The Den Lennie Show
Business & Finance
About
Strategic insights for production company owners ready to scale past $250K. We talk about systems, profitability, and sustainable growth. #JFDI
Episodes
- You're either winning or you are learning.
The biggest obstacle that I see video business owners face is the fear of marketing, because if it doesn't work, you take it personally. In actual fact, you are either winning or you are learning, and marketing is simply a series of tests…
- We have the loneliest job, and AI is making it worse
This episode discusses the isolating nature of filmmaking, particularly the hours spent editing. The presenter explains how the emergence of AI tools is intensifying the stress and pressure filmmakers already feel.
- Why Video Business Owners Hate Selling and What It’s Really Costing You. EP #402
In this episode of The Den Lennie Show, Den Lennie discusses the psychological barriers video business owners encounter when selling. He explains how adopting a CEO mindset instead of a "cameraman" identity can transform sales calls into c…
- The $100k Editing Trap EP#401
In this episode, Den Lennie addresses the "Technician's Ceiling" that business owners face when remaining involved in daily editing tasks. He explains how this identity hinders business growth, using client examples and the S.C.A.L.E. Stai…
- Episode 400: The ROI of 150,000 Downloads EP#400
Episode 400 of The Den Lennie Show marks eight years and 150,000 downloads, with clients achieving over $60 million in revenue. Host Den Lennie discusses client success stories and the importance of human connection in business, particular…
- The $10k/Month AI Distraction! EP#399
In episode 399 of The Den Lennie Show, Den Lennie addresses the tendency for filmmakers and entrepreneurs to get distracted by building unnecessary things with AI tools. He differentiates between being busy and being productive, highlighti…
- The $123k Comeback: The Power of Compound Content. EP #398
What do you do when a high-value client leaves for a cheaper competitor? In this episode, we break down a real-world case study of a $123,000 contract that turned into a five-year deal. The secret wasn't a better pitch; it was a consistent…
- The Authenticity Moat: Marketing in a Fake World. EP #397
In a world flooded with generative AI "slop," high-end brands are terrified of looking cheap. Trust takes years to build and seconds to destroy. In this episode, Den breaks down why your biggest competitive advantage in 2026 isn't your gea…
- The $350K Event Pricing Trap EP #396
If a client spends hundreds of thousands on an event, why are so many video producers charging only $10K for the coverage? In this episode, Den Lennie breaks down one of the biggest pricing mistakes production companies make when quoting e…
- The 90-Day Ghost: Why Your Best Leads Keep Disappearing. EP #395
In this episode, Den breaks down the "90-Day Ghost" phenomenon. If you're a video agency owner frustrated by radio silence after a great discovery call, you need to understand the structural and psychological reasons for the delay. Den exp…
- Why Your Video Business Stalled at $250k (The S.C.A.L.E. Method) EP #394
Most video production owners believe that hitting the $250,000 revenue mark is the finish line. In reality, it is often where the real constraints begin. If your revenue is growing but your freedom is shrinking, you haven't built a busines…
- From Dark Place to $163k Pipeline. EP #393
Twelve months ago, one of my clients was in a dark place. Despite 11 years in business and a high-end portfolio, he was facing $30,000 in monthly overheads with zero visibility on future work. He was the classic Technician. Talented, exhau…
- Why "Passionate" Creatives are Going Broke. EP #392
If you’re a video agency owner doing $250k a year but still spending 70 hours a week in an edit suite, you don't have a business, you have a high-paid job. You are stuck in the "Technician Trap," trading your life for deliverables while cl…
- Stop Selling Pixels: The $250k+ Video Business Blueprint. EP #391
If you’re a video production owner doing six figures but feeling stuck, it’s because you’re caught in the Technician Trap . You are selling "tasks," such as the lighting, the focus, and the edit, which puts you in a direct race to the bott…
- Photography Collapsed First | Video Production is Next. EP #390
The creative middle class is dying. While most video production owners are panic-selling their gear because of AI slop, a small group of creators is using this chaos to scale past the million-dollar mark. If your business model is built on…
- Why Most Video Businesses Plateau at $250K (The 5-Stage Breakthrough). EP #389
Working harder but still stuck? Most video production companies plateau around $250K to $500K because the structure that built the business can’t scale it. In this episode, I break down the five stages of production company growth and expl…
- $80k vs $20k for an editor? EP #388
