My name is Braden Walker and I am the owner of Initium Creative. My entire career has been in the creative realm in one form or another. I have worked in video/film for over 25 years, doing everything from legal video, commercials, music videos, documentaries and beyond. I have also specialized in web design/development for over 10 years working with all types of businesses, including specializing in the RV Park/Campground industry.
I believe everyone has the capacity for creativity and it is something that has to be tapped into. I was attracted at an early age to creating through storytelling and it grew from there. In high school, I was taught and mentored by an amazing teacher and friend, Danny Spear, on how to create with video/film. Following that, I was blessed with many opportunities to grow in my craft and develop some amazing work with so many wonderful people.
Initium Creative was created in January of 2019. The name means to start being creative and that is what we help our clients do in order to communicate who they are. We specialize in video production and web design/development and marketing.
Creativity is the essence of who we are. I believe that God is The Creator and we were created to produce creatively. Living out that creativity is a life lived well and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
The message is the point and if that message is embedded with the right type of creativity that communicates it in a lasting way, it has accomplished its goal.
Before I start a project, I meet with my clients and talk through the message that needs to be delivered. Once it is communicated, the viewer walks away with a clear definition of what that message was. We then put the idea through a story arc and see how we can make this flow and connect with the viewer so that there is a lasting effect on them.
I love the whole process but sitting down to put it together in a post is probably my favorite part. It is where you see the story come alive and takes form.
Most of my career has been storytelling in a documentary style way, however I have had the opportunity to create some amazing scripted work and it is something that I love to do. It is also fun to look at other people’s styles and take and build on those styles for certain projects like the Better Call Becky campaign.
I would say my country has had the opposite effect on my creative process. The United States is very fast paced and at times not encouraging of giving time to think through things. I love to take time to think and rest in my creative process so that inspiration comes and creates something better than having to force it.
It is a great honor to us. Winning an award like this helps us to stand out more and give more exposure to our clients and what they are communicating and helps us grow our business.
We entered the Better Call Becky commercial because we believe it is one of the best projects that we have put together. It targets the type of clientele that our customer wants and tells a story in the styling and parody of a great and beautifully shot television series. It was a blast to work on and we loved every moment working on it.
There really wasn’t much of a challenge with the project, however the budget was a little bit of a challenge. However this was something that we really wanted to do and we made it work.
It has definitely provided additional legitimacy to our business and has helped us see where we want to go in the future with certain projects.
My top three favorite things about our industry are the ability to communicate in a creative way, being able to get messages out that can provoke movement and being able to live in a creative mindset for hours on end.
Freedom of speech definitely makes the United States unique in the creative industry. However, we seem to be losing some of that, if it isn’t a message that someone wants to hear, they try to cancel it. I hope that that freedom remains and we see how important it is to our creativity.
My hope is that there is more creativity encouraged and all that entails, thought, freedom of expression, rest, relationship with God and others. I believe we need to slow down and not be so quick to throw something together and post it on the internet because there is a demand for immediate content. If we don’t learn to do that, we will continue down a road of making things without any real thought and just keep repeating the same messages and remakes of films.
Take time to think and rest. The demands will always be there, so make sure you allow yourself to schedule time to stay in the creative process and allow creative ideas to formulate and take form. In thinking and resting, connect with The Creator as he is the ultimate source of inspiration.
Get around those that are doing what you do but better. Don’t be afraid to learn from others that are doing what you want to be doing and stay connected with a community that gives you life and encourages your craft.
There are tons of people who have inspired me in my life. From my family, my wife and kids to my Media Tech instructor who became my mentor and friend, Danny Spear. People I work with and those that are creating at a level that I am inspired by. Most of all, the Holy Trinity, Father Son and Holy Spirit.
My key to success is staying connected with God and others. Relationships are so important to me that when I start to lose that connection I notice it right away. Things become harder and my work starts to suffer. Find that in your own life and don’t walk away from it.
Don't let the world steal your creativity. Get inspired and don't stop.
Braden Walker is the owner of Initium Creative that has dedicated over 25 years of his life to working in video/film industry and specializes in web design/development after much experience!
Read more about this interview with Fang (Yiyi) Yang from United States, the Silver Winner of the 2022 MUSE Creative Awards.