Say Hello to Your New Neighbor: E.C. Natives Launch Film...

Film Services

McKenna Scherer | August 4, 2023

There’s a New Neighbor in town, and we’re not talking about the new guy that moved in next door. New Neighbor Film Production Company is a distinctive new venture from four Eau Claire natives, and you may already be familiar with some of their work.

Tim Schwagel, Reanna Madson, Zach Staads, and Nick Houchin have officially launched their film company after about two years’ worth of pedal-to-the-metal work, though between the four of them (all 20-something-year-olds) they have 25 years of experience. If you’re a regular local film viewer, you’re likely to have seen or heard of Punch Me, Chopping Block, or Blossom and the Decrepit Man, all short films crafted by the team.

Punch Me is arguably the gang’s most successful from a film circuit-run perspective, earning selection into the Beloit International Film Festival, Eau Claire World Film Festival, Red Cedar Film Festival, Twister Valley Film Festival, and Wildwood Film Festival, throughout 2019-2020. The quick-witted action short with a gnarly comedic flare earned them a Judge’s Choice Award, and it’s a prime example of New Neighbor’s style.

"We're LIKE THE WEIRD NEIGHBORS THAT MOVE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN."

TIM SCHWAGEL

CO-FOUNDER OF NEW NEIGHBOR FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY

Beyond their narrative work, they’ve also worked with local favorites Them Coulee Boys for the Midnight Manifestos music video, a commercial for Seven Suns Vintage, and more. The difference between New Neighbor and other area production companies? The die-hard, creative-first style.

“Something I’ve noticed is, most of the area’s (production) companies are very technical. We think the story is what matters whether you’re talking about a product like a new blender or are more focused on delivering a creative story,” Schwagel explained. “Commercial work does not have to be dry. Our work is fun.”

While “fun” is subjective, it’s pretty inarguable the kind of can’t-look-away, individual and borderline-eccentric style that marks a New Neighbor production. There is a clear love of the craft behind each project, a natural eye for the technical aspects, and an undeniable passion that seems to be the thread between each, whether it be a funky short film or more corporate advertising – and that can be hard to pull off.

The hardest part of New Neighbor’s fruition though was its name.

"We actually, genuinely, love doing this. We want to make sure whatever project we're working on, it's fun for everyone involved the whole time."

Tim schwagel

“(Launching a production company) was probably inevitable for us the whole time,” Schwagel said. “We’ve been seriously working on it for the last two years, though. It’s just so hard to find a name.”

“We’re like the weird neighbors that move into the neighborhood and you never really know what’s going to happen,” Schwagel joked.

While work from the foursome could be found on Tim Schwagel’s website, Vimeo, YouTube, or a handful of other avenues, New Neighbor gives the team a sort of umbrella to publish all of their work, no matter what its style or purpose is. Plus, Schwagel said they plan on releasing more behind-the-scenes glimpses into production and are also working on a few new music videos – including one for Good Morning Bedlam – and a film-focused podcast.

Their first works to launch out of the New Neighbor umbrella will be a short film titled When You're Here, You're Pizza! and a three-part series, Divorce in a Day, that is a collaboration with Minnesota-based production company Feels Like 95 (which also has Eau Claire roots).

“We actually, genuinely, love doing this. We want to make sure whatever project we’re working on, it’s fun for everyone involved the whole time,” Schwagel said. “The main part is, we’re easy to work with and really try to keep it fun. As I mentioned before, we love what we do, so why can’t it be fun for everyone?”

See more of New Neighbor's work by visiting their website. Keep up with the locally-founded production company on Instagram (@newneighborfilms).