Today we’d like to introduce you to Colton Wilie.
Hi colton, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
i was born with a camera in my hand always taking photos (with film in those days) and making silly movies with my friends none of which survived to see the internet (thankfully).
Before I started studying film at Stephen F. Austin State University I began my career as an intern with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s media department. This is what sparked my interest in production. I went on to earn my degree in Cinema, then relocated to Austin where I worked at a local camera shop called Texas Media Systems.
Around 2014, a friend and I co-founded Bad Walrus Films, running a lighting kit out of an old Texas state work van — until the day the engine blew up (not joking). That was the push we needed to get our current truck and slowly build it out into what it is today. Along the way, I spent a great deal of time cultivating relationships with local rental houses and production teams from across the country.
My business partner and I parted ways in 2022, and like most breakups it wasn’t under the best of circumstances. I have been the sole owner of Bad Walrus LLC ever since. I have always tried to run Bad Walrus with a strong sense of ethics and I remain committed to those ethics as a sole owner. 2023 brought some more big changes my way, both personal and professional. My girlfriend and I married at the beginning of the year; we met right before COVID and our relationship grew even through all of the craziness. Professionally, Bad Walrus transitioned out of a shared shop space and I now operate out of our home. As the needs of the market change I am always trying to keep up to date with the latest offerings. For example, I recently added walkie-talkie rentals to my offerings, and that has been a strong success.
Film is something I am very good at, though it has never been a consuming passion the way it is for many of my peers. What keeps me rooted in this industry is the community and the fresh challenges that come with every new job.
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?
No, not even close. There have been stretches where work dried up completely; having to call mom and dad to help buy groceries or get the lights turned back on at the beginning of my career is humbling in a way that’s hard to describe. Going into business with a friend seemed like a great idea at the time, but eventually running a business took a toll on our friendship. Choosing to split ways was a very difficult decision, ultimately I think it was the right call. However, losing a friend and business partner in the way that I did was genuinely painful.
But I count myself lucky. I have an incredible community around me, and those people have shown up for me more times than I can count. Honestly, that’s what I think this career is really about; the people you meet along the way and helping others as much as you can. That’s what keeps me in it.
As long as nobody asks me to shoot a 48-hour film.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Bad walrus LLC ?
Bad Walrus was founded in 2014 with a simple philosophy: be fair, friendly, and non-judgmental. We offer full lighting and grip services along with walkie-talkie rentals. What I believe sets us apart is our size; being a small operation means we can pivot quickly and stay far more mobile than some of the larger grip and electric companies in town.
I’m proud that we offer discounted rates to LGBTQ+ organizations looking for help with PSAs or productions of any kind. At the end of the day, Bad Walrus wants to help make your production happen on budget and on time. We’re very creative in finding solutions with limited resources, and I think that’s my strongest attribute thinking outside the box, on the fly, and under pressure.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love about Austin is that it’s the biggest small town in America. The community here is unlike anything else you start to know everyone, and that familiarity has been one of the greatest parts of building a career here.
The downside is that being a small community can also breed some bad apples people who aren’t necessarily looking out for the greater film community. It can be frustrating to navigate at times, but at the end of the day it doesn’t matter all that much. We’re all just human beings doing our best, using the visual arts to make a living. That’s something worth holding onto.
oh and the Tacos i really like Tacos
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Badwalrusfilms.com
- Instagram: @badwalrus_
