Meet Mark Schroeder: Producer & Director

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

Hi Mark, how do you think about risk?
Without risk there is no reward. Taking risks in my life led me to life changing experiences, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t fail more times than I’ve succeeded when taking risks. But every failure led to bigger success, and I only had to be right a few times to change my life for the better. I took a risk moving from New York City to Los Angeles to build a sales & marketing office. I packed up all my belongings, grabbed my pet cat, and drove 41 hours across the country with the mentality that I would succeed no matter what! 3 months later, after several attempts to build a sales office, I was unsuccessful, and I was running out of money to pay my rent, travel and eat. After 10 years of being an independent salesman, I decided to quit the sales business and start over in a completely different field of work, Film & Video Production. It was very difficult decision, the risk of leaving everything I’ve learned and mastered about sales, all the knowledge and experience I gained, and starting all over as a production assistant, basically the entry level position and laborers of a video set. But none of that sales experience went to waste, that ability to be confident when speaking to people, handling objections, adapting to problems, listening to others, and networking allowed me to shine in the film business. 3 years of working hard on over 200 music videos, networking, and being available when needed, sometimes for free. I went from a Production Assistant, to a 1st Assistant Director, Production Manager and then I produced my first big budget video 9 months ago and it has not stopped since then, Now I’ve produced videos for Sza, Supreme, Young Thug, Willow Smith and much more. So take some risks in life, you never know where it will lead you.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a Producer and Director, I have to constantly stay creative and connected, so I can be great at what I do. It was not easy to get to where I am today, and I still have so much more to accomplish. I started out at the bottom of this film industry, at an entry level Production Assistant, the laborers of a video set. Although, I had an extensive background in marketing and sales, no one was going to give me a hand out, I had to show and prove I deserved to move up in this industry. I remember my very first music video, I saw Kendrick Lamar and greeted him, to get a head nod back of approval. I grabbed him a director chair to sit in, and he said “Thank You.” While this interaction was a small inner. celebration for me, it helped me realize how normal these people we see as superstars are, and really the only thing that separates a successful person from the unsuccessful is the effort and sacrifice someone is willing to put in. I knew I had to put in the work. I just moved to LA, I was running out of money, I didn’t have a vehicle and my next video shoot was a $100 Uber ride away. I borrowed money to pay for it, and showed up to a desert and labored in an 18 hour day in 90 degree weather to get paid $175 thirty days later. It was not rewarding at first, not at all. I knew I was going to succeed in this business when I worked a video with one of the most successful female artist out today, and we ended up working on this video for over 24 hours. By the 24th hour, I would say 80% of the crew was asleep in the film studio, and none of them had been lifting things, running up and down stairs, or moving around on their feet, but they were asleep and I was awake, still working. That same production company always hired me to work for them for the next 2 years and it allowed me gain experience, network and meet the right people that would end up helping me to become a Producer and Director.

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.
I’m from NYC, so I really enjoy the scenery of LA. If my best friend visited the area, I would drive them around Muholland Drive, hike up Runyon Canyon, get a closer look at the Hollywood sign, drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, and let them enjoy the beauty of LA. Go to Venice and rent beach cruisers and ride to Santa Monica and check out the Santa Monica Pier. Another day, I would take them to Fairfax, Beverly Hills, Melrose, and check out the boutique high fashion stores, and exclusive hard to get sneakers at Cool Kicks. Also, marijuana is legal, so I have to bring them to a dispensary. At night, head to a high ground in Malibu or Joshua Tree and star gaze, or head to West Hollywood and check out the bars if you’re looking for some night life.

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?
I would like to give a special shoutout to my Mother, Nancy Flores, and my family, because without their unconditional love and support, I wouldn’t have the confidence to take risks. My Fiancé Jeroslyn Johnson, she held me down when I needed her during my hard times in LA. The biggest shoutout goes to Angel J. Rosa of AJR FILMS, without him I wouldn’t be anywhere in the Film & Music industry. Angel has helped me, my friends who needed opportunities, and hundreds of other Directors, Producers, and Artists in the film industry.. I would also like to give a shoutout to Sunil Gadtaula of PTM Consulting, a successful businessman that helped shaped my mentality to be a go-getter that doesn’t make excuses.

Website: trueoneproduction.com

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