A lot of us grew up here in East Tennessee or the surrounding hollers, wondering if this region could support the kind of creative careers we dreamed about. Could we build full lives here, not just personally, but professionally? Could we find community? Could we find people who, like us, wanted to express themselves through film, design, photography, storytelling, and all the messy, beautiful corners of creative work?
We’ve stopped wondering. Because we’ve found each other.
In May, our team at Big Slate Media had the privilege of hosting the May KnoxMedia meet-up at our new studio space in Knoxville. The turnout was incredible, and the energy was even better. We were thrilled to welcome so many professionals from the Knoxville production world. Videographers, editors, agency folks, freelancers, podcasters, and creatives of every kind.
We’re proud to be part of this Knoxville creative community. And nights like this remind us that what we’re building here is bigger than any single project or studio. It’s a movement.
KnoxMedia is a grassroots effort to connect professionals across the East Tennessee production and media industry. The mission is simple: bring people together to collaborate, exchange ideas, offer constructive critique, and grow as a collective. And that’s exactly what happened at this event. We saw conversations spark between strangers who quickly became collaborators. We saw people swapping reels, business cards, and war stories from the set. And we saw genuine excitement for what’s ahead in Knoxville’s creative scene.
That kind of connection is more than feel-good. It’s essential.
If we want to keep top-tier creative talent in Knoxville, we have to invest in creative community. We’re up against larger media markets like Atlanta, Nashville, and New York. But talent doesn’t always follow the biggest paycheck; it follows purpose, belonging, and opportunity. It follows people.
A strong, supportive network is one of the most powerful tools we have for talent retention in Knoxville videography, content creation, and other creative media. When people feel seen and supported, they stick around. And they help raise the bar for everyone else.
The size and spirit of this meet-up spoke volumes. Knoxville production is no longer an underdog. It’s a scene with momentum, identity, and staying power. We’re seeing more high-quality content made right here in East Tennessee. We’re seeing bigger ideas, stronger teams, and bolder work.
So here’s to more of it. More connection. More collaboration. More nights
where creatives of all backgrounds come together to swap stories, spark ideas, and leave re-energized.
Thanks again to KnoxMedia for letting us host, and to everyone who
showed up and showed out. We’re proud to call Knoxville home, and even pro
uder to help shape what comes next for Knoxville content creators and the broader East Tennessee creative industry.
We’re not wondering anymore. We’re building.