Most production companies believe hiring locally is the ethical choice. In reality, it is often the reason growth stalls. In this episode, I break down the real cost of onshore-only hiring and why offshore teams are one of the biggest leve…
- $60K Dropbox Mistake EP #387
Most video production companies are quietly bleeding money on storage. In this episode, Den breaks down the hidden costs of cloud storage, why keeping every client file destroys margins, and the simple system professionals use instead. You…
- Why Your Best Client Just Left (And The 3 Moves That Keep Them). EP #386
Your biggest clients will always leave. The mistake most video business owners make is assuming loyalty lives with one person. In this episode, I break down a real client loss triggered by a resignation and show why this happens even when…
- How to Fix Cash Flow Without Dropping Your Price. EP #385
If your cash flow feels tight, the problem started months ago. Most video businesses only think about sales when things go quiet, and by then, it is already too late. In this episode, Den explains how the 90-day rule impacts your revenue,…
- Get Out of the Kindergarten Stage in Business
Feeling lost as you try to grow your video business? You are not failing, you are transitioning. In this episode, Den breaks down the kindergarten stage, the uncomfortable but essential phase where skilled filmmakers learn how to think and…
- The Hidden Lag Killing Your Profitability #383
If you are broke right now, the cause is not this month. It is the result of what you did not sell 90 days ago. In this episode, we unpack the 90 day lag that runs your video business whether you know it or not. You will discover: The 3 ph…
- The 7 Systems Every Video Business Needs #382
Most video business owners work long hours and still feel stuck. Projects rely on them, clients rely on them, and growth stalls because everything runs through one person. In this episode, I break down the seven systems that separate busin…
- How to 10X Your Client Base in 90 Days. EP #381
What if 10X growth wasn’t about doing more but doing less? In this episode, Den breaks down how video business owners can simplify their strategy and multiply their results with one lever of focus. You’ll discover: Why 2X thinking keeps yo…
- Scale Shoots, Not Staff: How AI Is Transforming Video Production Workflows. EP #380
Every production company hits that breaking point — too many shoots, not enough crew. The natural instinct is to hire more people, but that’s exactly what kills efficiency and profit. In this episode, Den reveals how smart video business o…
- Are You Making This Big Video Mistake? EP #379
Most video businesses don’t fail because of talent. They fail because they try to be everything to everyone. If your positioning feels unclear, your website lists every service under the sun, and you find yourself chasing every type of cli…
- Triple Revenue, Take Four Week Holidays. EP #378
Working harder is not the fix. In this episode, I share the three systems that take a production company from 2 A.M. finishes to real freedom. We cover pipeline, operations, and positioning, plus the single mindset shift that unlocks scale…
- The Simple Google Trick Making Video Production Companies Instantly Visible EP#377
Are you losing clients to competitors who aren’t even as good as you? In this episode, I reveal a simple Google My Business strategy that helped one video production company boost inbound leads by 40%, without spending a dime on ads. Most…
- Escaping the Perfectionism Trap at $250K and Beyond. Ep #376
At $250,000 a year and beyond, perfectionism is no longer helping your production company grow. It is the very thing keeping you stuck. In this episode, I share how to flip perfectionism into your biggest growth lever, with real-world exam…
- Fix Your Sales Pipeline, Unlock Predictable Growth Ep #375
Are leads slipping through the cracks while you wait for proposals? After working with 178+ video production companies doing $250K and above, I’ve seen the same pattern hold 90% back from scaling. In this episode, I share the exact pipelin…
- How to Scale Beyond $500K as a Production Company Owner Ep #374
Most production companies hit a wall between $250K and $500K in revenue. They’re too established to compete on price but not big enough to win on reputation, stuck in what’s called the authority gap . The usual “hustle harder” approach of…
- Clients Aren’t Buying Talent Anymore- Here’s What They Are Buying (And How to Sell It) EP #373
In this no-fluff solo episode, Den dives deep into how AI is reshaping the video production landscape—and why boutique creatives risk being left behind if they keep relying on talent alone. The punchline? In today’s market, positioning bea…
- Why Most Creatives Will Be Replaced by AI (and What the Smart Ones Are Doing Now) Ep #372
“AI is coming for your job — and if you think it’s not, you’re kidding yourself. But here’s the thing… while most filmmakers are sipping piña coladas on the beach, pretending the sea’s calm, I’m telling you, there’s a tsunami coming. In to…
- Did AI Just Take Over My Podcast? Let’s Talk About It… EP #371
