TOMMY TALLEY, 33
Founder/Owner/Producer, tommysTV
This Baton Rouge native studied photography at LSU before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television. After six years on the West Coast, he returned to his hometown and opened his own digital media production company, shooting commercials, short films, music videos and documentaries. You’ve seen his work for Walmart, Raising Cane’s, Louisiana Economic Development and the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans. He has also lent a hand in the community with pro bono marketing campaigns.
Inspiring book: Jurassic Park
It was the first opportunity I had to read the book before seeing the movie adaptation. It has been a mandate in my life ever since.
Major professional accomplishments: In the film world, awards are the primary drivers of professional acclaim, I’ve recently won several Baton Rouge ADDY awards, including Best in Show, multiple Telly awards, and directed a campaign that won an Effie.
Volunteer and community involvement: In the last year, I have volunteered my time and expertise for Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area, Heritage Ranch, March of Dimes, and Triumph Kitchen. (Full disclosure: Alzheimer’s Services is also a client.)
PROFESSIONAL
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? My goal has always been the same: Don’t grow up. I made every choice along the way, from my incredibly capable and loving and patient wife, to my career and profession to make sure I could keep “playing” with toys and gadgets, and if I’m lucky, it might just lead to enough money to fund my dreams of childhood.
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? My first job was at a horse feed store. It taught me that I’m 100% a big city guy. There’s not one ounce of country in me. Except when I get to film a Monroe High School Football Game for a video about how great life can be in the country.
What is your favorite place for a business lunch in Baton Rouge? MJ’s CafĂ©. Owner Maureen Joyce is a certified genius with food. She serves fresh, seasonal, farm-Âto-table style, and it’s quiet! And the older I get, the more I appreciate just how great quiet can be when you’re trying to conduct business, or just think about it.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? When I married so young and we ran off to Los Angeles to pursue our dreams, naysayers were certain it couldn’t last a week. But, Barbara Talley and I have been married for 12 years and have three beautiful, talented and smart girls who’ll grow up to be brilliant women just like their mother. My greatest achievement is the strength of my marriage.
The old saying goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Specifically, what are you “being” to make Baton Rouge better? Besides the community work that I do, and my goal to encourage young professionals and entrepreneurs, I have a professional role to play in building the film industry here. Louisiana is booming because of the incentives, of course, but we have incredibly well-Âtrained crew and  production folks here providing services to L.A. and New York creatives. They love working here for this reason. While that’s a great start, the next big step is controlling the creative. It’s what tommysTV is about, we aren’t just a crew who knows how to run a camera and edit a video. We create stories for our clients and ourselves. I like to say that I’m a film producer who does work for commercial *and* artistic purposes. And it’s that balance: putting the art in commercial work that’s going to make Louisiana make better creative than anywhere else in the world. That’s why I came home. For the soul.
What ritual do you do to get pumped up before a big meeting, presentation or pitch? Micah Nickens is my personal style guru. He makes sure my facial hair is as cool on my face as it is in my mind. Because of him, I can always look in the mirror and remind myself that I am in fact Fabio or Leonidas. It’s a crucial step to any successful pitch.
What was your professional aha moment? Being underpaid is worse than not getting paid at all. After the 1,763rd time of signing up for that deal, I was like, Aha! Not doing that anymore.
How many times will you try something before admitting it doesn’t work? 1,763 times.
What does your job entail that would shock customers or clients if they knew about it? We do 20-plus hours each of research and development a week. This entails watching television, films, and tons of YouTube videos. While you’re slacking watching YouTube at work, we’re doing the exact same thing, except we call it working. And no. You can’t come work here just because you’re good at watching  YouTube.
What’s a weird rule at your job that you know is only there because someone was dumb enough to do it in the first place? Don’t challenge Tommy at a classic video game. You will lose.
TECHNOLOGY
Mac or PC? Mac
What’s your preferred mode of communication: text or phone call? Phone call
How low will you allow your remaining battery life to get (in %) before you have an anxiety attack? There is nothing more glorious than a dead phone. It can wait … No, wait, I need to update my fantasy baseball lineup … WHERE’S THE CHARGER?!?
How many unread messages are in your inbox right now? Two. No wait. One.
