We recently connected with Cedric Christophorus and have shared our conversation below.
Cedric, 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.
As a writer-director, I keep my creativity alive by taking in a lot of inspiration from other established filmmakers. Watch a lot, and take notes of what works, what sparks you, what doesn’t work, and what you would do differently. Watch to understand the current zeitgeist of stories that are being presented and represented to know how you would contribute to or advance the current conversation. I also make pitch decks, even if they may be inactive projects, to hone in and continue to develop a cohesive sense of tone and style. A couple of resources that I would recommend for writer-directors are short film channels like Short of the Week. There are a ton of awesome shorts of filmmakers from all around the world that are worth watching. If you are looking for feature films, I would suggest investing in AMC Stubs if you have AMC theatres near you. Watch everything.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Cedric Christophorus, an Indonesian-born filmmaker based in Los Angeles. As a Chinese Indonesian-born filmmaker, I aspire to tell human-curated, empathy-driven stories and bring my unique cultural perspective to the entertainment industry through the intersection of religion, gender, and race. I currently work at one of the leading black-owned production companies in the United States, Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY, as well as independently distributing social content and short films through @cinemainclusion, where I aim to champion quality films, highlight the underrepresented, and make filmmaking education accessible.
My latest short film that I wrote and directed is titled “Icing on Her Cake.” Currently in post-production, it tells the story of a reserved Southeast Asian woman named Aimee, who tries to understand the life of her American housemate solely through the groceries of their shared refrigerator, sticky notes, and a series of voicemails. It’s a fun little short, light-hearted in tone but functions as a love letter to the community I grew up back in Indonesia and the community I am in right now. It is a film that intersects both communities into one and I hope that people are entertained while being thought-provoked watching it.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three essential skills in the filmmaking industry are resilience, passion, and a commitment to diversity. It begins with genuine passion for the work; however, passion alone, without consistency, can lead to burnout. In this context, resilience becomes crucial. Furthermore, beyond the dedication to hard work, each filmmaker must have a sense of care for their community as well, which emphasizes the importance of a commitment to bringing people from all walks of life and various points of view into the industry. These skills are not something that can be taught or transferred; rather, they are qualities that individuals develop along their unique journeys!
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I must admit that entering the film industry and being able to work in the epicenter of filmmaking is a privilege in itself. It is a privilege that I will never take for granted, and it is a privilege that always stems from my parents who supported me along the way. It is in every “yes” that they say which allowed me to step up further. It started from a “yes” to studying film, a “yes” to study in the United States, and a “yes” for me to try to survive and thrive on my own here in this city. XOXO Mom and Dad.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cedric-christophorus.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedrictjaha/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophorus-cedric/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiS381EVVwAM7UmuTuPjGww