Den addresses the elephant in the room after posting an AI-generated episode that fooled most of his audience. He breaks down why AI will disrupt the video production industry but won't replace it entirely, using the analogy of synthesizer…
- Burnt Out & Underpaid? Why Most Videographers Stay Stuck (Until They Do This) EP #370
You’re working 70-hour weeks, juggling clients, edits, marketing, wondering why it still feels like you're barely keeping your head above water. Sound familiar? In this deep dive with our new hosts, Kai Mercer and Blake Juno, we unpack exa…
- He blew up the Death Star - And Taught Me This Life-Changing Business Lesson! EP #369
This week's episode is a personal one. Den shares the incredible story of Bruce Logan ASC - the man behind the Death Star explosion in Star Wars — and the humbling lessons he learned from working with him. But it’s not just about nostalgia…
- Why I’m Giving Away $10K of Training for Free EP#368
After three decades behind the camera, I’ve made a big call… In this episode, I’m announcing something I’ve never done before: I’m releasing my entire archive of foundational training , shooting, lighting, camera operation, all for free on…
- The 1-4-8 Rule That Changed Everything: How Matt Smolen Scaled Balloon Tree Without Burning Out EP#367
Ever feel like your video business is stuck in survival mode, feast or famine, no time to breathe, and definitely no time to grow? In this episode, Den sits down with Matt Smolen , founder of Balloon Tree Productions, to uncover the surpri…
- From $25K to $500K: How Caleb Transformed His Video Business - EP#366
In this inspiring conversation, Den Lennie sits down with Caleb Maxwell from Hebron Films to unpack the real, behind-the-scenes journey of growing a video production business from a struggling startup to a thriving six-figure operation. Ca…
- $5K vs $27K Project – The ONE Question That Changed Everything - EP#365
In this candid solo episode, I reflect on key lessons from dozens of conversations with videographers over the past 90 days. From the difference between those who are scaling successful video businesses and those who are stuck whining, to…
- He Almost Quit… Now He Travels the World! 🌍🎬 EP #364
Jay Moyes was this close to giving up on his video business dreams He was ready to trade his camera for a wrench and go back to .. But instead? He built a six-figure video business and now gets paid to travel the world, filming in incredib…
- How to get clients today! EP #363
📞 Waiting for work to come to you? It’s time to make the first move. When business slows down, it’s easy to get stuck in waiting mode—but the best opportunities often come from the connections you’ve already made. This episode dives into…
- Podcast Pivot: Lessons Learned & Our New Game Plan! EP#362
In this candid episode, Den shares a behind-the-scenes look at what's been working and what hasn't - on the podcast. After experimenting with a new format featuring multiple video mentors, the data shows it's time for a change. Den announc…
- How to avoid Burnout and achieve Balance! EP #361
🔥 Are you fired up and ready to go for 2025, or 🤔 already in need of a reset? Burnout can creep in when you’re juggling growth and balance, but it doesn’t have to be inevitable. This episode unpacks how delegation, prioritisation, and se…
- How Does The Market Perceive You? EP #360
In this episode, Den reflects on the importance of perception and clarity in running a video production business. He emphasizes the value of niching down to stand out in a crowded market, the significance of keeping strategies simple and f…
- Time to Reset - Strategic Time Management & Habit Audit! EP #359
New Year – New Strategy! ✨ 📈 The start of a new year is the perfect time to take stock of what’s working—and what isn’t. We explore how strategic time management and a deep dive into your habits can unlock new levels of success, both pers…
- Goal-Setting Techniques for Video Business Owners in 2025. EP #358
In this episode, Den kicks off the New Year with a reflective and actionable episode. He emphasizes the importance of revisiting past achievements and lessons to set the tone for success in 2025. 🚀 Den introduces a simple yet powerful exe…
- Pause. Reflect. Recharge. Repeat. EP #357
🎄Merry Christmas! In this special holiday episode, Den Lennie reflects on the past year in the video industry and shares a heartfelt message about rest, resilience, and the road ahead. He emphasizes the importance of taking time off to re…
- Turning Your Passion and Purpose…Into Profit! EP #356
What does it take to thrive in a male-dominated industry? 🎥 With only 4% of filmmakers being female, Alana Tompson knows the challenges firsthand. A talented DP, Alana shares her journey from working on Whale Wars to launching her all-wom…
- Winding Down and Reflecting. EP #355
In this episode, Den shares insights from recent events, including a business growth summit and a mastermind session for videographers. He reflects on 2024's wins and challenges, offering actionable strategies to help listeners plan for a…