Independent filmmaking in S.C.

By Mike Switzer

Published May 14, 2025 at 6:30 AM EDT

Andy and Ray Smith, owners of Modos Media in Blythewood, S.C.

Our state, as well as many other states, is actively supporting the growth of the filmmaking industry. It’s still a very difficult business to break into but exposure through film festivals can certainly help, as witnessed by our next guest’s documentary about a senior breakfast club, which was recently featured at the Beaufort International Film Festival. Mike Switzer interviews Ray Smith, a filmmaker with Modos Media, in Blythewood, S.C.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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