Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Breaking Into Film Without Breaking Down
33 Plays4 months ago
What happens when your dream job finally starts to take shape – just as the industry falls apart?
In this debut episode of Creativity Isn’t Dead Yet, Jo Osborne talks to filmmaker John Perivolaris about what it really takes to stay creative in the UK film and TV world right now – especially if you're early-career, freelance, and far from home.
They get into:
- navigating the collapse of freelance work in 2023
- burnout, benefits, and being neurodivergent in an unsupportive system
- the ethics and practicalities of “expenses only” gigs
- trying to direct without a clear way in, or a family safety net
It’s honest, scrappy, and painfully relatable. A reminder that you’re not the only one trying to keep going.
Follow on Instagram: @creativityisntdeadyet
Episode 2 drops 16 July
More from John: johnperivolaris.com
Recommended
Transcript
Reflections on Dreams and Reality
00:00:00
Speaker
In some ways, my dreams are coming true. And I'm very grateful for that. At the same time, I've never been more broken in my life.
00:00:20
Speaker
Welcome to Creativity Isn't Dead Yet, a podcast for anyone trying to carve out a creative life in the UK and wondering if it's still even possible.
Introducing the Creatives
00:00:29
Speaker
I'm Jo Osborne, freelance editor, full-time overthinker, and in this podcast I talk to people who are staying creative even when the system feels broken and like the whole industry is running on fumes.
00:00:40
Speaker
Kicking things off with me today is John Parivalaris, a Greek director and producer who is based in Glasgow. He's early career, wildly creative and like many of us, juggling passion with the panic of making ends meet.
00:00:52
Speaker
We talk about how the industry shifted in 2023 and left a lot of creative stranded. We get into expenses only gigs, how to be a director when nobody's handing you a roadmap, and how to stay proactive even when you feel completely
John Parivalaris' Filmmaking Journey
00:01:06
Speaker
burned out.
00:01:06
Speaker
It's a scrappy, honest, hopeful conversation and it's a solid start. Let's get into it. Welcome John, thank you so much for joining us on Creativity Isn't Dead Yet.
00:01:18
Speaker
Thank you for having me. So let's start with you. What's your background and what kind of work have you done in the creative industries so far? I started by not being in the industry for some time. So I went to study filmmaking when I was 25, even though I knew I wanted to do that from a young age.
00:01:38
Speaker
ah Because as many of us have experienced ah parents and peers saying that it's a hobby. um And so for the first seven years of my professional career, i was doing everything else but that.
00:01:53
Speaker
um until I've decided to go for it. Since then, I've worked as a coordinator for rental house. That's how I started. And meanwhile, I would and ah produce, direct, and usually write short films.
00:02:09
Speaker
Eventually, transitioned to production coordinating for TV, continuing to do short films. And at the moment, I'm freelancing as a producer director.
00:02:20
Speaker
Wow. So what made you decide to take that leap from production coordinating and bookings coordinating into um producing, directing? And how has that transition gone so far?
00:02:32
Speaker
ah Basically, I've always known I want to direct and for a very long time before I even started doing studying filmmaking. And I've realized that when I'm directing, funnily enough, it's the one thing that I can do on set where I feel comfortable, I feel confident, I feel relaxed.
00:02:54
Speaker
So I've been thinking, how can I and make a living directing? And um what what can be my way in?
00:03:07
Speaker
And because of the bookings coordinating, i was like, you know what, I could eventually produce direct. So that's why I started doing the production coordinating as well. um I need to pay the bills and I want to do something that would go towards that. And that was very beneficial because it,
00:03:26
Speaker
as as a producer director on the stuff I'm doing at the moment, promos, commercials, corporate, I can work in a team that say, it can be up to 15, 20 people.
00:03:37
Speaker
ah But when I was production coordinating, I've done that for teams that was a hundred people. So it was very beneficial to learn how to the logistics of that and be and become comfortable in that and and have that increased threshold so that now when I'm producing directing, I feel comfortable doing both roles and being able to juggle those balls without dropping them.
00:04:00
Speaker
Okay, great. So how has that transition gone so far for you?
Industry Challenges and Adaptations
00:04:06
Speaker
It's been difficult. As many listeners probably already know, um The industry has been a bad place for the last couple of years.
00:04:16
Speaker
When I started as production coordinator, the time that I started in 2022, start to middle of that year, um i did a course, I want to say, with screen skills. And at the end of that, they would find us work.
00:04:31
Speaker
And that's exactly what happened. I was lucky enough to get work with the BBC. and and then i did that eight month contract and immediately weeks before even a month before i finished that already had the next job lined up and i thought oh i'm golden oh so lucky got that all with demand let's go and then that summer uh it was like just the world had changed uh it's and my and That's my experience. I did not find to be a gradual thing.
00:05:02
Speaker
ah It was from one extreme to another, an abundance of work and then no work. And I think it's a combination of the writers and actors strikes in the States. And people are looking to have stuff done cheaper and buy less people.
00:05:16
Speaker
The quality that some clients are looking for has dropped. A cocktail of that has made has made the transition tricky. Less opportunities coming up and I've been finding myself trying to create my own opportunities.
00:05:29
Speaker
approaching clients directly um to get to get work it's been tricky there's been good months and and there's been bad months yeah absolutely after the like the initial like lockdowns the pandemic and everything like this and back in about 2022 you said that there was um a bit of a surge of like things getting made and and you know lots of people like looking for production coordinators and things like that. So you found it quite easy to get into the industry at that point.
00:06:02
Speaker
What do you think the fallout has been of that? Has it left a lot of people with like all these skills and nothing to do with it? or I think the pandemic, everything stalled, all the opportunities, all the commissions stalled.
00:06:15
Speaker
And then there was this boom after the pandemic for content that wasn't done on Zoom. And there was just so much demand after year, two years of of nothing.
00:06:27
Speaker
That's like, oh, we need more people in the industry. But what happens is you bring all these people in the industry and now these people, um, They have experience. ah You've created a lot more experienced people and people coming out of the of education as well.
00:06:44
Speaker
I see a lot of courses coming up, some of them which I took, ah about giving people the skills to do certain things in TV. And I'm watching it at the moment and I'm scared for these people because they're doing these courses, but there's not in enough opportunities.
00:07:01
Speaker
This is not me to be discouraging. if If this is what you want to do, absolutely give it a shot. like You don't want to you find yourself 10, 20 years down the line regretting not trying.
00:07:13
Speaker
I find that the things I didn't go for sting more than the things I went for and failed. So this is in no way to be discouraging. I just want to be a realist, but also... you know If it is your dream, if this is what you want to do, go for it. Just being aware it might not work out, but 100% go for it. Just know that right now the industry is in a bad place.
00:07:36
Speaker
Wow. That's a harsh reality. I'm not saying don't go for it. Absolutely go for Just be aware that the industry you're entering is going through some huge changes.
00:07:49
Speaker
So know why you're in it. Know what you love. and try to find your way in as the industry is changing. Like, can I get super specific? I'll be weird, but I'm going somewhere with this, but I do.
