On episode 96 of Creatives Grab Coffee, Zach Shapiro from One Hundred Seconds (Portland, Oregon) shares his journey from a 20-year career in restaurants to launching a purpose-driven video production company. Zach explains how his passion for local food systems inspired his first documentary and how he built a business around telling authentic stories for small businesses. He discusses the value of niching down into short-form documentary content, working with non-actors, and the impact of becoming a certified B Corp. This episode offers valuable insights for video professionals and marketers looking to align creativity with purpose and grow sustainably in a competitive industry.
Creatives Grab Coffee is produced by Lapse Productions, a video production company based out of Toronto, Canada. Reach out to them for your video production needs.
SPONSORS: Canada Film Equipment and Audio Process
Watch: B Corp, Saturated Markets, Niche, Real Stories (ft. One Hundred Seconds) #96
Listen: B Corp, Saturated Markets, Niche, Real Stories (ft. One Hundred Seconds) #96
Key Takeaways
Here are the key takeaways from Creatives Grab Coffee 96 featuring Zach Shapiro from One Hundred Seconds:
- Start by Doing: Zach launched his video career by self-funding and producing a documentary in Italy, proving that diving in with passion can kickstart a creative business—even without formal training.
- Support Local, Think Global: His focus on supporting small, local businesses through mini-documentaries reflects his values and belief in voting with your dollar. This alignment between personal values and business direction is key to sustainable growth.
- Niche with Purpose: Zach found success by narrowing his focus to short-form, documentary-style videos that help non-actors shine on camera, carving out a clear and authentic niche.
- Client-Driven Growth: His clients pushed him to upskill—whether in lighting or storytelling—demonstrating how listening to client needs can accelerate creative and technical development.
- B Corp Benefits: Becoming a B Corp helped Zach’s business attract like-minded clients and talent, reinforcing how ethical certifications can be powerful for networking, hiring, and credibility.
- Freelance Flexibility: After downsizing from a full-time team, Zach shifted back to a freelancer model, illustrating the importance of flexibility and financial sustainability in volatile markets.
- Creative Freedom through Efficiency: His goal for the year is to streamline operations, freeing up time for passion projects—showing that operational efficiency fuels creativity.
These insights resonate strongly with marketers and video professionals seeking purpose-driven storytelling, efficient business models, and niche positioning in a competitive industry.
