Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Pearce. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

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 am a freelance filmmaker born and raised in Middle Tennessee. I studied advertising and film in college, and always knew that I was interested in pursuing film. I graduated in May 2020, which was a wild time, but landed my first job as a full service videographer for a small ad-agency in West Tennessee. This was not at all what I had planned pre-pandemic, but it taught me so much about production, editing, and working with clients, And, of course, being able to pivot. After about a year, I took the plunge and moved to Nashville to pursue freelance!

I think my understanding of film theory and continual desire to improve on past work sets me apart from the crowd. I am always learning, always leveling up, always looking ahead to what is on the horizon in the industry.

I work hard not only to improve the technical aspects of my work (gear, camera knowledge, etc.), but to create an aesthetic and story that audiences can latch onto. I’m a storyteller at heart.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think the hardest thing for non-creatives to understand is that our “fun job” we so passionate about is also really hard work. I hear so many stories of creatives being asked to do something for free to gain “exposure,” or just being offered vastly reduced rates because people feel like creative work isn’t “real” work.

The truth is, working a job you love comes with its own set of challenges. It is so easy to burn out or lose track of boundaries. It also isn’t cheap, particularly if you’re in a field like film where it’s easy to spend tens of thousands of dollars every year on gear alone.

For me, this is worth it. It just isn’t a walk in the park.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There are so many great YouTube channels that will help you grasp the basics, or even more advanced techniques, in filmmaking. You definitely have to filter out some garbage and take things with a grain of salt, but once you find trustworthy sources, it’s a huge way to level up your skills.

Some channels I really love are The Wandering DP, which breaks down lighting setups in commercial work, and Every Frame a Painting, which goes over film theory via beautiful video essays.

Contact Info:

• Website: sarahpearcefilms.com
• Instagram: @sarahpearcefilms