We were lucky to catch up with Mac Kotas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mac, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I went to film school which is great for theory, but a lot of what I learned to do was out in the field. Video making is a lot of little tricks and the key is to find which ones work for you and repeat them over and over.

Get on set as much as I could. YouTube wasn’t as big as it is now when I was in college but that’s also a great resource for learning new things.

I think the most essential skills are networking and selling yourself. You can be the greatest cinematographer in the world but if no one knows who you are or you dont know the right people none of it matters. I’d say its 1) who you know, 2) right place right time, 3) talent.

I think what stood in the way for me starting out was there wasnt a lot of people doing video in the town I went to college in. So it was hard to learn outside of the class room. I think if I had more opportunities at that age it would have helped speed up my learning process.

Mac, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into video by making dumb skateboarding videos with my friends. We were really inspired by the show Jackass and that was I think the big push to pick up a camera. Then when it came time to go to college I decided to pursue film making as a job not really knowing where it was going to lead.

I provide brands with high quality video for a variety of reasons. Sometimes its commercial, social media, or promotional. I also provide events and music festivals with video coverage.

The problem I solve for my clients is exposing their brand authentically to a wide audience with video.

I think what sets me apart if my shooting style. I like to mix both a cinema and doc feel to my projects.

I think what I’m most proud of is my ability to be doing this for as long as I have. Its not always easy being your own boss and being self motivating. Sometimes I wish I could just clock in and not have to think about it. Its very rewarding though when you land a new client and you know the reason they want to work with you is because they love your work.

I want potential clients to know that I give every project my all and I want to deliver you the best quality work I can. Because not only do I want to see your brand be successful but its a direct reflection on me and my work.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing your clientele is being consistent and reliable. When you set standards for yourself it help your client relax knowing that their project is always going to look great. The basics like showing up on time, responding to emails/texts quickly, and generally being postive and upbeat with your clients goes a long way.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I think the biggest one is moving from North Carolina to LA. I knew it was time for a change in my life and that if I wanted to move to LA to further my career there was never going to be a great time to do it, I just had to do it. I didnt know that many people when I moved here so I really had to be resilient and make it on my own.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.echoparkvideo.net
• Instagram: macagraphs
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcleankotas/