We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Steven Starks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Steven below.

Steven, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

My approach to filmmaking and being a professor are similar, and this is to serve. I believe in order to serve completely, you must live in your truth. My truth is centered around being trustworthy, showing and delivering.

Many people are attracted to working in the Film Industry because of the ability to make a lot of money quickly, however, I believe in this industry in order to gain success, people must be able to trust you with their project, assignment and brand. No one is going to spend money with you, if they cannot trust you. I pride myself on approaching every project with integrity and I believe that is what makes clients return for their next project(s).

Steven, 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 graduated from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. While at Shaw, I was introduced to the industry, as a Mass Communications major, which taught me the importance of communications and how I could apply it to my life, as an up-and-coming filmmaker.

Following undergrad, I received my Masters of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Degree, in June 2012, at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Upon graduation, my focus was to hit the ground running and to start my career in film. So, the day after graduation I packed my bags and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. I launched my career in the Industry by filming behind-the-scenes (BTS) content on various film sets and music videos. The grind was real, and people saw my hustle, which kept me hired. In those early days, my secret to staying booked was saying, “yes” to almost any project that I thought would help me grow, level-up, and open doors to the next big project.

Those experiences allowed me to earn more than 10+ years of on-set experience on a variety of film projects and with each new opportunity, I knew there was more to gain. Next, I focused on starting my own production company, Starks Films, LLC. As the Owner of my own company, I am able to make more strategic business moves, which allow me to develop, build and expand my relationships with various types of clientele from around the world.

I recently created a documentary called Black Barbers Doc. In July 2022, I won Best Documentary at the Picture’s Up! Film Festival, in Los Angeles, California. Also, in August 2022, Black Barbers Doc was screened at the Bronze Lens Film Festival, in Atlanta, Georgia. which is an Oscar Qualifying Film Festival. The film shines a light on the importance of the Black Barbershop and how it impacts the lives of black men.

While I have covered a lot of ground in this industry, I believe it is essential to always keep learning and to remain humble.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a creative is when you create something from your heart and you can see that project finalized, or when you are granted the opportunity to bring a client’s vision to life. As I previously stated, trust is everything in the film industry. So, when a client trusts you to bring their vision to life, and they smile with satisfaction, then share the work, and they say, “I can’t thank you enough,” that is so rewarding. It means a lot to know you have done your work as a creative, especially when they refer you to other potential clients as highly recommended.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Most people are groomed by the tradition to immediately go to college, get a job, get married, and retire. While that path may work for some, it does not work for everyone and that can be difficult for non-creatives to understand. As a filmmaker no two days are alike. When I tell people what I do, they are immediately intrigued. The journey as a filmmaker can be really good some days and others can be a nightmare, depending on your film crew and the film set you’re working on at the time.

Advancements in technology have opened a lot of doors into the filming industry, which makes some non-creatives think that if they buy a $5,000 camera, they can make a blockbuster film with it. It is important to remember, the camera does not create the film, it is the person operating the camera that does. Long before picking up a camera, there are so many other elements that go into creating a great film: Budgets, Crew, Locations, Film Permits, Talent, etc,. and each area costs money. You need money to make quality content. You do not necessarily need millions, but you do need to hire a good crew of people dedicated to making things flow smoothly. Filmmaking takes special skills, and like anything else, you really have to practice to get better, especially with technology and the industry always changing.

Contact Info:

• Website: starksfilms.com
• Instagram: @starksfilms
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-starks