Every month we’re going to be featuring a new Homeroom client, so that you can get to know some of our newest members.
This month’s New Client is Capture the Moment Media, founded by Mathew Collings and John Hilhorst. This fun group of film producers against cliches work in both Vancouver and Victoria. They’re passionate and find inspiration through collaborating with individuals, couples, and corporate clients with open minds and adventurous hearts.
Co-founder Mathew Collings talked to Homeroom about the team’s passions and vision for the business.
When did you open your business?
2012
What do you enjoy most about being a business owner?
The freedom! We love making films and telling stories. We have been doing it our entire lives! It’s rare to find a career that is also your passion. If you can do that and make it work, then you are well on your way to a happy life! It is really rewarding to put work you are truly proud of out into the world. Also, not having to work a 9-5 and being able to find more time for family and friends is such a huge bonus!
What motivated you to start your own business?
Both John and I started CTM Media because we wanted to make films we thought were important and we felt that this was the fastest, most creative way we could do that. It has been challenging, but so rewarding and so much fun!
What’s your vision for the business?
We want to have enough projects coming through to hire a few more passionate filmmakers so we are able to take on more exiting creative projects. Our goal is to continue to make films and live comfortable lives that fulfill us personally and professionally!
What do you like about the film medium?
We love the ability to create emotion in our films. That means making people laugh or cry or maybe even get up and take some action to make a change. Film is a powerful tool!
What advice do you have for future business owners?
You need guts, but you also need to take the time to understand the business side of your career. We are still working hard at figuring out how to spend our money wisely and make a profitable business. When we first started out we mainly just made videos and deposited the money we made into our account, but never really thought about all the different ways we can save money and also make more. Learning how to be good with your income is so important right from the outset. If you don’t figure that out off the hop, you’ll always be playing catch-up.
How do you achieve a work/life balance?
This is something we are always working hard at and it can be a struggle. When you love what you do you can sometimes do it too much and that can make it hard to take the time to spend with the people you care about. Running a business is hard and takes time. It is a huge commitment and can mean you have less time with family and friends. We try to be more organized and work hard to not say yes to everything if it means we will miss out on family time. We book vacations well in advance and try not to let anything get in the way of that. We also have an incredible team and communicate very well. This allows us to spread the workload and not take on all the heavily lifting alone.
Who could benefit from your services?
We always say, if you’re passionate about what you do and the people around you, then you have an interesting story to tell! We love working with anyone who loves life and lives every moment as it comes. Passion is the most important thing we look for when we work with anyone. Nothing looks better on film than people who have passion in their lives!
