Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cameron Mahner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Cameron, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Being an artist you always have the thought of what if nobody likes what I create. It took me a long time to allow people to see what I come up with. I would sit there and have a great idea for a short film but be too scared to make it thinking it would be hated. When I got my first camera I decided I would take the risk and make videos. What I never expected by taking the risk was building a stronger relationship with my friends who would act with me, my parents encouraging me by being my audience, and me loving what I made and not caring if someone else hated it. I am happy I took the risk to create because I gained confidence to keep creating content. I now have a full time job making content for a school district, doing what I love to do everyday.
Cameron, 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 am the type of person that lives in their head. I find comfort in the stories I come up with up there. One time during church I got asked to help make a video for the youth group about a Chuck Norris fan club with some friends of mine. I had so much fun I decided to get a camera for myself and finally show people the stories I was coming up with in my head. I had no experience so I was using Windows Movie Maker, and a bunch of adaptors just so I could transfer the footage to my very slow, piece of junk computer. I decided to go to Art School to learn more about my passion. While I was in school I learned how to tell a story through the way you light, compose, and edit the video. I believe everyone loves a good story so why not tell one in everything you do. I have been able to shoot anything from commercials, weddings, short films, and even help big production companies with their projects. Fast forward to now, I make videos and take photos for my full time job, write screenplays as much as I can, and I still live in my head.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
A goal that I have is to have a feature I have written be in theaters for all to see. I go to the movies all the time and I always leave excited to someday be able to walk out after seeing my own film.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect for me is creating something from nothing. I come up with an idea in my head, write it down, shoot and edit it, then show it to anyone who wants to watch it. It is really rewarding to just create.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: simplycammers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cmphotoandvideo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVCGcyIhjPePIgXbhlZa23g