Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Bullock.
Hi Alex, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey started about eight years ago while I was juggling a heavy college course load and searching for a creative outlet. I’ve always been drawn to the arts—at one point, I thought I’d become a comic book creator. I grew up drawing constantly, which eventually led me toward graphic design in college.
One day, my girlfriend at the time and I were out taking pictures with her Canon camera—a Black Friday special. I snapped a photo of some sunflowers from underneath, with the sun poking through the petals. It was such a simple moment, but when I posted it on Facebook, it blew up with likes and comments. This was before social media was the powerhouse it is today, so that reaction really stuck with me. It was the spark that never went out.
That moment pushed me to take my first photography class, then Photo 2 after that. But when the instructor started teaching straight from YouTube, I thought, Why am I paying for this when I can learn directly from the source? That decision led me to the legend himself, Peter McKinnon. I started devouring his videos, imitating his techniques, and putting everything I learned into practice. Photography became my creative outlet—and eventually, my passion.
I began taking small photo jobs: families, couples, kids—you name it. At one point, I even dressed up as Spider-Man, taking photos with kids at birthday parties while in costume. It sounds funny now, but that hands-on experience taught me how to connect with people through the camera.
Over time, I noticed Knoxville had tons of photographers, but not nearly as many videographers. That was my cue to pivot. I bought my first video camera—the same one Peter McKinnon started with—and dove headfirst into learning video production. And funny enough, my very first video was of sunflowers. It’s still on YouTube today.
I’ve always had the mindset that if I want something done, I’ll figure out how to do it myself. I’d work my day job, then come home and study video, experiment, and create. Over the years, I’ve filmed just about everything—sports, weddings, events, small businesses, barbershops, even a clip with David Goggins. You name it, I’ve probably filmed it.
My real break came during COVID. I was working landscaping when I got laid off. A few days later, I landed a small but consistent gig filming for real estate agents. Between that and some unemployment income, I had just enough breathing room to turn my passion into a business. I called it Film Pilot—and I haven’t looked back since.
It hasn’t been an easy road, but it’s one I’ve never given up on. Every project has led me somewhere new—most recently, all the way to filming in Dubai. If you’d told that college kid with the sunflower photo that this is where he’d end up, I’m not sure he’d believe it
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it’s definitely not been a smooth road—far from it. I think any entrepreneur who truly cares about their craft knows it’s never easy. The biggest challenge for me has always been balance—especially learning to take care of myself while chasing deadlines. There have been countless nights where I’ve worked until 1 or 2 a.m.—even in Dubai, I was turning in a project at 2 in the morning.
I care deeply about my videos because they’re a reflection of me. I want people to watch and feel proud of how they or their business look on film. But wearing so many hats—filmmaker, editor, marketer, sound designer—can make having a personal life tough. Over the past couple of years, though, I’ve learned to take days for myself. I grab my camera and one of my pups and go on what I call a “therapy session”—a day to shoot just for fun, no pressure, just reconnecting with why I fell in love with photography in the first place.
The other big struggle early on was financial inconsistency. When people don’t yet know your name, every gig feels like a battle to prove yourself. But I’ve learned that those dry spells build character—and momentum. Like Ted Lasso says, “The harder you work, the luckier you seem to be.”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a filmmaker and aspiring YouTuber. Most of my work centers around small businesses—I shoot a lot of content for blue-collar crews, gym owners, and weddings. I love the variety, but weddings in particular have a special place for me. I bring a certain flair to my films that, honestly, I don’t think anyone else in our area does. I’m especially excited about an upcoming wedding at the Capitol Theater in Maryville—it’s going to be beautiful.
Style-wise, I’m a ’90s baby through and through. Back then, we didn’t have 5K TVs or perfect sound. We had grain, character, and charm—and we thought 720p looked incredible. I grew up watching shows like The Andy Griffith Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and that nostalgic influence shows up in my editing. I like to blend that retro warmth with modern cinematic storytelling.
I also have a deep love for black and white. I don’t use it often, because most brands want color to represent their identity, but I always find a way to sneak it in. To me, black and white is the truth—it’s raw and unforgiving. Color can sometimes bring bad to life, but with black and white, it simply is what it is. It strips away distractions and leaves only emotion and honesty, and that’s what I love about it.
Music is another huge part of what I do. I’m obsessed with finding the perfect song to fit the emotion of a moment—it’s something that seems to come naturally. A lot of my clients just tell me to “do my thing,” and so far, it’s never steered us wrong.
What really sets me apart is how I approach storytelling. I think of my videos like a roller coaster—some moments need time to breathe, others need to hit fast and hard. I focus on the details most people don’t even notice, but they make all the difference in how a story feels.
As for what I’m proud of, it’s hard to pinpoint because I’m usually just doing what I love and don’t always stop to realize what makes it special. But one project that stands out is a CrossFit Open video I shot earlier this year—I took a creative risk with the music and pacing, and people absolutely loved it. Another fun moment was when I got to shoot for an electric bike company—they sent me three bikes as part of the collaboration. It’s wild to think that hitting “record” at just the right time has opened so many unexpected doors.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Knoxville is a beautiful city. I love walking through the Old City or down Central Street and capturing that gritty, character-filled vibe. I have so many photos and drone clips of the Sunsphere—it never gets old. The city has an inviting energy for creatives, and that’s one of the things I love most about it.
What I like least is a bit harder to pinpoint. As much as Knoxville welcomes creatives, the recent wave of expansion and development is starting to make it harder for them to find their place. It’s slowly losing some of the small-city charm that gave it personality. Lately, I’ve found myself drifting toward the outskirts for my “therapy session” photo days—just to reconnect with that quieter, more authentic side of East Tennessee that first inspired me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://filmpilot.org
- Instagram: filmpilot_pro
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FilmPilotPro
- Youtube: @filmpilotpro
- Other: https://liinks.co/filmpilotpro
