In this episode of Creatives Grab Coffee, Mark Currie from Chocolate Films (London, England) shares his journey of building a uniquely impactful video production business through strategic growth and meaningful community engagement. Mark discusses how Chocolate Films scaled organically over two decades, balancing commercial projects with creative social initiatives like filmmaking workshops and their ambitious “1000 Londoners” project. He offers insights on overcoming growth hurdles, managing a team of over twenty full-time employees across multiple locations, and developing effective internal systems that enhance productivity. Discover how Mark’s commitment to community-driven storytelling and fostering a positive team culture has become integral to Chocolate Films’ sustained success and influence.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Episode Introduction and Guest Welcome

02:28 - Guest Bio: Mark Currie from Chocolate Films

02:38 - Background on Chocolate Films and its beginnings in London, England

03:35 - Expanding the business to Glasgow and strategic location benefits

05:54 - Insights on gradually opening and growing a second office

10:45 - Advantages of a second location and genuine local presence

14:50 - Company history and early stages of Chocolate Films

16:29 - Growth through various studio spaces and overcoming early challenges

19:14 - Adapting strategically to major industry shifts and new technologies

25:03 - Building a large in-house team and navigating growth stages

30:57 - “1000 Londoners”: A creative community storytelling initiative

36:55 - Running impactful filmmaking workshops for schools and community groups

39:09 - Systems and processes for managing a large team and diverse projects

41:19 - Workshop outreach and community engagement strategies

43:53 - Lessons learned from scaling to 20+ employees

48:36 - Developing effective communication and management systems

57:48 - Preventing bureaucracy and maintaining agility as the team grows

01:01:03 - Importance of fostering an open, communicative company culture

01:05:35 - Using passion projects to drive team creativity and client interest

01:11:56 - Effective sales strategies and relationship-building for growth

01:16:47 - The value of personal connections and client communication

01:16:47 - Origin of the name “Chocolate Films”

01:18:45 - Final thoughts and conclusion

SPONSORS:

Canada Film Equipment: www.CanadaFilmEquipment.com

Audio Process: www.Audioprocess.ca

🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vHd8BdbkMQITFZmDJ0bo9

🍏 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/creatives-grab-coffee/id1530864140 🎞️

Produced by LAPSE PRODUCTIONS – https://www.lapseproductions.com

To learn more about the show, visit: https://www.creativesgrabcoffee.com/