Meet Lauren Clinton Clark

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Clinton Clark a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I don’t know that I will ever fully overcome imposter syndrome, but I’ve learned to accept it and work with it instead of against it. I’ve reached a point where I find the fear validating. If I’m afraid, it means I’m progressing, even though I’m probably shaking at the same time (currently accepting advice on how to stop shaking when I’m nervous!). Often, the imposter syndrome is a delayed anxiety though. I have no self-control when I get excited about a new script, a new film, or any new project. I can see my visions so clearly at the start, and I’m like, “I love this idea, I have to create it.” And I run at it. It isn’t until I’m in the deep end of the project that I start to feel paralyzed. Most of the time, that feeling creeps up right before I offer my work publicly. That’s the debilitating part. The fear of judgement. Suddenly, I’m not looking at my work through my own eyes, but I’m picking it apart through the lens of what I assume other people will think of it. That imaginary audience, the one I create in my head, that’s my biggest critic. But I keep creating because I have to. I don’t even re-watch my previous films. It’s the act of making it, and knowing I got it out of my head, that continues to drive me. So while I’ll always feel like a fish out of water, I just try to block out the noise and trudge forward. Because in reality, I’m the only one picking apart my work, and I try to remind myself of that constantly.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I make films about dread. More specifically, dread wrapped in angst. My stories are rooted in the loss of the American dream. Characters overwhelmed with anxiety and personal hurdles seeking to break out of their mundane lives, believing they were dealt a raw deal. The life they were promised as kids was so much brighter than what they got, so they try to obtain what they feel that they’re owed. There’s an existentialism in watching someone tackle that search by breaking out of the norm. But in our increasingly listless society, stepping out from that routine can have dire consequences. And while mundanity can be taxing, the flip side is the beauty of stability. It’s that notion of “buying in,” and finding solace in the small things because I believe it’s really all we have left.

I’ve written and directed several short films, with larger scripts in the works now. Currently, I work full-time in animation production, but I’m progressing towards a full transition to live action film directing. You can watch my first two short films, Highway Children and Light, on laurenclintonclark.com. My third short film, Hollywood Rex, is in post-production now. It’s the story of a bassist in a punk band who gets left behind at a bar one night after a gig. When we meet her, she’s struggling with her sense of agency, but as she makes her way through the streets of Hollywood on her way back to her band, she finds that self-assuredness she’s been so desperately looking for. This new film is particularly exciting as we wanted to keep it women-centered. We assembled a cast and crew made up mainly of talented and skilled women. Which is really unique! The film industry has, for too long, created too little space for women and I plan to continue breaking that mold as we highlight new voices to reach new audiences. Hollywood Rex will premiere early next year. Follow me on Instagram, @laurenclintonclark, for updates on the release!

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?

In my ongoing journey, I am constantly tapping into different skills depending on the situation. I’m fortunate to be a natural planner and self-starter. That organization has aided me time and again, not only with the details of filmmaking, but with outreach, networking, and professional progression. I would continue making films whether or not anyone watched them, but it helps to have an avenue for funding and distribution by utilizing those producer-minded sensibilities.

Additionally, I have a penchant for learning. Whenever possible, I still attend classes and read as much as I can about the processes of filmmaking. There is always something I don’t yet know, and I want to be armed with knowledge so that the technicalities can serve as second nature while I spend the majority of my time focused on the soul of the project.

My life and my interests also extend well beyond film. Whether it’s going to a show, taking a cross country road trip, camping with a friend (and then remembering how much I don’t like camping), or just baking a pie, my days are varied. And I like to keep my experiences unexpected and explorative. I like to meet new people and spend time in their world, it’s like looking through the keyhole of a life I’ll never live but get to appreciate nonetheless. Great stories aren’t made in a vacuum and neither are the experiences of peoples’ lives. The age-old adage, “write what you know,” rings constantly in my head. So I like to know.

The best advice I can give to anyone wanting to create art, film or otherwise, is to make it for yourself. Don’t let perceived outside judgements infect any part of the work, because the authenticity comes from your interests and the things that move you. If you make it for yourself, the qualities I mentioned won’t feel like a chore but rather a natural by-product of the work. Remaining organized becomes easier because with each small achievement, the final product gets a tantalizing one step closer! Learning new techniques and skills, whether in school, from a youtube video, or a book, it gets to feel like a hobby. And making time to step away from the work serves as both a rest and an investment into your ideas. If you’re doing it for you, even going so far as to keep most of your art to yourself, the determination to hone these skills remains a judgement-free space that keeps the entire process enjoyable.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

I get overwhelmed often. I think it’s because I usually bite off more than I can chew, but I keep chewing anyway because I already bit it. What am I gonna do? Spit it out and make a mess? I’ve been working on biting off less, but it’s always a challenge for me because I operate at a speed of a million miles an hour. Inevitably, when I realize I’m overwhelmed and I’m no longer productive because of it, I spend time prioritizing. I know it sounds boring, but it really helps to let go of things in order to make space for the most important stuff. Breaking big tasks into smaller chunks, and taking on only what is achievable in one day, can really help alleviate heavy burdens. Then just rinse and repeat. Before you know it, a mountain has been moved, without it feeling as such. And when everything feels like it’s getting out of control and you’re losing your grip, make a list of what can wait and what needs attention now. Everything that can wait will still be there when you’re ready.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://laurenclintonclark.com
• Instagram: @laurenclintonclark / @westerngothicfilms
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-clinton-b04b8751/
• Other: https://vimeo.com/laurenclinton

Image Credits

Talia Azadian