KC Film Spotlight: Outrider
We are so excited to bring to you our first EVER KC Film Spotlight on a production company! Outrider (formerly Liquid 9) is an “all-under-one-roof”, collaborative content agency, located right here in Kansas City. And we were lucky enough to chat with them all about business, creative, and KC!
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Tell us about Outrider!
Outrider (formerly Liquid 9) was founded in 2005 and reformed with Frankie Oviedo and Dan Gedman in 2008. They have been the only two partners since 2017.
Our current crew is the best we’ve ever had, comprised of long-tenured people who are wildly talented in their disciplines. The evolution from Liquid 9 to Outrider was more than a rebrand. It was about building a company around a team that makes magic every time they come together. Our decisions are based entirely on ensuring a strong future for our team and the creative community.
What kind of clients do you work with? What are your favorite types of projects?
We work with all sorts of clients, but most fall under three categories:
1. Large corporate clients with strong internal strategic capabilities
2. Ad agencies that love the way we collaborate
3. Small start-ups that appreciate our entrepreneurial spirit
We’re not a traditional agency, nor do we have any intention to ever operate like one. Our niche starts at the creative process, and we can take every project all the way to market delivery. Therefore, as strong as our departments are on their own, the work truly shines when all hands are on deck.
One of our favorite projects was for Sporting Kansas City. Working with their internal marketing team, we conceptualized and produced this anthemic piece.
Some of our other recent favorites were a summer TV spot for Jack Stack Barbeque involving Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith, as well as a hard-hitting mini-doc for IVX Health.
How is it to work in the creative arts in the Greater Kansas City region?
Working in Kansas City as a group of creatives has been fascinating over the last 15 years. The talent is here, and the city needs to see that. When Frankie and Dan started in 2008, we had a vibrant and thriving film community. However, more and more work has left town, both on an agency and production level. We are badly in need of a rebirth. This will likely come in the form of the new production tax breaks, which will hopefully give our community the opportunity to shine.
The talent in our area is undeniable. Outrider has KC-born creatives and crew all over the country–we can’t wait for our city to return to a day when they can all come home to work.
On the other hand, it is awesome how we all know and support each other. It really is a community, and the respect we have for our city mates, even our competitors, is real and palpable. But most importantly, we take pride in helping the young talent of our city grow into the next stars of this (often) complex field.
What role has mentorship/menteeship played at Outrider?
Outrider has long embraced the notion of mentoring the youth of our city, both on a creative and production level. Our former interns, PAs and juniors are all over the country doing amazing things.
On a top level, our partners are now getting to the age that they are starting to think about legacy–and there would be no stronger legacy than to leave the city in a stronger creative position than when they started.
What’s next for Outrider?
Sky’s the limit. For fifteen years we’ve been the little engine that could in Kansas City, and there’s no reason that we shouldn’t continue down this path. The future is bright for both Outrider and Kansas City.
https://vimeo.com/theoutriders
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Thank you for sharing with us this month. We are so happy to have you as part of our regional filmmaking community, and are excited to continue to follow along and support you in your journey!