00:08:04
Speaker
I always do that. ah do ah do appreciate and I keep returning to ah ah Taoism. And there's something about Taoism, which is to go with the flow. on a If you're on a river and you if you try to go back, you're going to drown.
00:08:20
Speaker
Best thing you can do is keep going with the flow and see if you can get yourself out that way. And essentially that's that's what I'm trying to get to is if you love it, absolutely go for it. Just be aware there's a lot of changes and just go with the flow, knowing what you want to do, but go with that flow, be adaptable and be flexible.
Balancing Dreams and Financial Struggles
00:08:43
Speaker
So don't try and um make the industry what it was, just accept it for what it's becoming. And see opportunities. The industry is changing. Where do fit in?
00:08:55
Speaker
Like, for example, personally speaking, I can shoot, but I don't drive. And i know a lot of cinematographers who can shoot much better than I do. Also, I love the collaboration. I love that I can focus on the directing and get everything I need and work with people I trust. So if I drove, I could be a shooting producer-director,
00:09:20
Speaker
Ultimately, I don't want to and I can't because I don't drive and all the shooting PDs they're looking for, they need to drive. ah That's what's happening in TV at the moment, at least up here. I think it's going to be down south as well. it's going to be the same thing.
00:09:34
Speaker
ah Budgets are so small. Sometimes you have a shooting PD and assistance. Sometimes it's a shooting PD. um And I'm like, well, I can't do that. and and And I was like, is there a way for me in like to get opportunities as a PD for shooting PD stuff?
00:09:49
Speaker
I went to a networking thing with a lot of TV execs and they basically said the money is not there. like, okay, well, that's not going to happen. And what I took out of that is to double down on promos and commercials.
00:10:01
Speaker
It's something I prefer to do anyway because the storytelling I find is is more scripted and I think that's what my strength is as well. I can definitely do, i've I'm doing a documentary at the moment. I was doing some promos that were kind documentary-like. I'm comfortable doing that. I can do it well, but my passion is inscripted. So i'm like, going to double down in the promos the commercials because that aspect of the industry, but youre most often you're not going to have a director, or cinematographer, a shooting producer, director, or a shooting director.
00:10:32
Speaker
You're going to have a It's separate DP. It's a section of the industry where you you expect to have to be working with a DP. So i'm like, okay, this is my way in. As a producer director, I'm going to double down on that.
00:10:47
Speaker
and And that's a more realistic thing to do. So i'm just building my portfolio more and more. doing that, but that was me looking at the industry and going, right, okay, am I going to swing backwards and try to be like, well, hire me anyway, even I'm not a shooting PD, but we don't have the money, but still, well, that's not going to happen. I'm just trying to swing backwards, swim forward, go with the flow, you know, see a pocket in the industry where it makes sense for me to be and double down on that.
00:11:13
Speaker
Nice. It got weird and specific, but you, you, you made it work. So I'm just wondering, What does your work life look like at the moment? Are you, um, are you managing to earn in a living from directing or are you juggling other roles too?
00:11:29
Speaker
that going? Personally, honestly, it's been very difficult. There's been months where I've, I'm like, Ooh, I'm paying my bills producing directing. And it's something I've, I tried to do for a long time. And this is the last eight months have been the, um,
00:11:47
Speaker
the actual time I've been able to do that. So in some ways, my dreams are coming true. And I'm very grateful for that. At the same time, I've never been more broke in my life. And it's not just the TV industry. And this is ah a good thing to bring up. Actually, I think all industries are struggling.
00:12:04
Speaker
Again, i don't know if it's AI being part of that. It's a big discussion at the moment. Or what else is going on? Or just the fact that the There's more people on this planet every day and less jobs every day. ah But I've been looking for part-time work.
00:12:23
Speaker
Because of my coordinating background, um I could be a part-time administrator. And I've been um applying to jobs since September, 2024. I've had a bunch of interviews, haven't got anything. And, you know, it may be that, you know, I'm not likable.
00:12:38
Speaker
I don't know. But I will say that beforehand, I would apply to a few things. And then second, third interview, i'd have a job. And that has been my experience. But for the past year, it's like even like the very basic jobs. And I have a CV that shows like I can do that.
00:12:58
Speaker
tenfold and sometimes don't even get an interview and it's just it's just different to my experience you know a year or so ago um when I had the last experience so yes I've been looking for work to sustain myself like part-time work so I don't lose the momentum I've been building with actually working with clients at the moment and making some money um but it's been very hard I mean, someone's listening to this podcast and is thinking, why is this person doing this to themselves? Like, you know what I mean? Like, why are they not just like doing something else?
00:13:31
Speaker
Yeah, why? I think that's where ah passion and love for something comes in. You know, it's not it's not reasonable. And I'm not comparing myself to like big big directors and writers that you know about. I'm absolutely not.
00:13:48
Speaker
But in terms of like, if you ask them when they started and had to make all these sacrifices and it's like, well, why? You're not going to hear them say, because i knew I was a genius and had to give my gift to the world. It's going to be like, I loved it. And that's what I wanted my life to look like.
00:14:05
Speaker
may i want to my life to look like doing this every day. And that's why i'm i'm I'm doing this. And it's hard. i don't know for how long I'll be able to do it. I'm Greek.
00:14:15
Speaker
I live in Scotland. um I can't go live with my parents um as long as I'm in this country. i have to find a way to make a living. And it's hard and it's scary.
00:14:31
Speaker
Yeah, ah that sounds scary. I know that myself, um my mom lives a seven minute drive away, so I've got that cushion if I am like completely in dire straits, you know.
00:14:42
Speaker
um i can't imagine how scary it must be not to have that. um But have you looked into um like benefits or support schemes to help you keep afloat between jobs? Is there anything out there like that that's helpful to you?
00:15:00
Speaker
Honestly, I went to job seekers. You mean the job centre? Yeah, the job centre. But the issue with with and with a job center. And I think it shows just the government's disdain for the arts and creativity is the fact that, oh, if you want us to, and to give you a like 300, 400 pounds a month to pay your bills or whatever it is, right? Minimal amount just to get through.
00:15:30
Speaker
And in fact, don't even get through just a little bit of something, but it's it's still not enough. Even to get that, You can only, you have to apply for jobs Monday to Friday, but it has to be full time.
00:15:43
Speaker
And it, it, it, it has to be anything have experience in. Because i came in, I'm like, Hey, listen, like I'm doing this thing. There may be some money coming in. In fact, a few months later, money started coming in from that, but I can, I am applying for part-time jobs.
00:15:59
Speaker
So can I keep applying to part-time jobs out of the industry and full-time jobs within the industry? and And you helped me financially a B2C myself. There's like, it has to be full-time anything. And I have a background in IT and like help desks. And it's like, no, you have to apply to those things.
00:16:17
Speaker
Well, we're not telling you, you have to give up your career in something that I've studied for. You know what I mean? I'm paying back student loans. You know, I went to college. I did a master on it. We're not telling you,
00:16:29
Speaker
to leave But also, if you want to get, you know, hover over your head and and and have food to eat, have you thought about giving up your career? And it's wild to me that the government disdain for the arts and creativity, because it's like, well, you know, be a...
