We were lucky to catch up with Austin Boylen recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Austin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?
There are many daunting challenges when it comes to staying profitable in my industry. One major obstacle that I have struggled with personally as a cinematographer is trying to keep up with the latest and greatest filmmaking gear. The cameras and tools that we use in our industry are constantly evolving; the moment you purchase a specific camera model, its replacement comes out months later. It’s a never-ending financial race that has proven to be unprofitable while participating. The key to that dilemma is finding what works with what you already have in your arsenal and then maximizing that gear to its highest potential. At the end of the day, it’s all about the end product and how that product created a solution for someone, not what camera you filmed with.
There are lots of other issues as well: oversaturated markets, writer strikes, economic downturns, etc. Now even AI is quickly presenting itself as a potential profit-loss vehicle in the near future.
The key to all of it, I think, is perseverance and staying on top of new industry trends.
Austin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I have always been fascinated with cameras and technology since I was young. I would use my mother’s VHS camera to make superhero movies with my siblings and cousins in our family’s barn. Growing up on a farm required a lot of hard work, but whenever I wasn’t driving tractors or feeding the pigs, I was always trying to create something.
I really loved movies; they simply awed and inspired me. I was always trying to make my own whenever I had the chance. Something internally drew me to the medium.
As I grew older, that passion stayed with me and continued to burn even stronger as I kept watching and making films with friends. Eventually, I packed my bags and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2009 for film school.
I graduated in 2013 with a BFA in cinematography and now work professionally as a freelance cinematographer and camera operator for film and television productions all across the United States. I also have my own business, Austin Boylen Cinematography, LLC, where I produce solutions with strategic video for clients of all shapes and sizes.
My main passion now in my business is helping clients meet their end goals with the power of video. I utilize my creative and marketing expertise to allow all types of clients to meet their goals with video, but I especially enjoy helping smaller businesses.
There’s nothing sweeter in the world than receiving a sincere testimonial from a happy client about how my videos have helped change their life for the better.
I invite anyone to reach out who would be interested in talking more about the power of video.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I don’t necessarily have one story in particular to mention in regards to the question, but I will say that being a freelancer in the film and television industry teaches you nothing but resilience. It’s a creative industry at its core; it can sometimes be a challenge to stay busy all of the time; some years are better than others; and I have found it’s an extremely unpredictable industry that lends itself to a lot of criticism and self-doubt. There are days when you wonder if you’ll ever work again, but you have to stay completely focused, annoyingly optimistic, and keep pushing forward hard no matter what trees might fall on your trial.
I find that when my schedule gets slow, it only pushes me to work harder to find opportunities.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Simple: honesty, integrity, and commitment.
Showing people that you sincerely care about their end goals goes a long way. Also, showing up on time, doing exactly what you said you’d do, and actually doing a good job at the task at hand have helped me big time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.austinboylen.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austin.boylen.cinematography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBoylenCinematography/
Image Credits
Main cover photo taken by Joshua Johnson.