Kelsey Davis’s interest in video production began her sophomore year of high school, when she made music videos and basketball highlight reels for her friends. Her freshman year at Syracuse University, she found a group of friends who shared her creative talents.

“I’m a big learner, I think I take influence and inspiration from everything around me,” said Davis, an Atlanta native. “I think just being a creative, that’s really natural for me.”

In the spring of 2016, Davis, a junior television, radio and film major, had the idea to combine her video production skills with her friends’ art and poetry talents. To monetize their collaborative work, Davis formed CLLCTVE, a transmedia production agency.

CLLCTVE creates digital content for clients while helping freelance artists develop business skills, said Ryan Williams, co-founder of CLLCTVE. As a senior food studies major and certified personal trainer, he combined his passion for fitness with Davis’s passion for music and content creation.

“Our ability to mobilize so efficiently and use our resources together to produce the content just made us realize that this is a no-brainer, why wouldn’t we work together?” Williams said.

Davis and Williams have worked with over 30 freelancers to create editorial, video, digital and print content. They seek out students and other young professionals looking for real-world experience working with clients. Their past clients include Coke Music, the YMCA and Land Rover.

Today, the agency is focused on growth. Davis and Williams are looking to expand their team with new talent that is motivated to pursue their creative passions. The first question the duo asks in interviews: What do you want to do for the rest of your life?

“That’s what’s going to want to make you wake up in the morning and work for CLLCTVE because you know in the back of your head that it’s parallel to what you already want to be doing,” Davis said.

Davis and Williams first decided to work together while at a party, when Davis asked Williams if he wanted to be on board with the project. Two weeks later, they had partnerships secured and CLLCTVE’s website was up and running.

As a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Williams’s leadership experience extends beyond his role as COO of CLLCTVE. He said his ability to brainstorm and execute ideas complements Davis’s content creation talents.

“We really know how to finesse and know how to hustle, and I think that’s what’s made us successful thus far over the past few years … just not taking ‘no,’” Davis said.

The greatest challenge CLLCTVE faces is balancing the business with school, Davis said. Many days are filled with client meetings and video and photo shoots — plus classes.

Last Wednesday, Davis and Williams left for New York City at 6 a.m. for meetings with artists and other industry leaders including Jonathan Jackson, co-founder of Blavity and one of Davis and Williams’s advisers.

“They sort of have a very, very clear operating connectivity as CEO and COO,” said Jackson. “I think that they balance each other.”

For Williams, his education is rooted outside the classroom — he said he’s gained more exposure and networking experiences in the last two weeks than he has since he came to Syracuse.

“You don’t have to sacrifice your passions or put them off to the side and strictly just focus on what’s going on in that classroom because there’s so much more going on outside,” Williams said.

Davis and Williams will work full time to grow CLLCTVE this spring in their home cities of Atlanta and Brooklyn, respectively. This fall, they are launching CLLCTVE MINDS — a program that helps students get academic credit for the work they do with CLLCTVE.

Said Williams: “Don’t let your present circumstances dictate your ability to pursue your passions.”

Published on April 29, 2018 at 9:52 pm

Contact Haley: hrober03@syr.edu