Destyn Patera is the owner and DP of Lensea Film, a Pensacola-based film agency. “The human game is a team sport,” he says. We invited Destyn to the studio to talk to us about how he built his team from the ground up and how putting his connections with people and friends helped shape their immense growth over the years since starting in 2018. He also talked about how hiring people who challenged him to be better and constantly seeing how far the boundaries can be pushed to maximize quality of work without crossing over into burnout territory.
Patera approaches his business with a people-first philosophy, one he admits has been challenging and even unconventional at times. It’s a belief that making genuine connections with team members, clients, and partners will lead to success and that profits follow as a result. Destyn affirms that this prioritization of human connections was critical in one of their highest-profile clients to date, an IMAX feature film on the U.S. Navy Blue Angels produced by J.J. Abrams and Glen Powell.
The team members at Lensea Film have been close friends and partners of HatchMark Studio for years. Our shared passion for excellence and camaraderie permeates every project on which we collaborate. It was an honor to speak with Destyn to glean his insight into his passion and what drives him to be better for him and his team. No matter what business you’re in, tune into this episode of the Practical Rebels podcast for an abundance of useful takeaways that are equal parts inspiring and refreshing.
