The Pulse 94.1FM general manager has traded sleep-ins for 4am starts over the past three years, using the early hours of the morning to work on his hobby - his first feature film.

After 90 auditions, 12 days of filming and countless hours in post-production, Mr Reid is finally enjoying the fruits of his hard work with the Wollongong premiere of 1500 Steps.

The 95-minute film, which was completed on a budget of just $100,000, is a coming-of-age drama set in Cronulla.

It tells the story of a 16-year-old boy from a difficult upbringing who is a champion runner.

Mr Reid said he was attracted to the screenplay and its story.

"There are so many young people out there who have no sense of purpose, you ask them what they want to do with their life and they say they've never thought about it," he said.

"There's this sense of directionlessness in this film and I really wanted to tell that story.

"I wanted to show people there is more to life than partying or getting stoned and they can achieve great things."

The film was shot in Cronulla with a cast of NIDA graduates who did the shoot for free.

Mr Reid said the film had been buoyed along by similar offers of in-kind support.

"I was lucky that I just bumped into a lot of people who were professionals who wanted to help," he said.

"I met a musician who wanted to do a soundtrack and was looking for an opportunity; there were lots of stories like that, we called in lots of favours and we were really lucky."

Negotiations are under way to have the film distributed on DVD in the United States and it's hoped an Australian company will also come on board.

Mr Reid has no plans to make another film any time soon, admitting the process had been exhausting.

"Making a feature film was something I always really wanted to do but I don't think I realised just how much work it would be," he said.

1500 Steps will premiere in Wollongong on Saturday at the Regent Theatre.

Tickets are $12.

To book, visit pulse941.com.au or call the box office on 4228 8941.