Meet Abigail Steckler: Filmmaker, Owner of Little Scorpion Studios

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abigail Steckler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abigail, what matters most to you?
Moral courage is the principle that matters most to me, in my personal life and in business. It’s what I aim to highlight and promote as the very basis of my production company, Little Scorpion. To me, moral courage means standing up for what is right, even (and most especially) in the face of adversity. As children, we’re all taught to do the “right” thing, to be honest, not to bully, not to lie or cheat. But in the adult world, there are always complications, relentless fears and pressures. The course of action that has the most integrity is rarely the easiest one. It can feel simpler to put profit before people, and turn a blind eye to atrocities. So that means making the effort, often at a cost to one’s self, to do the right thing, to help others, to be honest and fair in all dealings, is that much more admirable. I founded Little Scorpion Studios to celebrate moral courage. We tell the stories of people and organizations who have dedicated their lives and resources to improving the lots of others. Just in the last month, we’ve created videos promoting brave journalists who have risked life and limb to shed light on dangerous practices in the Philippines, genocide survivors in Iraq who are determined to bring their perpetrators to justice, and teachers who are putting all on the line to save the Guatemalan rainforests. It is a privilege to find creative ways to tell these stories, and hopefully provide some inspiration to viewers who are searching for courage in their own lives. Likewise, I strive to be morally courageous in my own business practices. At Little Scorpion we uphold integrity, and we choose to only create videos that elevate thought, not malign or mislead. I am so grateful that this is my work, and I can’t wait to see what story we’ll tell next.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Little Scorpion Studios was born out a lot of passion, and even more hard work. I’d always known I wanted to run my own production company, but getting to the point where I felt ready to make the leap to working for myself full time — that was a circuitous, challenging road. I love film. I just do. Making movies makes me feel complete as person, expressed and fulfilled. How could I dedicate my life to anything else? I’ve spent years working in the film industry, working for countless different companies, familiarizing myself with various workflows, noting what leadership practices were best, and which were not so much. I worked on set as a production assistant, and spent years in an editing bay cutting together content for final release. The hours were long, often spending my days working in a film office and then coming home to complete freelance work for other companies. Whenever I could, I creating my own content, working with generous, patient friends who read draft upon draft of films, volunteered on my set, working together to create little bite-size masterpieces. Through all these years of experience, I laid the groundwork for my own company. One of the most challenging parts of starting Little Scorpion was finding our niche and creating a business plan around that. There are so many production companies – what was going to make us stand out? I had always stood in awe of nonprofits, and folks who dedicate their lives to making the world a better place. What I most wanted to do was, in turn, dedicate my work to helping promote theirs. But therein lay the question: was this an effective business approach? Was there any money in that field? When I described my hopes to others, they tried to dissuade me: it doesn’t make sense to build a business entirely around nonprofits. There’s not enough work to be done, and they can’t pay anything. Do it as a volunteer, but don’t make it your life’s work. Of course, I wasn’t creating Little Scorpion to make myself a billionaire, but I knew I needed to make money to keep the business running sustainably, and to put food on my own table. Needless to say — I figured how out a way to monetize the work. It hasn’t been easy, and with every project I do, I need to refine the way I price out the video work in a way that’s fair to everyone involved. I’ve needed to learn how to negotiate, how to wait, and most importantly, how to walk away if need be. But step by step, we’re building,. In fact, it’s been so successful that we’re beginning to hire more editors and producers so we can take on even more work. Little Scorpion Studios has carved out its niche: we create documentaries and promotional videos for nonprofits, NGOs, and individuals who have essential stories to tell. We highlight essential work, we embrace flaws and imperfections in ourselves as well as our subjects, we tell authentic stories that uplift and celebrate.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The most impressive part of LA is its diversity, in people, neighborhoods, and things to do. If I had a weeklong trip (we’re talking non-covid times here), I’d begin every morning with an hike or run in Griffith Park, try and catch the sunrise from the Observatory. Sure, it’s early, but what a serene way to start the day. Then, I’d pack the week with scenic drives along Mullholland Drive, up the coast to Malibu, spending a day at the Getty observing art and enjoying the view, we’d go to Will Rogers State beach and lie in that gorgeous California sun. But we can’t spend too long there – there’s so much to do!! We’d stroll around Los Feliz (my favorite neighborhood), and enjoy a quiet moment in Skylight Books, we’d take a tour of a studio lot so you can get a sense of that Hollywood buzz. We’d take a day trip to Joshua Tree or Santa Barbara, maybe even go skiing for a day at Mammoth or Mountain high if it’s the season for it. We’d go to The Huntington Gardens and Librarys and maybe read some of our Skylight books while stretched out in some shady grass, surrounded by flowers. At night we would eat the best food the city has to offer – how about an evening at Night + Market Song for the best Thai food outside of Thailand? Or any of the amazing restaurants in Little Ethiopia? Then we can go dancing at Clifton’s – three floors of bizarre decorations multiple different rooms with different kinds of music. And then, on our way home, before we crash, we can stop for midnight donuts in Burbank. How about that?? Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to dedicate my shoutout to my family: my dad, mom and brother. They’re all people who have chosen to spend their lives helping others, and inspire me every day. Thank you.

Website: littlescorpionstudios.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigail.steckler/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbiesteckler/