Behind the Lens with Carli Showmaker

By the time she enrolled at Temple, focusing on video production was a no-brainer, but she thought she might want to be in front of the camera as well. That quickly changed once she realized editing was her absolute favorite part of the process. She pursued a media studies and production track and added advertising to her roster as well, wanting to give purpose to the videos she was making. When she graduated from Temple in 2019, she recalls never thinking she’d run her company, Showmaker Productions, full time. She did freelance projects on the side that she enjoyed but hadn’t yet seen it as encompassing her entire job. 

After graduation, she searched around for full-time gigs, finally finding a position at a local lighting company that wanted an in-house photographer and videographer. She credits that company and position for introducing her to the franchising industry, which is where all her clients are now. Carli stayed with the company until April 2021, when everything changed for her. 

That month, two huge projects came her way, both from the place she once called home, Temple. She was asked to film and produce the graduation ceremony video and that year’s Diamond Awards. She credits that job for setting the path she’s been on ever since. “Those jobs were able to turn into numerous other jobs and everything kind of snowballed from there.” Around the same time, she officially established Showmaker Productions as an LLC, keeping the business license framed to this day as a memento. Carli says that ever since then, she’s been lucky that most of her jobs have come to her, not having to seek out many herself since, adding that word of mouth is the most vital part of her industry. 

When it comes to the video production process, Carli still has a clear unequivocal favorite: editing. “I like to be able to take all the pieces and put them into a story. I’m a very emotional person, so I feel like I edit with my emotions and love being able to provoke emotion from a storyline I put together.” She elaborates: “It’s very special taking hours of footage and cutting it down to a two-minute video that can make someone cry.” 

One of the most consequential projects (seen left) that she’s been able to produce was for her own father and brother’s firehouse back in her hometown, where they both serve as volunteer firefighters. Being able to interview her dad about some of the situations he’s encountered was a very moving experience. “He got really emotional and vulnerable doing it; it was really touching to me to be able to share that with him and then put that story together too for the community.” 

Looking back on her time at Temple, she says working with Temple Update as a part of her TUTV Practicum was one of the most impactful components of her college career. “I really learned how to produce from that class, and that was a piece I was missing.” The class helped her become more well-rounded, adding interviewing, preproduction and research bona fides to her skill set. 

What kind of advice does Carli have for students involved in, or looking to get into, video production? Film everything. “When I was in college, I got a GoPro, which was the cheapest camera I could get at the time. I just filmed everything I was doing.” She says the process helped her get more creative with her filming style and push herself to capture everyday things she would encounter in a more interesting way. Doing that got her first job with Temple. She had joined the Cherry Crusade, posting some of the fun hype videos she created of the games, and not long after, Temple Athletics came calling. They hired her and asked her if they could use her footage and work with them on events. Networking and connections are also wildly important for current students, she says. As for advice for her younger self? “Take a business class!” 

Carli credits those connections she’s made with how much she’s been able to grow as a videographer, and as a company, and says that staying tight knit with the Klein community has been a huge part of that. “I’ve stayed in touch with a lot of people, and it’s so great because we all love supporting each other in the media industry.” Carli has also been an integral part of the Temple Alumni Association, producing videos for the department, crediting that connection and the numerous events that are held with alumni with helping catapult her to where she is. “The networking aspect has been the most valuable thing I have gotten out of my Temple experience by far.” 

What does the future hold for Carli and Showmaker Productions? “I have people telling me to expand, but I also love being able to be the one that gets to not only go out and do the shoots, but then have my hand in all of the pieces of the project in editing.” She calls it the “Carli touch,” since she explains that her clients are hiring Carli as a person just as much as they’re hiring Showmaker Productions. “I want to find a balance of how to expand a little bit, but to be sure I can keep assuring the Carli touch will be there.” The solution? “If I could clone myself, that would be great!” Through it all, however, she says it’s important to never stop learning. “I never want to limit myself to my own knowledge and have my work lack because I’m behind on things just because I don’t know what I don’t know.” 

Click here to check out the official website for Showmaker Productions.

Temple alumni bravely pursue their biggest ideas and transform them into Temple Made businesses that defy expectations and shake up the rules of the game. To learn more about Temple Made businesses or list your own business, visit the Alumni Owned Business Directory today!