Meet Kris Chaney | Business Owner, Entrepreneur, & Podcast Host

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

Hi Kris, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I didn’t have a clue at first. I was a senior in high school when my teacher asked what I wanted to go to college for and I said the only thing I enjoyed besides sports were movies. He told me to go to film school and it was the first time anyone ever said anything to me that made sense. He was teaching us to follow our passions and what made us happy, figure out a way to make a career out of it, and we would never work a day in our lives. I thought wow, that sounds amazing. After that, every interest and passion I had, I figured out a way to make a business out of it to serve people and make an impact on the world. I started REEL Productions LLC to pursue my film passion, I started Chane Gang Training, LLC to follow my passion of personal fitness training, and my future businesses are all based on similar experiences. I grew up around athletes, was an athlete myself, and I have a desire to open an all-inclusive medical center to better accommodate those who are injured and rehabilitating. I also care a lot about philanthropy work and want to open a foundation for Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Brain Disease.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
REEL Productions LLC is my production company which produces film, TV, and audio podcasts currently and will eventually produce full length feature films. Chane Gang Training is my personal fitness training business which provides online and in-person personal training, nutrition and exercises programs, and coaching. It will be integrated and offered at the fitness gym I will open. Starting new endeavors always comes with challenges but that is part of what makes it exciting when things come together. I had no intentions of becoming famous by podcasting and didn’t think anyone would listen. But when I got that first listener, I think that is when podcasting really started getting exciting for me. It was always fun. REEL Productions was a long time coming and it was something I was most excited to start. It is not producing full length feature films yet and I’m not on set every day like I wish I was, but it is growing and I’m getting more proficient in my skills so that I can feel comfortable elevating the business and taking on larger projects while making a few of my own. I’ve learned that it does not have to cost a lot all the time but it does require a constant commitment to driving the business forward, especially when you don’t have a staff. My brand will always be focused on delivering an experience. I won’t produce something just to get it out, it will have meaning, and it will be done the best it can be. 

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.
My best friend has been fortunate enough to be stationed semi-close to me over the last couple years and we’ve hit a few great places that have become our favorites. Snooze Breakfast Eatery is always on the list, Two Hippies Beach House now The Beach House for the best tacos, and pretty much any Mom & Pop place for pupusas. In LA we love Fiesta Cantina, the food is decent, the drinks are decent pours, and the buy one get one happy hour is the best deal around. We always enjoy the beach and anything involving music and a good time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many that deserve credit and recognition, but I can list off some that were very helpful in both my success and support of my podcasts and projects. I’ll start with the success of my podcasts because that’s what has brought a lot of positive growth for me and my brand. The podcast community of X (Formerly Twitter), specifically Indie Pod Review and Arielle Nissenblatt. Indie Pod Review did a free review of REEL Film Reviewed when I first started, provided three key pieces of feedback which I implemented and that feedback proved to be a night and day difference in the audio and content quality of the pod. Arielle is just great, she provides a lot of support and awareness to the entire indie podcast community and to podcasts in general. She also gave me great tips for SEO, marketing, and growing my podcasts. Buzzsprout and Audacity for making great products and free how to and learning material for podcasting. Personal support would be my best friend and future business partner, who has been a day one supporter of the podcast and my business endeavors. My parents of course, and as always the woman of my dreams for putting up with me and for loving me no matter what.

Website: https://reel-film-reviewed.productions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_film_reviewed_podcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/reelfilmpkc and https://twitter.com/koat_podcast

Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/afone32

Other: https://linktr.ee/REEL_Film_Reviewed

Image Credits
Dre Ryan