How would you describe what you do as an producer and founder of House of Fire Studios?
As the founder of a production company, I wear multiple hats. One of those hats is 'talent manager', where I get to represent incredible artists working in film. We have a roster of directors, photographers and more. I actively pitch and promote these talented individuals to help them land more projects and showcase their talent on a broader scale.

Another hat I wear is ‘producer’, which involves taking project concepts and breaking them down into actionable plans. For example, say we get a brief for a commercial, I’ll outline the crew needed, the budget, deadlines, and where and when the shoot will take place.

The third hat is ‘salesman’. This involves sourcing projects, which usually come in the form of briefs. I look for clients who need our services and share what we do, aiming to form a collaboration.

Having studied fine art, would you say you need any specific training for your current role?
My degree isn’t directly linked to my current role in film, but my practice began to shift in a more film-focused direction towards the end of my studies.

I do think specific training is crucial for my role; I was part of a film and tv crew at a broadcasting station. However, what stands out most from my degree is developing the skill of creative thinking. Though it’s not always seen this way, it’s immensely valuable in any role.

For me, creative thinking is the ability to solve problems, it’s becoming a solution provider. Seth Godin, a well-known marketer in the creative community, has been quoted as saying, “If you know how to lead, if you know how to solve interesting problems, you'll always be able to find a job and always be able to create value.” The skill is about tackling challenges that aren’t easily defined or written down, which adds significant value to any job.

How would you describe your journey as you’ve been starting out?
Very slow. Things never start easy - I had a lot to learn, and I’m still learning on my journey. I often say if you’re going to be an entrepreneur or freelancer, you have to learn to take a lot of Ls [losses]. I had to develop a new outlook on rejection and not let life discourage me when things aren’t going my way.

I think some people see success as working hard and one day things work out, but the road isn’t easy. There’s a lot of inner and emotional darkness that you face on that road. For some, that darkness prevents them from striving and, for some, they use it as fuel to keep going. Personally, I have big dreams and, naive or not, those dreams have been an anchor that’s helped me to keep pushing even in difficult moments.

How did you go about landing your first few jobs, clients and/or commissions?
Starting out, I was always sharing my ideas and concepts and, most importantly, sharing it with the right people. I’d express my concepts at events, on programmes and to mentor figures. It didn’t necessarily materialise into anything, but it did help build new relationships. Some of these relationships are strong bonds I have to this day. Back then, I didn’t have anything to offer them, so for them to stick around meant a lot because it showed me they believed in my idea.

Besides giving me industry advice and guidance, I’m most grateful to some of these individuals for giving me a chance. Many talented individuals are praying someone simply gives them a chance.

You’ve spoken openly online about your chronic illness, do you feel this has been your biggest challenge in your career so far?
It has. The challenges I faced before then seem so minuscule to me now and during those worst moments, business wasn’t my biggest concern. However, it did serve as good preparation for running a business. Most of the problems I’ve faced in business have been centred around perseverance. I’ve learnt that you can deploy all the tips and tricks in the world, even from people who’ve seen great success, and still might not work out.

Learning to keep going in the face of continuous rejection and to keep doing what you know you should be doing, even when things aren’t going well, is one of the most important traits as an entrepreneur. Enduring a long illness helped build my resilience and the ability to stay indifferent to discomfort. I believe many of us know what we should be doing but are discouraged due to fear of embarrassment, or give up at the first sign of rejection. As an entrepreneur, you’re going to take a lot of L’s, the trick is to be indifferent and persist with the good work.

You’ve also spoken about your story serving as personal evidence in the power of passion-driven work. Could you tell us about this?
At a time when I was in a low point with my health and mood, creative work helped me get through it. It was a period where I couldn't do much, and I was taking time out to tend to my health. A colleague convinced me to work on some small passion projects that I was initially apprehensive about. Over time, I started to notice that these projects weren't detrimental to my health, in fact, they were making me feel better. It's been a personal revelation for me on the impact of engaging in work that resonates with me on a deep level.

In Japanese there's the word ‘ikigai’ which can be interpreted as 'reason to live'. The concept encourages us to take notice and embrace the things, no matter how small, that bring us passion in life. The word has been developed into a system for finding and doing work that we love and suggest that if we can design our lives around the idea, it can lead to greater happiness and health. My experiences have provided personal evidence of the power of this concept.

What are three things that you’ve found useful to your work or career, and why?

1. Networking. It’s always good to build and widen your circle of connections. We all need help, so actively participating can be beneficial and lead to making professional connections across industries, new collaborations and more, which is crucial for business growth. Style & Sound is a great platform that hosts networking events across various industries.
2. Programmes. Training programmes have been great for thinking in-depth about my business and also putting me in an environment supportive of my business goals. It’s a good way to make connections and also find mentorship.
3. Mentors. Establishing relationships with mentors has been invaluable. Having someone that provides guidance, shares insights, and offers support has definitely sped up my learning and development, especially in the early stages.

Have there been any courses, programmes, initiatives, access schemes or job boards you’ve found helpful or would recommend to get into your sector?
I took part in a programme for startup entrepreneurs with A New Direction. The programme itself was a great introduction to starting a business, but there was a greater, unexpected benefit — the relationships I formed with fellow founders.

A New Direction offers a training programme called STEP, which pairs young individuals with local businesses, providing entry-level training roles within creative industries.

The Roundhouse in Camden also offers programmes tailored for creatives aged 18-30. For an introduction to film, I recommend regularly checking ScreenSkills' website for valuable opportunities. They offer a lot of training, opportunities and events in the film industry.

What have been your greatest learnings with making money and supporting yourself as a creative?
For most of us, it’s likely necessary to take on a job to support your practice or business. Ideally part-time roles or fixed term contracts that allow you to work on your business, even if it is slow.

For example, a front desk or receptionist role often has a lot of downtime, which you can use to work on growing your personal projects. You’ll likely have to live below your means so you need to ask yourself “how important is this to me?” and whether you’re willing to delay or sacrifice today’s comfort for tomorrow’s success.

If you were talking to your teenage self, what words of encouragement would you offer them about the path ahead?
My answer is going to be more conceptual than practical. I’d tell my teenage self to build up a strong self-concept and make it a cornerstone that guides your decisions.

Of all the problems I’ve faced so far, having strong mental fortitude to withstand pressure has been far more important than specific techniques to get ahead or quick solutions. I’ve learnt to give more significance to what I feed my mind, to shape my sense of self. I'd tell my younger self to start now, by planting the right thoughts and ideas in your mind, because they will grow.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into a similar role?

For someone looking to become a founder: Start by learning as much as you can about the industry. Take courses, read books and watch videos. Knowledge is power, give yourself a strong foundation.

Build industry relationships. Go to industry events, join groups and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. Networking can open valuable doors. Don’t be afraid to start small. Use small projects to learn and improve your process. Aim to share the business with prospective clients everyday to build up your clientele and hopefully land more projects.

For someone looking to become a producer: Look for internships or entry-level positions in production companies. Hands-on experience is crucial in production work. Use that experience to put together a professional and appealing portfolio. Keep applying for more positions and projects and persisting through rejection.

Develop organisational skills, it’s key to being a producer. Learn and start putting together your own systems to manage budgets, schedules and logistics, there are many online tools that can help you.

Stay creative. Creativity is at the heart of production work. Don’t be afraid to look for ways to bring fresh ideas to the table and flare to your portfolio.