By Heather Matthews
Staff Writer

Mirror/Heather Matthews Kristy LaPlante is not your typical 23-year-old. While many people her age are just finishing college and starting entry-level jobs, LaPlante graduated a few years ago and is now director of sales and development for Shoot to Kill Productions, a new video production company in Manchester.

Saying that Kristy LaPlante is hyper may be an understatement.

Without having even one cup of coffee, she is able to spout out more information in one breath than most people can in three.

“I’m not on coffee,” she said. “I just love meeting people.”

But don’t let her youthful, friendly enthusiasm fool you. She knows how to run a business.

LaPlante, 23, graduated from Ithaca College in New York in 2003 – two years earlier than most in her age group – and is now the director of sales and development at one of New Hampshire’s newest video production companies, Shoot to Kill Productions.

“I never saw this coming,” she said. “I can’t believe this life.”

Others can’t believe it either, LaPlante said. When clients and business associates discover LaPlante’s age and vigor, they are surprised.

“People are always shocked,” she said. “But they are happily surprised. I think being young and having this much energy is a good thing. If I hit a setback, I am just going to try something else.”

It’s not just her age that is shocking clients, it’s also her business card. The small red square prominently displays the company’s jarring name and target logo.

“You can shoot a weapon, but you can shoot film, too,” she said. “People respond to it. When we were coming up with the name we wanted to be remembered. It shows that we are no joke. We go in there and you see returns. It’s like James Bond, but with a camera. It’s fun, and when I hand people cards they do a double take.”

Shoot to Kill Productions was started in October under the wings of the Manchester branch of tracy/edwards/oneil, a national marketing firm, as a way for the firm to help New England businesses reach a local audience more easily, while giving them access to a larger, more national market.

The small production company is in the process of moving to its own location, and although it will still be owned by the larger company, Shoot to Kill and its staff of seven will remain independently managed by LaPlante.

The connection to the older, more established company will give Shoot to Kill access to a greater variety of technologies, talents and creative teams to produce their high quality, sleek corporate sales videos, training videos and public service announcements.

“We’re able to bring a national quality and standard and bring it here,” LaPlante said. “It’s not out of people’s reach. Manchester can have a little bit of New York or Los Angeles, too.”

And because each of Shoot to Kill’s employees have worked with the nationwide marketing firm, they are able to help customers figure out their correct target message and their audience’s age demographic without having to think twice about it, LaPlante said.

“I feel like I am really helping people,” she said. “It’s awesome. I love it.”

For more information on Shoot to Kill Productions, visit www.shoottokillproductions.com or call 603-606-5500.

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