We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ryan Sadler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ryan below.
Ryan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I think I gained my sense of creativity when I first found and used my dad’s Hi8 camera growing up. The camera fascinated me—the way it could capture seemingly mundane moments and let you watch them back over and over. Throughout my adolescence, I made funny skits with my friends, and as time went on, I became increasingly interested in the storytelling aspect of filmmaking. I truly began my artistic journey with my good friend Mitch Glass, who has written and directed most of the narrative films I’ve made. However, it wasn’t until I got my first internship during college at Diamond View Studios that I realized how much of a career I could make out of creating art with a camera.
Ryan, 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?
Following my internship with Diamond View Studios during my senior year of college, where I gained a deep understanding of professional production, I was promoted to lead Director of Photography. I also took on editing and developed a passion for color grading. After two years of soaking up as much knowledge as possible, I decided to embark on my own path, and for the past nine years, I’ve owned RAW Cinema.
RAW Cinema embodies the emotion I strive to capture in every project, whether it’s a narrative short, music video, documentary, or commercial. As a freelance filmmaker specializing in cinematography, I offer a complete one-stop-shop service—handling shooting, editing, and color grading. The portion of production I don’t handle personally I hire from my network of professionals to fill any additional roles. After all it really does take a village. What sets me apart is my ability to bring a cinematic approach to productions of all sizes, ensuring each project’s vision is fully realized. Among my proudest achievements is the narrative work I’ve brought to life with my close friends Mitch Glass and Brad Rundblade.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I think the most rewarding part of being an artist is the freedom to continually shape and steer my creative journey in any direction I choose. One moment, I can be shooting a music video for an up-and-coming artist; the next, I’m working on a project for a nonprofit organization I believe in and that’s doing amazing work. The unknown can be a scary, yet incredibly rewarding experience.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
There isn’t a single story that fully captures my resilience—I feel it’s evident in my entire life and career. Growing up, baseball was my world. I was drafted by the Minnesota Twins as a pitcher straight out of high school, but I chose to continue my education and baseball career in college instead. My dad, along with baseball, taught me invaluable life lessons: the discipline to wake up every day and work toward my goals, the motivation to persevere through challenges, and the understanding that success isn’t about being the best, but about leading and collaborating with others.
The fact that I’m still grinding and enjoying my journey as an artist is a testament to my resilience. Life is a long journey, and what many people fail to realize is that being an artist isn’t about chasing success. That mindset can actually hinder your longevity—and longevity is what I’m after. Too many people give up after a year or two, but success is subjective, and for some, it may not even come until long after they’re gone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Filmwithraw.com
- Instagram: @rawcinema_
Image Credits
Ryan Sadler