00:16:47
Speaker
a contributing member to society. It's like, okay, what does that, think about a contributing member of society. They go to work, whatever that contributing role may be. And then they come home. It's like, what do they do?
00:16:59
Speaker
They go, they'll make dinner and they'll watch a movie or some TV, or they will read a book, or they'll go to the cinema, or they will and or they will ah go to the theater, you know,
00:17:14
Speaker
It's like, okay, so basically a contributing member to society is someone who goes to work and then comes out and the rest of their life is just essentially 80%. art and creativity.
00:17:25
Speaker
So it's like, well, if the person who's made your kebab is a contributing member to society, and I'm not bashing kebab owners, I fucking love kebabs. That's not the point. But if they're contributing member to society, the person who makes the TV that you spend four, five, six, seven, eight hours binging on the weekend, they're also a contributing member to society.
00:17:45
Speaker
You know, I'm not ah better than someone owning a kebab shop. All I'm saying is that we're both equals. we're We're both contributing members to society. It's important for both of us to do what we do.
00:18:01
Speaker
So you don't want to be don't want to be treated differently to to people that are able to get full-time jobs, right? like I guess part of the difficulty um with the like creative industries, with film and TV and stuff, it's um its a lot of non-full-time permanent roles.
00:18:21
Speaker
like It's mostly contract work, but right? Which the job centre doesn't like. ah they don't They don't want you to be pursuing that. So you're kind of a bit stuck, aren't you?
00:18:32
Speaker
Yeah, that's a very good point. There's other thing as well. It's like, oh, you're applying to freelance staff or oh in fact, no, i I couldn't even put that to the job center application because like you say, it's all freelancing and contracting.
00:18:43
Speaker
Big companies and broadcasters that I've worked for, um they've and made a lot of their stuff redundant. Already you had like a few people being full-time employees And then everything else was freelancers.
00:18:58
Speaker
And now even those people um have been made redundant and now they're freelancers. Because there's less things happening, there's so many people. I mean, if you're on the other side, if you have a full-time job as an exec, but a producer for like like for TV, I would assume it's a much easier process of just like being able to look at this huge pool and then and then pick people.
00:19:22
Speaker
But for the people in the pool, we're drowning.
Mental Health and Work Ethic
00:19:28
Speaker
Well, that's a very upsetting visual image. ah Thank you for that. I can tell you're a creative.
00:19:38
Speaker
But creativity isn't dead yet. Thank Thank you. thank you i also agree with that.
00:19:46
Speaker
Oh dear. So when things have felt like, especially precarious work wise and everything, are there any specific things that you've done that have helped you find work or stay connected?
00:19:58
Speaker
I think putting myself out there as much as I can, networking and keeping an ad on like a lot of Facebook groups. and I mean, ah Facebook is not as popular as it used to be for social media stuff.
00:20:13
Speaker
But to this day, at least for TV and and for Shanghai and TV as well. A lot of posts coming up on Facebook groups, so being active on that, keeping an eye on that, network local networking events.
00:20:26
Speaker
um There's a few of them, like TV Mindset is one where they're putting a few events on. They have a festival coming up here in Scotland in in October. i think they're doing stuff in London. I think that's all very valuable stuff, and it's great that it's happening.
00:20:40
Speaker
um That's one thing.
00:20:44
Speaker
uh putting yourself i mean personally speaking as a producer director approaching clients and trying to make stuff for myself it's hard and especially on days where ah you're just i'm just so stressed out uh there's a day you know there are days where i put my head in the sand and and just just to survive and that's fine as well you know there's this thing i think it's socially it's been ingrained in us and has become unfortunately an emotion, a constructed guilt that you always have to be doing something.
00:21:14
Speaker
And it's just not true. You know, like I know I i need a huge downtime. It's just the way I am. Some people can just bounce back after a day, after a few hours, but I'm not that person.
00:21:26
Speaker
I'm also a neurodivergent and, you know, maybe someone who's more neurotypical, it would be easier for them. But I know I'm competent. I know I can to get the job done. But i you know but I am myself and i need to set up my own pace. I need to to do things in my process that work for me while getting the job done. It's perfectly feasible. It's harder.
00:21:52
Speaker
It's definitely harder being neurodivergent and having some special needs when it comes to stuff like that. I was like, well why can't you not work and you know a month without a day off? That's real.
00:22:03
Speaker
That has happened to me. And I've done it and you know nearly lost my mind. Some people can just you know keep going and it's like, okay, fine. I can do 12, 14 hours a day.
00:22:14
Speaker
And I've did for like two weeks, but it's at some point though, I'll need some time off. Like don't burn yourself out. um Absolutely put the hours in if it's something that you love doing.
00:22:24
Speaker
But if you need two, three days in bed eating nachos and watching Netflix, You do that and you are proud of yourself. You get into that onesie and you're just like, yes, I'm living my best life. That's absolutely fine.
00:22:40
Speaker
And then when you're done, you can go out into the world and you can go work 12, 14 hours. You're rejuvenated and ready. That's some good advice. um partial to Partial to a onesie myself.
00:22:52
Speaker
And I get it with productions. things contain Sometimes through no one's fault, you have to spend 14, 15 hours on set. It happens. um But there are many times I find where people in the industry, it's not needed, but they expect it.
00:23:10
Speaker
And I think that's what becomes a big issue. Oh, you're supposed to live at 10 o'clock, but why? There's nothing to do now. Why should I live on time today so that next week when I want to stay on until 10, 11, 12 o'clock, I can do that then?
00:23:25
Speaker
You know, why just start a habit of leading people into a burnout? Yeah.
00:23:31
Speaker
And then I see that often. That's really interesting. um i actually remember when I worked full time as producer and editor an agency, um you know basically i would i would always take my lunch break and I found that that was an unusual thing to do.
00:23:50
Speaker
You know, it was an hour that I'm that I deserve to take time for myself. I would get away from my desk, would go for a walk, go to the cafe across the street and because they did a great lasagna. It's lovely. um And ah and that was that was fantastic. And I would come back and most of the people around me.
00:24:08
Speaker
Not most, a lot of them. But like, you know, certainly everybody in my team would like be at their desk and they would eat at their desk. Also other teams like scheduled like lunch meetings. It's like, come bring your lunch and we'll have a meeting about this topic over lunch. And I'm like, don't think so.
00:24:25
Speaker
that's my time to to decompress and and not think about stuff for an hour, you know, and and I needed that for sure. um So just um going off of what you said there, I find that really important. and And, you know, and then when I'm on set and stuff, no, I will power through. i'll work ah I'll work and I'll still stay late if we're we're a deadline, all this kind of stuff. But like you say, if it's if it's not necessary, if, you know, we're,
00:24:51
Speaker
just just, it's just a regular day. You should be able to have your lunch. You should be able to leave on time. No, absolutely. And I think, you know, it depends as well. There are times where like, I've worked as production coordinator for like, we're covering this and music festival for a big broadcaster and we're doing 15, 16 hour days.
