We recently connected with Richard Bakewell and have shared our conversation below.

Richard, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 19 years, and I learned that the studios never come knocking at your door to ask you to direct a big budget movie. Last year I decided to take a gamble, and spend a part of my savings on producing and directing my second feature length film called Roswell Delirium. It’s a sci fi 1980s throwback psychological thriller with an all star 80s cast featuring Anthony Michael Hall, Lisa Whelchel, Reggie VelJohnson, Sam Jones, and Dee Wallace.

And producing your own film there are no guarantees that anyone will ever want it or even want to watch it for that matter. But I decided to keep going with the production, even with all of the complications that come with trying to make a film, because everyone believed in the script . And I made a promise to the star of the film, Kylee Levien, that I was going to make a feature film for her one day. I had to see it through, and now the film is finally complete. My phone blows up constantly from people wanting to see a screener, or have me submit it to their film festival. Maybe we should talk next year and see if my gamble paid off.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into this business because it’s always what I wanted to do. I went to film school at Columbia College Chicago, and had to stop half through school because I ran out of money. I got a few real life jobs, 9 to 5, and when 9/11 happened I decided to use my severance and finish up school. I did 3 internships, and had to do some ridiculous tasks while making zero dollars for the “experience.” My 3rd internship ultimately led me to move to Los Angeles for four months for a daytime soap opera show. Oddly enough 19 years later I’m still here.

The services that my company offers is staffing the production with a crew of any size, and providing all of the equipment for the shoot. We have done projects for Netflix, Yahoo, JBL, Subaru, Target, Doritos, and so many I can’t name them all.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

About 5 years ago I hit a breaking point. I was doing nothing but reality TV, and making a living but hating life. I went to work each day with no enthusiasm and felt like I did when I was working for those 9 to 5 jobs in Chicago. I hated the people I worked with and what I was working on. So I decided to quit reality TV, and focus on commercials, documentaries, and industrials. And let me tell you that transition was not easy. It took me months to even get going again and I was worried that I might never succeed because I didn’t have those types of projects under my belt. But in getting one big shoot for Subaru it led me to one highlight reel job to the next.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

When I went to school and started working in the business there was no Youtube training academy or 5D Film School. We had to figure it out and learn without the sense of entitlement. What I wish I had when I was starting out was a mentor. I never really had anyone take me under their wing to help. I had to take what I had learned from my professors and the little set experience I had at the time, and hit the ground running. My teacher once said be ready, know your craft, because one day you will get called upon to replace someone on set and if your skills aren’t there you will be sent packing. He was right cause I got called upon a few times to step up and shoot when the show I was on didn’t have a camera operator. He taught me to always be ready and believe in your ability, and because of his words of wisdom I go onset without any worry whatsoever.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lightforcepictures.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickbakewell
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rick.o.bakewell
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKIDT5Dw5Y76rptRU3ysIKQ