Founded in the Spring of 2024, Patio Production is a student-run independent film company composed of six sophomores: Elliot Herzog, Ollie Yue, Mason Olson, Zinnia Estes, Will Tarica and Reyli Ramirez, according to their website.
Each member tells a slightly different version of how they initially started working together, but said they agreed on a few key facts: they were friends before forming Patio, and their first major project was the short film “Regretfully Yours.”
“Regretfully Yours,” which premiered last May in Choi Auditorium, is a narrative short film portraying the importance of accountability, Herzog said. Working on this film helped the group realize the strength of their collaboration, producer Estes said, prompting them to turn their partnership into an ongoing project.
“It was halfway through the writing of that short film that we considered making [our group] a more long-term thing,” Estes said.
The idea for their name emerged as a tribute to their nightly meeting spot, writer Tarica said.
“We would meet every night at Stewie Patio,” Tarica said. “Eventually, we decided we would coin [Patio] as the name for the production group we were starting.”
A crucial aspect of the group’s dynamic, Ramirez said, is the diverse backgrounds each member contributes, including graphic design, fashion and editing. Ramirez was the designer for “Regretfully Yours,” and each individual member also had a role in making the film — Herzog, Olson and Yue served as the creative directors, Estes as the producer and Tarica as the writer.
While each member technically holds a unique role within the group, Estes said that their positions are flexible depending on the individual project and interest that they bring to it. Although their individual backgrounds and experiences in film and design vary, Olson said what they share is a powerful drive to create.
“Our souls need to make something in order to feel fulfilled and to feel good about ourselves,” Olson said. “Being surrounded by people who are driven with the same motivation is so helpful for creating beautiful work.”
Initially focused on their independent works, creative director Yue said the group has since expanded to include content creation services for paying clients. According to Estes, these services encompass photos and short form videos for local businesses, brands and musicians. Their online portfolio features work for JNCO’s, Highland Cafe and Baller Hardware, as well as promotional content for student athletes and artists.
“We don’t want to get too refined yet and only do one thing,” Olson said. “By experimenting with different types of projects we can take more risks.”
The transition from creating solely for themselves to working with paying clients was accompanied by the group establishing itself as an official LLC, Yue said. While that transition has been a difficult one, Ramirez said, it has also been extremely rewarding.
“Paid work is always up to the person paying, which limits creativity in a way,” Ramirez said. “But we still put our own flair into it.”
To combat this new constraint, Estes said the group has been focused on remembering to honor their own creativity even as they navigate pleasing their clients.
“A lot of the art is lost when money comes into play,” Estes said. “Luckily we think we’ve nipped that toxicity in the bud.”
Five of the six core members study within the Media, Arts and Culture (MAC) department, Herzog said, but many have felt unsatisfied with the production opportunities available to them through class.
“I think what’s so special about Patio is that it’s a space that a lot of us were worried we weren’t gonna have in school,” Estes said. “We want to see Patio grow into something that hopefully everyone on this campus can use one day.”
Carolina Arap (junior), one of the lead actors in “Regretfully Yours,” said she is grateful for Patio creating opportunities for student actors to practice their craft.
“As an actor, the only way you can get better is to act,” Arap said. “Having kids like Patio making films and being open to work with people they don’t really know allows us as actors to not just rely on the theater department [for experience].”
Arap said that her experience acting for Patio was a positive one, and she would be open to working with the team again for future projects.
“It was just so cool to see a group of young people coming together purely out of passion and purely out of creative fulfillment,” Arap said. “I was really blown away by the professionalism they showed on set. I think they all have very bright futures.”
All six members said they are currently looking for more creative and talented individuals to join their team.
“We are yearning for good ideas, no matter who they come from,” Herzog said.
Estes said she encourages anyone to reach out to Patio with their fresh ideas.
“If somebody comes to us with a vision, they are welcome to work with us and we will help that short film or that idea come to life,” Estes said. “Everyone can have a little piece of Patio if they want.”
Olson said that while Patio has grown immensely in the months since its creation, it remains, at its core, a platform for exploring creativity and making art.
“Our main motivation is purely just creating beautiful art,” Olson said. “Because that’s what fulfills us all.”
Contact Estel Garrido-Spencer at garridospenc@oxy.edu
