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

Hi David, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
The single most important decision that I have made that has contributed to my success is letting go of my fears and embracing the gift that God put inside of me. A couple of years ago I was in a rut where life had become mundane. I was working a 9-5, making decent money by doing something I hate to live for the weekend. Out of complete and utter disdain for where I was in life, I picked up the phone called a friend of mine and I told her, “Hey i want to make a movie. So I wrote the script in like an hour, sent it to her and we came up with a budget. I took all of took all the money I had in my savings and a month later the movie was done. After it was edited people watched it and they said they loved it. From taking everything and betting on myself to make my first film I got other jobs and I have easily made and replaced the money it took to make the film 10x over.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Ethess Productions is divided into two companies DaViiDiC Films which specializes in film production company, and The Reel Deal Studios which is the demo reel company. What I am most proud of is that I own my company; and that I work for myself. Not only that buy both companies are successful. Getting to this point was not easy. I went through hell and sacrificed ALOT to get to the point where I am my own boss and I control my time. The way that I overcame was first with God and by believing that there had to be something better than the reality in which I was accepting and having an obsession to see it. The most important lesson that I have learned from this journey of the pervious chapters that led up to this one is summed up in a poem by Jessie B. Rittenhouse I bargained with Life for a penny, And Life would pay no more, However I begged at evening When I counted my scanty store; For Life is a just employer, He gives you what you ask, But once you have set the wages, Why, you must bear the task. I worked for a menial’s hire, Only to learn, dismayed, That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have paid. Basically, you can have whatever you want in life. You create your reality. If you are content with settling for a mediocre and average one that is what you will have. BUT (and the most important thing always follows the but) if you are willing to give everything you have to manifest that dream that calls to you, into reality. if you are willing to not be satiated with any less than having the Great not good life; then you can have it. But it comes with a price, The price is going to be a lot of pain, struggle, failure, etc. But I can promise you that the reward of living your dream and fulfilling your purpose is so worth it. Generally, the world forms an opinion of who you are based off of different things. I would like the quality, commitment and dedication of our service to speak for my brand and I would like the integrity of my character and the motives of my actions to speak for who I am. You blend them both and there you have our motto: Perfection is not Good Enough.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are too many places in Atlanta to count. To eat maybe Aria, if I’m in the mood for a drink, then the Ticonderoga Club. But honestly, i’m a workaholic so whenever I get in my ” I NEED A VACATION” mode. I’m leaving the state or the country to pour back into myself.

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?
First and foremost, God deserves all of the credit and recognition in my story. I do have an amazing team Ingrid Jordan-Producer Juan Londono- DP & Editor David Velick- DP & Editor JeKiaya Hines- Production Designer Bronwyn Stallcup- Set Designer Logan Toussaint-Gaffer/ AD In regards to mentors I don’t really have too many people I listen because not everyone deserves the value of your time but I generally listen to people who are wiser and are excelling in these areas of life: Spirituality, Relationship, Health and Money. Bishop Dale C. Bronner (Spirituality) Terrance West- Content Creator (Relationship) Tim Fontaine-Filmmaker, Entrepreneur, DP, Director, etc. (Business) Shuntel Hall – (Health)

Website: https://reeldealstudio.com/ | https://daviidic.com/
Instagram: @reeldealstudio