Meet Adam McCain

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam McCain.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Adam. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story is pretty “traditional” I guess you could say. I started filming in High School. My school had a video production class where you make short films and news segments– sometimes about what’s happening around campus, and other times there was freedom to create whatever you wanted: a comedy skit, music video or just a goofy short film. I learned a lot about filmmaking. Not just about camera operating but about pre-production, editing, and piecing a story together. Despite that class, after high school I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so, naturally I dropped out of Junior College and became a waiter at a restaurant. I’ve had a lot of odd jobs over the years: everything from hanging Christmas lights in the winter, to washing windows and working at a used sporting goods store.

Eventually, by the time I was about 25 I realized I needed to find something I was passionate about and something I could really dive in to head on, something that would drive me and give me inspiration– and that’s when I kind of fell back into film. Like most amateur videographers/filmmakers living in Southern CA, I found the easiest way to actually get paid to film was to start filming weddings. It helped that my older brother was also filming weddings at that time, so he would throw his scraps my way– the lower budget weddings– which really helped. Over time I created a nice portfolio and was making pretty decent money, but my passion for filming weddings dissolved pretty quickly. I knew I wanted to create films that meant something to me and provided more of a challenge, physically and mentally. Ever since I can remember, I’ve had an affinity for the outdoors and I started to watch films created by some of the worlds best outdoor filmmakers. Names like Jimmy Chin, Keith Ladzinski, Renan Ozturk, Ben Moon and many, many others. People that were creating some of the most insane, awe-inspiring outdoor content I had ever seen. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It certainly hasn’t been a smooth road. If it has, you’re probably on the wrong road, and I prefer trails to paved roads anyways. It was a pretty daunting plunge into the world of self-employment, and the challenges and struggles are plentiful. But I’ve always felt like it was a risk worth taking. For me, the biggest challenge right now is that I wear so many damn hats sometimes it’s hard to stay focused on any one task and look at a project with fresh eyes and a unique perspective. I do creative concept, scriptwriting, filming, editing, and anything and everything in between. On any given day I may be outside filming, or in my home office editing. Or meeting with a company and pitching them an idea I have for a badass short film. Or researching ideas for said badass short film. Or scouting out a location for an upcoming shoot. Or sending emails and taking calls regarding post-production revisions. Or sending a client a detailed proposal. Or an invoice. Or a combination of all of these. You get the idea. Like I said, I wear a lot of hats. Eventually, it would be nice to delegate some of that work to a creative team. I’m getting there.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Adam McCain is a San Diego based photographer and filmmaker who enjoys working with a diverse range of athletes, adventurers, conservationists, outdoor brands and rad people who have an awesome story to tell. Creating films and telling stories that have meaning and purpose is always the goal.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
In filmmaking, I think one of the most important qualities to have or to try to have is empathy. Having an understanding, being sensitive and building chemistry with a subject are some of the most challenging but also the most rewarding parts of working closely and being trusted to tell someone’s story. I have such respect for great filmmakers because there are so many different layers when it comes to film: storytelling, visuals, narrative, music, etc. It’s extremely difficult, and it’s very easy to miss the mark. Like Ansel Adams once said, “There’s nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.” One of the things I love most about this work is that it’s constantly pushing me. In every aspect. I’m always learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: adammccainfilms.com
• Phone: 858-357-4210
• Email: adammccainfilms@gmail.com
• Instagram: @adam__mccain
• Yelp: adam mccain films

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