Scott Klumb, Boulder, Colorado film production professional, has owned and managed operations at SMK Media Production, LLC, since 2012. He has provided clients with a range of services and completed various media projects during his tenure, including live event streaming, still photography, marketing, and related services. Early in his film production career, the Boulder, Colorado, native specialized in freelance action sports filmmaking. Scott Klumb subsequently gained an international reputation for his editing and production work on freestyle and backcountry ski videos.
Mr. Klumb’s work has appeared on major television networks worldwide, including ESPN. He has worked as a contract filmmaker and editor for ESPN, during which time he produced interview segments for SportsCenter, among other roles.
After his general studies at Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, Mr. Klumb attended Colorado Film School in Aurora. His studies emphasized post-production. He has garnered numerous awards throughout his career as a director, editor, and cinematographer, with his projects appearing in over 50 international film festivals.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I get up in the morning and make myself a cup of espresso. Start doing film work (such as post-production) or work on my YouTube series/channel, Autism Ability. Usually edit film for a period of 3 to 6 hours and then get ready for my other job as a shift supervisor at Bitty & Beau’s Coffee shop for about 5 hours. During coffee, I take my dog, Tupaw Barkur (from the artist Tupac Shakur), for a walk, 20 minutes on average. This dog was the first dog featured on Paul Mitchell’s Instagram page for National Dog Day.
I get home from work around 6 pm, and I walk Tupaw and then feed him dinner. Then I cook dinner for myself. At night, I watch sports, and my favorite is NBA, with NFL a close second. I also watch movies and TV series with my friend (favorite genre is suspense or drama) or build Legos. As I watch my TV, my dog, Tupaw, watches with me and doesn’t hesitate to express his doggy feelings about the programs we are watching, especially commercials. He barks at any commercial with an animal in it – and there are so many!!!!
Every day, I play indoor fetch with Tupaw for hours – Tupaw loves to chase toys down the stairs, but only his favorite toy of the day. He will let you know which one that is!
How do you bring ideas to life?
As a creative, ideas flow randomly. Once I get an idea, I run with it. I take the idea through the writing process using sticky notes. Brainstorm how I would film the story, as well as take photos to capture the story. Modified storyboarding process begins. After writing the story, I take the idea through the first film shoot. As I am filming, I can also see what shots I need at any given point based on my autism gift of strong attention to detail and visualization. I don’t need to storyboard my films, but it is nice to have. Begin editing that footage right away. After editing the footage, I begin to see the story come alive and I begin to see the gaps in the story and add to it. After that, I plan the next film shoot. Then I schedule the next film shoot. Repeat process as necessary.
What’s one trend that excites you?
New and emerging technology. In 2024, I went to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade show in Las Vegas on an all-expense paid trip sponsored by Adobe. I was one of four Adobe Fellows that year to be invited to this trade show. I have been interested in filmmaking for many years and am constantly adding to the camera technology I have invested in so far.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
My fidget toys help keep me focused and distracted from any potential anxiety. I take a break as needed and will build Legos, which again helps me distract from any anxiety and refocus my energy.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself, “It is going to be ok. Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid to ask. The worst someone can say is ‘no’ – and you won’t know if you don’t ask.”
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I need more Legos!!!
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Find your passion. Get out to the theatres and enjoy the movies, even if it is by yourself.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Brainstorm while I pace back and forth. Use my fidget toys to distract and refocus or build Legos.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
I never feel I am at my peak and am constantly growing as a filmmaker. I thrive on impermanence regarding the industry. I adapt and adjust to what audiences want. Right now, the trend is for short online videos and series, rather than feature-length films.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I felt like a failure during film school, which eventually led to me dropping out when my film wasn’t among the final selections for the Student Film Show. I realized that even though I excelled with the film work and film projects, I struggled with the academics and quizzes. Eventually, I realized I was up against teachers who were inflexible in their expectations and in the way they taught, so I set out to learn on my own in my own way.
My lesson was never to give up and continue to push forward – I took failure and learned from it.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Adobe Premier helps me bring my vision to life. It is my primary editing software.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
My favorite podcaster is Crypto Wendy O. I am learning investment strategies to invest in a strong financial future.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
F1: The Movie – I liked it cinematically, especially the many great camera angles and new movements never used in a racing movie before. The visuals were stunning, and the audio engineering was perfect. For a racing movie, the storyline was also entertaining.
Key learnings
- Life as a creative is never dull—you are never at your peak; there are always new horizons, trends, and technical advances; and there is always more to explore.
- Life is unpredictable—embrace it, learn from it, and keep a positive outlook.
- Failure is not an obstacle to success; it is often an opportunity in disguise.
- Always continue to grow personally and find new hobbies—new hobbies can lead to new opportunities, new connections, and new experiences.
- Find balance between career passions, hobbies, and home life.