Meet Michael Coulombe

We recently connected with Michael Coulombe and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I want to start off by saying, that I am not always as creative as I want to be. There are some days that I do find it difficult. It seems now more than ever we have constant distractions – phones, tablets, computers, television. We are continually bombarded with information that is harder and harder to avoid.

So, for me, sometimes it helps to get off the grid a bit. I find nature soothing..so sometimes when I feel overwhelmed and not creative, I’ll take a drive..maybe to the beach, or up into the mountains. I’ll play music and breathe in fresh air and sort of give myself a reboot!

I do love traveling a LOT and I love photography…and I have found, for me, that if I am feeling creatively stifled, that doing something creatively that I don’t do often helps give my brain a different way to view – say, the world around me – and I am then able to apply that to what I am creating.

I truly believe that sometimes stepping away from ‘the routine’ gives your brain a JOLT.

I have ADHD and having a routine works for me – I need it. But I also have learned that breaking that routine, from time to time, in a small way also works for me. Taking the day to get some fresh air, and have a nice lunch in a new setting, surrounded by new people can often give you a fresh perspective. That is why I love traveling so much….

And with photography, when I take a day off to go explore and I bring my camera…it’s not just relaxing, I am also creating in a NEW way. When you give your mind that freedom and space you will find that you will once again be inspired.

This is what works for me!

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’m not really sure what my ‘story is.’ I wanted to be a writer since the age of 10. I spent hours writing as a kid. I even wrote during recess sometimes because I would just have a story in my head that needed to get out..and I couldn’t stop until that happened…..at the age of 30 I fell into film. [That is a whole other story in of itself.] But film was the journey I found myself on. I loved it…I was making movies, hanging with celebrities, traveling the country – and the world – and I got to be involved in a medium I have loved since I was a kid.

I started off as a script supervisor at the age of 31. From there I started to write and direct more, then also incorporated doing photography as well – which I picked up during the pandemic. That’s why a lot of times I just brand myself as a filmmaker – because I am able to do many things…although I do mostly focus on writing and directing more now.

Last year, in January, I directed a fun 10 minute Christmas horror film titled GRANDMA’S COOKIES that is doing incredibly well in festivals. Even the reviews online have been really good. And then in November I directed another film called RIKER. We are still working on this one – and it’s fun because it is a sci-fi film [with an Asian lead] and we are working on the campaign to make this project into a feature film. So far, the feedback on this project has been extremely positive as well! You can find out more about Riker here: www.RikerMovie.com

I am attached to other feature films as well, so there will definitely be more news in the future!

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

For me, I wish I had been more confident and brave to start my career at an earlier age. For some reason, I always talked myself out of following my dreams for the longest time. So my advice is – be kind to yourself. Don’t be afraid to try…also don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is part of succeeding… failing just means you find a different path towards success…Also, I would say, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. People will be people and even though they may have the best of intentions, they can sometimes inadvertently stand in your way. But you still need to get up and get out of bed every day and work towards your goal. It’s YOUR goal..so make it happen!

I found that the more people didn’t think I could do it the more my drive to prove them wrong was. Looking back on it now, I suppose this may not be the most healthy outlook. So my advice is this…don’t do it for ‘them.’ Do it for ‘YOU!

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The industry is changing. That’s my biggest obstacle. It went through alot during the pandemic when everyone was home and streaming was the norm. Then it went through more changes after the writer’s and actor’s strike a couple of years ago. It’s also changing because there is a market now for vertical films and short form content as the younger generation consumes the media differently..and it is also changing as we face the rapidly growing AI industry.

But I am okay with change. Even though I am older now I try to learn and adapt to this constant change. I try to create and collaborate with the younger generation as well. I think it’s very powerful for all generations to create together. There is always older traditions we hang onto even when creating new ones….we can learn from the past and usher that into the future and I definitely want to be a part of that.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Personal photo by Jack-Peter Guior @GuiorStudio
Grandmas Cookies poster designed by Steve McGinnis.

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