The Story of OneHouse Productions – A Passion Project Turned Powerhouse
What happens when a group of friends turns their shared passion into a thriving business? In the case of OneHouse, it leads to a thriving creative studio built on friendship, ambition, and a bold vision.
This Melbourne-based production studio started as a side project, much like Memobottle, and quickly evolved into a creative powerhouse. After collaborating with them on our memobento and Elements launches on Kickstarter, as well as our latest A3 Daily Tote launch, we sat down with the team to uncover their journey, creative philosophy, and what’s next.
What we found were striking parallels between our brands. Like Memobottle, OneHouse was built on friendship, fueled by ambition, and driven by a commitment to creative integrity. Over time, their passion project transformed into something far bigger than they ever expected—proof that when you push boundaries and stay true to your vision, great things happen.
(From Top Left to Right) Co-Founders Max Kearsley, Finegan Sampson, Ben J. Read, and Cameron Mitchell
For OneHouse, friendship isn’t just the starting point; it’s the driving force behind their success. Years of collaboration have strengthened their bond, shaping the way they work and create together.
And that bond was formed long before OneHouse officially existed.
“When we first met at university, we really bonded over our passion and love for filmmaking so that in itself has always been the bedrock of our friendship,” shares Finegan “Fin” Sampson, Co-Founder, Director, and CEO of OneHouse.
“Everyone has heard the saying ‘Never go into business with your friends.’ but for us it definitely has made the work we do and the collaboration we have together far more fulfilling and enjoyable.”
To keep their connection strong, the four founders make it a priority to keep their friendship thriving beyond work. From honing communication skills to engaging in regular team-building activities, they’ve developed strategies to navigate challenges while maintaining their bond.
Behind the Scenes of Memobottle’s Elements Campaign Shoot
Back when OneHouse was just a side project, it was a space for the founders to share their creative work while managing university and part-time jobs. “Those first initial years were about building a strong brand and identity for the business rather than making it our primary source of income,” Fin recalls.
Once they transitioned to full-time after university, things took off faster than anticipated. Their portfolio now spans boutique brands like Rollie to global giants like Barbie and Champion. OneHouse has struck a fine balance between honoring its creative roots and meeting the demands of commercial clients.
When it comes to choosing projects, OneHouse takes an organic approach. “We find that the clients that are reaching out to us are wanting a similar style to the work we have already done,” says Fin.
Max Kearsley, Founder and Chief Financial Officer of OneHouse, adds, “We’ve been really fortunate [...] to be able to develop a really good mix of clients that provide us with the opportunity to flex our creative muscles.” Working with open-minded brands gives them the freedom to experiment, which keeps their work fresh and exciting.
Max highlights one of their most exciting collaborations: “As a life-long footy fan, getting the opportunity to work on the TVC for the AFL’s season launch of the AFLW in 2024 was quite surreal and a wonderful experience.” It was also a milestone for them as it was their first time doing a larger scale TV commercial, and they remain hopeful about opportunities it could open up in the future.
Both Memobottle and OneHouse share a commitment to fostering creativity and innovation. For Fin, staying curious is key: “[...] It’s so important to always be consuming and creating all the time. Getting excited about ideas with your team creates this incredible ripple effect.” And the team’s passion for creativity drives everything they do.
“[...] We became friends by sharing new films, music videos, or creative work that inspired us. That shared excitement became the foundation of how we collaborate. We’ve always made it a priority to preserve that energy - it keeps the process fresh and means we’re constantly feeding each other new ideas and inspiration. Creativity thrives in that kind of environment.”
So what’s next for OneHouse?
“On the commercial side of things, we’d love to continue to expand into the TVC market, and start working on larger scale commercial projects with some of the world's biggest brands across fashion, sport and really anything in between,” says Max.
But that’s not all. Through their new venture, OneHouse Story Company, the team is creating original and longer form content such as films and TV series. With a slate of short films set for release in 2025 and aspirations to produce feature films, they’re chasing the ultimate dream: creating a critical and box-office hit.
“At the core of why we started OneHouse was that we were just friends who wanted to make movies together,” Max reflects. “[...] Feature films have always been seen as the end goal for us. Now we just need that idea which is going to be a critical and box office hit!”
From their beginnings as a group of friends experimenting with film to their rise as one of Melbourne’s most exciting production houses, OneHouse’s journey proves that when passion and friendship drive a business, incredible things can happen.
As they continue to grow, there’s no doubt that OneHouse will keep pushing boundaries and inspiring others in the creative industry. We can’t wait to see what’s next for OneHouse, and we’re honored to have been part of their journey.
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OneHouse is a Melbourne-based creative production company founded by four friends with a shared passion for storytelling. Explore their work and follow their journey on Instagram, Facebook, and website. Don’t miss their original content on the OneHouse Story Company Instagram and TikTok.