BlakQuail
Candice Hicks & Melissa Gabriel
Interview by Mercedes Arnold - October 11, 2024
Maine Vibes Magazine: Thank you very much for taking the time to talk today. Would you mind introducing yourselves?
Candice Hicks: My name is Candice Hicks. I am originally from Connecticut, but I currently live in Los Angeles, California, and I have been in the entertainment industry for 15+ years. I started as an editor, which is where I met my partner and friend, Melissa. We were both working at the same company and then I transitioned to producing, so post producing, finishing visual effects, now we are branching out and doing our own thing, moving more into the production side with BlakQuail. I partnered with Melissa during my maternity leave, which is when we came up with this idea. The timing, while it doesn't sound like it would work out, actually did. So that's where we are now.
Melissa Gabriel: My name is Melissa Gabriel. I was born in New York City and moved to Puerto Rico when I was three, and then I went back to New York City, and now I'm in Maine. I'm an only child, so basically television raised me, I always say, because my mom was a single mom and she was always working. I was kind of a latchkey kid, so I was always watching TV, which I think really contributed to me going in this direction. I met Candice at both of our first real jobs and we became close. We kind of both branched out to the freelance world, but we'd always like to bring each other to each other's work and we kept in touch professionally as well. We've been talking about doing something together for a long time and the timing works now, everything aligned where we were like, Let's do it, now's the time. We're both moms and we have this goal of having a work-life balance so that we can actually enjoy our children on our terms. We work really hard, but being able to set our own schedules really allows us to be with our kids and have that balance. So here we are! I kept on the editing path, and I really love what I do, which is why this is really working out pretty well.
MVM: What was the job that you met at?
MG: So out of college I didn't know how to even start. I graduated in 2009 which was part of the recession at that point so I kind of just bounced around and I found an entry level job at a post production company. Candice had been there as an assistant, so she was one level up from me. Our other friend Cristina and Candice taught me everything I still know at this point. We like to say we “trauma bonded” together, which I think forms really great friendships. Candice became my mentor.
MVM: You kind of touched on it a little bit Candice, but can you tell me more about the BlakQuail origin story?
CH: I have to gauge it based on my pregnancy, because that was a pretty huge milestone in my life. I think that’s when we started meeting about it. I was pretty far along and then took a break for maternity leave after I had the baby. We set our schedule and goals and what we wanted to do once I came back. We hit the ground running from there. I've mostly worked at post houses, VFX studios, and it's great.
You're already at the tail end of the process, and there are already so many decisions and things that have already happened before you get a say, which is understandable. But then there's that part of you that wants a little more ownership, or a little more of a say, or you could have come a little earlier in the process, which is a large part of what spawned BlakQuail.
Having the opportunity to work with a really good friend, someone that I trust and I've known for a long time. Having that comfort and ease, that was also really appealing.
MVM: The freedom is nice! It’s a lot to balance because now you’re wearing so many hats.
CH: We are and that's the thing, not to downplay the level of stress and work that you have to do, but there's something that makes it a little easier. So much of this is built into the industry and the process already. I would say, for me, I'm a little more desensitized to it. One of the things I came to terms with as a freelancer, when I would meet with people, they'd ask, “What's your ideal project?"My answer really became, it's not really what I'm working on, it's the team that I'm working with and their morale and excitement.
MVM: With BlakQuail, Melissa, you said you’ve got a first in Maine?
MG: I looked it up, we are the only female, Black and Latina owned video production company in Maine, possibly New England. We have a very specific formula that we're starting with.
MVM: Huge congratulations, starting a company is a lot of effort, but to be the first, it’s definitely time and I’m happy you’re doing this. How do you both maintain your creative energy and passion in an industry that requires constant innovation?
MG: I think creativity is all around you. The way you look at things, it's how your brain is programmed. I'll see a shadow of a leaf on the wall, and someone whose brain isn't programmed for it won’t see it. But when you have that creative mindset you do see it. I was telling Candice this morning, the way my kid pulled out his chair to eat his breakfast, I was staring at him, like, oh my gosh, I wish I had this on camera. But yeah, I think creativity really is all around you. We go back and forth with ideas all the time, even when we're talking about taxes, something will pop up, and then we'll go on a whole rant about it. So having a partner that's also creative really helps.
CH: To piggyback off Melissa, her mind is always going and she always has a new idea which is really exciting. I worked with an animator that was like that and all the producers were like, oh my gosh, it's a little exhausting working with her. I was like, it's great, I have somewhere to build! It's so much harder when you're trying to get someone excited about something. If you come with that excitement we're already in the game.
I think what also helps is the fact that it is our own thing. It's really nice knowing that this is ours, that we're growing from the ground up and we're seeing it progress and grow.
MVM: Yeah, that's exciting and I'm sure it feels really good.
MG: To take all that and put it into one word, it would definitely be collaboration, and not just with each other, with our clients or other creatives. We use a shooter sometimes for bigger jobs, and even talking with him about ideas is nice. We value other people's ideas, we don't think we know it all, and I think that really helps.
MVM: Absolutely. I think it’s important to keep your mind open to new ideas. The more creative people you have in the room, I feel like you’re getting bigger and better results.
So what's one thing about BlakQuail’s journey so far that surprised you or taught you something you didn't expect?
