Our Story: The Misfit Collective

It began not in a boardroom, but in a classroom at SAE Amsterdam. Nine individuals, hailing from nine different corners of the world, each with a unique culture, background, and a story itching to be told. We were a disparate group, united by little more than the shared dream of making films. Under the guidance of our lecturers, Joao Costa and Rob Gradisen, we found not just instruction, but a spark. 

That spark was a shared, insatiable passion for the language of video and filmmaking. We were the ones staying late after class, debating a shot composition, obsessing over a script’s dialogue, or getting lost in the edit long after the sun had set. We discovered that what set us apart from the crowd was also what brought us closer together. We saw the world through a different lens—quite literally. 

We were the square pegs. 

But there weren't just one or two of us. There were nine. And so, our identity was born from that very idea. We are Sq9. 

Our name is a shorthand for our tagline: "Square Nine in a Round Hole." 

It’s a playful twist on the old idiom, square peg in a round hole. It is a declaration of who we are. We are the nine who don't quite fit. The "crazy ones." The ones with ideas too bold, perspectives too unique, and a vision too vibrant for conventional spaces. 

Instead of trying to sand down our edges to fit into a world of round holes, we made a decision: we would build our own shape. We decided to group together and pour our collective "craziness" into producing the creative things we truly believed in—compelling content, dynamic videos, and heartfelt short films. 

Sq9 is more than a production collective; it's our sanctuary for the unconventional. Our diversity is our greatest strength, fueling a creative synergy where every perspective is valued, and every strange, wonderful idea is given a chance to shine. We are nine distinct squares, forming a powerful, unshakeable whole, creating work that is as unique and multifaceted as we are. 

We are the Square Nines. And we’re just getting started.