Meet Luke Ring | Award Winning Director

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

Hi Luke, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks has been foundational to my career as a filmmaker, especially because I chose not to attend film school or college. When people ask, “Should you go to film school?” I often share my personal experience as a self-taught filmmaker who decided early on that hands-on filmmaking, real-world directing experience, and building my personal brand, Sukavision, would offer me greater growth and opportunities than traditional education could.

By skipping film school, I consciously took a calculated risk, investing instead in practical filmmaking experience, creating narrative short films like Little Library, XELA, and The Great Escape. Rather than learning cinematography, directing, screenwriting, and editing through structured classes, I built these skills organically, on real sets, collaborating directly with industry professionals such as producer Sam Bredeweg and cinematographer Tommy Oldham, as well as working with established teams at JV Studios in Chicago alongside CEO Tim Zwartz, producer Johnny Pinto, and lead creative Vince Pinto.

Choosing a non-traditional path over formal film education brought plenty of uncertainty, but it also rapidly accelerated my growth as a filmmaker and entrepreneur. My experience demonstrates the power of trusting your own vision, taking strategic risks, and creating opportunities proactively. While film school may be beneficial for some aspiring filmmakers, for me, the practical, self-driven route provided invaluable hands-on learning, professional collaboration, and authentic storytelling experiences that shaped my identity as a director and cinematographer.

Ultimately, the decision not to attend film school allowed me to create my own filmmaking path, build Sukavision into a growing brand, and fully embrace a career centered on emotional authenticity, visual storytelling excellence, and meaningful creative risk-taking.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art centers around emotionally driven visual storytelling through filmmaking, specifically narrative short films and cinematic vlogs that resonate deeply with audiences. As a filmmaker, director, and cinematographer based in Southwest Michigan, I founded Sukavision to bring stories to life using powerful imagery, authentic emotions, and minimal dialogue. My films, including Little Library, XELA, and my adventure-inspired short, The Great Escape, aim to immerse viewers fully in sensory experiences and emotional journeys.

What sets me apart is my commitment to creating stories that feel emotionally honest, visually engaging, and genuinely meaningful. Inspired by cinematic greats like Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, and Casey Neistat, I strive to combine their respective strengths of narrative complexity, visual wonder, and authentic storytelling into my unique style. Shooting on the Sony FX6 cinema camera, editing in DaVinci Resolve, and using techniques such as film emulation, I craft films that don’t just tell a story, but deeply connect emotionally with viewers.

I’m most proud of the collaborative spirit I’ve built around Sukavision and my projects, especially my partnership with producer Sam Bredeweg. Sam consistently encourages me to push creative boundaries, grow professionally, and trust in a larger team. Through experiences like leading a professional crew on the set of XELA and navigating challenging circumstances while filming The Great Escape, I’ve learned to embrace uncertainty, pivot quickly, and trust my instincts, lessons which have significantly shaped my growth as a director.

Getting to where I am today professionally was anything but easy. Choosing not to attend film school or college presented significant risks and challenges, particularly in convincing collaborators, clients, and peers of my credibility and potential without formal credentials. However, by investing in hands-on experience, learning through trial and error, and building genuine relationships, I proved my capability through action rather than credentials. Overcoming these challenges required patience, resilience, and unwavering self-belief, along with the support of talented collaborators who saw the value in my vision.

The core lesson I’ve learned is that filmmaking is inherently collaborative and thrives on trust, clear communication, and genuine empowerment of those around you. I’ve also discovered that success comes from embracing calculated risks, believing fully in your vision, and staying deeply committed to authenticity.

What I want the world to know about me, my brand Sukavision, and my story is this: filmmaking, at its best, is not just about entertaining but about creating authentic emotional experiences that resonate and inspire. My journey reflects a commitment to storytelling excellence, the value of meaningful collaboration, and the power of taking creative risks. My goal is not just to create films, but to create stories that last, stories that move, inspire, and ultimately make a difference in the lives of those who watch them.

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?
My art centers around emotionally driven visual storytelling through filmmaking, specifically narrative short films and cinematic vlogs that resonate deeply with audiences. As a filmmaker, director, and cinematographer based in Southwest Michigan, I founded Sukavision to bring stories to life using powerful imagery, authentic emotions, and minimal dialogue. My films, including Little Library, XELA, and my adventure-inspired short, The Great Escape, aim to immerse viewers fully in sensory experiences and emotional journeys.

What sets me apart is my commitment to creating stories that feel emotionally honest, visually engaging, and genuinely meaningful. Inspired by cinematic greats like Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, and Casey Neistat, I strive to combine their respective strengths—narrative complexity, visual wonder, and authentic storytelling—into my unique style. Shooting on the Sony FX6 cinema camera, editing in DaVinci Resolve, and using techniques such as film emulation, I craft films that don’t just tell a story, but deeply connect emotionally with viewers.

I’m most proud of the collaborative spirit I’ve built around Sukavision and my projects, especially my partnership with producer Sam Bredeweg. Sam consistently encourages me to push creative boundaries, grow professionally, and trust in a larger team. Through experiences like leading a professional crew on the set of XELA and navigating challenging circumstances while filming The Great Escape, I’ve learned to embrace uncertainty, pivot quickly, and trust my instincts, lessons which have significantly shaped my growth as a director.

Getting to where I am today professionally was anything but easy. Choosing not to attend film school or college presented significant risks and challenges, particularly in convincing collaborators, clients, and peers of my credibility and potential without formal credentials. However, by investing in hands-on experience, learning through trial and error, and building genuine relationships, I proved my capability through action rather than credentials. Overcoming these challenges required patience, resilience, and unwavering self-belief, along with the support of talented collaborators who saw the value in my vision.

The core lesson I’ve learned is that filmmaking is inherently collaborative and thrives on trust, clear communication, and genuine empowerment of those around you. I’ve also discovered that success comes from embracing calculated risks, believing fully in your vision, and staying deeply committed to authenticity.

What I want the world to know about me, my brand Sukavision, and my story is this: filmmaking, at its best, is not just about entertaining but about creating authentic emotional experiences that resonate and inspire. My journey reflects a commitment to storytelling excellence, the value of meaningful collaboration, and the power of taking creative risks. My goal is not just to create films, but to create stories that last—stories that move, inspire, and ultimately make a difference in the lives of those who watch them.

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?
ChatGPT said:
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my dad, Mark Ring, who has played a huge role in shaping my journey as a filmmaker, director, and cinematographer. From introducing me to Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark at a young age, to collaborating with me directly as a writer, actor, and script supervisor on films like XELA and The Great Escape, he’s been both my inspiration and partner in storytelling.

Additionally, I’d like to recognize my producer, Sam Bredeweg, who has been instrumental in helping me build Sukavision into a meaningful filmmaking brand. Sam’s constant support, creative problem-solving, and unwavering trust in my vision have empowered me to take greater risks and grow immensely as a creative professional.

Lastly, I want to acknowledge the amazing team at JV Studios in Chicago, particularly Tim Zwartz, Johnny Pinto, and Vince Pinto. Their mentorship, collaboration, and investment in my growth as a filmmaker have greatly expanded my skills, broadened my storytelling perspective, and reinforced the power of strong, creative teamwork in building a lasting filmmaking career.

Website: https://lukering.com

Instagram: luker1ng

Youtube: luker1ng

Image Credits
Luke Ring, Sukavision