00:25:09
Speaker
And that was on the schedule because that's just how that worked. There the lunch was respected because of the special situation where it's like, we are all working 16, 17 hours. We need to sit down for an hour.
00:25:21
Speaker
ah So we all took advantage of that, but that, have to admit, it's more of rarity. Actually, i am I did go to those lunch meetings. I'm not going to lie.
00:25:35
Speaker
I think you've touched on this a bit in a anyway, but is there anything that that kind of helps you keep going emotionally, like not just practically?
00:25:44
Speaker
It's a good question. um
00:25:48
Speaker
I think it goes back to understanding who you are and what you need. ah Like the thing I mentioned earlier with downtime, ah knowing how much you need.
00:25:58
Speaker
And I think other than that, emotionally speaking, it's self-love, whatever that looks like to you. I find that I've tried to just go in a mirror and say, um you know, ah love you, John.
00:26:11
Speaker
It doesn't work for me. I need to do more than that. So, you know, I like a good bath, you know, I like reading a book. um It's like all the little things that, or having a healthy meal, for example, makes me feel good afterwards. Like all these little things, these are acts of self-love.
00:26:29
Speaker
So doing those things when things are difficult, meditating, ah putting the Tao Te Ching just on Spotify and just setting my eyes, just getting some good chilling wisdom and just kind of recentering myself. These are these are all acts of self-love.
00:26:45
Speaker
And something else, I find very helpful is and keep busy doing the stuff that you love.
Diversification and Passion in Creativity
00:26:57
Speaker
Because for example, the other day last week, um it was three projects in question. One of them, I was running through some difficulties and I was in a very bad place. And on that same day, after that difficult experience on one of those three projects,
00:27:14
Speaker
The other project I had screened a local competition thing, did very well. it was a wonderful experience just to see the response. And another project I was working on for a client, I got some very positive feedback.
00:27:29
Speaker
and And I realized it's because I'm keeping busy with other stuff that's important to me and that I love. And and I was lucky enough that they came through there. So I'm also a writer and I write a lot. so Writing multiple things, and like you give one thing and maybe you're like, actually, this not working as well as I would have liked to. But you have this other thing.
00:27:52
Speaker
And they work together. It just gives you a little bit of a push. So find stuff that you love and keep yourself busy with those things. Do those things. Because when the time arises where you will need...
00:28:05
Speaker
some support to be able to know but this is good but this i'm proud of this whatever that may be there's this good thing that i've done that's happening to me just create those opportunities for these things to come up in the future when you most need them does make sense and absolutely basically don't put all your eggs in one basket no no and and and don't put all your eggs in one basket because Because of that thing of just like to keep busy so you have these other things to to support you.
00:28:35
Speaker
And also because it's experience, you know, it's practice. It's very important. Like that short film that did very well at the screening or that great response.
00:28:46
Speaker
I did this because I just want to practice filmmaking. And now it's become one of the world I'm maybe most proud of. And that literally, the name of that project when I started, it was called Practice Short Film.
00:29:01
Speaker
So keeping busy is important for that, you know, practice, experience, and and as well, going back to like doing something that you love and that you're passionate about. Like, you know, it's not a bit like to direct perhaps, receive but like do not get into filmmaking or anything that demands a lot of your time and effort and and to an extent mental health.
00:29:31
Speaker
If you don't love or can't find a way to love the process, if you just get about the result, oh my God, do anything else. But if you love the process,
00:29:44
Speaker
That's everything. When I was doing that short, going back to them when I was shooting it, it was shot over two days. Both days i went ah to I was on a two hour sleep and had like 40 degree fever. I was burning. I was exhausted. I was so unwell.
00:29:58
Speaker
It's been so difficult up to that point. It's still difficult just keeping in this industry, doing these things. I'm like, you know what? If I don't enjoy this, that's my way out. If I don't love the process, I can just, you know. And I had someone who came to do the behind the scenes video.
00:30:14
Speaker
And I'm there halfway through the day. He comes over and asks, how are you you know how you feeling? And what came out of my mouth without thinking was, there's nowhere else I'd rather be. And I was like, ah, fuck.
00:30:25
Speaker
I can't live just yet. But it's the thing. it's
Pathways to Directing
00:30:28
Speaker
like It's the process. Of course, I think about the result when I'm going story-wise with with the promos, with the commercials, with the films. But ultimately, what takes precedence, what it's all about, it's the process.
00:30:40
Speaker
The process of telling a story the process of exploring characters and and going into like the most practical stuff the process of working with your team the process of discovering things on set all that stuff so love the process but also don't get disappointed if you're like was going to do filmmaking or something else that's creative and i hate the process that's fine take a bit do some self-searching see what it is you like doing in the moment and see if you can bring that or if that exists in the thing that you want to do that you have a passion for so you can find your way into enjoying the process but you have to some self-search to find what generally you as an individual enjoy doing that's really good advice I like that enjoy the process very important that's good
00:31:35
Speaker
So there's this idea that in and you know in any industry, um in film and TV, you can like kind of work your way up. and But directing doesn't really seem to follow that in the same way, like working your way up to being a director. like What's your sense of how people become directors and is it changing?
00:31:59
Speaker
Directing is wild. I mean, other, other roles is fine. I'll get that in a bit, but directing is a wild thing because to this day I'm thinking, what does director do? Because when you're, when you're directing, well, ah you are in many, ways you let people do the job, but still you're in a way, the glue that brings it together.
00:32:19
Speaker
Directing is about having a vision that is not always visual. In fact, many times your vision is in my case is not visual. It's other things. Um, It's an interesting role because directors can come in many shapes and sizes.
00:32:34
Speaker
You know, like there's directors who come from being DPs. There's directors who come from being actors and who usually make exceptional directors because acting is a huge part, talking about fiction directing.
00:32:46
Speaker
There's directors who come from editing, from writing. Uh, and that's why for myself, i was like, Hey, how am I going to get into directing and seeing how the industry was, even though it was doing better as well. And especially now like, you know what? I'll produce direct. I have the expensive production coordinator as a bookings coordinator. I'm, I'm going to use these things and I will start buying opportunities.
00:33:10
Speaker
But there's ah but's other ways to go in, you know, like the main thing is if you want to say, for example, direct fiction, uh, Direct. Go and make films.
00:33:23
Speaker
Go and and make films. ah You hear that it's it's become a cliche advice that you have a camera in your pocket. ah And it's true. But I'm going to give you a further advice on that, that I haven't heard anyone saying, and it drives me nuts.
00:33:40
Speaker
You absolutely have a camera in your pocket. You have your phone. However, if you want to do something that stands out where you actually use cinema to tell a story, go online, watch some YouTube videos.
00:33:54
Speaker
there is that there there There are a million film schools online. In a sense, you can approach articles, videos, and stuff. You can learn everything. Go and search what makes good lighting, what makes good composition, and you can spend $9, $10 or something. You can download an app on your phone that unlocks the phone so you can change white balance.
00:34:13
Speaker
You can change... a you You can change all the parameters and basically it makes it more like a camera. It costs $9 and it unlocks those things. And then you go, you do your research for how do you use a camera to tell a story, to te to t to to express emotions.
