Meet Sydney Welsh

We were lucky to catch up with Sydney Welsh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sydney, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I was fortunate to be raised by a mother who knew the importance of cultivating confidence and self-esteem in her daughter. So, when asked how I developed my confidence the answer is simple, it was taught to me. Growing up I was given room to explore and understand who I am as a person and that to me is where confidence comes from…truly knowing yourself. I watched my mother tackle the world with her own particular brand of self-esteem and while some of that naturally rubbed off on me, she was also sure to share essential life lessons. Lessons, which may have annoyed me at the time but have stuck with me always.

Lesson 1: Always stand up straight and tall! As a young girl who developed very early, I also developed low self-esteem that caused me to hunch and hide away. My mother would tell me to stand up straight and tall, head held high. If the world can’t handle you…well that’s their problem, not yours. It may sound simple but the act of standing tall and walking in like you own the room truly makes you feel like the most confident person, even on your bad days.

Lesson 2: Stand firm in your morals and beliefs. Nothing will make you feel less confident than betraying the person you are inside. This goes back to truly knowing yourself. If you know who you are, what you are not willing to put up with, and what you expect from the people in your life, no one can tear down your self-esteem for long.

Lesson 3: It’s okay to have bad days. Everyone seems to think confidence is something people have twenty-four-seven but that is simply not the case. Everyone has bad days. Days where you let the outside noise affect you. Days when you let the inside noise affect you. Just learn how to get yourself out of those feelings, kindly.

These are just a few of the lessons that helped me develop my confidence. Along with the knowledge that confidence isn’t something you magically wake up with, it’s hard work.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am an independent low-budget filmmaker who specializes in writing, directing, and producing short and feature films with women at the center of my projects. I started my career making short films and uploading them to YouTube and then decided to take the leap and start my own production company Death Rae Productions LLC.

My feature film debut “Summa Cum Loser” a dramedy/coming-of-age film about a college valedictorian turned barista who is trying to make it in the film industry is set to come out in 2025. We have two super exciting feature films in development that are currently top secret. And our short film, “Wastoids” a sci-fi horror about a mute alien who becomes a doll for two stoners, is coming soon.

As a kid, I was many things; a daydreamer, a weirdo who had conversations with myself, an avid reader, a type-A organizer, and a people person. The coolest thing about my job is that I get to use all of those things that make me unique every day. I literally get to play makebelieve and call it work and if that isn’t something that will get you out of bed in the morning, I don’t know what will.

As a person in love with the art of filmmaking, it is truly the best feeling to see the vision you had in your head become a reality on the big screen or even the small screen. I make the art that speaks to me and I hope that it speaks to others as well!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three qualities I would say are the most impactful on my journey are, hard work, resilience, and kindness. I am the hardest-working person on every set I run. I am the first one there and the last to leave because it’s my dream and my passion. If I’m not willing to show up and work my butt off why would I expect that from anyone else. As a leader, you are there to set the example and although I don’t expect anyone to match my hours or my pace it is my responsibility to set the tone. When it’s your passion and your dream coming to life it should be easy to put in the hard work.

Filmmakers in particular can be a pessimistic bunch. When you are just starting out that can really damage your drive and excitement as a creative. Poor comments and actions from people in the industry can crush even the most talented person. Resilience comes in how you handle the constant negativity, rejection, and toxicity that comes with this career. There’s a phrase, “You’ve gotta have thick skin”. But I much prefer the idea that you have to have resilience. The rejections, the comments, and the rudeness are going to penetrate even the toughest of skin, but resilience comes into play when you pick yourself up, ready for it all to hit you again.

In an industry that is often time cruel…remain kind. Kind to others and kind to yourself. If I do one thing with my career I would hope that I can pass on the idea that you can create art while also creating an atmosphere of kindness on set. An atmosphere that for me has created not only happier working conditions but also more heartwarming art.

For those just starting out kindness is the key. Kindness to yourself will allow you to understand that you are not always going to be one hundred percent and that’s okay. Some days your hard work looks like eighty percent, some days it takes you longer to bounce back from a tough day on set, and some days you will be mean to someone out of exhaustion. No one can be perfect all the time but handle the imperfections with kindness and you’ll do just fine.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

My family. I am fortunate enough that I have a truly amazing support system with my mom, stepdad, brothers, and fiance. They support me and my dreams with positivity and help whenever and however I need it. If I can’t figure out the logistics of the idea I have in my head my family will step in and help. If I’m having a tough time, I can talk to them and relieve the stress. They have all helped keep me grounded while also growing my self-esteem.

It is important not only as a creative but also as a person to find a support system that works for you. If that is not your family then maybe it’s your friends. Just make sure they truly build you up and aren’t actually holding you back or tearing you down.

As for knowledge, I did major in cinema in college but I also come from a do-it-yourself family. So, I am not ashamed to say that if I’m not sure how to do something I Google or YouTube it. We have a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips these days and we shouldn’t be afraid to use it. You don’t know a camera setting. Google it. You know nothing about distribution. YouTube it. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone has to learn somehow and YouTube is a lot cheaper than film school. There should be no shame in your game!

And I am always reminding myself that success means different things to everyone. That’s the main theme in my film “Summa Cum Loser”. What has been the most helpful to me is figuring out my personal definition of success and living up to that, not seeking external validation.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Sydney Welsh, Michael Sain

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