Today we’d like to introduce you to Gian Marco Dela Cruz
Hi Gian Marco, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Manila, Philippines. Our family was not rich in lifestyle, but rich in love. That is all I grew up to know. My Mom took a leap of faith for our family and moved to the states to find a better life for us when I was the age of 1. My Dad took care of me until my Mom worked hard to get citizenship and a working visa to then give us the necessary paperwork to fly to the United States.
I didn’t realize how pivotal this step was until I was old enough to understand the risk she took leaving her only child, in order to set up for the bigger picture. It was her triumph, work ethic, and resilience that gave me all the opportunities I have today. Along with my Father of course, as he held down the fort back in the Philippines. All I could remember is watching Lion King every day because that’s the only VHS tape we had and could truly afford. One of my favorite toys I had was a laundry basket I would push around like a play cart and put random items in like clothes, kitchenware, and other household items. Ignorance is bliss they say, and it can be a beautiful thing.
All of these sacrifices and efforts raising me are what fuel me to this day. We lived in Los Angeles, and pretty much moved around Southern California. I grew up trying anything and everything. I played every sport and was super good at them all. I just had a tendency to quit each thing I got on the team for like being the only 6th grader to make the Varsity Volleyball team as a “libero.” It wasn’t until Highschool where I truly gained confidence in my talent, and a big influence on that was dance.
One of my best friends, Esai Ramirez, had convinced me and a few other of my best friends, who to this day are my groomsmen, to tryout for the Highschool Hip Hop dance team. We ended up all auditioning and all of us became the first guys to be on the Claremont High School dance team.
This catapulted my entire life and molded my confidence as an entertainer. In Highschool, I ended up being on the track team, a tenor on the Chamber Singers choir, a performer in the Theater club, and more. In college I became the head director of choreography for the hip hop ministry team at Azusa Pacific University. I led and cultivated new found ways to utilize dance as a philanthropic tool to spread awareness to the many evils in this world. At the same time I was in College, I was also dancing for a company called Academy of Swag that represented the United States at Hip Hop International.
After I graduated College, it all stopped. I took a three year break and hiatus from it all.
Sometimes when it comes to the performing arts you have to step away from it to fall back in love. I moved away
My first corporate job was for Apple Inc. I was a Tech Advisor for the company, and did it for three years. I was a civilian. I still watched dance videos on youtube, but I wasn’t doing any dancing myself nor anything creatively.
The corporate lifestyle was fine. I felt secure financially. My schedule was controlled and was the same everyday. I was in this routine for two years straight and even got a new husky puppy, named Gannicus, in the family to try and spice up the routine.
There was a void internally and I did not know how to fill it. I started to create what people call “Content” nowadays without knowing that this was the start of something new. I would just make videos of myself doing random things. I started on the basics of post production work like how to cut videos up based on musicality, add transitions, and how to color grade. I would record on my phone and my old Go Pro Hero 4. I would compile vlog style videos and my edits became longer. Since I worked from home with Apple, Inc. I did this at my desk simultaneously. I was learning a new craft just because I loved how it made me feel when my final video was done. I started showing my final edits to my Mom and family in the household. Their reaction to these videos gave me an even bigger thrill!
That was it. I truly did find something again in the artistic and creative space. This time it was behind the lens instead of in front of it. Did I know I can make money from this? Definitely not. I just loved doing it and that is when you have found a true life treasure.
The next question was; aside from cringy Pokemon Go vlogs and adventure recaps of my travels, what else do I film?
Just like that dance came back into my life and so did my love for it. When I was in the dance industry back in California some of my favorite choreographers like Brian Puspos, Pat Cruz, Keone, Ian Eastwood, and others would make these insane videos of their work. Productions like Commonless would showcase choreography in a conceptual style video. This would include so many different aspects of creativity. A script, a story line, a protagonist, and so many more things I loved were created in one composition of art. At the time, I would literally watch these classic videos a million times with my dance homies. We would just be on youtube showing each other all the new releases from our favorite choreographers.
