Today we’d like to introduce you to Vincent Spriggs.
Hi Vincent, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In all honesty, I think the thing that got me started in the film industry was the song, Time, by Hans Zimmer. I’d never seen the movie, but in high school I listened to that piece over and over and over again until I realized that I wanted nothing more than to make other people feel the way I felt when listening to music like that. I saw the movie shortly after and was blown away. I started getting on film sets as a production assistant and I loved it. So I decided to go to school for it, and went to the University of Missouri Kansas City, which I’m actually graduating from this May. When I got into my first production class I met my now best friends, Jordan Taylor and Tyler Stone-Howerton. We talked a lot about the future and my dream was always the same; create a production studio in KC that could help Midwest filmmakers create the films they’ve always dreamed about.
We made our first short together, called Liv After Death, and I realized I was going to make a lot more. So along with JT, I started a production company called 250 Pictures. The name coming from our first film class together, FILM-25o. I started working more freelance in the industry and using the money to buy up all the gear I could get my hands on. Now, a year and a half later, we have a cinema camera package, lighting and grip package and audio package. We’ve created 7 short films, produced several more, and provided assistance or gear rentals for many more. We’re still very much in our infancy, but I’m very proud of where we are. We offer cheap rental costs and big student discounts in order for people to make the movies they want with the budge they have. The whole dream is to make high quality filmmaking easier for the dreamers of the world, and we’ve had the pleasure of helping many people with that.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Filmmaking is rarely a smooth industry. Freelance work is always uncertain and sparse in the Midwest and filmmaking is expensive. You have to really love what you do in order to make movies. It’s not something you’ll find many unpassionate people in. So every challenge that’s come up just feels like a natural part of the process. My biggest struggle is one I’m sure many filmmakers can relate to; balancing the time, money and resources you want to put into this passion vs what you actually can. There’s also the other challenge of doing work that you actually want to do. The Midwest’s narrative scene is underfunded, meaning that most videography work is a commercial based, and narratives get funded out of pocket. That challenge of making high quality narratives affordable and manageable is one I keep trying to help.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
250 Pictures is a film and video production studio focused primarily on narrative work. We provide producing services, rental options, videography services and are more than happy to help out in any other way needed. The biggest goal I had when starting the company was to make it accessible and helpful to others. If our resources or our experience can bring a project even closer to the vision, we’re eager to help. Rental prices are available on our website and we try to accommodate any sized budget. We’ve helped on shorts, features, music videos, documentaries, weddings and any other kind of video project you can think of. So if you have a film or video idea, feel free to hit us up anytime at any point in the creative process from preproduction to post-production.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The biggest thing I wish I’d taken to heart when I started out is just how important finding your people are. Filmmaking is a collaborative endeavor and finding the people that you work well with makes it all the better. Being able to hone my skills with people who push me and bring me joy is the best kind of job imaginable.
And I know it’s said all the time, but you just have to take the initiative. This work is a creative skill, and skills need time to grow. It doesn’t matter that you can’t make your big project right now. Working and learning from other projects is what’s going to enable you to make the things you keep dreaming about.
Kindness, collaboration and initiative. That’s all it takes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://twofiftypictures.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twofiftypictures/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/250-Pictures/61570621641660/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@250Pictures
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/250-pictures-kansas-city?osq=250+Pictures
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@250pictures?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
