An Inspired Chat with Koura Linda

We recently had the chance to connect with Koura Linda and have shared our conversation below.

Koura, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
100% integrity.

You can be the smartest or most energetic person in the world but if you use it for evil or if you sell your soul and go to bed each night crawling in your own skin, what’s the point?

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an award-winning filmmaker who has spent the last 10+ years developing an inclusive and successful production company, Space Dream Productions, of which I’ve served as Founder & CEO since 2013.

Since launching the company I’ve overseen the production of over 40 film projects which have received over 200 award nominations and special mentions, and over 70 awards, with 20 different “Best Picture” award winners or nominees, and through my independent film career I’ve collaborated on Emmy, Telly, and Webby award nominations and wins.

Through Space Dream Productions, my goal is to utilize my creative skills and experience overseeing and managing the company’s work of providing creative services to businesses, brands, creatives, professionals, and activists across the country.

I also try to support those setting out to navigate the world of filmmaking by sharing what I’ve learned through my podcast, Filmmaking (Actually).

Overall my focus is on making movies, working with investors to make movies, providing client services to support people with their own story telling, and sharing what I’ve learned over the decades to help make space for up and coming filmmakers.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Probably my family.

Work/life balances are really important, but it also is OK to work and to enjoy working.

I come from a long line of really hardworking people. My family all immigrated to America from Europe and the Middle East to escape prosecution between the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the American Dream is something that was always instilled in me.

While it is important not to wear yourself out or overextend yourself or put yourself into a situation where you’re being professionally taken advantage of, it also is OK to love your job, pour yourself into your dreams, and work really hard to reach your goals.

There is a balance to be had in that.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Many.

I don’t think I picked the easiest path, especially as someone who lives with multiple disabilities.

Being wheelchair bound in 2011 and fighting for my life I almost literally gave up. And trying to chase my dreams as a business owner and filmmaker I’ve almost quit more times than I can count.

Giving up is easy. Getting a 9-5 or trying to find some random job where I show up and clock in and out and never have to worry about anything beyond my little tasks and I have no responsibility for anyone and no one is depending on me for their livelihoods and if I fail people don’t lose their jobs or client projects won’t be sabotaged – sometimes that low pressure sounds really nice.

But that’s not fair to the people who count on me, because if I stop now that’s what will happen. Even if it is just a handful of people.

Plus I know I wouldn’t be happy if I gave up. Not truly, anyway.

I have too many dreams left to chase.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Going from a “power” answer I’m going to reply with celebrities.

Probably Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

And Taylor Swift both as an artist and a businesswoman.

And Hanson (all three of them, but especially Taylor Hanson).

And Jen & Sylvia Soska.

And Catherine Hardwicke.

And probably Ron Howard.

This could be a very long list but I will stop there.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes.

I’ve never been a “popular kid”. And I have been getting into trouble and bumping heads with people my whole life in situations where I won’t compromise on my integrity and I just generally don’t sway as easily as others. I’ve learned that can be annoying at best and make shady people really angry at worst. So I’m not really someone who is used to getting a lot of praise along the daily course of my life.

It helps to have external validation, because that’s just how humans work. Being acknowledged means something. It’s part of our psyche and the building blocks of this universe.

But I can say from lived experience, I will always give things my all even if no one says anything about it. Because I will know if I tried my best or not. And that matters more to me than people singing praise.

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