Ted Perotti launched Pig Iron Films in North Canaan, CT, in the summer of 2020. As a freelance filmmaker and independent contractor, Ted seeks to do more than simply record videos by going above and beyond to illustrate a strong narrative for his clientele. “Anyone can create videos or reels for social media,” says Ted. “I tell stories for nonprofits and businesses in the Northwest Corner and beyond.”
The 26-year-old East Canaan, CT, native comes from a more trade-focused background. He worked as a plumbing and heating apprentice in the summer during high school and college. “I come from a long line of plumbers on both sides of the family; you could say it’s in my blood. My great-grandfather on my mother’s side helped start Decker & Beebe in Canaan, CT, and my great-grandfather on my father’s side started William Perotti & Sons in East Canaan, CT,” Ted explains.
Strengthening his skills
During his time studying at Endicott College, Ted acquired a plethora of filmmaking knowledge through two internships that turned into part-time jobs. One of these opportunities revolved around a 2020 MTV docuseries called 16 & Recovering. During this project, Steve Liss and Boston Filmworks showed Ted the ropes when it came to sound, camera, lighting, and documentary storytelling elements.
Ted also worked with Copper Hound Pictures, a corporate video production company, where he participated in video creation for independent schools, biotech companies, and other organizations in greater Boston. Looking back on his experiences learning more about the industry and strengthening his abilities, Ted points out, “This background and training on the job helped me gain confidence to produce films in the area where I grew up.”
Pursuing a passion
Having graduated from Endicott in 2020, Ted recalls, “I had to decide whether I wanted to keep learning a trade or use the skills I had picked up in college to tell visual stories.” From here, the choice was clear, and Ted opted to invest in his tools and embark on a journey to make films.
“My family is very supportive and helped me through college, where I learned these skills and eventually discovered what I wanted to do in the future. They were totally supportive of me trying something different from plumbing or construction.”
Ted clarifies that he still worked for Copper Hound in the spring and fall during his first two years in business. Nevertheless, he produced a film series for the American Mural Project and other local nonprofits during this time. “In 2022,” Ted says, “I decided to stay in my hometown full time. This was difficult financially and made me realize how much work goes into booking jobs and managing my time to stay afloat.”
Establishing the Pig Iron Films brand
Having grown up next to the Beckley Iron Furnace State Park in East Canaan, CT, Ted drew inspiration from the nearby landmark when devising his company name and brand. “Most people know that the Pig Iron was the iron product produced at the Beckley Furnace to be forged into train car wheels, anchors, and other industrial materials, so the name just made sense,” he shares.
And when it comes to his business plan, Ted started out with the goal “to work with clients and brands to create story-driven videos for consumer marketing, hiring employees, and public relations.”
Since then, though, he’s expanded his offerings significantly to encompass a variety of clientele and continues to progress as a business. “The plan changed and evolved to offering live-to-tape recordings of events and performances, creating scripted ads specifically for social media, as well as producing instructional videos, behind-the-scenes content, and many more types of deliverables.”
Additionally, Ted collaborates on video projects all across New England, and continues to learn new technical, financial, and organizational techniques through these experiences and thanks to influential individuals. Indeed, he finds close collaboration with fellow creatives to be a vital part of the job.
He accomplishes many of his projects alongside Stone House Films’ Eli Hill, who assists in lighting scenes, flying drones, and color correcting. Ted has also recently begun working with talented local photographers Aly Morrissey and Colin Bazzano to pitch multimedia projects to new clients. “It’s important for me to work together with other artists in the area and grow and learn.”
Going above & beyond videography
In creating Pig Iron Films, Ted has aimed for this identity to evoke the strength of his storytelling abilities in short films, documentary, and narrative pieces. What he accomplishes in his business goes far beyond simply pressing the record button on a camera. In fact, Ted’s involvement begins far before the filming starts. “I work with clients to tell their story during the pre-production phase. This includes creating a script or storyboard, interview questions, mood boards, scheduling, branding guidelines, and a lot of other detailed creative and logistical work.”
This aspect of the job has become increasingly important over time, and Ted has learned to view pre-production as a focal point after several years in business. “Even though this behind-the-scenes work might not guarantee a sale or booking, it’s important to fully understand what the client wants and needs from a film,” he observes.
Throughout the production phase, Ted lights interviews, records audio, and captures captivating frames and scenes, all in collaboration with other independent contractors. He edits these elements, mixes sound, color corrects, and incorporates graphics in post-production “to create a valuable asset for the client.” He emphasizes, “Most videos have a short shelf life. When I create a film for a client, I want to make sure it lasts as long as possible.”
To learn more and view Pig Iron Films’ body of work, please visit pigironfilms.com. You can reach out to Ted via email at pigironfilms35@gmail.com or phone at (860) 459-9253. Support the business on Instagram at @pigironfilms!