00:34:29
Speaker
You can go and you can buy for £20, $20, something along those lines, a set of lenses for your phone. They're going to be the big, you know expensive lenses you use, but it's going to give you the options of changing the focal length to help you tell your story.
00:34:45
Speaker
And for $30, 30, 40 pounds, you can get that up on your phone, a pack of lenses, and you'll have everything you need to go and tell a story ah cinematically.
00:35:01
Speaker
I just want to jump in there and say, um that sounds that sounds really good. And i i like that like as ah as a starting point, but let's not forget about sound.
00:35:12
Speaker
Oh, absolutely. A hundred percent. and That was, that was the, the, like, you know, like thinking about the the visual and stuff, but sound is extremely important because you can watch a video that has ah its low resolution, whatever.
00:35:26
Speaker
But if the sound is good, you'll follow it. But if you watch something that looks crisp, but the sound is bad, you cannot watch this. So sound is very clean. Sound as someone who's good in the sound mixing, sound designing part is very important.
00:35:40
Speaker
And actually, but the end of the day, performances, a good script, good product design, these are all important. And what you want to do eventually, if you want to do this more and more, is to come to a point where theyre ah but where you're fighting at all cylinders, where everything is ah ah the most it can be, the best it can be by the people who are doing these things.
00:36:04
Speaker
ah But that's what you're getting towards. And the other thing, going back to saying as a director, if you want to be a director and it's just so many different ways to get in, direct.
Networking and Unpaid Work Debate
00:36:15
Speaker
And if you're like, oh, I'm scared about filming myself, that's absolutely fine. Go on local networking events, go online and find a cinematographers, find production designers, find these people to work with.
00:36:27
Speaker
That's cool. And I was just thinking about, um you know, going to networking events, like meeting people, putting a crew together, trying to make stuff and for short films. so And if you don't have like money, that's, it feels like quite a big drawback sometimes. I don't and like you know um We've both put together short films um many times over the years where it's been low budget and people haven't been getting paid.
00:36:57
Speaker
and It's just expenses only, stuff like that. um I find that nowadays when people put a call out online for stuff like that, for people for crew to to make stuff, to just get things done, there's a lot of backlash and from people saying, oh, pay your crew, pay your crew.
00:37:17
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. hundred percent. Like if, if the project is earning money, if it's like a commercial thing, if you know, but if like, yes, people should be getting paid 100%. There's no doubt about it.
00:37:29
Speaker
There's things with budgets. yeah People need to be paid as a job. Um, but if it's like a passion project, if it's just something you're just trying to do for practice to, to get things like just to get things off the ground and, and, you know,
00:37:43
Speaker
and do something when you don't have money. You certainly can't pay people like an actual like wage. Like, I don't know. I just, i it's something that I just see coming up a lot of the time and it makes me feel sad. And that i I honestly, i think I've i've not put calls out for crew in quite a while because I'm scared of the backlash.
00:38:08
Speaker
I don't know. well what What do you think about all that? I agree. I feel the same. Thankfully, I have a talent pool that i can approach and stuff, but I do find myself sometimes with the horror of going on a Facebook group to look for people for expenses only like and being scared of the backlash. Absolutely.
00:38:25
Speaker
i think, they I don't know, ah that's my that's my opinion. One of the reasons why people get upset is is it's it's it's one of the issues of social media, which says,
00:38:37
Speaker
And just how the human brain interprets social media where you look at a post and you think it's about you. So it's like, for free? I am an experienced DP. I've been doing this 28 years. do you want me to work for free? And it's like, no, no, I do not want to work with you. Not because you're not good, but this is not for you.
00:38:56
Speaker
This is for someone who maybe has done one, two, maybe no short films, but they think, believe they have something, they have done their own decent thing, but they need more experience and ah and to increase their portfolio.
00:39:08
Speaker
This is not for you, but on social media, you need something that you might be related in some way. You start thinking personally, oh, this about me. It is not. And also, I think the big issue with people who get upset about a thing, it's about them or other people. No, it's not for you. It's for people who are starting out and they need this portfolio.
00:39:24
Speaker
That's why in that same post, it's going to be like, how dare you? How dare you? I DM'd you. How do you do this to people? I sent you an email. Because the people that it's for are going to respond.
00:39:36
Speaker
And I think the dangerous thing of people getting upset is gatekeeping. You know, like i'm I'm a foreigner to this country. ah struggle financially. You know, ah there's things that make it difficult for me to to do this.
00:39:49
Speaker
You know, however, there's so many more people that it's so much more difficult for them. Right. Discrimination for me might start by when I open my mouth.
00:40:05
Speaker
And people hear that I'm not from around here, but from other people, the moment they see the color of their skin, the moment they see their sex or gender, it's like, boom, walls, walls, walls, walls. The point I'm making is not about productions that have money. We're talking about short films, no budget, low budget short films where no one's getting paid.
00:40:25
Speaker
You know, the people who are trying to do this to break into create a portfolio, many of these people, they don't have the resources. If they did, they would be paying people. And you need to support these people, understand who they're trying to reach out to and support them. So rather than if youre if whoever you are, you see a post like this and you're like, I'm not to work for free. How dare you? And then put a comment. Think, OK, well, this person is starting out. This person is looking for other people at where they're at to start with them, to create portfolio. Do I know anyone?
00:40:56
Speaker
who wants to do this. you know If you're a DP and you come across a post like this, instead of getting offended, think, do you have a first, second AC? Do you have a camera trainee whose his or her or their own camera and they want to make a film?
00:41:10
Speaker
Instead of bashing on that person, send them a private message, say, hey, just so you know, I know this person was starting out. They might be interested. They want, like you, create a data portfolio.
00:41:23
Speaker
Do you want to get you in touch. Now, if you're concerned that more people are going to be doing the role you're doing and you're concerned one day you're going to lose your job, well, that's your problem.
00:41:33
Speaker
You know, yeah that's, and I'm mentioning that because I have talked with people, but unfortunately does happen where people would start out and other people will be upset with them because, uh,
00:41:47
Speaker
Because they're afraid of their work security. And again, right now, there's less and less jobs coming out. But don't go and bust. It doesn't make sense in current Yeah. But don't bust people who are just coming in. You need to be supportive to these people. Like, yeah put aside in terms of, like, job opportunities, just a matter of decency.
00:42:04
Speaker
Like, support these people. It is kind of annoying though, like when you've been doing it for years and years and years and then people just start off doing it and just do a bunch and then just come really good really quickly. And you're just like, oh, damn it.
00:42:19
Speaker
you know Absolutely. You know what I find as well? i don't know if it's just me. When I hear about something like that, I'm like, oh, I sometimes like get upset. Not with them. What upset with myself? Like, what is wrong with me?
00:42:32
Speaker
um But then i when I watch it, usually, you know, nine out of 10 times, I'm like, I'm just happy for them because I enjoy what they've done. And I find that's a very nice, humble feeling to go through. So I'll say, if you if you hear, say it's like, oh, this guy has achieved this thing at a much younger age than you, what's their work?
