Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Zvanovec
Hi Adam, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I studied Media Communications in Minneapolis and thought I was going into sports journalism. I had an internship with Fox Sports North and started doing freelance journalism while I was still finishing my degree. Immediately after college I got a job on the east coast in Connecticut as a Video Director for a small Church. I thought this was going to be a stepping stone onto working for ESPN – whose global hub is in Connecticut – but it really was what set my life on another course. I ended up working for two churches and one co-working space while my time in Connecticut. I had branched out from just doing video production to also doing graphic design and creative direction. The next big change was when I left Connecticut to move to Sydney, Australia. I was apart of one of the largest and most influential churches in the world while I was there. I was on staff in their video department, spending most of my year traveling around Australia doing short form documentaries. I would also do global trips for longer documentaries, shoot music videos & live album recordings while in Australia. I moved back to the states in 2019 to move to California, where a handful of my friends (either Sydney or New York) had gathered. I spent a year in Orange County before moving up to Los Angeles. This whole time I was starting to freelance as a video director & DOP. After a year in Los Angeles, Buisness got busy and I created “Tennis Club LLC” – the production company I now run. It was named after our newfound love for tennis during the pandemic (gyms in LA were all shut). We did a ton of live music performances in a short span in LA. I was also branching out to do more commercial work and start chasing some narrative video as well. I for a lot time have wanted to make movies, short films, and blend the line between advertising and entertainment. As work slowed during film and writing strikes in Los Angeles, I again was ready for a move. I spent the majority of 2024 in Berlin, Germany working on a Minnesota based screenplay, making new connections for work in Europe, and trying to reset before going back to America. I shot my first European commercial in September and I moved home to Minnesota in October. I now live and work in the North Loop of Minneapolis, and am excited about my future of building a career in Minnesota.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve made a handful of big moves, and every single one feels like a reset. Each one is hard and has its own difficulty. But each one gives you new chances to grow, learn, and become a new and better version of yourself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are kind of known for being really fun to work with. I’m big with ideation and strategy, to the point that my HR manager at a previous job told me I had the makeup for a CEO. When we partner with brands, artists, and companies I love being able to get into the mind and ecosystem of their company and help move the ball down the field for them. I love being a resource, while making it fun and easy. We also have a history of making it seem easy. We put in work in pre-production to leave margin on set when things eventually happen. This leaves a lot of space to make shooting days fun even when the unexpected happens. We once had an entire audio system shut down for 6 hours, and we still make the day with some creative resources and because we always are generous with our time. I love to work this way, and to value our team members, contractors, talent, and client teams.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Playing baseball as a kid is always a standout. I loved baseball so much of my life. It drove me to play college baseball and was my initial connection for wanting to be a sports journalist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tennisclub.studio
- Instagram: @adamzvanovec
