Meet Ilayda Cetinkaya

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ilayda Cetinkaya. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ilayda below.

Hi Ilayda, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Having been raised in a traditional culture in the Middle East forced me to contemplate how I want to define myself and live my life. I yearned for a fulfilling career in making TV shows and films. The first significant risk I took was moving to the US at the age of seventeen to pursue my dream of filmmaking – which occurred nine years ago. It wasn’t an easy cultural transition. I had to move around a lot, but I wouldn’t be who I am today without that big move.

What makes taking risks less scary for me is only making purposeful decisions toward the outcome I want. I am one of those people who live by the classic rule of “if you don’t try, you’ll never know”. If your fear of failure is the main reason why you avoid taking a leap, you might as well do it anyway.

Most of us find a million excuses not to try things out of our comfort zone, even if it would take us a step closer to our ultimate personal or professional goals. That said, I have learned the most from the rejections I’ve got in life. You took the risk and didn’t get the results you wanted? Try again!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a recent Producing MFA graduate from the AFI Conservatory with a Sloan grant-winning thesis film. Another LGBTQIA+ 35mm short film I solo-produced, ‘SKIN,’ won the 2023 Student Academy Gold Medal. I am interested in producing both TV shows and films, specializing in development. I am passionate about supporting creatives in developing, packaging, and pitching their scripts, ultimately transforming their vision into reality.

As a pansexual producer from the Middle East, I am particularly drawn to character-driven narratives that explore themes of womanhood and LGBTQ+ experiences.

I obtained my bachelor’s degree from Chapman University in Film Production with a directing emphasis. I believe my background allows me to better understand the needs of each department.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I have learned a lot during my time in California, pursuing a film career. Here are three things I can share that may be helpful to anyone starting out:

If you’d like to be a producer, I suggest reading a lot and watching a lot of content. My love for reading and my ability to analyze both the stories and the characters opened doors for me. A lot of entry-level positions in the industry requires reading, writing coverage, and understanding the market by analyzing which TV shows and Films are the most popular and why?

If you are passionate about working in the film industry in any role, don’t listen to people who suggest playing it safe. Most advice comes from individuals comparing what you hope to accomplish to their experiences and fears. If you want to pursue this career, you probably already know it is going to be challenging. I set realistic goals for each year and strive to achieve those smaller milestones toward my dream job, rather than aiming for the sky tomorrow.

Lastly, in any leadership position, your main responsibility is to ensure the wellbeing of your collaborators. All my experiences have taught me that for a successful outcome, you must dedicate a significant amount of time to nourishing your team’s needs. Many jobs require teamwork, and if you aren’t actively supporting your team, it doesn’t matter how skilled you are in your role as a leader.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
How To Know A Person, The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Seen Deeply by David Brooks

I realized that my role as a Producer involved a lot of listening and supporting my collaborators, bringing all key creatives together, and ensuring smooth communication. This book is easy to read, entertaining, humbling, and eye-opening for enhancing better interpersonal skills.

Ability to observe others is also a crucial skill to be a writer.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
AFI FEST & STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS – GETTY IMAGES SKIN Stills- Leo Behrens (the ice man and skin peeling images with actor Lio Mehiel) RE-ENTRY Stills- Maryn McGaw

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