Meet Rafal Cwiok | Cinematographer & Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rafal Cwiok and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rafal, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My relationship with risk has vastly changed over the past two years. I see risk now as an absolute essential part of growth. I understand why taking risks can be a scary thing. Bigger risks can lead to bigger failures right?

And yeah, that may be partially true. You are taking the chance at failing at something if you take a bigger risk towards growth. But my favorite quote, the one that drives me more than any other, is, “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” And so if you choose to play it safe and take the easier route, it might feel nicer in the short-term. But it’ll affect you in the long-term

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think what I’m most proud of is seeing my work develop. I love watching something I filmed 2 or 3 years ago versus something I filmed last week and seeing how much change my skills have undergone. It’s a feeling that gets me eager to continue creating to just get better with each passing day.

I don’t believe any path worth taking comes easy. That being said, I can’t pretend like I’ve never been tempted to take the easier route on things. I think everyday presents itself with challenges of all different kinds, and not just business related. These challenges can be emotional, physical, mental, or anything else. And if you aren’t able to overcome those, then yeah, they will affect the way you approach your business.

A good example for me is that I’ve recently begun taking on more responsibilities in the marketing realm of content creation. I believe that if you are looking to generate income for your work, then it doesn’t matter how good you are if no one knows you exist. And so the challenges I’m taking on now are to let the world know that I’m here and eager to bring my talents and expertise into the industry.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh man, I’m not the best tour guide, haha! But I’d love taking them to places with a view. Good ol’ Griffith Observatory is always near the top of the list. It’s a great spot to see all of LA. I hope they like hiking, because I’d definitely take them on one; preferably one with a waterfall at the end! Millard Falls is one of my favorite trails. And with all the rain LA has been getting lately, it doesn’t disappoint!

Regarding food and drinks, I’d wanna take them to places with a nice twist. If they’re a Tim Burton fan, the Beetle House in Hollywood is the spot to be! If they want something simpler, I’ll take them to Openaire in Koreatown!

You can’t visit LA without checking out the Grove or Americana! Both places are great hang out spots to get some food and drinks, or just walk around.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The list would be too long if I wanted to shoutout everyone who has contributed to my life and career in some way. My close friends and my girlfriend always support me and are there to lift my spirits when I’m feeling down, or celebrate with me during my wins! But I’d love to give a big shoutout to the FullTime Filmmaker Academy, which was founded by Parker Walbeck, for being a community filled with creators as ambitious as me. We hype each other up and help one another through different projects; whether it’s giving feedback, advice on techniques, or hiring each other for work. And much love to Anthony Ortiz for having me considered for this interview!

Website: rafalcwiok.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafalcwiok/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafalcwiok/

Youtube: youtube.com/rafalcwiok

Image Credits
Cin Aguirre Isaac Alvarez Adrian Wong Jovan Roberts