Zach Frankart shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Zach, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
We recently completed our feature film COUNTRYSIDE which I co-wrote and directed. We held a private screening in November where cast and crew got to finally see their hard work on the big screen. We expect to announce our official premiere in the coming months.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Zach Frankart, in 2014 I co-founded Frankart Film with my wife Jenny. We specialize in creating high quality, cinematic commercial video content. Day-to-day, I focus on the creative aspects of our company, looking for unique ways to get to the heart of the stories behind some of the country’s biggest brands. In addition to our commercial work, we also completed work on our first feature film, COUNTRYSIDE, which will be premiering in 2026.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
In the summer of 2013, I flew out to Southern California to work in the camera department on an independent film. The job was supposed to last six weeks, at which point I would return to Columbus. I ended up living there for almost five years and driving cross country over a dozen times. The experience exposed me to people from all walks of life, people with backgrounds radically different from my own, and made me realize that’s really what makes this world beautiful. I’ve been back in Columbus for eight years now but I’m still drawn to that exploration. Our clients have taken us all over the United States (and even international). Through our work we’ve had the privilege of talking with, and learning from, CEO’s, schoolteachers, politicians, nurses, parents, firefighters, artists, activists, athletes, astronauts and everything in between.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Take your time. When you’re young and you have goals, it’s easy to think that if they don’t happen immediately, you’re doing something wrong. Over the years I’ve learned that the important things in life are usually a marathon, not a sprint. Business and creativity require patience and a clear head.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
There’s a common term used in film criticism: auteur. An auteur is essentially a filmmaker with a unique approach to telling stories that is so distinct, it is discernible through all of their works. Steven Spielberg, for example, works in wildly different genres yet when you watch his films you can easily say “THAT’S a Spielberg movie.”
There’s an important lesson in this, not just for filmmakers, but for anyone trying to do important work: your approach, your viewpoint, is your most important asset.
I often see companies and creatives taking a “one size fits all” strategy to their work in hopes that it will maximize their opportunities. I was definitely guilty of this early in my career. What I’ve learned over the years is this: don’t try to make your approach fit every project, but find the projects that fit your approach. This allows you to focus on, and enjoy, the work instead of feeling like you’re pushing a rock up a hill. You may feel like this limits your growth opportunity but it’s the exact opposite, it leads to higher quality output which will open the doors to new projects.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
When I first got out of college I was extremely fortunate to land consistent freelance work with a company for a couple years. The pay was decent, my work/life balance was great and before long I was able to move into a trendy apartment. I had accomplished exactly what I set out to do: I had made a living telling stories with my camera.
There was just one problem. The work was extremely repetitive and it didn’t take long for me to become disinterested in what I was doing.
I was grateful for the life I had and it was tempting to just go with the flow and stay the course. However, I decided to do something drastic and it was at this point I left for California to work on an independent film. It may have been an unconventional choice but I knew it was the right one almost immediately and it reinvigorated my passion. The ripple effects of that one decision have made my life what it is today.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://frankartfilm.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankartfilm/
- Linkedin: https://www.instagram.com/frankartfilm/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/frankartfilm
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/frankart-film-columbus
