We had the good fortune of connecting with Dan McDonough and John Blanford, of Pastime Pictures, and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Dan and John, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The original idea for our business started when we realized how inefficient productions can be, even when you’re backed by major budgets. In every business, time is money, but in the film industry a single day of filming can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
We set out to create a company that focused on “crafting timeless stories worthy of your attention.” For us, this mission is deeply rooted in the stories we produce, the artists we collaborate with, and the environment in which we work.
We know your attention is the most valuable resource you have. If you choose to give your time to a Pastime Pictures film – whether you are an audience member or a crew member – we will do everything in our power to ensure that it’s a rewarding experience.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We believe that working in the film business shouldn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your family and personal life. We came up in this industry working very demanding hours and it inspired us to take a different approach when founding Pastime Pictures. It’s our goal to establish a prosperous workplace that is capable of attracting, developing, and retaining the very best talent. We believe this starts by empowering every artist along the way to play a creative role in the development of each project. If we do our job successfully, we are confident that we can influence a better future through timeless messages and unforgettable experiences, both on-set and on the silver screen.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta is such a diverse city and it is one of the best culinary hubs of the world. While there are so many things to do here, I’d highly recommend going on a food tour of the city. Here are some of our favorite spots.
Most Unique: Gunshow – Several chefs create a variety of innovative meals that they then present to you at your tableside. It’s one of the best ways to try several different cuisines in a single night and the menu is constantly changing, so you will never have the same meal twice.
Pizza: Antico’s Pizza
Steak: Kevin Rathbun Steak / Bones / Marcel
Greek: Kyma – Get the octopus, you won’t regret it!
Italian: Amore e Amore – Mama Gale & Professor Giovanni will invite you in and treat you like family for the evening.
Buford Highway: Banh Mi at Lee’s Bakery, Dumplings at Northern China Eatery, or an authentic Korean dinner at Stone Bowl House…So many hidden gems it’s tough to pick just one.
Sushi: Eight Sushi Lounge / Kinjo Room
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The Atlanta film community has had a huge impact on our lives and careers. We’ve both been fortunate enough to work on Film and Television productions all over the world, but Atlanta will always have a special place in our heart.
When you first break into this business as a production assistant it can be incredibly intimidating. No amount of film school can prepare you for the fast-paced environment of a professional film set. After spending our first few weeks being terrified to make a mistake, we eventually worked up the courage to start talking to other crew members. We were amazed at how welcoming people were and how willing they were to give us advice.
When we formed Pastime Pictures, we wanted to inject this same southern hospitality into our company values. It was important to us to create an environment where people felt comfortable to ask questions, and to ensure they were invited to be hands-on in the creative process.
Website: https://www.pastimepictures.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastimepictures/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/82501748/admin/feed/posts/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pastime_pics
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastimepics/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe4g-v2jpEvSW2bmLGs4-eg/featured
Image Credits
All images are taken by one of the following photographers: Blake Ballard, Eli Joshua Adé, or Dan McDonough