Available to hire
I’m Steve MacLaren, a passionate filmmaker with over 25 years of experience in the industry. I specialize in directing, cinematography, and story development, always striving to push creative boundaries. My goal is to mentor the next generation of filmmakers and foster an inclusive, collaborative environment for creative teamwork.
Skills
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Language
English
Fluent
Work Experience
Independent Filmmaker & Director at Freelance Production Services
January 1, 2000 - June 1, 2024Lead production teams of 10-50 crew members across multiple feature films and commercial projects. Manage budgets ranging from $50K to $2M+ while maintaining creative vision and technical standards. Develop adaptive production methodologies that improve team efficiency and creative output. Mentor junior staff in resilience and creative problem-solving techniques. Implement inclusive production practices that enhance team collaboration and project success. Direct and shoot content for broadcast television, streaming platforms, and corporate clients.
Cinematographer & Visual Storyteller at Multi-Platform Content Creation
January 1, 1999 - June 1, 2024Capture compelling visuals for narrative films, documentaries, and commercial content across diverse environments. Collaborate with directors, producers, and creative teams to achieve specific visual goals and artistic vision. Operate professional camera systems including RED, ARRI, and Canon cinema cameras with technical expertise. Develop innovative lighting and composition strategies for challenging shooting environments. Adapt quickly to changing production requirements while maintaining visual consistency and quality.
Story Developer & Creative Consultant at Narrative Development & Creative Guidance
January 1, 2005 - June 1, 2024Work with writers, producers, and directors to develop compelling narrative structures and character development. Provide creative input on script development, character arcs, and visual storytelling approaches. Consult on project development from initial concept through final edit with focus on narrative coherence. Foster collaborative creative environments that encourage innovative storytelling approaches. Mentor emerging filmmakers and crew members in storytelling techniques and industry best practices.
VFX Supervisor & Post-Production Specialist at Technical Leadership & Quality Assurance
January 1, 2010 - June 1, 2024Supervise VFX and post-production workflows, ensuring seamless integration of practical and digital elements. Coordinate with post-production teams to maintain creative vision throughout the editing process. Implement efficient post-production workflows that optimize both quality and timeline requirements. Provide technical guidance on complex visual effects sequences and color grading decisions. Maintain quality control standards across all phases of post-production delivery.
Independent Filmmaker & Director at Freelance Production Services
January 1, 2000 - June 12, 2024Led production teams of 10-50 crew members across multiple feature films and commercial projects. Managed budgets ranging from $50K to $2M+ while maintaining creative vision and technical standards. Developed adaptive production methodologies that improved team efficiency and creative output. Mentored junior staff in resilience and creative problem-solving techniques. Implemented inclusive production practices that enhanced team collaboration and project success. Directed and shot content for broadcast television, streaming platforms, and corporate clients.
Cinematographer & Visual Storyteller at Multi-Platform Content Creation
January 1, 1999 - June 12, 2024Captured compelling visuals for narrative films, documentaries, and commercial content across diverse environments. Collaborated with directors, producers, and creative teams to achieve specific visual goals and artistic vision. Operated professional camera systems including RED, ARRI, and Canon cinema cameras with technical expertise. Developed innovative lighting and composition strategies for challenging shooting environments. Adapted quickly to changing production requirements while maintaining visual consistency and quality.
Story Developer & Creative Consultant at Narrative Development & Creative Guidance
January 1, 2005 - June 12, 2024Worked with writers, producers, and directors to develop compelling narrative structures and character development. Provided creative input on script development, character arcs, and visual storytelling approaches. Consulted on project development from initial concept through final edit with focus on narrative coherence. Fostered collaborative creative environments that encouraged innovative storytelling approaches. Mentored emerging filmmakers and crew members in storytelling techniques and industry best practices.
VFX Supervisor & Post-Production Specialist at Technical Leadership & Quality Assurance
January 1, 2010 - June 12, 2024Supervised VFX and post-production workflows, ensuring seamless integration of practical and digital elements. Coordinated with post-production teams to maintain creative vision throughout the editing process. Implemented efficient post-production workflows that optimized both quality and timeline requirements. Provided technical guidance on complex visual effects sequences and color grading decisions. Maintained quality control standards across all phases of post-production delivery.
Independent Filmmaker & Director at Freelance Production Services
January 1, 2000 - June 7, 2024Led production teams of 10-50 crew members across multiple feature films and commercial projects, managing budgets from $50K to $2M+ while maintaining creative vision and technical standards. Developed adaptive production methodologies improving team efficiency and creative output. Mentored junior staff in resilience and creative problem-solving techniques. Implemented inclusive production practices to enhance collaboration and project success. Directed and shot content for broadcast television, streaming platforms, and corporate clients.
