Emperium is extremely excited to anounce Meshach Malley a Columbus, Ohio native to lead its film division and further the mission of developing high quality content for audiences world wide. We recently sat down with Meshach to gain a deeper insight into his background, in addition to his goals for Emperium Studios and we are excited to share it.
Can you share a little about your background and how you got started in the film and
production industry?
"I grew up in a household where we weren’t allowed to watch a lot of TV so I became obsessed with movies and television. My act of rebelion was saying ‘if you won’t let me watch it, I’ll make it myself’...I never stopped. When I was fourteen years old I wrote, shot, and edited my first
feature film that premiered in a theater. Since then, I’ve never stopped making movies.
I still am obsessed with how to tell stories on screen. I’ve primarily worked on independent film
and commercial shoots. Living in Columbus, I’ve had the oppertuntiy to create independent web
series, television, and feature films."
What experiences or roles have had the most significant impact on your career
development?
"COVID played a huge role on how I think about film production. I always had the idea that you
need hundreds of people to come together in order to make a movie. While filmmaking is often
a collaborative process, we are also at a point in history where you can make beautiful movies
with a very small crew. Technology is making it easier than ever to make your movie. The
barrier to entry has never been lower. This means that to make something great you need to be
a good storyteller."
Who or what has been your biggest influence in shaping your creative vision?
"The two people who inspire me the most are Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, and
Casey Neistat, the YouTuber. Henson was a force of creativity, always pushing outside of the
limits of what was “possible” at the time while also keeping himself at the creative center of most
of his work. He was a visionary and experimentalist who always had more ideas than he could
ever create. Neistat developed a new style of making movies on YouTube. In the mid 2010’s he started
making daily vlogs telling stories about his life. His work was cinematic and voyeristic at the
same time while authentically capturing his interest. On top of that he did all of the work himself,
from shooting, to editing, to distributing. I had taken a lot of inspiration from his approach."
How would you describe your creative philosophy or approach to projects?
"I think about the story that I am trying to tell. Story is king. Everything else in in service to telling
that story in the most interesting and compelling way possible. I love Tolstoy’s definition of art,
which is to communicate an emotion from the creator to the viewer. That is my goal. Story is the
way that it happens."
What attracted you to our production company(Emperium), and what are you most excited
about in your new role?
"I am most excited about working with other creative like-minded people to create the best
possible films that we can. Emperium’s work is a beautiful example of how you can create
powerful stories that resonate with people throught non-traiditional means. Hollywood is
changing and Emperium is a part of that change. I am excited to play a role in continuing the
work they have done and make powerful films."
Can you describe your primary responsibilities as the Creative Director?
"As the creative director I will be overseeing the development of new films from Emperium. I am
developing a couple of short films to take the next step in Emperium’s journey. I will work to
distribute these films and grow the reach of Emperium Studios."
Are there any specific projects you are particularly proud of, and what lessons did you learn
from them?
"In 2023 I shot, directed, and edited a feature film called “I’ll See You on Thanksgiving”. Through
this process I learned how to manage large groups of people while keeping everything moving
and the creative vision at the front and center. I learned how to work efficiently, but effectively to
capture your shots and bring them together in the edit."
How do you envision your role influencing upcoming projects at our company?
"I have worked every role in film production from writer to director to editor. I’ve been the boom
operator or the guy running to get coffee. I understand how everyone works and because of
that, at Emperium I will bring a versatile skill set that I can apply to a team. I understand how to
light my own scenes or have a conversation with the gaffer. I know the best practices for
capturing audio and can sniff out when something is wrong. I see myself as bringing teams
together and helping them communicate with each other, while staying on track for the creative
vision."
What do you believe sets you apart from other creative directors in the industry?
"I’m set apart because I’ve performed many roles. I love story and characters, but I also love
lenses and microphones. I know when we need to focus on creativity or when we just need to
get the shots. I’m not just interested in the creativity, I’m not just interested in the business side.
It’s both. It has to be both."
How do you plan to bring innovation and a fresh perspective to our production company?
"The fresh perspective I will bring is my voice and taste in stories. In terms of innovation, I plan to
grow our audience and connect with more people. I love the work that Emperium as done and
my goal is to contine that path while incorporating my versitle skill sets."
What are your aspirations for the future of our company, and how do you see your role
contributing to that vision?
"My future aspirations are for Emperium to become a production company with the reach to tell
whatever stories are most impactful, not limited by budget or time. Through my role, I will create
the best work that I can. I will work to get it in front of people who find it meaningful and want to
see more of it. My goal is to grow our reach and audience. The bigger the audience, the more
we can create."
How do you plan to navigate the changing landscape of the film and production industry?
"I plan to navigate it, by keeping an eye, not just on what we are seeing currently, but what we
can anticipate may be coming. The world of filmmaking is changing. We are entering an age
where media is democratized. This is why I prioritze storytelling. Even as the landscape
changes, people will still be seeking good stories."
What advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers or creatives looking to break into the
industry?
"Make stuff. Make more stuff. Try to improve in the spaces between each project. I believe that
we grow through iterating. Create something, improve upon it, create again. This is how we get
better. There are a million videos, PDFs, books, and behind-the-scenes clips out there. Watch
them and then make stuff. It’s the only way."
Are there any resources or strategies you recommend for those starting their careers?
"Talk to as many people as you can. As focussed as I am on art and storytelling, without an
audience you are dead in the water. Go to events IN PERSON. Talk to REAL PEOPLE. This is
how you make things happen. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to raise funding for your own
film or get a job a production company, you need to meet and connect with people."
Outside of work, what are some of your passions or hobbies? How do they influence your
work in film?
"I am an avid reader. I like to read everything: fiction, non-fiction, biographies. There is so much
richness in the world, I just want to absorb it. I also love to hike, run, and stay active. I enjoy
dinners with friends and teaching myself how to play guitar. I currently live with my fiance and our two cats. We like to watch lots of movies!"
Stay tuned for whats to come from Emperium Studios ! If you havent yet, follow us on all our Social Media Platforms: @emperiumstudios and SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SITE.
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