By Steve Conway – 15/02/2025 – Filmmaker
Chasing Filmmaking as a Career
Recently, I had a conversation with an aspiring filmmaker who comes from an engineering background, and it reminded me of the questions I faced early on when pursuing filmmaking—especially if you want it to be your source of income as well.
One of the biggest hurdles I faced, and one I see many others struggling with, is the financial side of filmmaking. It’s easy to let financial stress overshadow your love for the craft, particularly when you rely on it as your sole income. I made a conscious decision early on that I didn’t want to resent filmmaking—it had to remain something I loved. This actually meant abandoning the idea of pursuing it as a primary source of income.
In this video, I share advice and insights from the recent CINE CIRCLE London Film & TV Job Fair (24th October 2024), where I hosted a stall and had the chance to speak with aspiring directors, writers, producers, composers, and others passionate about filmmaking. While the event was primarily aimed at those seeking work opportunities within the UK film and TV industry, I attended because I felt many attendees might also be aspiring filmmakers or individuals involved in film projects—whether they were discussing their current work or just exploring ideas. I wanted to offer my support, whether through practical advice or simply a bit of reassurance.
This section comes from when I was asked by an aspiring filmmaker about pursuing this path as a career.
Do I Need a Professional-Grade Cinema Camera to Make a Film?
Like most dedicated filmmakers, I shared similar equipment concerns when I set out to create my first feature-length film. This topic is a common point of discussion among fellow creators. Dive deeper into equipment considerations by downloading my free, concise 4-page PDF guide, available here.
Steve Conway Films 