Cinematographer & Visual Storyteller at Multi-Platform Content Creation
January 1, 1999 - June 7, 2024Captured compelling visuals for narrative films, documentaries, and commercial content across diverse environments. Collaborated with directors, producers, and creative teams to achieve specific visual goals and artistic vision. Operated professional camera systems including RED, ARRI, and Canon cinema cameras with technical expertise. Developed innovative lighting and composition strategies for challenging shooting environments. Adapted quickly to changing production requirements while maintaining visual consistency and quality.
Story Developer & Creative Consultant at Narrative Development & Creative Guidance
January 1, 2005 - June 7, 2024Worked with writers, producers, and directors to develop compelling narrative structures and character development. Provided creative input on script development, character arcs, and visual storytelling approaches. Consulted on project development from initial concept through final edit with focus on narrative coherence. Fostered collaborative creative environments encouraging innovative storytelling approaches. Mentored emerging filmmakers and crew members in storytelling techniques and industry best practices.
VFX Supervisor & Post-Production Specialist at Technical Leadership & Quality Assurance
January 1, 2010 - June 7, 2024Supervised VFX and post-production workflows, ensuring seamless integration of practical and digital elements. Coordinated with post-production teams to maintain creative vision throughout editing. Implemented efficient post-production workflows optimizing quality and timelines. Provided technical guidance on complex visual effects sequences and color grading decisions. Maintained quality control standards across all phases of post-production delivery.
Independent Filmmaker & Director at Freelance Production Services
January 1, 2000 - PresentLead production teams of 10-50 crew members across multiple feature films and commercial projects. Manage budgets ranging from $50K to $2M+ while maintaining creative vision and technical standards. Develop adaptive production methodologies that improve team efficiency and creative output. Mentor junior staff in resilience and creative problem-solving techniques. Implement inclusive production practices that enhance team collaboration and project success. Direct and shoot content for broadcast television, streaming platforms, and corporate clients.
Cinematographer & Visual Storyteller at Multi-Platform Content Creation
January 1, 1999 - PresentCapture compelling visuals for narrative films, documentaries, and commercial content across diverse environments. Collaborate with directors, producers, and creative teams to achieve specific visual goals and artistic vision. Operate professional camera systems including RED, ARRI, and Canon cinema cameras with technical expertise. Develop innovative lighting and composition strategies for challenging shooting environments. Adapt quickly to changing production requirements while maintaining visual consistency and quality.
Story Developer & Creative Consultant at Narrative Development & Creative Guidance
January 1, 2005 - PresentWork with writers, producers, and directors to develop compelling narrative structures and character development. Provide creative input on script development, character arcs, and visual storytelling approaches. Consult on project development from initial concept through final edit with focus on narrative coherence. Foster collaborative creative environments that encourage innovative storytelling approaches. Mentor emerging filmmakers and crew members in storytelling techniques and industry best practices.
VFX Supervisor & Post-Production Specialist
January 1, 2010 - PresentSupervise VFX and post-production workflows, ensuring seamless integration of practical and digital elements. Coordinate with post-production teams to maintain creative vision throughout the editing process. Implement efficient post-production workflows that optimize both quality and timeline requirements. Provide technical guidance on complex visual effects sequences and color grading decisions. Maintain quality control standards across all phases of post-production delivery.
Independent Filmmaker & Director at Freelance Production Services
January 1, 2000 - PresentLead production teams of 10-50 crew members across multiple feature films and commercial projects, managing budgets ranging from $50K to $2M+. Developed adaptive production methodologies that improve efficiency and mentor junior staff in creative problem-solving techniques.
Cinematographer & Visual Storyteller at Multi-Platform Content Creation
January 1, 1999 - PresentCapture compelling visuals for narrative films and commercials. Collaborate with directors and producers to achieve specific visual goals while adapting to challenging shooting environments.
Story Developer & Creative Consultant at Narrative Development & Creative Guidance
January 1, 2005 - PresentWork with writers and directors to develop narrative structures and character arcs, providing creative input from initial concept to final edit, fostering collaborative creative environments.
VFX Supervisor & Post-Production Specialist at Technical Leadership & Quality Assurance
January 1, 2010 - PresentSupervise VFX workflows ensuring quality control and creative vision maintenance throughout the editing process.
Education
Associates Of Science at Macomb Community College
September 6, 2000 - May 11, 2006Certificate at The Motion Picture Institute
September 5, 2012 - September 7, 2013Majored in Film Directing and ScreenWriting Minor in Cinematography
Qualifications
Emerging Talent Mentorship
January 11, 2030 - July 25, 2025Industry workshops and masterclasses in emerging technologies
January 11, 2030 - July 25, 2025Equipment training certifications for latest camera and lighting systems
January 11, 2030 - July 25, 2025Leadership and team management professional development
January 11, 2030 - July 25, 2025Continuing education in new production methodologies and inclusive practices
January 11, 2030 - July 25, 2025Industry Experience
Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Other
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