00:42:53
Speaker
Because you might enjoy it. And in that process, probably, if if you're ah like me at all, it will take you to a good place like you know i'm feeling happy for them so just yeah just just just just just see what they do you know and you never know if it's someone from a local group the people you're like oh i can't believe they're doing this and i'm not they might become your collaborators down the line you just need never know just be open and kind and loving to people that you meet and try when you network don't go to find work go to make friends oh 100 percent
00:43:25
Speaker
Yeah, and ah the the stuff that can that can come from that, the collaborators that that I've made from that, it's like meeting people, sharing the love, and just trying to make friends.
00:43:37
Speaker
um is this the Because, yeah, that's all you need to do to find, going back to the thing of like how do you do it, just go network, make friends, share your passions.
00:43:50
Speaker
And then the person's like, oh, I want to shoot something. And you're like, oh, I want to direct something, I have the script. you can find yourself collaborating and organic and it's natural and it's exciting and it's beautiful. Totally agree. Um, actually about networking events, especially, um, I've been to many and networking events over the years, um, often, um, awkward, uh, full of awkward chit chat and stuff.
00:44:15
Speaker
But, uh, yeah, I have never, I've never once gotten work from, a networking event um but I also don't expect to because that's just not how things work you don't just like meet someone and you're like oh I will give you lots and lots of money you know it doesn't it doesn't happen like that unfortunately um but I have gotten work from um relationships I've built over the years yeah but with people some some of which I actually did initially meet at a networking event
00:44:49
Speaker
um Yeah, like fellow editors and, you know, basically from communities that I've been part of. Communities have been built in Glasgow and online and and stuff like that.
00:45:00
Speaker
And that I've been a part of. And then like you get chatting to people and, you know, and then they're like, when, you know, at their job, when somebody asks, oh, do you know somebody that does this? They're like, oh, yeah, actually i do i ah Joe does that.
00:45:14
Speaker
Maybe we could get them on board. And and then... Then I rock up and I'm like, yay. Absolutely. Absolutely. Like and one of the DPs I work with, I was a friend I made in college.
00:45:27
Speaker
I knew I wanted to direct and write, but he came in kind of, he he was a technical person, but you know, kind of open to like what it would be. fair He focused on cinematography.
00:45:39
Speaker
has done and is still doing expense-only stuff for me because we know each other because he says he enjoys working with me and and because I guess he wants it for his portfolio as well.
00:45:50
Speaker
But recently, getting some paid work as a producer director, I was able to properly hire him and be able to pay him for that work. so And actually, if you start doing that, if you start making expense-only films, this is something that's very important, I find, just from my experience.
00:46:08
Speaker
When someone approaches you to do something for expenses only, think seriously. If you want to do this, what would benefit you? and and And really feel it. And if you're like, I really want to do this, go for it.
00:46:21
Speaker
It's very important if you do do that. Treat it like a paid job. Yes. If you get it, treat it like you've been paid. Sure, you know if you get other paid work, you might work around it. But when you do it and the quality of the work you do and the way that you approach the relationship, treat it like a paid job.
00:46:39
Speaker
I can't stress this enough because even now that I've begun the last eight, nine months to get paid work as a producer director, there's people who I went back to who worked with me along the years for expenses only short films and stuff. And I saw the work and I saw their ethic and I'm like, i have this thing as responsibility now of working with a client, of having a budget, you know, and approaching them with the offer. And there's people that I've worked with for the expense only thing. And it may be that when they get paid,
00:47:10
Speaker
they they they are at their best, but if they do expenses only, they're like at 20%. ah There's no way that I'm going to go back to these people and offer them paid work.
00:47:22
Speaker
Not because, out of spite, but because of the responsibility of working with clients and working with other people's money. So that that's other advice.
00:47:34
Speaker
Yeah. You don't have to go in as well. If it's expenses only and you're just starting out, you don't have to know everything. That's not the point of that. You're there to learn. That's not what I'm talking about. It's your attitude, your approach and and how much you give.
00:47:48
Speaker
Showing up on time. Very important. Showing up on time, ah be kind, be polite, be professional. um You know, like, I'm not saying you like to overwork yourself, not at all. But like you say, if I was getting paid, how much would I work?
00:48:04
Speaker
Okay, then that's how much you work. Because you don't know down the line if that person is going to be someone who will be giving you, who will be paying you for something. And again, just people are just looking at people they can trust. So don't worry about experience.
00:48:18
Speaker
the In a way, you're not going to get hired out of that expenses only for the experience. You're going to be hired out of everything else you do, how professional you are and all the other things that I've tasked with. Just keep that in mind.
00:48:33
Speaker
If you're going to go and commit to something, if it's expenses only, give 100% as if you're getting paid. Because down the line, you might be getting paid by these people. Yeah, 100%. I mean, that's the only evidence you have of how they work is if if that's when you work with them. And, you know, you can't you can't just rely on the fact that if they're getting paid, they're going to be much more professional or something like that. You just got to take people at their word.
00:48:58
Speaker
Yeah. um is is a good feeling when you're when you're able to to go back to people that have helped you in the past and offer them paid work. I've been able to do that a bunch when I was um producing this agency a few years ago and was able to get people on board shoots and stuff um and yeah yeah it's it's it's a good feeling to be able to kind of give back
00:49:26
Speaker
I absolutely agree. I don't know about other people, but I find asking people for expensive thing, there's some guilt and shame attached, at least personally speaking, where I feel guilty and have to keep reminding myself that no, they will not be working these hours and they will not be putting this time if there wasn't something in it for them.
00:49:41
Speaker
But in the moment, there's a lot of guilt to work through. So I agree with you. When the moment comes where you can give something back, it's it's it's ah it's a lovely feeling. Also, um something...
00:49:54
Speaker
that I've found um to be quite helpful for people to know is um when you are kind of reaching out to people to ask them to work on projects, if it's like for expenses only and stuff like that, um it's important to to give them background about the project and tell them like volume what it's about.
Challenges in the Creative Industry
00:50:14
Speaker
i see so many like callettes on Facebook are like, oh yeah, um sound recorders wanted, expenses only, get in touch if you're interested. And it's like, well, what could i what have you possibly given me to be interested about there?
00:50:27
Speaker
like what what's You need to need to tell people like what's in it for them. like If it's an interesting project, something that they connect to, something like that, that they can get their teeth into, um that's going to be helpful.
00:50:39
Speaker
Absolutely. They need to be invested in the project. And actually, if you want to see a decent way to do this, go on a Facebook group about film and TV role roles like job postings and see how the people in the industry do it.
00:50:53
Speaker
Because the BBC, s STV, talking about Scotland and just all the production companies, everyone, right? All the broadcasters, when put up a job posting, which for people's fees, and you know, all paid and everything, they still mention what the project is.
00:51:07
Speaker
Yeah, of those my they Don't just go and say, oh yeah, I have a job. Do you want it? Can you imagine? In any industry, like you go on like a job or like indeed.
00:51:18
Speaker
You know yeah it's it's yeah huge give info give info and if it's like for an expenses only thing... If I do post, I try to do, to to basically say in the job post, what is the project?