With all of that being said, it clicked in my head that that was something I wanted to do! In 2015 when I moved out to Nashville, I really didn’t know if it had a dance scene nor did I see any “content” anywhere from any dancer that came close to what I used to watch from your choreographers in the West Coast. In 2016, I was later introduced to one of the best dance gems in Nashville; The Pro Trac. It was run by two individuals that helped catapult my videography to the next stage. Zack and Dorinda Walker trusted me with their Nikon D5600 to film classes for their studio and learn the craft of it all. They gave me all the basics on how to use an actual DSLR like F-Stop, Shutter Speed, ISO, and more in a crash course of 1 hour. I was hooked.
I brought the camera home and just practiced every single day while I was still working at home with Apple. This camera was all manual focus and no IBIS. So not only did I get good at pulling focus but also training my body and hands to be an internal steadicam too. Some of the first master classes I filmed at The Pro Trac were choreographers like Marc Marvelous, Saidah Nairobi, and Jeremy Green.
I filmed pro bono for about two years. I wanted to learn the craft and really just enjoyed the privilege of doing so. I was still working at a corporation simultaneously, so finances were balanced and I was investing my time into it all. It wasn’t until one of my friends Courtni Poe asked me to do a “recap video” of her heels class at a new studio called “Milele Academy” where I was offered my first paid video job. I took this opportunity and every one following that to show the dance scene that I was someone who can film their classes better than anyone in the area. It took some time to build that rapport. I was really just the second choice for every choreographer in the city, but I took every single opportunity as a way to showcase how I should be their first choice.
In 2017, I started to make just enough noise in the dance scene for people to start asking who I was and where I came from. That is when I came up with my official production name, Sayyo Production. I was known as “Sayyo” to the dance community and eventually became a regular videographer for the teachers at Millenium Dance Complex.
This was only the beginning of a new life as a creative and I already wanted to take it to the next level as my career. It wasn’t until 2020 where I was faced with the dilemma of balancing being a creative and working as a corporate employee. It started to become difficult to balance them both. I would work the graveyard shift as a fraud specialist for Postmates, and during the day I would go out and film various projects. This left me with little to no sleep. It started to leak into my quality of work.
God made the decision for me. Covid hit the entire corporation hard, and I was forced out of that job. I knew that this meant it was time to take everything I had and become a full fledged choreographer and videographer. I was going to go full time creative.
With hard work, dedication, commitment to those I worked with, and always wanting to learn more in both videography and choreography I took my brand and expanded it tenfold. By 2024 as the CEO of Sayyo Production, my production company has built its respected rapport in the dance industry since 2017. With a long collaboration list of some of the biggest names in the dance world including Brian Freedmen, Jojo Gomez, Talia Favia, Tobias Ellehammer, Phil Wright, Delaney Glazer, Blake McGrath, and many more.
Parrellel to the dance world I worked subtly into the music industry working with star’s like Dolly Parton, Young Buck, Kelsie Watts, Girl Name Tom, Starlito, and continuing to grow more into that space.
I am more than happy to have the resume that I do, and my work towards my goal is not near close to being finished.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The hardest part of this entire journey was my inferior complex. I still struggle with it til this day. Am I supposed to be where I am today? Was this and what I am doing my destiny? What is my end goal and do I have what it takes?
I know and have to constantly remind myself that I am always in control of my outcome. No one else. I have to be the initial disruption that ripples into those I come into contact with. People, community, friends, and family is what keeps this business alive. It is what puts me in a position to be a leader in my industry. Anyone can learn the craft of photography, videography, and choreography. Not everyone can understand how to properly work with others and build a brand.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am professional choreographer, content creator, videographer, and photographer based in Nashville, Tennessee. In the professional dance industry I have been blessed to work alongside artist like Thomas Rhett, Jelly Roll, Little Big Town, Jake Owen, Shania Twain, and many more. As a videographer I have captured many behind the scenes including artists Dolly Parton, Sexxy Red, Young Buck, Kelsie Watts, Stephen Wilson Jr., Lauren Alaina, and more.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
God, family, and my friends. They are my motivation to become the best version of myself. They are what drives me to become successful because I want to be the catalyst that brings all of us to the top. My fiance Natalie Aaron is my partner in this entire world and together we are an unstoppable duo for the city of Nashville.
Pricing:
- Send online inquires through Sayyoproduction.com
- Send social media inquiries to @sayyoproduction
- Email any inquiries to gdelacruz1093@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sayyoproduction.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sayyoproduction/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sayyoproductionllc9261
Image Credits
Hunter Candari. @huntercandari
