When Adam K. Allen graduated in 2016, he was frustrated by the lack of available production positions. The triple major took matters into his own hands and reached out to professionals he met while at Ball State, fostering new networks. Soon after, he launched Fierce Little Bird Productions based in Indianapolis, which he has operated for nearly eight years.

“Ball State made me the professional I am today. From unique academic opportunities and professional experiences to robust coursework, every part of my time at Ball State prepared me for my career and helped pave the way to make it a reality,” said Adam, who studied theater, French and film. “I feel this so deeply, that my company name was born as a double-homage to the university: A Cardinal, reflecting the Ball State Mascot, and a name based on a quote from David Letterman: “I am a Fighting Cardinal, the fiercest robin-sized bird in all the world.”

Fierce Little Bird Productions has garnered a regional Emmy nomination and several Telly awards for providing complete video production services that tell stories in bold and original ways. The company, Allen said, has built a reputation for exploring diverse narratives and pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling for clients like F.C. Tucker Company and the Carmel Christkindlmarket.

He operates with creativity, passion, growth, and originality — all characteristics he honed as a Cardinal, where he learned to be a writer, director, actor, and voice actor. Allen said one of his most transformational college experiences was a study abroad in Ireland, where he wrote and directed his first film.

“I loved getting to explore a country and culture so different from my own, from castles to modern cities, to small island towns with their own vibrant lifestyle, there was so much to take in,” he recalled. “From a filmmaking perspective, my favorite part was getting to film in such gorgeous locations. I also adored the time we got to spend on one of the Aran Islands, Inisheer. We camped by the beach, explored the little island, and witnessed a jam session with local musicians. It was a memory I’ll never forget.”

“Evergreen,” the film he produced while in Ireland is a romantic drama that follows a young widower struggling to let go after his wife’s death. Allen shares this and other films as well as his blog and podcast, “Filmmakers’ Blend,” on the company’s website and YouTube channel.

Allen celebrates his time at Ball State and wants to inspire other Cardinals to pursue and achieve their dreams. He serves on the Media Alumni Council, as well as a Mentor in the SOAR and Honors Milestone Mentorship Programs. To students, he says, “Say ‘yes,’ to everything. This is so important when you’re just starting out, especially as a freelancer. It doesn’t matter what experiences you had in college or how adept you are in a certain role. When you initially enter the workforce, you’ll start out as a production assistant. It’s not necessarily a comment on your abilities, but rather it’s a safe position for someone to gauge your abilities without putting a production in jeopardy,” he said. “This also gives you an opportunity to learn from more experienced crew members, and perhaps explore other departments you might have an interest in.”

He also encourages people to “take the weird job.”

“Sometimes, the weird job pays off in ways you wouldn’t expect. Case in point: A few years into starting Fierce Little Bird, I received an email from someone who said their name was Justin Jedlica, and that he was better known as the Human Ken Doll. He stated he was coming to Indiana to undergo a procedure and wanted it documented for his portfolio. I was sure this was a paycheck scam (I was receiving a lot of those back then), but upon further investigation, it turned out to be legitimate. The pay was low, but as I thought about it, I realized it was too weird of a job to pass up. I would go on to meet the plastic surgeon performing the operation, as well as his wife, who is the COO of his practice. She would go on to hire me as a local vendor for their video needs, meaning my three days of filming for low pay led to both financial and experiential dividends. I also get to say things like, ‘I filmed the world’s first octuple leg implant procedure,’ or more recently, ‘I captured the first iliac crest implant procedure in the US.’

He warns, however, that students should only take on new experiences and weird jobs if they are safe and of interest. “Don’t just say ‘yes’ because some schmuck told you to, especially if it’s obviously dangerous or not in your best interest,” Allen reiterated.

Running a business takes much of his energy and time, but when he is not working or performing, Allen is spending time with friends, baking, traveling or playing with his dog, Pippin.

“Or just doing things that expand my horizons, whether that’s culturally or in relation to the media/performance industry, like musicals, art museums, video games, and more,” he added. Allen hopes to continue to spread his wings across the nation and even the world, and Ball State is honored to take part in his flight.