Suffer from the anxiety of being a freelance creative?. Well, prior to deciding to go out on my own I worked full-time for a Film and TV production company as a post production assistant. I found out quick that hours of tech talk mixed with being in front of a computer all day made my brain feel like it needed to explode. So very recently I took a risk and turned down a full time video producer position in order to pursue my dream of one day being a film director. So in short, while that dream percolates, I’m trying to get my own freelance videography business off the ground, whilst freelancing on other film and TV productions and making the occasional coffee.
Why do you do it?
Because there’s absolutely nothing else I want to do! Oh and also to change lives right? No in all seriousness I’m a film buff, I love all aspects of storytelling and at one point or another throughout my career I’d love to inspire people through my art. I also have a dream of one day conducting a TED talk but that’s for a different conversation.
What do you love about the city you live in?
Melbourne is quite a culturally diverse city which really represents its food culture. We have amazing restaurants and cafe’s. We also have a great arts culture which inspires creativity. I’m from Brunswick which is probably Melbourne's capital in regards to cool cafe’s, independent art and hipsters. We also have the BEST coffee!!
Where did you go for your last holiday?
My last holiday was a 14-hour road trip to the middle of nowhere. Nambucca Heads A small little beach town along NSW’s mid-north coast. Note to self never do that again! The driving part that is, the beaches were amazing!
What's your favourite item of clothing? Why?
My jeans. I have one pair and I’d sleep in them if my partner allowed me to. They’re super comfy. I have a weird problem with wearing trackies, I feel like I’m being lazy when I do, although my partner finds it weird that I curl up on the couch at night to binge watch Netflix, still wearing my jeans!!
What was your favourite TV show when you were a kid?
As a kid I watched a lot of cartoons 'Batman', 'Pokémon', 'Rug Rats' but my favourite would’ve had to have been 'Dragon Ball Z'.
If you could travel back in time for a day, where would you go?
'60s New York. I’ve been told I’m a bit of an old soul. I often resonate with that era. The music, the fashion, the old school gangster films, all that nostalgia I think was great in the '60s, I feel as if life would’ve been simpler back then and I would’ve fit in perfectly. But then again there’s a great quote from Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, “Nostalgia is denial denial of the painful present... The name for this denial is golden age thinking the erroneous notion that a different time period is better than the one one's living in..”
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook for us?
Chicken stir fry. That’s about all I cook. Not that I can’t cook anything else, it’s just I love Chicken and I love veggies.
What's the best lesson you've ever learned?
Too many... I think the greatest lesson I’ve ever learnt is that you never stop learning lessons and being open to receiving advice from others and admitting that you don’t always have the answers opens you up to growing and developing more as a human.
Tell us one thing about yourself that nobody else knows...
Well if I told you that, then everybody else would know.
Are you happy with your work/life balance?
Hmmm. Good question. It’s a tricky one. I feel as if my life in that department is constantly on an uneven up & down scale. Still haven’t quite worked out how to balance it. Prior to deciding to give freelancing a crack, I would’ve said no. Work took most of my time and energy which meant my own creative ventures took a back seat. Now moving into the freelance world, I feel as if I have the life part back and the freedom and flexibility to pursue all my creative ventures, however for the time being the work part is real sporadic and when it rains it pours. So would I go back to the daily grind? Hell no!
How do you define success?
By at one point in time writing down a list of goals and then at another point in time being able to cross them off. No matter how big or small those goals are. And they’re continuous, hourly, daily, weekly, yearly and they all contribute along your journey toward the bigger picture. That big holy grail waiting for you on the other side.
What's your spirit animal?
Well according to an online 'what’s your spirit animal quiz', I’m a whale! Some people might take offence to that. Your spirit animal is the whale because you have a strong inner voice, and always follow your own truth. Because you are so in touch with reality, you are selfaware and don’t get involved in drama. You have strong bonds and emotional ties with those you love. Sounds about right.