CH: I can say for me, starting you kind of set your expectations, it's very much like, Okay, I'm super excited about it, but let's just be realistic. This is probably what's going to happen. I'd say for our first year, the reception that we've had and working with brands and reaching out to other marketing agencies and people that we've collaborated with has been great. I thought it would be maybe a slower start but it's been faster than I thought. We've made some genuine and really strong connections in the amount of time that we’ve been doing it. There's definitely an excitement when we've been reaching out to companies, I think, because of some relationships we already had and the fact that we are two women doing it, the feedback has been really positive.
MVM: I love that. How do you balance being creative partners while also keeping your friendship strong?
CH: One of the things that I think helps is a lot of times a friendship comes first, and then maybe you partner with someone. For us, we started as co-workers and quickly became friends. There was already a mutual respect that was there from working with each other and having to trust each other as assistants at the same company. Now we’ve melded both of those things together. This is our first year of operations with BlakQuail and it feels like we’ve been doing this forever.
MG: Both of our first jobs were at a tough place to work and learn. We learned a ton, but that specific job needed a good work ethic, or you would be fired. I think we were both raised in that work ethic so we have it, which helps running the company. It also helps if you trust the other person, which we do.
MVM: It's like you guys unlocked a new level of friendship by having your company. What advice would you give to other women, especially those in underrepresented communities who are considering starting their own creative business?
MG: I think specifically for Latinas, our journey is really a clear step-by-step. My grandma came to New York and cleaned buildings, and then my mom was an executive assistant in an office that my grandma would have probably cleaned. You can tell where it's happening and I think this is the next step for not only my family, but a ton of families like mine. I'm only the second generation born in the States, so I take what's behind me and use it to propel forward. If you do want to start your own business, make sure that you absolutely adore and love what you're doing, because it's so much work that you're not going to feel like it's worth it unless you are passionate about it.
CH: I feel similarly. I would also add, just do it. No one in my family is in entertainment and when I graduated college proud of my film degree, my mom confessed to me that she didn’t know what I was thinking. She waited four years to tell me that after it already happened and has always been very encouraging. I know that’s not the case with everyone. Sometimes you hear a lot of but what ifs. It’s one of those things where you just do it, you’ll always have that nagging feeling if you don’t at least try and there is nothing wrong with failure or picking yourself up again. I think you owe it to yourself to commit to whatever it is and see what it could turn into.
MG: Going back to the generational thing, I wish my grandma was here to see me and I could tell her, Look grandma, it worked, you did it. I want to add, if you are starting something, don’t be afraid to fail because failure will teach you more than an easy win ever will. I repeat that to myself all the time.
MVM: That is great advice from you both. It’s a huge leap of faith in yourself to start a business but you learn so much. If you could work on a dream project anywhere in the world or with a specific client, what would it be?
CH: You know what? I'm going to steal this because this one is tough. We were talking about this yesterday and Melissa said BlakQuail is her dream project to work on. The fact that we get to do this together, no matter how small it is, that is my dream. This is what we wanted and we know we are directly working towards the goals we want, which is having ownership and being able to have more say.
MVM: Yeah, that’s amazing. So some fun questions, are you watching anything good right now?
MG: I'm honestly more in my podcast era. So. And we both agree that we do love what we do, but we do it for work. So when we're not working, we don't really think about that production. So I'm really into spooky podcasts right now, not just because it’s Halloween, but year round. I’m also reading The Life Impossible by Matt Haig, who is one of my favorite authors. I can actually see the pictures in my head when I’m reading what he’s describing.
MVM: What about you Candice?
CH: For personal reasons, I can't disclose what I'm watching because it's a lot of trash. Piggybacking off what Melissa said, what I watch is purely for entertainment. That's one thing I'm proud that film school did not take away from me, is my love for junk. I think at the beginning, television and movies were meant to be entertainment. It doesn't have to say something every time. If you made me laugh, or you entertained me, even if it's bad, I'm down on this journey. For podcasts, I really like Best Friends with Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata.
MVM: Nicole Byer is so funny.
CH: I’ve always thought she was funny. Their relationship and friendship is a nice bit of happiness and entertainment.
MVM: What's a spooky podcast that you’re listening to, Melissa?
MG: I like to listen to one called, And That's Why We Drink by Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz about spooky stories and true crime. I just got into one called Two Girls, One Ghost by Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga. The girls are from Boston and they have that East Coast humor, so I enjoy listening to those two right now. My first podcast love is called Lore by Aaron Mahnke. I’ve been listening to this one for over 10 years, he’s so good. There’s a lot of dark history behind the folklore, which I like.
MVM: I’m putting all of these podcasts on my list. Also, Candice, I’m watching Love is Blind right now, so don’t worry about talking about trash shows.
MG: With the US version [of Love is Blind], it’s never going to be the first season again. People are going on it to get famous, right? Some people are still married from the first season, which is kind of cool.
MVM: Yessss, that’s exactly right. Is there anything either of you want to share before we part?
MG: I mean, check us out. Check out our website, https://blakquail.com, and our Instagram, @blakquail, to see what we're up to. If you like progression you will get to see us from the start. We love connecting with makers in our area so we are more than happy to do that.
MVM: Awesome, thank you so much for your time!
Learn more about BlakQuail
🎬 Website: https://blakquail.com
⚡️Instagram: @blakquail
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