Meet Eduardo Manteca of Palo Fierro Productions in Tempe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eduardo Manteca.

Eduardo, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My experience with storytelling has been a major part of my life. At a young age, I knew I wanted to create ways to tell a story. From documentaries to cinema, film has always been the bridge between imagination and a human experience. I had an opportunity to explore videography for a couple of years in high school before losing my father at the age of 16. Shortly after he passed, I veered away from a lot of my creative endeavors and didn’t pick up a another camera until my sophomore year of college. It was then that I decided to start filming with a friend who had entered a few contests throughout the phoenix area. When I started filming again, I felt an inspiration that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Rather than creating ideas of fiction into reality, I felt more inclined to capture inspiring stories and people in my community. It was then that I decided to create a nonprofit called Local Phx. The inspiration for Local Phx came from realizing there was a lack of notoriety for local businesses in the Phoenix area. I knew that if I approached many of these individuals with the intention of putting together a video profile for them at no cost, it would then bring me closer, not just to the community, but to furthering my production experience.

Over a time span of three years, I interviewed and produced several videos for individuals and businesses. This experience brought me an abundance of knowledge in not just filming but owning a business. Soon after my skills in directing and producing were more refined, I decided to start on a second company that would allow me to profit from clients who wanted video content. Palo Fierro (Ironwood in Spanish) is a commemoration to the Sonoran desert that is my home and has been to previous generations in both my families. Since I started in 2015 as a for profit videography company, I got involved in many new projects local and abroad. I have filmed weddings, real estate, short docs, promotional content for the state and many more organizations in the valley. I would be nowhere without my experience in the community as a nonprofit years ago. Although I do not have the time to make videos for localphx, I still hope to pick up where I left off in the near future with nonprofit organizations.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road was never paved for me. I assume like many others, the struggle came from not knowing how to navigate while also trying to keep a life in order. What I can say from my own experience is that I did not necessarily struggle. I genuinely enjoy people and their story so no matter what, I always felt thankful to be able to connect on a real level as small business. What I found to be discouraging was the lack of trust from some who did not believe anyone would want to help them elevate their body of work while they helped me elevate my portfolio.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Palo Fierro Productions – what should we know?
My business is simply to bring a story to life. I create video content that represents you or a company as more than just a business. I specialize in creating and producing videos that an audience can understand and be inspired by to take interest or action in. I am most proud of work I have produced for organizations no one knew about. I believe that in this world, it’s not just about the content and media that is used to tell someone’s story with. What generally sets me apart is my genuine belief that you as company, organization or person are in fact interesting. People want to know more about what they are buying into. It is my passion to bridge an idea of someone or something to those who know nothing about them.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Being genuine and following through with anyone you work with.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.palofierroproductions.com
• Phone: 480-734-5029
• Email: palofierrophx@gmail.com
• Instagram: @palofierroproductions
• Other: @native_sonoran on Instagram

Image Credit:
silvermeridianphotography.com

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