Meet Grady Craig | Executive Producer, VP of Business Development & Operations

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

Hi Grady, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
At 13 years old, I wanted to take control of my own freedom. I didn’t want to have to ask my parents to buy me video games or food at the mall. It gave me an enormous sense of joy being able to pay for things I wanted, when I wanted, instead of asking, begging, or making a pitch. The best way I saw myself being able to sustain that feeling of independence was by starting my own business.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Being an entrepreneur gave me a robust skillset to utilize when I became an employee. I joined a small film/television finance company and was required to handle all sorts of different challenges. Excel modeling, legal contracting, intern hiring, creative feedback, marketing and website design, etc. My Swiss army knife character has been helpful on two levels: (1) it serves our management team (sometimes beyond my employee responsibility scope), such as recognizing and resolving companywide inefficiencies, and (2) it serves our creative clientele, who often have film and television projects they need support greenlighting. This is where the role of a producer comes in, and if I’ve learned anything about being a “producer,” it’s that it’s just the Hollywood version of an “entrepreneur.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A friend recently sent me this itinerary she prepared for her brother who was in town for a few days. I think it just about covers everything you need to do between Malibu and San Diego… Thursday: 9:00am: Mels Drive-in (Sunset Blvd) 10:00: sunset strip 10:30: Hike Hollywood sign 2:30-5:30 bikes in Santa Monica, Venice 7:00: Point Bluff for sunset Friday: 9:00am: Wine-tasting in Los Olivos 3:30pm: Stop through Solvang (Dutch village) 4:00pm: Drive to Hermosa 6:00pm: Tower 12 for dinner 9:00pm: Griffith observatory Saturday: 9:00am: Arrive @ San Pedro 10:00am: Ferry @ San Pedro 11:30am: Arrive to Catalina Island, eat lunch at Bluewater Avalon 1:20pm: Arrive at zip lining 1:40-3:10pm: Zip lining 3:30pm-5:30pm: Golf cart around island 5:30pm: Arrive to ferry port 6:00pm: Leave Catalina Island Sunday: 8:15am: Leave for San Diego 10:45am: Breakfast in La Jolla cove at Shorehouse 11:45-1:30pm: Children’s pool, La Jolla shores beach 1:30pm: Torrey Pines Golf Club and Blacks Beach 3:30pm: Sunset Cliff jumping 6pm: Downtown Disney Monday: 9-12pm: Drive through Beverly Glen / Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive 1:30-2pm: Mulholland Drive 2-2:30pm: Hollywood Blvd, walk of fame, Dolby theatre, Chinese theatre 3-3:45pm: Staples center, Kobe Bryant art murals 5pm: Point Dume hike 7:15pm: Sunset Restaurant in Malibu

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It’s difficult to attribute a single person’s contribution(s) to your own success. Many of us are combinations of the people we choose to surround ourselves with or go to for advice. To me, that’s always been my parents, my teachers, my closest friends, my co-workers, my clients, or my podcast hosts. The person I go to for financial guidance may not be the same person I go to for emotional support. Optimal life experiences are attributed to all of the people and tools you have in your corner, and being thankful they’re there in the first place.

Website: www.bondit.us or www.buffalo8.com
Instagram: @buffalo8pro @bonditmedia @gradyac (for me personally)
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gradycraig/ (me personally) OR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bondit-llc/ OR https://www.linkedin.com/company/buffalo-8-productions/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bondit_film OR https://twitter.com/Buffalo8Pro
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bondyourfilm OR https://www.facebook.com/Buffalo8Pro
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0LgBZZFc8hiQ9wQnnXEezg