00:51:29
Speaker
A little bit about yourself and showing them work you've done to see if they like your work and vice versa. Because it's a two-way street. That's really important. two-way street, exactly. And then at the end, I would probably finish it with something like... and You know, just a wee bit kind of like, you know, the thing I said about people getting upset because they think it's about them. And it's like, well, ah I would never work for free, buts like but it's not about you. Basically putting that in the end of the post in some way where it's like, this is an opportunity for people who may be starting out and they're looking to grow their portfolio.
00:52:02
Speaker
Just to give that context for people to just, everybody's angry there on social media, just to just like, oh, it's not about me. Okay, okay.
00:52:13
Speaker
Try and diffuse that ah anger a bit preemptively if you can. Yeah. I wonder how much hate mail I'm going to get now, like messages and stuff like, oh, telling people to work for free is like, no, but please listen to the thing. Listen to what I'm saying.
00:52:26
Speaker
There is context. Yeah. I can't wait to like edit that, i edit a clip of you saying work for free. Just that. Yeah. Across social media. Work for free. Give a hundred percent. Yeah, exactly.
00:52:39
Speaker
That's excellent. Yeah, that'll go viral. yeah thank you for getting me cancelled. Really appreciate You're welcome.
00:52:47
Speaker
love it We have seen a lot of people come and go in this industry, especially in recent years. Why do you think so many people are stepping away now?
00:53:02
Speaker
I think because it's hard. And I think because, you know, what we've discussed about the industry and, you know, there's not enough work and a lot of people there and people needing to support themselves. You know, if I can't find a way to sustain myself, whatever that may be, I'd have to go back to Greece because I can't move in with... and with my family because I'm not from around here and my parents are not rich.
00:53:32
Speaker
It's kind of hard to say this without it seeming like I'm attacking anyone and I'm not. You're just very lucky and privileged and and and be happy that you're lucky and privileged if you are in the country where you are where you have a career and you have a family who you can live with and they can just pay your meals and you don't need to have an income and you can just kind of survive until an opportunity comes here and there.
00:53:57
Speaker
There's many directors and other filmmakers in all different kinds of roles who say, this year I've only worked for seven five, seven days. you know And if you have family you can go back to and they have enough money support you, you can survive throughout. But there's people who do not have that privilege.
00:54:13
Speaker
Again, this is not about telling you're doing something bad or like you should give your money away. This is this is not what that is. just you know if you If you are listening to this and you are that person, just take a bit And be grateful that you have that privilege because some people don't.
00:54:27
Speaker
um You see people online who are living the industry and they're selling their gear. It's a very sad thing because I know some of these people and I'm like, oh my God, I've seen their work. It's wonderful work. These people have been the industry for 15, 20 years and they have to live so they can...
00:54:42
Speaker
They can pay their bills. ah it's it's a very It's a very sad thing. ah But sometimes you just don't have a choice. like i I think it's coming across how passionate I am, how much time and effort I've put into this, how much I've struggled. you know like ah this Many times ah I don't leave the house or you know I can't eat whatever I would like because I don't have the money for that. It gets that tight.
00:55:06
Speaker
But I don't know if three, four, five months from now, I'll need to give it up to do something full time. I just don't know because things are so difficult. And i'm um'm I'm working towards a role that already was difficult on a good day.
00:55:19
Speaker
It's tough. It's tough. and But yeah, think that's why people are living. it's it It was a tough industry to begin with. And now with everything going on the last couple of years, it's just become that that much tougher.
00:55:32
Speaker
The only thing I can say hang in there for as long as you can And if you can't anymore, it's not your fault. Most likely it's not your fault. You've done your best. So if you probably feel like a failure, that's unavoidable because we're human. It happens to us. But try, take a bit, go through that feeling, process that, and then give yourself a pat on the back, even if you're not able to hang on because you worked hard, you tried your best.
00:56:00
Speaker
And like I said, most likely it was not your fault. It didn't work out. Yeah. Yeah.
00:56:08
Speaker
i
00:56:11
Speaker
kind of sad i'm just taking a beat um it's it's tough it's tough i hate i hate seeing people um selling all their kit like you know expensive kit it makes sense to sell it to get money but then it's like what do they do next uh it's just um yeah it's it's it's a it's a very strange change that we're undergoing at the moment yeah yeah You're a director, um producer director. your Your dream is to direct fiction.
00:56:46
Speaker
With so many people chasing the same dream as you, you ever worry about disappearing into the crowd? Absolutely. What I've been doing is trying to come to terms with it.
00:56:59
Speaker
What a film or a TV show, in in its writing, in its making, needs to be good. Everything that you like, in those art forms, is someone who found a way to express their emotional truth through that medium.
00:57:24
Speaker
That's what, the people who succeed, that's what they're doing. So essentially, to succeed, you need to be yourself.
00:57:34
Speaker
And there's no magic, there's no, it's just the fact that You put yourself out there the best you can. And if the right people, the people you connect, they see you and they will respond. And if you've managed to be as honest as possible and how honest you've managed to be emotionally, people will respond, hopefully. And and that's how you would succeed.
00:58:00
Speaker
And this is the ultimate risk as well. It's the fact that you've done this and the right people didn't come along. and people didn't connect and it didn't happen for you. And that's a scary thought.
00:58:12
Speaker
But that's the leap of faith. The only way really to succeed is to take that leap and find a way to put your emotional truth out there. Because now, for example, the work that I've been doing, once I've kind of started understanding that the last, I'd say the last seven, eight years, ah I saw my work exponentially improving. And I'm at a place where I can look at my own work and say, oh yeah, this is good. I'm not saying you know it's amazing or you know none of that, but that this is good work. And that's enough for me. you know
00:58:47
Speaker
ah that Whatever I set out to do, it works. And I can see that now because I found a way to to find a way to express and explore that who I am. And sometimes there's a response, sometimes there isn't, but I can look at what I've done and at least be proud of what I've accomplished, even if it didn't have the recognition that I would have liked it to have.
00:59:09
Speaker
And that's what I'm working on. For myself, I mean, just that realization, that understanding, that acceptance that the only you can do is put yourself out there as honestly as you can, as raw as you can.
00:59:23
Speaker
And either you will succeed because that's the one true ingredient to succeed is your emotional honesty in the creative work you do. And if it doesn't, of course it will hurt. Of course. There's no medicine that will fix that. It will hurt. But at least...
00:59:38
Speaker
you yourself can look at the work and go, I'm proud of myself, but I have accomplished.
00:59:48
Speaker
That's nice. So ah I'm curious to know um what you think. With so much being stacked against creative people, um financially, structurally, mentally, how do you think we keep creativity alive?
Maintaining Creativity Amidst Challenges
01:00:08
Speaker
Whatever situation you're at, it goes back to loving the process. um And it goes back to keep keep being busy. you know like It would be very difficult if you found yourself perhaps doing some work temporarily with not knowing when would end, where you would pay the bills doing something outside of the industry. But even during that time, continue being creative.
