087: Perspectives on Working in Film

Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman University. Each episode features Chapman students who have completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’ experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series. Each episode of Season 10 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.

Our episode begins today with a look at the career and life of filmmaker Will Geiger. A producer, writer, and director for films such as Elvis and Anabelle and Ocean Tribe, Geiger graciously sits down to speak with Cate Soboleski. Will recalls how he got into filmmaking through creating shorts at Orange Coast Community College and how that experience helped him realize this was his passion. The interview covers some of Will’s early professional experiences, as well as what it is like to live and work abroad as a filmmaker, including pros and cons of working in film outside the United States. This leads to an interesting discussion on how film can play a role in shifting cultural values, and the repercussions of that.

Next up for this episode is Ava Cison who interviewed Lily Wan, a NYC-based director, producer, and content strategist. Wan, who has an educational background in environmental science, talks about what it is like to make the transition into the film industry, and what she sees as the stigmas and challenges surrounding careers in the creative & cultural industries. The pair specifically dig into the topics of salary, opportunities, and even the conflict that may arise with family members if they disagree with a career path in CCI. Lily goes on to share tremendous insight on the importance of diversity and representation within the film industry, from the crew that forms the foundation of your project, to the representation you see on screen. They conclude the interview with words of advice on several pertinent topics such as: How to follow your creative passions?  How do creatives carefully curate a team that shares the same values? And, how can we integrate a stronger sense of community within our work environment?