We were lucky to catch up with Alita Phillips recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alita, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I try to keep my creative energy flowing by constantly consuming creative content (films, TV shows, videos, art, etc.) An integral part of creating new things is being inspired by different stories and concepts, whether that be inside your existing realm of knowledge or something new that you want to learn more about. Additionally, I like to try new forms of creative expression, whether that be a different style of film/video making, experimenting with costume design, or making a painting from watercolors instead of acrylics.
Creativity is something we can bounce off of each other, and in today’s world it is so much easier to do so. I wouldn’t have half the inspiration I have for my creative ventures if not for the amazingly creative people around me. Seeing their amazing ideas and bouncing ideas off each other, and seeing their drive to make their visions a reality helps keep my mental wheels constantly turning and my creativity alive and well, and I’ll always be grateful for that.
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?
Filmmaking is fun because you get to write stories and bring them to life through visual mediums. It’s also a great way to experiment with different genres and how you tell your stories. Personally, I enjoy writing horror and comedy, but I like combining the two as well, which is how I came up with the idea for my current project, “Paranormies”. This series is a mockumentary style horror comedy that parodies found footage horror films and ghost hunting TV shows. I was able to bring this idea to life initially with a short proof of concept (which is currently available to view on YouTube) and, due to a positive response, I am currently working on writing an 7 episode series based on that proof of concept.
While all of this is a lot of fun, it’s also a lot of work. A lot of hours and manpower go into making films, tv shows, and even short films, which is easy to forget when viewing them from a comfy seat. And honestly, I’m lucky to have a great group of fellow filmmakers and crew members to make what I do possible. I don’t think I would be making a series if not for the support I received from them. A big part of filmmaking is having a community you can trust and reach out to for help when you need it, as well as being able to reciprocate that help to other filmmakers. Though this industry is constantly shifting and changing (which is true of all creative industries), I really wouldn’t exchange it for anything else.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One of the most important aspects of my journey has been adaptability. I initially started off pursuing a career in 3D animation, but ended up being unable to secure a job in the industry. As a result, I decided to shift my career path towards film and video production. I already had the basic skill sets to create a visual story, now I just needed to learn how to do it in live action. So I did and got my masters degree in the field. But my test of adaptability didn’t stop there. My recent work as a Production Office Assistant pushed me to adapt to working in an actual TV production setting. Despite what I learned, it was a bit of a trial by fire learning how to navigate this environment, but I did it and am now far more knowledgeable of the industry than I was prior. But that doesn’t mean the learning curve stops here. I still have a lot to learn and adapt to in this ever changing industry.
Another important aspect of my journey is flexibility. Throughout my current career path, I have had to take on a variety of positions within the industry. While each position is different in what it requires, I have tried to remain flexible and open to learning how to perform these roles to the best of my ability. It’s safe to say I have been taken far out of my comfort zone on many occasions. However, this flexibility has allowed me to become a sort of jack-of-all-trades.
In addition to flexibility, though, you also need to be able to have boundaries. While it’s great and beneficial to do things outside of your comfort zone when it comes to learning new skills, that doesn’t have to be the case when it comes to your work overall. Boundaries help you determine what kind of work environments you are comfortable working in. Though I am a very non-confrontational person, there have been a few times I have had to assert my boundaries when a situation makes me uncomfortable. I know this is something that can be pretty difficult, as we all have some degree of people pleasing in us, but it’s better to work in an environment you fell safe and comfortable in than one you don’t.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
One of the biggest challenges is getting a foothold in the industry, particularly locally. Memphis is filled with creative individuals and has it’s own film community and film festival. The city has been used for many movies and TV shows and a couple studios are beginning to pop up here. Unfortunately, it’s still a struggle to get Memphis to be seen as a thriving and profitable film scene That’s why I am currently part of a group that is trying to make that happen. There is a sea of talented filmmakers here in Memphis and beautiful filming locations and it would be great if we could be able to have our own slice of the industry right here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChb_Eu_P_vhvCJlVGi_KIPQ
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunar.rose.arts/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alita-phillips-b059a811b/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChb_Eu_P_vhvCJlVGi_KIPQ
Image Credits
Alita Phillips, WMC-Bluff City Life
