On this episode we’re talking to Brad Slaughter, Co-Owner of Bark Productions and 19 Below, about video production past, present, and future. Building and maintaining a creative and collaborative culture are essential in video production, and they’ve covered it end to end. From a McDonald’s ad to Instagram, Brad and his team bring the creative storytelling to life.
TRANSCRIPT:
Jeff: Welcome to the Small Business Miracles podcast. I’m Jeff Randolph. This small business podcast is brought to you by EAG Advertising and Marketing. We’re going to talk about marketing, and we’re also here to celebrate entrepreneurs by diving into their story and learning a little bit more about what makes them tick today. I’d like you to pull your creative cap onto your head, way, way down close to your ears. Let’s think about the world of visual creativity. We’re talking to Brad Slaughter, the co-owner of Bark Productions and 19 Below. Video production has changed quite a bit in the Bark Production era. We’ll talk about those trends and improvements and about what it takes to build a creative and collaborative space. We’re going to talk about Brad’s entrepreneurial journey, and we’ll probably say something about a beagle in there somewhere. So if you’re ready, let’s bring Brad into the conversation. Talk about strategies. Talk about capabilities. Building all your hopes and dreams. Talk about possibilities. It ain’t rocket surgery. But maybe it is. Get around and get into your business.
Jeff: Hey, we are sitting here with Brad Slaughter. He’s the co-owner of Bark Productions. Brad, welcome to the show.
Brad: Thanks so much for having me. Excited to be here.
Jeff: Yeah, we’re happy to have you here. We go way back, actually. I’ve been in studios that you run, so this is a good time for me.
Brad: Yeah, it’s good to be on your turf.
Jeff: That’s right. This is the change in balance of power right now. Let’s start with the company and kind of give us a sense, before we get to the history and your journey to get here. Let’s level set. What is Bark Productions? What do you do?
Brad: Sure. Bark Productions is a video production company. We work with clients directly and with ad agencies. We do television commercials, content for the web, and social media. We try to be very nimble so that whatever the need is, we’ve got a solution. At the core, that’s what we do. There are two divisions to our company: Bark Productions and 19 Below. 19 Below is the post side of our company, or the editorial side. Bark Productions handles production, while 19 Below does editing, animation, motion design, color grading, post audio, and all those sorts of things.
Jeff: I can do a totally unplanned testimonial for 19 Below. Way back when I was at a nonprofit professional association, I would come in with some concepts and say, “Here’s what I’m thinking.” You guys were able to take that and turn it into amazing, on-budget, on-brand content that we used for our annual conference. People still remember some of those shows from the early 2000s. Great stuff. You knocked it out of the park.
Brad: Thank you. I appreciate that.
Jeff: Now let’s get into your entrepreneurial journey. How did we get here?
Brad: My business partner and I were both at Bernstein-Rein, a big ad agency in town. I was a few years out of KU, and Mark Schott—my business partner—was the executive producer there. He was a great mentor to me. We worked together on big national clients and traveled to other markets. We saw opportunities that weren’t really being offered locally to the degree they could be. Mark led the charge and said, “I think we should do this.” I was in my late twenties and said, “Sure, what the heck?” So we started Bark Productions in 1999, and it’s been ever-evolving ever since. No two projects are the same. Different staff, offices, and clients—it’s been a cool journey.
Jeff: You’ve moved around quite a bit before landing in your current space.
Brad: Yeah. Our first space was just Mark and me in the Union Carbide building downtown. About 1,100 square feet. We shared a computer when we started. We started on about five cents. The space we’re in now, near Boulevard Brewery, was a warehouse that we got to design ourselves. We built out edit suites, an insert stage, and everything we needed. We love it.
Jeff: You wouldn’t be able to start today with one computer. The technology has changed a lot, especially with AI coming into production.
Brad: When we started, it was 30-second television commercials shot on film. Thirty-five millimeter if you had money, sixteen if you didn’t. We did that until about 2006 when HD became viable. These days, AI is the big question. We use it mostly as a supportive tool, especially in post-production—things like rotoscoping, compositing, animation, and cleanup. It saves time and money, but it’s not the lead. Clients often underestimate how easy it is to change things once AI generates something. You still have to manage expectations.
Jeff: Where do you see that going?
Brad: Speed, efficiency, and budget will benefit the most. It just needs to become more flexible. Right now, you often get what you get. But it’ll improve. The organic nature of production still matters, and it will for a long time.
Jeff: You work with massive brands and smaller ones. What’s the difference?
Brad: The mindset is the same—make it the best it can be. Big projects are fun because of the scale and learning opportunities. Smaller projects are gratifying because you’re hands-on. You have a voice, and you can really help someone. That’s why we’re leaning more into end-to-end production—getting involved earlier in strategy and concept development. Everything starts from the same template. The difference is scale.
Jeff: Creativity thrives within constraints.
Brad: Exactly. Big budgets are great, but constraints force creative solutions. That’s often where creativity really shows up.
Jeff: You’ve clearly designed your space to foster collaboration.
Brad: Yes. We brought production and post under one roof on purpose. Our business is visual and collaborative. During the pandemic, we were only out of the office about six weeks. Everyone has their own edit suite, but being able to pop in and collaborate in person makes a huge difference.
Jeff: What’s next for Bark Productions?
Brad: The industry has changed. Everyone is doing production in some form now. Our differentiator is experience, quality, and end-to-end involvement. Getting involved earlier helps avoid concepts that can’t be executed within budget and leads to better outcomes.
Jeff: Are you ready for the lightning round?
Brad: I am.
Jeff: Who’s the celebrity you’ve enjoyed working with most?
Brad: We’ve worked with Barbara Corcoran, Shemar Moore, and most recently James Marsden. James was fantastic—prepared, collaborative, and genuinely great to work with.
Jeff: Favorite project?
Brad: Our first McDonald’s job was our big break. We also did a project with Chris Jones from the Chiefs that was challenging and really fun.
Jeff: Anything you wish you knew more about?
Brad: The upfront agency and client-side process—strategy, ideation, and pressure on creative teams. We’re learning more about that now, and it’s been fun.
Jeff: Favorite social platform?
Brad: Instagram. It’s visual, and people check social feeds as much as websites now. It gives a peek behind the curtain.
Jeff: What’s your small business miracle?
Brad: Starting the company in the first place. Kansas City is a unique market with incredible talent and opportunity. It made this possible.
Jeff: Bark Productions—what’s the dog?
Brad: Bark is Brad and Mark. We both have beagles, so I’d say beagle.
Jeff: Well done. You survived the lightning round. Tell people where they can find you.
Brad: Barkproductions.com and 19below.tv.
Jeff: Brad Slaughter, co-owner of Bark Productions. Thanks for being with us.
Brad: Thank you so much. It was great.
Jeff: And that is our show. Thanks to our friend Brad Slaughter, and thank you for listening to the Small Business Miracles podcast. Remember to subscribe, leave a five-star rating and review, and drop us a line at eagadv.com. Until then, we’ll be out here helping entrepreneurs with another small business miracle.