01:00:35
Speaker
do something in your time of do something on on the weekend and continue being creative you can't control what's happening with the industry it's a scary thing none of us can control that but you can't control what you do with the time that you have um i almost quoted gandalf there from the lord of the rings uh um I you can cut this out because I know you you don't like Lord of the Rings, but basically Frodo was, I know outed you, a but essentially Frodo, essentially, you know, they're at the start of a war and Frodo is like, I, you know, I don't want to, I hate the fact that I'm born at this time, essentially. I'm hate that I have to go through this. And Gandalf says something along the lines of, um, um,
01:01:28
Speaker
We can only choose what to do with the time that is given to us. And I'm paraphrasing. It's a beautiful quote, ah but basically it's the thing you can't choose where you're at the time that you're in, like what we're going through in the industry. But the only thing you can choose is what you do with your time.
01:01:45
Speaker
and And yeah, so so even if you find yourself in a place where you can't do something creatively because of the industry that you're in, the creative industry you're youre struggling with,
01:01:57
Speaker
use your free time use what time you have to be creative you know um because like you know the thing i was saying before like pack yourself in the back if you try to hang on this industry it's not your fault what would be your fault the one thing that would be your fault is if you give up being creative just with yourself you know like but everything discussed directly in producing, but I'm writing every day. I've written dozens of short films. I've worked on other short films now. I've written bunch of feature scripts and I'm writing more now. I'm writing a TV pilot and the especially the writing part. It's it's it's wonderful. It's healing. it's And in that that requires nothing.
01:02:42
Speaker
I paid for the app once and that was it. You know, I just need a computer and I can just sit down and write and I can be creative. And it's the first few passes of a movie and it's just wonderful.
01:02:56
Speaker
if ah if If the production directing doesn't work because of the way the industry is and whatever other factor, I can always have that. And if I give up that, then that's on me. Yeah.
01:03:13
Speaker
By the way, Lord the Rings are films are ah great. Sure. I mean, I believe that. I love them. I have a photo there with Elijah Wood from from ah from my convention.
01:03:26
Speaker
I believe that. I don't think 50% of this chat believes that.
01:03:36
Speaker
can't believe you're out of me like that. Nah, it's all right. i mean, know, it's not everything is for everyone, but actually, funnily enough, we can totally connect this with everything discussing. The thing I was saying about being yourself and putting yourself out there, you know, Lord of the Rings is a prime example.
01:03:51
Speaker
Tolkien went to world to, I think it was the first world war and he saw all his friends die. He went through all that stuff, came back he wanted to express that in something. And that's what Lord of the Rings is.
01:04:03
Speaker
It's an expression of grief and of love and of friendship and getting through difficult times. But that's the thing. You didn't connect with that and that's fine. big You know, for whatever, you didn't connect with it. It's not for everyone, but and that's the thing with with doing something creative.
01:04:20
Speaker
is you're not looking to make something for everyone because you're just, you're setting up yourself for failure because you're ah you're trying to achieve an impossibility. You're just not going to do that. Be honest, emotionally honest about your work and through your work.
01:04:34
Speaker
Put it out there and you need to get to the right people. And by right people, I mean the people who will connect with it. And that's that's all you're hoping for, you know? Yeah, trying to make something that that connects with everybody. and You're going to make something kind of soulless and blah, probably.
01:04:54
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. That's the thing, creatively speaking, and I don't think about filmmaking, is i am not making a film for a large audience. I'm making a film for an audience of one, myself.
01:05:08
Speaker
It's good to hear your thoughts on how we keep
Current and Future Projects
01:05:10
Speaker
creativity alive. um It's very... It's very important in general, I think, ah to keep on working on to keep on working on just stuff as much as you can. um You know, anything that keeps your soul alive.
01:05:25
Speaker
um Yeah, 100% agree, for sure. um So what are you working on right now that's exciting to you?
01:05:38
Speaker
So there's a couple of things. I'm doing some k client work I'm excited about. I'm doing some promos for Aran Open Studios that's happening in the Isle of Aran, want to say between the 15th and the 18th of August, where you can visit the Isle of Aran in Scotland and You can meet artists and you can make go to their home slash workshops. You get to meet them. You get see their work. You can purchase something.
01:06:02
Speaker
So I've done eight promos for that. And we're just finalizing those now. They should be going online fairly soon. Very excited about that. and The other thing is that short film that I mentioned and that we recently completed got a very great response. at It's first like local screening that it has. It's going to some festivals. I'm waiting here back.
01:06:23
Speaker
What's it called? it's called harder things to wash. It follows two brothers where one has abducted the other and you're figuring out why. Uh, but basically, um, the response was amazing. I mean, I could tell, you could tell in the room, like if a film's not working, like, okay, we're connecting, but watching that was like, Oh wow, I think this is really vibing with people. And I got a very good response afterwards. And,
01:06:50
Speaker
the thing that came coming back from different people was, oh, this is Ritz, as in the characters and stuff, that could be a feature film. And what I heard more than once the same night was, oh, this could be a TV series. And I'm like, well, thank you. This is all their enforcement. i need It's not going to be a TV series, but it's their enforcement I needed to make a feature film out of it. And what I really want to do is make my first feature film.
01:07:16
Speaker
Also, I'm working on another short film currently called The Burden, and it's set at a police police station in Glasgow in the 90s. um And yeah, I'm very excited about that as well. this I've been working on the script for a while, and I'm trying to get some a known talent on it.
01:07:36
Speaker
So that's what I'm trying to do just now for that. It goes back to what I was saying earlier, just like I'm just trying. Mine is tight, but you could see the stuff I'm working on in that. And just just keeping busy as much as I can, just creating stuff,
01:07:49
Speaker
hoping that down the line they will pay their dividends. So just keeping creatively busy. Good, good stuff. That sounds like you've got a lot going on and stuff to look forward to.
01:08:03
Speaker
So where can we find your work if people want to see more from you?
01:08:08
Speaker
ah You can go to johnperivolaris.com. You'll see a story of my previous work. You can go to work on that page. You'll see a bunch of other stuff I've done. And a you can learn more about me there.
01:08:21
Speaker
Okay, great. that sounds That sounds good. I think that' that's everything um that that I wanted to to ask you. And I think we've had some great ah conversations here. um and I just really want to thank you for for doing this and agreeing to be the very first guest.
01:08:39
Speaker
Well, thank you for that. i just want to take a moment and say I was very excited when you said you want to do this. And think it's a wonderful idea. And it's something that we need right now. I think we need people to approach us with their experiences in this industry with the positive and the negative.
01:08:55
Speaker
um and And hopefully your podcast will just make us feel like we're not alone and we have each other and that it's okay, you know, that we'll get through this. That's the hope.
01:09:09
Speaker
Thank you. Big thanks to John for helping us start things off and thank you to you for listening to the very first episode of Creativity Isn't Dead Yet. If this resonated with you or made you feel like a little bit less like you're shouting into the void, give us a follow on Instagram which is at creativityisn'tdeadyet for clips and updates.
01:09:29
Speaker
Episode 2 drops on the 16th of July so keep an ear out. Until then, keep creating.