“My progression is crazy,” says Williams. “I feel like I’ve done so much. And at the same time I haven't done a lot because I'm only twenty one. There’s still so much to do.”
So says Twixx Williams, founder of Pink Beanie Video Productions. At twenty-one, he has been doing videography for 8 years - yet in that time, he has already amassed a portfolio that includes doing projects for Nike, filming Serena Williams’ design crew with the agency DNAPDX, going on tour with Death Cab for Cutie and filming behind the scenes for a movie that releases this fall.
“I went all the way in.”
Williams grew up as a preacher’s kid in Northeast Portland. His mother’s television show, which began seventeen years ago and is still running, created some of his most formative memories of spending time with her in the studio.
Although he loved music and played the drums since he was three years old, in high school he chose to make videos instead of pursuing a career in music after talking with a mentor. “Ever since then I haven’t looked back,” says Williams. “I went all the way in.”
He began shooting videos with an iPhone 5c, then moved to drone videos before owning his first laptop. Williams recalls traveling around the city after school, covering concerts and community events, then coming home sometimes at two am in the morning to edit photos and videos to share online. His signature pink beanie, which featured in many of his shoots, began to get recognized and eventually became his brand.
“Hey, I Do Videos”
It was at this point, while attending Jefferson High School, that Williams’ story intersected with PVPDX for the first time. Sebastian Rogers, founder of PVPDX, was outside the school working on a video project. Williams noticed his camera and said, “Hey, I do videos.” Another mutual friend (and another PVPDX mentee) introduced his work to Rogers, who arranged to meet with Williams in his office. Williams explained his current editing process, including his signature slow motion videos - which were only slow-motion because his computer couldn’t handle anything faster.
“We talked for literally 30 minutes,” remembers Williams. “He reached in his pocket, handed me his key, and said, ‘You can use this office, use my computer.’” And that’s where our connection really started. From day one, he’s been open arms, trying to elevate me to the next level. I used his computer and started editing projects in real time.”
“I was just making cool stuff, and Sebastian was like, ‘That’s cool, but you need to learn storytelling, and the basics of working with clients,’” recalls Williams. “When I had my first client, he helped me write the treatment, handle the payment, etc.
That definitely molded the foundation for future projects I did.”
Eventually, PVPDX was able to find Williams and two other creative entrepreneurs another office space to use together. It was at this point that Williams realized that his relationship with PVPDX was more than just a fortunate connection. “I realized then that this was something he was building to help us. Until then I didn't realize I was being mentored, but it was good because it didn’t come with any pressure. I was getting resources and help, and experience, but it was so good that it didn't feel like being mentoring. It felt natural.”
Transitioning into an office of their own dramatically changed his work as a new graduate. “Having an office that we could all create in, with 24/7 access, and I was able to bring my clients in...It opened my doors to being able to talk to a client instead of meeting in a coffee shop. It opened the door to walk into the professional world.”
Williams admits that there was a large learning curve when entering the larger videography world - moving from making individual videos to working as part of a team, where there is an understood language that separates the experienced from the uninitiated. “If you get invited on set, you need to know what a sandbag is, what a gaffer is, how the set terms work,” he explains. “You're still trying to get your feet wet and catch up to the speed, learn the lingo. The biggest learning for me was not just working with my own camera, but working with a team.”
“I’ve learned how to assert myself.”
“I’m actually an introvert,” Williams admits, “but people see me as nice and bubbly and talkative because of the Pink Beanie brand I’ve created. That's been an adjustment because when you direct you have to express what you’re thinking, and project it because everyone needs to hear. I’ve learned how to assert myself in situations to get the job done.”
When asked what feedback he would give PVPDX on how to empower other artists like him, Williams stressed the importance of real-life connections and experience.
“Even more hands-on experience, more opportunities in the real world with established professionals would have been good. Getting that experience, even just on set or in the studio, following someone else, [is critical]. I’ve learned a lot from YouTube. But the big difference was when I was actually doing it. You have to fail to really understand.”
Now Williams is hoping to use all that he has learned to empower and collaborate with others. “I know I can’t do everything by myself,” he says, “so I want to teach and get people who are interested in what I’m doing, and empower them so I can make the whole gear move more efficiently. Empower people to know more about what they want to do, and help them however I can, just like the resources that helped me.” He recently hosted his first event, called, “Behind the Scenes PDX,” gathering twenty-five people who were interested in learning more about film, and looks forward to continuing that project this year.
“I’m trying to break that ‘You've got to know everything’ mentality,” he says. “That people feel they need to come across as an expert. You never stop learning.”
He wishes people knew that, no matter how impressive the client, for most of his work, “I’ve never done this before. So anything that I do is only going to be an improvement from my last work.
“Sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m just doing it. That’s just how I live.”
And Williams sees his relationship with PVPDX continuing with wherever he goes from here. “I feel like I’m always still connected with PVPDX,” he says. “I was doing a pitch for a video and got some help from Sebastian just recently. I’m still able to reach out whenever I need help.
“I’m never too far off and I think that’s the whole point - to jump out the bird’s nest and fly, but ask for directions when you need it.”
Twixx, like many others mentored by PVPDX, received a professional grade camera he continues to use today. We'd like to give a shout out to you, our donors, for making this possible and also to the several volunteers who helped us build out his workspace back in 2019. In 2020, Twixx was also given an iMac computer equipped with editing software, thanks to a generous donation of used equipment from a local post production house here in Portland.
Check out Pink Beanie’s latest work on their website and Instagram.
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