Daily Inspiration: Meet Rafal Cwiok

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafal Cwiok.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Funny enough, I came to LA in the pursuit of an acting career. Went to college for theater, got a degree, the whole thing. So naturally, I found myself in Hollywood. But after about two years of auditioning and doing background work, I started to pivot more towards behind the camera.

I had an interest in filmmaking since about 13 years old, but never really took it seriously until I found myself on the West Coast. I made the decision that I was going to start making my own work.

I invested in the equipment that would help me create my portfolio – a 4K camera and a gimbal.

Since I didn’t have any portfolio work, I went to different locations around LA and filmed whatever I could; the nature, the structures, the activities. And I put those together into small 2 or 3 minute films.

My first “client” job came from a referral from my cousin, who told me his friend was filming a mini-series and needed a DP to help him. I took it on, but I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know about lighting, I had just then started learning about aperture and shutter speed. Regardless, I used whatever knowledge I had at the time and powered through. They were happy with how the footage came out, so I guess I didn’t do too bad.

I also improved my skills by making short promotional videos at my day job. They were looking to create commercials for different packages and deals, and since I was known as the one with an interest in filmmaking, I took those on.

Small work like that may not have accounted for much at the moment, but they accumulated over time and built my skills to a point where I can make a living off of this kind of work.

I was able to slowly build a collection of equipment like lights and mics, which would help improve my production quality and allow me to charge more.

And I experimented as well! My first job was a mini web series, but then I moved on to make real estate videos, music videos, low-budget commercials, event recap videos, and one wedding (which was enough for me)

Because I did work of all different kinds, I made connections with people and showed my capabilities behind the camera. This allowed me to build a network and bring in more work.

Today, I continue to work as a freelancer and utilize the lessons I learned to help anyone who may be on a similiar path.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Certainly not. I don’t believe there is such a thing as a smooth road when it comes to working as a freelancer. The most common problem I’d deal with is the back and forth between good months and slow months. And it’s during those slower months that I work on making more connections in order to make the coming months more fruitful.

However, if we were to zoom out and see a chart of my progress; despite the slower months or times where I’m down, I know that line would steadily be moving upwards.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently act as a cinematographer and an editor for a slew of different regions in the creative space. I’ve created product videos, corporate videos, interviews, event recaps, and smaller work in between.

I pride myself in creating a professional-looking and sounding image. I’ve learned a lot about lighting and I like to make sure the videos I’m filming have a high-quality look to them. So when those I’m working with look at the camera, see the shot, and say they love it; that’s what makes it worth it to me.

I currently work often with interviews and talking-head content. This kind of work allows me to work with smaller groups and equipment that I’m familiar with. I don’t hold much experience on large production sets, so these smaller scenarios are a good middle-ground for me.

I wish I could say what sets me apart from the others, but I believe that’s honestly a question for those looking to hire me. Let’s face it, this is LA. Around every corner is someone with a camera and lighting kit ready to work. And they might be cheaper as well.

I like to think that the way I behave and communicate before filming, how I behave on set, and how I keep contact with the clients during the editing phase; those are additional qualities I pay attention to in order to be remembered for future work.

Contact Info:

• Website: rafalcwiok.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafalcwiok/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafalcwiok/