Meet Bob Dodd of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bob Dodd.

Hi Bob, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the West End of Pittsburgh, PA. Through my teenage years, I worked with my father as a roofer and truly decided that was not my path.

I tried a bunch of different jobs. I wasn’t necessarily sure what I was going to do as far as work goes.

However, a family member who worked in the film industry in Pittsburgh, needed some help covering an aerial manlift position for the lighting department on a tv show.

He asked me if I was afraid of heights and I said no. So I found myself wrangling, heavy cable and going 100 feet in the air panning lights left and right. I am very thankful my cousin John gave me my first real taste of a job that I felt like it fit me. It was the film industry. Who would’ve knew!

In 2007 on a TV show called the kill point. I got to experience a fast paced high demanding job that allowed me to think outside of the box and troubleshoot
problems that needed to be resolved fast, which allowed me to think of creative solutions to help get jobs completed so we can get the set ready for filming.

Everything about the film industry at that time was fresh, exciting and very special to me. I knew at that moment film was going to be my career.

After being in the film industry since 2007, I seen a lot of ups and downs. A roller coaster ride as I like to call it.

It really showed me how resilient I had to be and how much more creative I had to become, and how that relying on the industry could be a gamble.

In 2020 the Covid era, film work started to prove it was few and far between. I had to think once again, more creatively outside the box and make sure I was keeping food on the table and the roof over my family’s head. 2021 through 2022. It felt like the industry couldn’t catch up to the demand of content needed.

I knew in my bones that this was just a phase. Experience taught me when the film industry has a boom in work, that there will be a bust coming shortly after.

When 2023 came around, contract negotiations were coming up for a few different crafts for film industry and there was a chance that writers were going to go on strike. I think the studios knew this and planned accordingly.

I don’t think the film industry was ready for what was going to happen. Both the film unions and Studios didn’t know how long the conflict would last.

In 2024 some work came back and rumors started that there was going to be tough times coming up for 2025 and 2026.

The only thing I knew was that the industry was changing. So I decided to take my skills and put them to the test.

My wife and I started a production company.
Crazy some might say, She had a full time job taking care of our kids, managing everything going on with the house along with providing top-noch education for our kids home school curriculum.

Plus all of the other hats that she wears still amazes me everyday.

I work a full-time job with the operator engineers union out of Atlanta. While still day playing in the film industry when I can.

We decided that making our own content and producing our own intellectual property would be the most beneficial to us while providing Professional services to others who are interested in doing the same.

We help folks in the southwest Atlanta area start their own YouTube channels, podcasts and corporate videos by creating affordable solutions to produce content that help build their business.

I decided to make my own podcast and bring on people that were in my circle who I found extraordinary, talented, and entertaining.

I wanted to share the amazing people that I know with the world. I wanted to help develop a social scene in Atlanta that showcases interesting people in my life.

So that’s how I ended up where I am today.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is there ever really a smooth road? I mean, even if there was one would I have taken it? We all make our own paths in this world.

Throughout our travels, we will receive advice, tips, tricks and other information that we will either accept or deny.

Everybody tries to prove self worth, bye chiseling out their own path. Doing it their way. Even when the seeds were planted by other people‘s experiences.

My struggles I feel are similar to a lot of other people. Finances, family, timing of life situations and knowing that I children that look up to me and thinking, what will I be leaving behind for them?.

I am very thankful for my wife. She really puts up with a lot from me. She is very supportive in all my endeavors. With high confidence I know I could bounce all my ideas off of her and get an honest response.

Things have been strange. With all of the conversations that I have with people, I’ve come to realize that I am not married to my ideas. I constantly evolve and see different points of views. That’s one of the huge reasons why I love doing my podcast.

Talking with all the different people that I have been talking with really highlights, it’s OK to be different. Learning about what makes people tick. Were they’re interested in, what they love, what their lens on life looks like helps me with lots of my struggles.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As far as work goes, I cover a few different crafts. I used to say that I was in the film industry.

Now I am a producer and content creator who has a day job operating heavy machinery.

I am known for being a Grip and Teamster for the film industry. I would say I specialize in relationships. Throughout all the people I meet I have a natural ability to bond with most people and quickly find common ground.

I’m not sure if anything sets me apart from others. I am no better or worse than anybody. I do truly care about others and their well-being. I wish everybody the best. When I do well and succeed I try to include the people around me.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve taken many risks. After starting in the film industry in 2007, I realized being in the film industry was risky. Working long hours for multiple days in a row. From being a day player to not knowing when your next job is going to be. Those are the facts of the film industry for a lot of people.

After you develop your chops and you’ve been in the industry for a while, people will learn your name and hear about what you’re capable of providing to the crew. You will have developed a career in the industry and rooting yourself in the city that you’re working in. To one day realize that the show is really on the road.

At that point, going on the road for months at a time, you truly risk your relationship with your wife and children.

Even having a strong relationship. The time apart, the crazy hours and the sheer lack of sleep will test even the best of relationships.

After learning all this, you have to take a serious consideration about is this industry. You have to weigh the positives against the negative. Just like any other profession, there are abs and flows things that you can take and things that you have to give up.

Contact Info:

• Website: Pinbox pro.com
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bobdoddshow?si=7CBJh3WLDYrR5368
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/6f9MHuWDzBgF1nBWtLzgQz?si=lQkXiSBDRiWIS6wLVgw3Mg