We had the good fortune of connecting with Richard E. Taylor II. & Ryan N. Taylor Taylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richard & Ryan, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
This is something that we have had to learn recently ourselves, more so Ryan than Richard (Laughs). We have found that it is so important to take time for yourself, especially while starting a new business venture. You can easily find yourself working tirelessly at night and obsessing over the progression of it because you don’t want to feel like you haven’t given your all or have become distracted. However, eventually you’ll discover that you need to take a moment away from the hustle & bustle and reconnect with yourself and other interests that you may have been neglecting. In doing so you’ll come back feeling stronger both mentally and physically, allowing you to be able to keep from getting burnt out and stay in love with your craft.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are two brothers and the owners of a newer film studio located in Glendale, California called I.F.B. Studios. Our studio proudly celebrated its One Year Anniversary on March 7th, 2022. Within our first year, not only did we provide space for multiple productions ranging from films & tv shows to music videos & commercials, but we also launched our inaugural film festival which gives creatives the opportunity to win free studio time. In addition to showcasing films, commercials & music videos, our film festival also becomes a venue for stand-up comedy and live performances from rising artists. And to close out the year we hosted our first Holiday Studio Tours where we set up 13 different sets inside our studio for the community to be able to get a closer look at what it’s like to be on set as well as a fun place for Photo-Ops.

Starting a new business venture is no easy task which is something that we knew going in. We did as much research as we could regarding the business that we were entering, however some things can only be learned from firsthand experience. We not only had to develop a game plan for the business but also be willing to put in the long hours required to help grow the business. However, first we had to get over the hump of taking a risk.

This was terrifying for sure and sent an array of emotions through us, however we strongly believe in order to continue growing in life you have to take risks, including in business. Opening a film studio was a huge risk for us and it absolutely seemed like an uphill challenge, but we wouldn’t have the living experiences that we have today without taking that initial leap. And yes, there are days that we think “what in the world have we got ourselves into”, but the chills that you get from looking back at accomplishing something that you didn’t think you could, makes taking risks all that much more rewarding.

Fortunately for us, we were trained by our parents to take risks. They were really strong in pushing us to go for whatever we believe in, and us knowing that they will always be there to support regardless. Also, having a Mom and Dad who come from an entrepreneur background really aided us when starting up our business. As kids, our parents owned multiple Board & Care Residential Homes for persons with special needs, which forced us to have daily interactions with staff & clients as well as spending our free time in the back of a car headed to the bank or post office. Also, our mom who is an LMFT and has had her own private practice for many years which is where we gained a lot of in-office experience.

Even though we had the beneficial help of our parents as mentors, we still had to develop a stronger spiritual relationship with God because there came a point where things did not seem to be progressing as fast or visibly as we liked, so we had to learn to trust that some things are out of our control and to have faith that it’s all working out for our good. It might sound a bit cliche or cheesy, but once we realized this, we were finally able to get quality sleep at night. Not only do we pray for ourselves and our family, but also for the success of our business and the people that come into I.F.B. Studios. We want all of the productions that shoot at our studio to be a success and try to keep that positivity flowing through the studio.

One thing that we had to learn is to enjoy the process while going through it because it’s a once in a lifetime moment. You’re able to start something that can potentially leave a long-lasting legacy behind. So, staying present and embracing every aspect from getting a corporate bank account to purchasing liability insurance for the first time because we finally have a need for these things.

In the end, our goal is to grow I.F.B.Studios into a global household name. In addition, we would like to eventually expand our brand to feature immersive activities that allow people to be engulfed in our films and content on a larger scale.

We hope that our brand is able to bring hope and inspire others to go after their dreams even if it seems like an unachievable task. We are all about having big dreams & goals in life as those are what fuel us each morning.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

(Ryan)
Well, I hope you are well rested because we have a long list on our itinerary and I’ve cleared my schedule for you… lol

Day 1 : Go to Griffith Park and explore the old Carousel and old Zoo. Check out the Travel Town Museum as well. Also grab food from Alcove cafe. Then take a cruise through the Hollywood Hills and see the city lights at night.

Day 2 : Go to Disneyland, Universal Studios or Six Flags Magic Mountain (I am a huge amusement park enthusiast and they are less crowded during the week), most likely grab In N Out on the way back home.

Day 3 : Head to San Diego in the morning and get a nice hotel near the beach as well as check out the Gaslamp District at night.

Day 4 : Check out the San Diego Zoo & Safari before heading back home to LA at night.

Day 5: Chill by the pool or hot tub with some nice cold Margaritas. Grab Burgers Never Say Die For Pregame Dinner and then hit up Broadway Bar in Downtown or some speak easy type bar for a night out.

Day 6 : Drive up to Santa Barbara for the Day or explore.

Day 7: Give a tour of I.F.B. Studios & check out Brewyard Beer Company next door!

(Richard)

One of the consistent things that I have been able to do is take random day trips with friends to different parts of SoCal so here’s my itinerary. 

Day 1 and Day 2: I would find some cool places to travel to that might include hiking, exploring the area and dine at either a place I enjoy or something I saw on a show.

Day 3: I will take them to maybe some wine tasting or a nice brunch and some other sight seeing things.

Day 4: Depending on how my friend is feeling and the weather, we would either go to the beach or lounge around my home and then maybe end the night at some decent skyline restaurants for that whole city-view experience or other areas; I know some good authentic and cultural restaurants to dine at.

Day 5: I would allow my friend to choose something they would want to do. We could also explore other areas in SoCal; like San Diego, Palm Springs, ect.

Day 6: I would schedule a theme park day or check out a museum.

Day 7: Give a tour of I.F.B. Studios and then check out any local activities going on that day.

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?
Yes our mother Lynda K. Cash and our father Richard E. Taylor .

Website: https://ifbstudios.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IFBStudios

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IFB-Studios-102770335376412

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzY1notgQ-E7nyY5c3Sw44A/featured

Image Credits
Dario Tejada

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