Are you quick to adapt to new tech, or did you hang on to that flip phone way after it became obsolete? Irresponsibly quick.
PERSONALITY
Breakfast at home? Breakfast on the go? Breakfast at your desk? No breakfast at all? Coffee + yogurt or fruit or breakfast bar on the go.
Is the glass half empty or half full? What’s in the glass? I’m a half full guy to a fault. Sometimes other people need “moping time” in order to move on when they find a problem. That’s tough for me. I prefer to pivot on a dime, and sprint in the direction the new circumstance has presented. There is Red Bull in the glass, which is why I’m sprinting.
What’s your motto? Stolen from Bill O’Reilly’s epic melt down: “[Expletive]! We’ll do it live!”
Which living person do you most admire? Elon Musk. I interviewed him for a docuseries I shot for the Sundance Channel. It’s that moment you think you’re starting to be a big shot, and then this guy walks in the room. I felt like Wayne and Garth trying to deal with hanging with Alice Cooper. “We’re not worthy!”
What trend do you really wish would come back? 80s movies
If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why? 35, it’s two years away and it’s going to be harmonious. I can feel it.
What is your favorite journey? “Don’t Stop Believin’”
On what occasion do you lie? When my wife asks me what time I went to bed I subtract by 2 hours.
When and where were you happiest? Now/Here … not always true, but it’s an effective mindset.
If you worked for the CIA and needed a top-secret alias, what would yours be? I always thought 007 was a stupid name. But “Q” was always cool! I’d borrow from that and go “T”
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’d want an Australian. In America if you have an accent you don’t have to be good at anything. Not. One. Thing. You just talk and drink a lot…laugh when “that guy” makes the Foster’s joke, pretend you haven’t heard “that one before”…it’s really silly.
What’s your most treasured possession? My Original Nintendo collection. I started it in high school, mostly from buying entire collections off of kids who wanted beer money for the weekend. Sound investment.
What do you most value in your friends? Life is crazy. I value looking over my shoulder and knowing that they are all right there. Supporting me, my family, the growth of tommysTV…I dig good people.
What do you miss most about the ’90s? Fox Kids
If you had to be a teacher of something, what would you teach? For the good of man: Common Sense. For my own enjoyment: Film History.
What is your theme song? My theme song would be the Fraggle Rock Theme… that bass groove is so sweet.
If you could go back in time 20 years, what advice would you give yourself? Stop overthinking everything.
What makes you laugh every time you think about it? Arte Lang destroying Joe Buck on the first episode of “The Joe Buck.” The show was never going to make it, but Lang made 100% certain it was over. It was raw, it was true, and it was hilarious.
Who’s the most famous celebrity you’ve ever met? Working in L.A. I met a lot of celebrities. I worked with Ashton Kutcher for two years shooting “Punk’d.” But, the most amazing celebrity day I had was as a camera assist on AMC’s “Sunday  Morning Shootout.” We had three guests that day: Michael Douglas, Michael Bay, and Wes Anderson. Wes Anderson is my favorite director. To see him and Michael Bay back to back was a spectacle…as polar opposite as you would imagine. And, of course, Brobee from Yo Gabba Gabba is the thing that gets me props from every friend of my three year old. Don’t bite your friends, kids.
LOOKING AHEAD
Three things on your bucket list: Win an Emmy, attend my own 50-year wedding anniversary, have an office big enough to have full blown Arcade in it.
If you have children, what concerns you most about the future they will inherit? Trying to control or even be concerned about the external is a waste of time. They are going to be as equipped as Barbara and I can possibly make them, and they will figure the rest out. They always do.
What would be your advice for future Forty Under 40 honorees? Having your friends and family shower you with Facebook compliments feels good … but it’s empty. It’s time to do something worth posting about.
Do you plan to be in the Capital Region five years from now? Yes.
Why have you chosen to make your home in the Capital Region? I’m proud to be from the south. Living in L.A. was awesome, but something was missing. And when I realized that I could build my career *and* have my family, I realized I needed to bring my family home to where the best work was.
Have you peaked, or do you think you’ll still have it when we launch our hypothetical “Forty Over 40” awards years from now? Not at all… this is a five course meal.
