Movie fan goes behind the camera

Filmmaker: Fife man enjoying creative opportunities

Graeme Rennie, 26, launched renniedigitalproductions.com from his Kirkcaldy base in 2015.

Q What does your business do?

A I’m a filmmaker and make pieces for whatever a client needs, whether it’s to promote a show, event or organisation or make a music video or record a performance, any kind of filmmaking.

Q Why did you start in business?

A I was a shopping TV producer for two years after university and was growing disillusioned with the lack of creativity it afforded me.

I’d taken on some filming jobs and was making my own short films, so I decided to put all my eggs in one basket.

Q How did you get where you are?

A Help from the good people I’ve worked with, but also just putting myself out there and not being shy.

Q Who has helped you? A I’ve had great support from my wife, who quite often is the guinea pig if I want to test out new equipment.

Also, my parents and step dad have been a great support.

Business Gateway Fife has been good, helping me look for work and figure out my next step. My adviser helped me apply to the Create in Fife Fund for a grant towards the purchase of a new camera.

Sometimes you feel like you’re on your own but Business Gateway is good at staying in touch.

Q Your biggest mistake?

A Initially, I was uncomfortable talking about money and struggled to put a value on the work I was doing. I’ve now realised time is my most valuable asset.

Q Your greatest achievement?

A Fife Council’s Festivals in Fife team awarded a nine-month commission that saw me film seven festivals throughout the year.

Q What are your hopes?

A I enjoy writing and making my own short films, so hopefully that could turn into my main source of income.

Q Do you want to recruit?

A If there’s a downside to my business it is that I work on my own almost all the time, so it would be great to work with a team again.

Q What is the hardest thing about running your own business?

A The thing I didn’t foresee when I first started was the fact that you can’t ever really switch off. If you’re at home you still have access to email, so can’t help but check in.

Q Any advice to wannabe entrepreneurs?

A If you’re going to do something, go all in with it. Don’t get good at anything else, don’t have a back-up, because you will always, at one point, go to your back up when things get tough.

If you don’t have one, it’ll give you the kick up the backside you need to make things happen.

Graeme Rennie gets to work on his latest production.