking. Big productions look amazing because they have amazing space. Having someone to find and broker that space is really helpful, especially for someone who is new to the business. Spacefy is really groundbreaking and helpful, I think we’ll use it a lot.
West & Social doing what they describe as their "bread and butter" at Hello Studios
5. Tell me about your style as an artist.
D: I’m a director and storyteller who likes to get to the heart of the story and find out what the character wants. I grew up watching Cohen Brothers, Scorsese, Tarantino and it’s not that they have a particular style, it’s just their voice. I guess you could say I have an old sensibility when it comes to filmmaking, I like to take my time, and not rush things. We’re definitely not making films for millennials.
6. What do you have in your pocket(s) right now?
D: Cellphone, and wallet. Just normal things.
B: Keys, a bit of change, and a comb. (Carly: Do you always carry a comb? Brenton: Yes!)
7. When you’re driving alone in your car, what do you think about?
B: I’m usually on my bike…
D: I’m probably playing loud music and singing along. My song of choice right now is Riptide by Vance Joy.
8. Pick a celebrity to be your sidekick or partner.
B: Roger Rabbit. Yes, he’s an animation, but it would be awesome and funny.
D: John Stamos. He seems like a good guy who needs a bit of guidance right now. I’ll set him straight, teach him the ways. I would be John Stamos’ mentor.
9. Which kitchen utensil would you be?
D: A blender, so I could shake it up.
B: A bowl, because I retain things. Also, where would we be without bowls? There’d be no soup!
10. Lastly…. Drake, or milkshakes?
B: Definitely milkshakes. I crave them on a regular basis.
D: Milkshake. I’ve never woken up on a hot day and thought “I want a Drake.”
The crew wraps after a successful shoot with Spacefy
That's a wrap on the first instalment of our Mic Check series! West & Social recently collaborated with Spacefy to shoot a commercial - stay tuned to the blog to catch the world premiere.
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