DasFort Media: Behind the Screen
Two sagacious entrepreneurs, pushing the boundaries of “normal" to bring a fresh approach to modern marketing.
Nogglization: Perpetual Motion
There’s nothing like getting t-boned in the middle of a busy downtown Beijing intersection to make you reevaluate your life. [Spoiler: I was fine.] I picked up my motorbike and managed to drive off, bruised but not broken. I booked my ticket home to the US the next week, ending seven years of wild adventure in one fell swoop.
Fate, kismet, destiny, divine intervention—call it what you will. Life moves in mysterious ways. After earning an MA in International China Studies in Taiwan, working for the Indiana Economic Development Council Taiwan Office (did you know Indiana was the first state to establish a sister-state relationship with Taiwan?), and teaching at China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing—I was ready for something different.
There’s nothing like living in a communist country to make you appreciate fresh air and freedom—also, not working for “the man.” I’d taught English writing and was a private tutor throughout my Asian tenure alongside my other endeavors, instilling an incurable addiction to the entrepreneurial life.
Two people, walk into a bar. It wasn’t quite like that, but when I stepped in front of Tony Frantz’s camera, something clicked. We hung out for 12 hours the first day we met. He introduced me to his Taiwanese assistant, we went to an event shoot, Lunch On the Square, and watched Oblivion.
I lasted 3 months at that job before we were working together full time on DasFort, soon to be DasFort Media.
Fast forward seven years, and we’ve grown our business and nurtured it like the all-consuming brain-child it is. Each day is an adventure, with new achievements to unlock.
Our main goal as entrepreneurs boils down to this: Constant evolution.
You’re either growing, or you’re dying.
What does all this do with DasFort? Why should you care?
My experience as a foreigner magnified my focus on not only clear communication—but illustrating ideas in new ways. For the past 14 years I’ve been ghostwriting, blogging, editing, and creating content. First as a freelancer, now for DasFort. You can check out my personal services at Nogglization.com.
More than anything, I am against cookie cutter anything. I believe in unique perspectives, research based articles, and transmitting an experience through written and visual media.
Laura Noggle: DasFort Content Creator, Writer/Editor, & Media Director
Recommended Reads: Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Hit Makers by Derek Thompson, Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller, and The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff
Tony Frantz: DasFort Founder, Photographer/Videographer
As a highly visual creative, Tony would rather tell a story in person, or through the lens of a camera. Thus, here are his abbreviated bullet points:
Grew up loving architecture and movies.
Been shooting architecture, commercial, and events for over 20 years.
Currently half of our business is in real estate—helping realtors, home builders, and other businesses—yet he still loves to take portraits.
Earned a commercial drone license in 2019.
Wants to travel and shoot till the cows come home.
Tony is so much more than a camera, however, he’s basically the face of the company. You’ve probably seen him at Real Producers events or around town—be sure to say hi!
Sailing the Entrepreneur-ship
In our own ways, we’ve both been on entrepreneurial paths for decades, but to be more specific—DasFort has been around since 2007.
The Small Business Association states that 66% of new businesses fail within the first 10 years. So far so good.
We aim for not your average anything—we are a unique boutique with 100% custom services to meet any media need, from the written word to photography and video.
In the December 2019 issue of Fort Wayne Real Producers, you may have noticed my article discussing the pros and cons of large vs small marketing agencies.
We have built our business on being service oriented, on being the guide—not the hero, as Donald Miller would say. If you want local, if you want individual services, then give us a call. We’re happy to meet with you and see how we can collaborate. If you’re looking for something generic, go ahead and call that faceless agency you found online.
We’ll be here when you’re ready to take things to the next level.
DasEstates: High End Professional Real Estate Photography & Video
Tony has shot hundreds of homes in the northern Indiana region. If you’re looking for quality photos and video, with crisp clear windows — be sure to visit DasEstates.com to book a shoot or check out more of our photos on the ‘Gram: @DasEstates.
Photography As LIFE
Our latest development is our online art storefront: www.tonyfrantz.com. Fine art photography for your walls.
