Meet Lindsay Sunada

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lindsay Sunada. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lindsay , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I’ve always been a very curious and open-minded person, and I think that spirit of exploration and experimentation has led me to fall in love with a lot of different things and creative endeavors, ultimately landing on directing. I’m in love with the challenge of creating new worlds, and the process of doing it in collaboration with so many talented friends. I also truly believe that art has the power to positively change the world. I think it’s important to remind people to dream sometimes.

That being said, I think we’re never fully formed as human beings, and life is a constant state of change. Although I’m certain that directing and being creative will always be part of my purpose, I’m open to the idea that our purposes change over time. The most important thing to me is to be a good person. If that one thing can remain constant throughout my journey, wherever that takes me, I’ll consider myself successful.

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 director based in Hawai’i, primarily focused on fashion imagery in my commercial work. In my personal work, I love exploring human stories, and unpacking my own existential crises through the lens of surrealism (haha).

In addition to being a director, I’m a co-founder of Reelfolio with my business partner(McKenna Marshall). Reelfolio will be an online resource and social platform for professionals in the creative and entertainment industry to connect with friends of friends, and find work. Our goal is to lower barriers to entry for up and coming diverse creatives in our industry.

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?

1. Taking negative feedback as a good thing

Over time, I’ve learned to be good at taking negative feedback as a learning experience, and using it to improve myself and my work going forwards. I understand that rejection is inevitable in this industry, especially as a freelancer in such a competitive space.

I obviously stand up for myself when I feel disrespected, but I have learned that often times, when I receive negative feedback it’s because someone is trying to help me make my project better. Especially as a director, getting defensive creates an environment where your collaborators don’t feel like they can express their true opinions around you – and you want people to feel like they have a voice. You don’t have to take every piece of advice you get, but remember that your crew is there to help you make your project better!

2. Financially responsible

I think it’s always good to have a back up way to support yourself because this industry can be so unpredictable. I take graphic design and treatment work on the side, in addition to directing because I want to feel like I can support myself through the ups and downs of directing. Having a side hustle also allows me to put money aside for my own passion projects, and turn down directing jobs if I don’t feel like they’re aligned with my values or goals!

3. Be yourself

I hate networking, but I love making new friends. When I’m talking to someone or meeting someone for the first time, both in personal and work environments, I really make an effort to be present in the conversation and interested in what they’re saying. I think people can tell and appreciate when you’re being genuine, and it leads to real connections that can turn to collaborations organically.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Of course! I’m open to collaborating with anyone who’s nice, fun, and wants to work together!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lindsaysunada.com
• Instagram: @lindsaysunadafilm

Image Credits

Co-director: Jensen Vinca
Cinematographers: Griffin Voth, Stacy Toyama, Martin Taube, Shelby Husted, Kenzo Le