Tucked away in a corner office high above one of Hartford’s premiere independent cinemas and alternative arts organizations is another building block in Connecticut’s growing creative scene: Hartford Film Company. Founded in 2023 by TJ Noel-Sullivan with the intention of bringing the highest standards in film production to the city of Hartford, the company’s dynamic team of homegrown talent specializes in the production of narrative films, commercials, and more. In 2024, Hartford Film Company’s “Midas” hit the big screen. The feature film is about a charismatic college dropout who recruits his two best friends to steal from the health insurance company that denied his mom’s coverage.
From short films to commercials to a documentary about the ongoing teacher shortage, Hartford Film Company has been keeping busy — and that means the company has been growing. For TJ and his expanding team, success is more than building Hartford Film Company’s credits; it’s about cultivating a creative ecosystem in the city. “I think we’ve realized that a rising tide lifts all boats, and so as a small business, it’s not just us growing, but we want our community to grow around us as well,” says TJ. That’s why, in addition to commercial film projects, Hartford Film Company hosts The Hartford Film Showcase giving other local filmmakers a chance to show off their work and build connections.
CTSBDC helps put the business in show business
TJ may know a great shot or a good story when he sees it, but back in 2023, when he first started Hartford Film Company, TJ knew very little about running a business. Like thousands of other small business owners before him, TJ turned to Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC) for help.
As Hartford Film Company grew, many of the common questions new businesses face arose. When is it time to move out of the home office and into a real space? Should you hire contractors or employees? If you hire employees, how do you handle payroll? And how do you create accurate financial projections to inform these decisions? Veteran CTSBDC Advisor Michelle Augustyn was assigned to help TJ. “What really impressed me with my first meeting with the Development Center was that I was getting all of the questions I had answered in one place,” he says.
As Hartford Film Company moved into a co-working space, and then to an office high above Real Art Ways, TJ also began growing the Hartford Film Company team, starting with producer Sophie Morganstern who helps keep the whole crew and individual projects on track. Since then, three more staff have joined the team, many of whom came from local arts and internship programs. Eitan Ehrlich is the in-house cinematographer, colorist, and editor. Hailey Madramootoo is a production associate and handles sound recording. Lisa Marchetti rounds out the team as an assistant editor. Together they have been tackling their own documentary projects as well as commercials for everyone from TheaterWorks to Trinity College.
A van puts Hartford Film Company in the fast lane
In addition to the human team members, there has been another addition to the Hartford Film Company making a world of difference: a van. “As our business was growing, we realized we were hitting this bottleneck where previously all of our equipment was just being thrown in the trunk of my car,” says TJ. “I knew that getting a van was the right next step for the business.” However, a big purchase like a production van would have restricted Hartford Film Company’s cash flow.
TJ turned to Michelle for advice on this next major step, and she advised him to consider the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund, which provides working capital loans to small businesses at a low fixed rate. Michelle walked TJ through the process, and after securing the $30,000 loan—a $6,000 NHE3 grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development—Hartford Film Company invested in a used Ford Transit Van. The addition of the van, custom modifications, and convenient gear carts, has allowed the company to grow its business significantly. In fact, TJ says the van has already paid for itself, as the company has increased its revenue by 100% two years in a row.
The addition of the van was a turning point that unlocked new possibilities for Hartford Film Company. With fresh resources and continued guidance from Michelle, TJ and his team are now dreaming even bigger, exploring goals like securing a dedicated garage for the van and bringing on an executive producer to elevate their work and expand their industry reach.