Why Small Businesses Matter in Fairfield: Greenfield Media
Why Small Businesses Matter
Shop small, do big things for your community
Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!
You're IT Greenfield Media!
Three questions with Bill Sondheim, President and CEO of Greenfield Media.
Why did you start your business?
I have been a senior executive in several publicly traded entertainment distribution companies over the past 30 years. Most recently I was the President of Cinedigm Entertainment Group for 7 years and was also President of Polygram and Gaiam for many years prior. I thoroughly enjoyed those jobs, but I had grown tired of the politics and corporate infighting which is typical in larger corporate environments. When Cinedigm’s management started making changes in their strategy, I used it as an opportunity to start my own small consulting and production company based in my hometown of Fairfield.
I have lived here for over 30 years and knew I could effectively operate a small office from Connecticut which still allowed me to easily meet in New York or fly to LA and Europe to conduct business. It has proven a fantastic transition in my career as I am able to focus on the kinds of film projects and creative clients that I have been able to establish relationships with over the many years of running higher-profile companies. It has also provided me more personal time to get involved as a Board Member with Fairfield Theater Company ( FTC) and my local Church at Greenfield Hill Congregational which has been very rewarding in so many ways.
How many local businesses do you use to support your business (products and services) and can you name them?
I consult for several companies including Giant Pictures, Neon Pictures, and Bleecker Street Films which gives me access to a diverse slate of films. I also have Executive Produced numerous films including a few westerns like A Tale of Two Guns and just completed Among Wolves starring Trace Adkins and Tom Berenger. I am currently working on 3-4 films that I hope to secure financing for at the year’s Cannes Film Festival in May.
The film companies mentioned above are all based in NYC, and I often use design studios like Bounce Creative Group and SJI Associates also based in New York.
Have you "reimagined" your small business?
My company doesn’t employ full-time employees but rather I have assembled a group of small independent contractors for particular services that allow me to flex up and down my staffing needs based on film production work levels. This has reduced my fixed costs and risk and has allowed me to support other small business operations that also want to maintain a modest profile and be flexible in how they operate.
Visit Greenfield Media online here, and make sure to check out their LinkedIn page as well!
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!