Meet Dylan Lee Baxter

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dylan Lee Baxter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dylan Lee below.

Dylan Lee, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I get my work ethic from being a competitive snowboarder growing up. It taught me a lot about setting goals, repeating the same trick until you land it, and always picking yourself up, no matter how hard you fall. I translated some of these lessons into my daily life and the films I’ve made. It’s helped me keep going when getting rejected from festivals or people telling me I can’t produce a film because “it’s too ambitious.” I use the rejection and doubts I have faced and will continue to face to fuel the films I’ve set out to make and will make in the future. Additionally, it has helped me set my goals as a filmmaker and given me a roadmap for what I need to do to accomplish those goals.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a filmmaker based in Colorado who has been making films since I was 18. In all the projects I’ve made over the years, I’ve written, directed, edited, produced, shot, and, at times, animated. I’ve loved cinema ever since I was a kid, but I didn’t get into making any films until I had to stop snowboarding because of the multiple injuries I kept getting. I wanted to start telling stories because I want to create stories where people can escape to another place with a character they relate to in some aspect, and a character that feels like a friend they come to when no one else is there for them.
I’ve just completed my latest short film, Bound By Lies. It is a psychological thriller about two lovers on the run after a robbery; they must confront the cracks in their relationship and the truth that their escape was never real. I’ve submitted the film to over 25 film festivals and hope it will get into a few! Last month, we screened the film at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder and had to do two screenings because we exceeded capacity—something I’ve never experienced before. Following the screening, we had a Q&A, and the consensus from the audience was to turn the short film into a feature film. So, now I’m in the process of turning the short film into a feature film. We’ll launch a fundraising campaign in the next couple of weeks once I’ve finished the script, and I’m very excited about it because it’ll be the first feature film I’ll make. Something I know I’m ready for!
While in development for my first feature film, I’ve been working on landing freelance gigs with small businesses. I’ve been working on filming for businesses and editing promo videos to attract more people to their companies. Whether it’s fiction or branded videos, I bring my passion for filmmaking to every project I make. The story, pacing, and tone are critical to me. I want to create stories that make people feel something.

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?

Although I’m still on my journey to become a filmmaker, a few experiences have made my journey impactful, and one of them is the screening I had last month for my short film “Bound By Lies.” It was an experience I will never forget because, for the first time in my life, it felt like a stepping stone for my dreams as a filmmaker. It was rewarding to see and feel the energy from everyone who came out to see my short film and support my cast and crew’s work. Something I’ll never forget.
What has impacted every project I’ve made, from my first to my latest film, is the people I bring on board to help. Lately, I’ve been working with the same people I’ve worked with before because of the energy and environment that they bring to the set. The people that you work with matter; making a film is a team effort, and if one person who has a vital role in the project is not as invested as everyone else is, they could put a strain on the production or even break the thing that you’ve spent hundreds of hours on. It’s something I carry into my life as well because the people you surround yourself with will affect and shape the environment and person you become.
One skill I’m working on right now is how important it is to network. I’ve learned the hard way how important networking is, as the industry I’m interested in now prioritizes networking over skills and work, which I’m working to improve and do daily.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m looking for a collaborator or partner to join me on my journey as I develop my first feature film. Whether it’s helping with fundraising, navigating the business side, working across production, or simply being someone to bounce ideas off of, I’m open to connecting with people who are passionate and driven.
Ideally, I’m looking for someone who understands the filmmaking process and what it takes to bring a feature to life—someone who’s just as excited about making and watching movies as I am. If you’re reading this and feel like you could be that creative partner to help take things to the next level, feel free to reach out through my socials or my website: www.dylanleebaxter.com.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Madison Moore-Lynch
Kyle Dick
Jackson Reed
Brandon Del Campo
Becca Napier

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