Meet Evan Newsome: Leader of Video Freelancers

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

Hi Evan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
In 2018, my three partners and I had identified two massive weaknesses in Atlanta’s video production industry:

1) Video Freelancers (non-FTE) were either unionized, or massively underpaid.
2) Clients looking for video production were either paying exorbitant agency prices, or settling for underproduced content.

In both of these cases, there was no middle ground. Solving for both of these issues was the guiding principle that sparked the creation of our business. When we founded Sailorface, we set out to create a network of freelancers with minimal overheads to provide income to talented creatives and to provide quality content for any client’s budget. Now, over three years later, we’ve worked with small business to launch their products, global companies to announce new messaging, and everything in between. From SweetWater Brewing Company’s refreshing IPA’s to the tireless entrepreneurs behind Clutch Creations. We’ve given business to 20+ freelancers in videography, editing, animation, 3D, audio production, lighting/gaffing, and more.

Every week that passes, we still feel like we’re just getting started: trying a new field, contracting a new freelancer, landing a new client. However, I think if my partners and I could talk to our 2018 selves, they would be proud that the core values and goals have remained front and center.

How has the pandemic affected your business and your industry?
Sailorface is only as good as its network of freelancers.

And they’re amazing. Through them we are able to offer our clients efficiency, flexibility, and resiliency. But they would likely agree it hasn’t always been full-steam-ahead.

As anyone in the agency world can tell you, there are some high highs and incredibly low lows. The recent early months of Covid-19’s spread are a pretty good microcosmic example of what we’ve been through over the years. Things were ramping up at the time; we had just received a lease for our first brick-and-mortar office space. During the initial lock down, all the clients vanished – and understandably so. With the projects we had on the docket, it was going to be impossible to do it while safely avoiding the spread of Covid-19.

Our entire network went on hold while my partners and I scrambled to figure out what to do next. We knew with everything moving from in-person to online, the need for video was still there (and would likely grow even stronger). So we pivoted to offering more video services like animation or single-speaker video content on green-screen. The freelancers we had used for in-person shoots took on some different skillsets. By the end of the year, we had tripled our client base from pre-pandemic times.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a business that was able to thrive while so many businesses around us were forced to close their doors. But I really think the structure we’ve built means we could do it under any adversity. By choosing PEOPLE over COMPANY, we are by our very nature an adaptable business. Moving with agility, purpose, and humanity, Sailorface is ready for any obstacle.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m not contractually obligated to say this, but I would definitely recommend SweetWater’s Taproom. It’s our very own Coca-Cola of beers, and the staff is incredible. If you’re looking for a lil blend of tourism + local, the Beltline is a go-to, and constantly growing and changing. My personal Beltline favorites: Cold Beer (the name wouldn’t tell you, but it’s got amazing food and perfect cocktails). Victory Sandwich Bar (perfect baby sandwiches). Nina and Rafi’s (probably the most indulgent pizza in the city).

Best Pizza goes to Varuni Napoli – whose Italian-style pies we literally named our cat after. The Most “Authentically ATL” spot is El Progresso #14 (Aka “Prison Tacos”) – it’s a hidden taco place in the back of a supermarket across the street from the federal penitentiary, and the tacos are criminally good. A recent repeat-visit for me has been Watchmen’s in Krog St Market – their hushpuppies are a cause I would die for. We venture over to East Atlanta Village as much as we can for nightlife (pre covid times), and if you’re visiting Atlanta, you owe yourself a Dad’s Garage improv show for sure. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe a lot of thanks to every freelancer we’ve contracted. Obviously, with the structure of our business, we would literally be nowhere without them. To name *ONLY A FEW* of our all-stars:

Hailey Hannigan with IATSE Local 579 – When we needed our productions to “graduate” to a higher level of quality, Hailey and her endless knowledge of all things equipment, lighting, and structure was our professor. Need a brightly lit room at 1PM to look like the dead of night? Need to simulate fire burning in a room you rented, (so you absolutely can’t burn it)? Hailey always had the answers and knowledge of which gear to secure.

Paige Precour – Paige, the go-to Set/Costume/Prop Designer was patient with us in the early days. Her experience was lightyears beyond, with costuming work for Avengers: End Game and Live Nation concerts. And still, when we asked “hey can you do super simple makeup on this corporate talking head video?”, she obliged. As our client list expanded, she’s done some incredible set design work with Sailorface and we owe her a huge thanks for sticking by the Sailors.

Ben Georgoff – If it requires a computer, he can do it. He designed our website, he helped create a retainer system for our clients, he has done 3D printing, can edit video, motion capture, do real-time graphics and more. Usually if we have a new, strange ask from a client, the phrase “I’m sure Ben could do it”. He’s worn a lot of hats and has helped us immeasurably.

Website: https://www.sailorface.video/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailorface.video/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evannewsome/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyYTTkPkylP9n7FSqotRKVg

Image Credits
Image Credit: Sailorface Video