Meet Cole Thiele

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cole Thiele a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cole, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever head any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?

Writers blocks are inevitable. I run into them repeatedly. Usually, the source is some sort of distraction. That can mean positive distractions as well! I’m actually in the middle of a creative block right now, so this is timely. I am currently writing another episode for my animated series, Carboload, and I had great momentum with it. I was feeling good. But then I started watching someone else’s series and started comparing my work. The excitement and energy that I was directing towards my project has gotten redirected to engaging in the other series. Now, what I have learned about myself as a creative is just because I want to make something like so-in-so doesn’t mean that’s what this particular project warrants. If I am trying to come up with an idea for a story and it feels very forced or seems too much like another story, I am probably going in the wrong direction. When ideas come to me with more ease, I know I am probably going the right way. It feels more authentic in the end.

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 the creator of Carboload and co-director and co-writer of Sofa, So Good. My two brothers and I made Sofa, So Good together alongside out great crew. Our feature film is still in the film festival circuit and we are very grateful to have won a couple of awards (Best Narrative Feature from Cinema Columbus and Outstanding First Feature from Queens World Film Festival). Lately, I have been writing and boarding more episode ideas for my animated series, Carboload.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Educate. I read art of books all the time and watched behind the scenes for films to see what it was that inspired a design, techniques used, references, etc.

Critique. Understand the qualities you enjoy and dislike about other peoples’ stories/art and be just as critical on your own pieces.

Create. You just gotta make something. I learned so much from the journeys of each of my projects that I did not find in a book or a class room.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Well, drawing is usually what I do to unwind, but when you get frustrated with your drawings then what? I think it helps to break up the day by stepping away from the project. I get burnt out if I try to bulldoze through my projects without stopping. It helps if I go outside and dribble basketball, go the gym, hike, get a snack, etc. Inspiration can hit you in those moments when you step back a little. Plus, as artists, we’re not meant to just make art; we are complex beings that need to get filled up and not constantly be pouring out.

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