Sequoia Films Founder Charlotte Sclapari is Building a Bi-Coastal Creative Agency on a Global Mission

In the age of social media, it seems as if anyone can point and shoot a camera to create content. But the ability to bring culturally-relevant perspectives to life on print or video is what separates true artists from the sea of aspiring influencers.  

For Charlotte Sclapari, bringing a brand’s visionary campaign to fruition—as well as bringing inclusivity into the creative industry—is what drives the artist and producer. In 2016, she founded Sequoia Films (sequoiafilms.us), an independent, digital-first, full-service creative production company. “Our passion is creating meaningful, beautiful films and photos for brands and agencies who care about being an authentic part of the cultural conversation,” she says. 

 

Before starting Sequoia Films, Charlotte was working as a freelance producer for various clients and companies. After networking in the industry and building her portfolio, she used her talents to create a professional production company. “We're a production company specialized in creating elevated, culturally-relevant photo and video content for world-renowned brands, advertising agencies and record labels,” says Sclapari. 

Sequoia has since grown into a team of roughly five producers and production coordinators. And together they’ve developed an impressive portfolio with campaigns for companies like Spotify, Sonos, KEF, Beven and Ralph Lauren. Sequoia Films is a woman and LGBTQIA+ owned and operated company, and their work reflects a commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. They’ve work for campaigns featuring icons like David Beckham; they’ve also created ads and music videos featuring emerging stars like Lion Babe and Kali Uchis. 

According to a recent interview, Sclapari describes Sequoia Films as a "bicoastal cultural hub and digital-first creative studio,” with lead producers based in both New York City and Los Angeles. Sclapari says the .US domain reflects the agency’s era of expansion. “Sequoia Films was born out of American entrepreneurial culture and true New York energy, and now, as a bicoastal company, it makes sense for us to represent that in our URL.” 

As she developed the agency’s website, she incorporated her agency’s aesthetic into the design and communicates the Sequoia mission on every page. It was also important for her to use a .US domain. “It’s both any easy way for potential clients to understand where we are based, and also pays homage to the country who allows us to pursue and build our dreams.” 

While the team mostly works in creative capitals like NYC and L.A., she advises anyone who works in production to streamline operations and be scrappy. Staying within budget is one aspect of project management. The ability to produce beautiful content without being wasteful of money or resources sets Sequoia apart, and encourages brands to come back for more. 

Sclapari believes that their agency’s professional approach to execution paired with their team’s raw artistic talent is what makes Sequoia “a modern alternative to the traditional model, we are a production partner rooted in today's online environment, built for tomorrow.”