Today we’d like to introduce you to Carey McKelvey.
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?
I started making films in middle and high school. I really caught the bug after doing a high school movie project on the Hobbit while at Northwood HS in Pittsboro, NC. From there I went to Western Carolina University’s film program and graduated in 2007.
After school I did what most young filmmakers do – struggle. My first paid gig in the industry was working for the Hunger Games as an uncredited set PA. Soon after my wife and I moved to Pittsburgh so she could go to graduate school.
While she was in school I bounced around working in hospitality and small documentaries. In 2013 I got deathly ill with an undiagnosed case of Crohn’s Disease. This sidelined me from working on set and so I pivoted to editing.
I eventually went to graduate school in an attempt to get a “big boy job” but the effort was futile as I landed an adjusted teaching job in the cinema school salt Point Park University.
After graduation I shuffled around as an editor working in advertising, and commercial projects. I worked with a commercial photographer as well where I learned a ton about retouching and lighting.
Eventually I landed a job working in TV news promotions where I worked for 3 years leading up to the pandemic when my first daughter was born. During that time my wife encouraged me to start a production company. This inspired the move back home.
Since then I’ve grown CMCK.Media over the past 4 years to handle everything from headshot and commercial photography, video, commercials, feature documentaries, podcasts, and social media production.
Since inception we’ve won 6 Telly Awards for work we’ve done and have had work featured around the world.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest challenges early on has been handling this business as a solopreneur. I often times operate productions taking on every role in the process.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m generalist when it comes to filmmaking but my early career focused heavily on the post-production end. When it comes to type of work, I can do pretty much everything but what I love to work on are projects dealing with environmental advocacy, tribal affairs and death and grief. I try not to narrow my focus creatively. I’m a naturally curious person and like to take on projects and subjects where I can learn something new every time.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I used to be very risk averse. But as I’ve gotten deeper into my business I’ve gotten much more used to taking bigger risks with more upside.
Pricing:
- In studio packages start at $100
- Headshot sessions start at $300
- Brand story videos start at $3,000
- Larger projects range from $4,000 +
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cmck.media
- Instagram: cmck.media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CjBBLSpTo/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cmck-media/
