Meet Michael Derricotte | Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Derricotte and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When, creating The Lead Visuals, I saw that people took videos for granted. My target audience started off as small music videos and short films. As I continued on this journey I met a lot of people in sports and it wasn’t just any sports, it was youth sports. I enjoyed watching these kids the were between the age of 5 an 13 really battle it out. To feel the energy on the field and also watch the parents really enjoy watching their kids love the game. While I always would comment that some parents were vicariously living through their children, it was a since of joy that I felt when looking and eventually filming these games. I started off with my slogan which was make you memories movies. This was something I came up with, because I saw that kids where working harder off the field in practice then they were on the field during the game. This is not to take away from the work ethic of the actual game itself, but they fix the things that they were doing wrong in the precious game. I also saw that parents would film their player on their phones and it would always be a problem. They either couldn’t see very well on their phone or the quality was bad. These were moments that were very important to them and they could not get them back. So i would show up to practices and record the players, having mile stone moments and show the achievements that they were accomplishing off the field that would resonate to when they played in games. While I truly enjoyed shooting music videos and shooting content creation. It never beat watching a player see hisself on my page and or a parent watching his kid score a touchdown. These were as I said before milestones in the players life that they could never get back and I made sure that the player could always look back on it. I truly apprieciated the parents and the coaches seeing the vision and understand the what the goal was. To give these parents and players memories that they just would never loose. If they went pro or if they were just sitting around when they got older, to look back and have a visual of what it was like to be on that field. So my thought process was to give parents and players and eventually all of my customers memories in movie form, because that is how I shoot in low light and with a dramatic tone that gives you a movie look everytime.

What should our readers know about your business?
It is funny, this one for me is easy. I have worked for a lot of production companies, and there was something that i always notice about them. You were treated like someone that was under the company. Sometimes you just felt like you didn’t belong. You had to work so hard just to get some knowledge. The respect went out of the door. You heard about gettting food and runnung errands, which was fine, but to when you stay on set for over 14 hours, you would just like to fell like there was light at the end of the tunnel. I always said when I hired anyone for my business i would look out for them, constantly be teaching them something, and never waste there time. That is what I did I made sure that i got to know my PA, and if they were struggling to do anything i would do what ever i could to help them out and also ge them to the point where they could own their own business. We got them LLC, Help them find their nitch, take them to other sets so they didn’t just see us in action but a full spectrum of what every set looks like big and small. These are truly lessons learned, because I had absolutely no one that looked out for me. I had to look on and just catch on. I am happy that I loved my craft, because there are some days I just wanted to give up, because I didn’t have enough money to make it to set, I would be ask to pick up talent and not compensated for it, or get production equiptment and have absolutelly no idea what I wa getting and just told to figure it out. While I still look back and ask myself why I did it, I also realize that it made me the cinematographer that I am today. I can do absolutely anything on the fly. I want everyone to know to always treat your employees with love and care about what they are going through, because you just have no idea what is going on in there life. While they are there to do a job they are still human and they have needs just like you. Get to know them as people, you can still be professional and care, because God will always look out for you when you look out for his people. The Lead Visuals cares about people and we are not just trying to turn a buck. The money will always come, just worry about the thing that you love and it will all work out. People will see your passion and that you care and that will inspire them to not only work hard, but care about the cause.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my friends come in town I think of a great time as relaxation. We work so hard that I feel like taking time to appreciate yourself is great. We are getting massages to start off the day, full body, if you workout, deep tissue. We would enjoy the sauna, pools and other amenities. Over the next few days, I know my friends the love to eat, if the are coming here we are going to places that are ranging to upscale to just plain old lets just go to a bar and have a good time. I am plant-based, however I have been to a lot of restaurants so I know that we can go to places like Fogo de Chao, Ruth’s Chris, Suite Lounge, Cru, and Boogalou, Just to name a few. They would like to enjoy some of the place that they hear about so I would want to make sure that the get those experiences. They would also like to enjoy some places where we could have a little friendly competition while still just being able to eat and have drinks, Some of these places would include, top golf, andrettis, Escape room, Bowling, and some billiards, just to name a few. If I know my friend they are going to want to hit the mall, not just to shop but just to also be around people and honestly just have a good time looking at the woman there. They will want to go to all the spots they hear about first. which is funny because I like none of them being from here but, i will do it all in good fun. Of course we are going to Atlantic station, Cumberland, Lenox, my favorites would be ponce market, I love the food there. We are definitely hitting up bar vegan, and the roof top. If we really want to shop im going to take them to Phipps Plaza for a different vibe and Buckhead village. Being funny with them it depends on how urban they want to get I could take them to a couple of other malls but we would just have a great time just going from place to place enjoying the people and the scenes. If they haven’t been to certain places in Atlanta and want to enjoy some of the education pieces of the city I would take them to Martin Luther King Jr national park and explore that whole area, coca cola factory, even though It absolutely bores me now and the aquarium, just for the experience. I would have to take them to slutty vegan and a couple of other staples of the restaurants staples in Atlanta like Atlanta breakfast club and other places that would fit that category. I am just not a club person anymore so I would have to stick to Lounges and cigar spots which we have a few over here on my side. The guys are going to want to just chill and see some fine lady’s, so I would make sure that i keep them around that vibe while they are here and make sure that they eat good while they are here. Time will fly by, of course you have some down time in between that, however in my experience time flys when you are truly enjoy yourself and doing a lot of things that this city has to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Honestly, my story begins in high school, when I was apart of the news cast that put out a broadcast everyday at the beginning of school. If im being honest this wasn’t the catalyst though. Although I enjoyed editing the videos and working the camera, it wasn’t until i got to college and I met my teacher, Mr. Benea that i really saw broadcast for what it was. I was one of the main editor and eventually moved on to run the broadcast center. I learned the ins and outs of broadcast and it brought me to learn how to shoot short films. I saw how important it was to get the whole story and not just jump around, because the audience would be confused and you would loose them. I learned that when shooting, you have to have plots and you had to write them out before you shoot them or not only would your audience get lost but your talent would loose focus also. He taught me to have order a command the attention in the room.

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