Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Salvato.
Hi Mike, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I guess you could say I started watching movies… I have always loved movies, everything about them from when I was a little kid. I would watch every behind the scenes featurette and read books about the movie making industry. And growing up, I would make little short films with an old video camera. But eventually, you have to grow up and get a real job so I got one working on cars. I didn’t love the job, it was boring yet stressful and incredibly hot in the summers (I would be out on dealership lots quite often). But one thing it did allow me to do was travel. I got to take a few trips to different parts of the world, Taiwan, Japan, Ireland, Israel. And those trips gave me an excuse to flex my filmmaking muscles by making travel videos. I just did it for fun, as a creative outlet. But everyone kept asking me if I did that kind of thing for work. I said no of course, they were just dumb little videos. How could I make any money from that kind of thing? But people kept telling me I should try and do it for work. It planted a seed but I was incredibly doubtful. So I spent about two years just researching everything I possibly could about videography, I didn’t want to pull the trigger unless I really thought it was possible. Eventually, I went for it and slowly started investing in equipment. It was long and slow and I still worked with the car dealerships the whole time, putting any extra money into this “side hustle”. Eventually, I started to gain traction and was able to leave that job. Which is where I am now. I am by no means a success story YET, but I am trending in that direction which is hopeful!
Alright, 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?
I mean, I’m a straight white male, so it feels a little disingenuous to say I’ve had a lot of roadblocks in starting a business. I would say my biggest obstacles are my own doing. I am so critical of my work that I often don’t believe I can do it. I’m also a bit of a perfectionist and so it takes me quite a long time to finish something because I want it to be exactly how I see it in my head. I struggle with confidence, I’m not really the type to brag about my work which makes me a terrible salesman so getting my name out there was very hard. Fortunately, I have amazing friends and family that brag about me (sometimes too much) so that is a tremendous help. Lastly is just the financials… this is not a cheap profession to get into, and so it took a long time to accumulate the gear I needed, and I have received so much support both with my financials and my confidence from my parents, who I can’t thank enough for all they have done for me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
So right now, I film mostly weddings and businesses. Is it making Hollywood movies? No, but I still love it and love working with the medium. I especially enjoy weddings because it does lend to crafting a creative and entertaining narrative. It’s the closest I’ll get to making movies in this stage of my career. I would say what I’m most proud of and what sets me apart are the same thing: My dedication to high quality. That critical perfectionism I talked about earlier is a double-edged sword, sure it can hamper me and slow me down, but it also ensures that what I put out into the world is the best it can be. I often find my standards for my work are much higher than what anyone else has for me, so if I can get it to the point where like it, I can be confident that they will like it too!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
There is so much information available on the internet. I really believe you can learn what you need to get started from straight-up YouTube. But not being afraid to just start and put your stuff out there will definitely help you to get noticed and make connections. Also (I don’t know if this is really advice on finding A MENTOR) don’t forget to really invest. Both in yourself AND your equipment, and to never be satisfied where you’re at skill-wise. I don’t mean to be unsatisfied with where you are with your business, you don’t NEED to grow it into a multimillion-dollar empire or something. But always strive to be better AT what you do. I tend to see a lot of people that market themselves as professionals who clearly have not invested in their skills and equipment. That is what will help set you apart and will in turn help you to network and be noticed.
Contact Info:
- Email: mikesalvato@variantvision.com
- Website: Variantvision.com
- Instagram: @variantvision
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Variantvision
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXvN4UAYyiltHkgpzloktmQ
