Transitions don’t always come when we’re expecting them.
6 months ago, we were on track for our strongest year ever as a video production company. To be writing this post now, closing the doors feels bittersweet. We’re leaving on a high note, which is so beautiful.
I am most proud of the risks we took to chase a dream that honestly didn’t have a lot of traction in the market. We made films that we cared about anyway, and we didn’t give up. I got to tell my dad’s story, my midwife’s story, and my grandmother’s story.
I got to teach students at Pellissippi the craft of guerrilla filmmaking and storytelling. I got to share the power of legacy storytelling with hundreds of people. I made a deck of conversation cards to help families connect more deeply with each other.
And so many people trusted us to tell their story. I will always be grateful and honored for that.
We collaborated with incredible organizations like UnitedWay, Joni and Friends, StoragePug, Makers Dance, Shafer Insurance Agency, Camel Expeditionary, StreetHope, TN Kids Belong, and many more. I made a ridiculous country music video that I’ll always cringe over.
I built Sherwood Media 11 years ago with the values of honor, truth, and love.
I believe that is the legacy this company leaves behind. It’s difficult, cleaning out and selling c-stands and tripods, looking at the investment that I’ve poured years of my life training for, being negotiated down and loaded into Subarus.
But I’m thankful.
Thankful for my next step. Thankful for all the support from friends and family through the years. Thankful to have been home with my kids when they were little, taking on projects when I had capacity, and being able to say no when I didn’t. It’s all been a big, messy, beautiful journey.
What’s next?
My family is preparing for a big transition next year, and I have been praying about a remote job that didn’t require me being tied to a particular location for production days and location scouts. I wanted to work in an industry I cared about, and for a company small enough to feel entrepreneurial and innovative, but big enough to be somewhat grounded.
In May, after I finished grading exams and celebrating Pellissippi’s first (in a long time) student film festival, I got a call from a friend of mine in the board game industry. “They need someone just like you…It’s fully remote.”
A job in board games? Are you kidding me?
The position was for a hybrid sales and project management role, making custom board games for brands. It would involve some creativity and storytelling, and certainly some scrappiness and hustle. But we were backed by the best board game manufacturer in the world, and I love board games!
I had just driven from TN to Maine to visit my best friend when the offer hit my inbox. I read over it, slept on it, prayed about it, discussed the implications, and finally said,
“Yes, I’m in.”
I’m very excited about the opportunity to grow in my career with the teams at Bamboo and Panda.
If you’re interested in following my journey, check out bamboodesignstudio.com.
In the meantime, please spread the word. I need to sell the rest of my video gear before spring!
