Member Highlight:
We would like to welcome Steven Borja of ESBO as a member of Leucadia 101 Mainstreet! We are so excited to have this production company as part of our growing Leucadia 101 family. Having worked with Steven on our own video projects for Leucadia 101, we love his ability to use visual storytelling in his work and his enthusiasm for this special beach town. Read on to hear about his story about setting roots in Leucadia!
How did ESBO get started?
I got my hands on a video camera back in high school over 15 years ago and I immediately got sucked in. It started with mostly filming with friends and action sports but that eventually evolved to working in-house with different brands. Getting a feel for the “professional” side of the business gave me all the more reason to stick with it, I’ve had the chance to collaborate with great people in this industry. After being relocated for work to San Diego from San Francisco, I eventually left to go freelance full-time.
How do you decide which projects are a good fit?
My favorite part about the initial pre-production process is finding out what the client wants to achieve. With that goal in mind, we can start to work on figuring out all the details. Laying that foundation is fun since you can brainstorm and collaborate on what is going to make an impact with the audience. My videos focus on relationships people have with each other as well as the business. So when a client wants a human-centered marketing campaign, I’m ecstatic. I think a perfect example of this would be the Surfhouse video or the L101 event video.
Surfhouse: https://vimeo.com/290579378
L101: https://vimeo.com/403420210
Where do you find inspiration?
Having grown up in Miami, I feel like a lot of my inspiration comes from a lot of the natural elements in my hometown and how the landscape converges with a sprawling city brimming with different cultures. There are so many different areas to explore. Visually, it’s stunning.
What is your favorite type of video and why?
My favorite type of video is an authentic representation of my client’s business. There are so many different ways to tell that story. The story is always based on creating an emotional connection to that business or person, and if that’s there then I’m happy.
What is your favorite part about living in Leucadia and being part of the Leucadia 101 family?
Being close to the beach is the best! But so is living close to a lot of friends.
How has your business been affected by Covid-19?
Right now my clients which are local businesses have had to focus on their online strategy, making sure their business can stand out to everyone spending time on the internet. It’s never been a better time to use video to introduce yourself to customers/clients in an authentic way that builds trust. Video production is still happening with the necessary safety precautions and I feel fortunate to be able to help those who want to grow their business.
What does your perfect evening in Leucadia look like?
It’s amazing to be a Leucadia resident, just from the intersection of Leucadia Blvd and the 101, you can have any type of night you want. Whether it’s grabbing beers with some buddies or taking my fiancé out on a date night to all the delicious restaurants. Everything is just a short stroll away. Most nights though I really enjoy a relaxing walk with our dog up in the neighborhood where we can get a view of the ocean during sunset.
Anything else you would like to share?
For businesses in North County, if you ever wanted to take video production into your own hands but have questions about all the details of lighting, audio, camera, and software I would love to be a resource for you. Please feel free to reach out and ask away! I’d love to help out any way I can. Also for those looking to take advantage of video marketing to grow their business, I’d love to talk to you too.
Make sure to visit their website, and follow their Instagram page @esbo.tv!