Cincinnatian Chase Crawford has been named to the fourth and final 2021 installment of the Forbes Next 1000 list. Crawford is the founder of Four by Three, an indie film studio. At 25-years-old, he is one of the youngest members of the Next 1000 list.
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Forbes describes its Next 1000, as a "list of inspiring entrepreneurs and small business leaders—many from diverse, underrepresented communities—who are redefining what it means to build and run a business amid the new normal."
Crawford was 20-years-old in 2017, when he founded Four by Three, an independent film studio, using money from the severance package he was given after being laid off, according to information provided by Forbes.
The studio has since produced or distributed more than a dozen projects including documentaries, dramas and television episodes that are streamed by about 2 million people per year on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, ABC and Comcast, according to Crawford.
Four by Three earned $194,000 in revenue in 2020 and $263,000 from January through October 2021, he added.
Crawford grew up in Monroe and graduated from Monroe High School and Butler Tech’s Media Production program in 2014.
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He married his high school sweetheart Alexandra in 2015 and they welcomed their first daughter, Cambrie. Crawford continued his education, attending the University of Cincinnati.
He produced his first film, Alan and the Fullness of Time, during his sophomore year with production taking place in Butler County.
Crawford dropped out of UC to produce his second film, Moondance, and focus on Four by Three. Since 2017, Crawford has produced more than a dozen films.
Crawford and his wife Alexandra now have 3 daughters and reside in Anderson.
"When I got the news the first thing I did was call my wife and it was such an awesome moment," Crawford said. "The type of stuff you feel like only happens in movies. We have been through so much together. We had our first kid and got married as teenagers and now we have 3 daughters and a home... It's just a beautiful thing. We've grown so much and she has always believed in me. She's my rock. Alex Crawford should be on that list!"
Growing up in a small community did not deter Crawford from chasing his dreams.
"I was raised by my mom in Monroe and we never really had much. A big reason I transferred to Butler Tech was so I could get my hands on equipment every day and not just when I was at a friend's house," he said. "When you grow up in a small town, a lot of people raise their brow when some 17-year-old is like, 'I want to make movies'."
Crawford told The Enquirer that he's hoping to be an example to kids that come from a small town or don't have a lot of money.
"I want them to know that big things really are possible if you set your mind to it," he said.
His Four by Three studio has a busy 2022 planned. Besides heading to the Sundance Film Festival, there are several projects in production.
"We have a good release slate lined up for 2022. Tons of stuff in the pipeline and continuing to produce our own stuff," Crawford said. "We've got some comedy specials coming for hometown legends Lee Kimbrell and Blake Hammond."
Judges for the Forbes 1000 list included: Alex Rodriguez, Russell Wilson, Ciara and Ariana Huffington.
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