Meet Spencer Dennis | Director & Photographer

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

Hi Spencer, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I value a strong work/life balance. Being the owner of a company, it’s tough to separate work and life because it’s all tied up together in a giant messy ball. However, since moving to LA from NY, I’ve put in a lot of effort to create that balance. Setting times where I don’t look at my phone, exercising, being outside more, walking the dog, and meditating have all helped immensely. It’s important to be motivated and focused during work, but I strongly believe that we all need to have a life outside of work, which is a version of success to me.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Curfew is an independent, craft-driven live-action production company based in NY and LA. We represent extremely talented filmmakers dedicated to telling stories through their unique lens. We predominantly work in the advertising and branded content space; however, we feel it is important to support the voices of our directors and make work that will push our clients to come to us for those voices. That can come in the form of music videos, short films, PSAs, etc., but the most vital thing for us is that our directors’ voices are strong and supported. Originally, when we first started in 2014, we didn’t have a roster of directors, but over time, we realized that just like directors are celebrated in the film industry, it’s just as important to curate and cultivate individual voices in the short form world. Anyone who says this business is easy is lying, and it takes a lot of frustrating losses to get a handful of wins. But if I had to attribute two things to how we got to where we are today, I would say 1. Be able to trust your instincts and taste. Once you start chasing trends, you’ll be playing catch-up for the rest of your career. 2. Be nice / be a good person! Gone are the days in our industry where being a tyrant is ok. There are too many qualified people who will gladly take your job if you create an unwelcoming work environment. Plus, it’s just the right thing to do: treat people how you want to be treated, and the work will be much more rewarding.

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’ve only lived in LA for less than 2 years, so it’s been so great exploring all that this city (or massive collection of tiny cities!) has to offer. I feel like we’ve barely scratched the surface, but here are some things I’ve really enjoyed:

Anajak Thai – Incredible Thai food in Sherman Oaks
Vidiots – New curated rep movie theater / video store in my neighborhood
Dynasty Typewriter – I’ve been to some crazy good improv comedy shows here
Academy Museum – So surprised with how well-curated and informative this museum is. If you love movies, you can get lost here for hours.
Hike Flint Canyon – My local hike is crowd-free with some amazing views
The Museum of Jurassic Technology – Just go and be surprised!
South Pasadena Farmers Market – Every Thursday
The Prince – Old school LA vibe with delicious Korean food
Pizzeria Bianco – Hard to get a table here, but the pizza is the best in the city and worth the wait.
Burritos La Palma – Just opened in Highland Park, and I’m here every week
Sun Nong Dan – Perfect on a cool winter night, the short rib stew here is unmatched
Find an estate sale in an untouched mid century modern home – check out the beautiful architecture and buy yourself a knick knack!

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’m going to have to shoutout my business and directing partner Mark Smith. It’s incredibly difficult to start a business, let alone, make a living from it, and Mark has been with me through it all. Having someone with you along the way makes the decision-making process smoother but, more importantly, so much more meaningful. Mark and I are also a directing duo, so the trust that we have in each other is one of the most important things we have in being successful. From bouncing ideas back and forth to knowing how to get things done more efficiently, it’s a creative partnership that I value really strongly.

I will also have to shoutout our Executive Producer, Kathryn Berk, who is such a supportive voice in all of our projects together – the three of us together are a tight-knit family that strengthens all of our creative output. And then a third shoutout goes to my wife, Ana Coccioletti, who is an amazing production designer. She inspires me creatively with her artistic eye every day.

Website: www.curfew.tv

Instagram: www.instagram.com/spencer.dennis

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-dennis-74b4366/

Other: www.instagram.com/curfew.tv https://www.linkedin.com/company/curfew-tv

Image Credits
Ethan Covey, Ana Coccioletti, Spencer Dennis, Lauren Withrow, Mark Smith