Meet Patrick Bennett

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

Patrick , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

I’ve always had this incredible creative energy that pushes me to take on new projects and explore fresh ideas. Sometimes it’s downright exhausting. Once I dive into something, I get so wrapped up in the creative process that I don’t even want to sleep. Friends often tell me I do too much, but my mind never stops. I only have two settings: “Go” and “Go Faster.”
That nonstop drive is how I believe I’ve found success, by constantly moving forward. I’ve never been one to stop and smell the roses, because while you’re doing that, success might pass you by. Then all you have is the smell of roses. Roses don’t make me happy. I don’t think they smell that good either. I would rather smell success.
In recent years, the rapid growth of AI technology has opened up even more ways to be creative and achieve big things. Of course, that also means even less sleep… and I was already running on empty!
I guess what it all boils down to is that I never stop learning new things and I keep pushing myself forward. Try it. It pays off.

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?

Where do I even begin? I have so many irons in the fire when it comes to creative projects and filmmaking. For over 20 years, I’ve been deeply involved in the world of independent film. I’ve collaborated with numerous indie filmmakers on both movies and TV shows, written screenplays, taught video production classes, and even operated a leased-access cable TV channel that served three cities, creating my own content to fill the schedule.
For the past 15 years, I’ve been organizing and directing independent film festivals in Louisiana, including the Lake Charles Film Festival, the Calcasieu Parish Short Film Festival, and the Calcasieu Serialfest—a celebration born from my love of classic cliffhanger serials from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Outside of festivals, I stay active in the Indie film community. I also attend theatrical movie releases weekly and write reviews for a local newspaper. I also manage several websites and social media pages dedicated to film and pop culture.
But what I’m most excited about right now is my passion project: Filmsquatch. It’s a multi-platform brand that includes a podcast, website, social media presence, and a quarterly digital magazine, all dedicated to the wonderfully weird world of narrative Bigfoot films.
My co-host and I are currently in our third season of the Filmsquatch podcast, where we review Sasquatch-themed movies, ranging from the obscure to the downright legendary. We often feature interviews with the filmmakers, cast, and crew behind these productions. We’ve also launched a robust website (www.Filmsquatch.com) featuring an extensive Bigfoot movie database, podcast episode guide, photo galleries, merchandise, and more.
This year, I launched Filmsquatch Quarterly, a digital magazine that dives deeper into the Bigfoot film genre with interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and reviews. I’m also directing a Bigfoot short film and organizing a new event, the Boggy Creek Monster Mingle, on August 30 in Fouke, Arkansas. It’s the town made famous by The Legend of Boggy Creek, and we’re partnering with the local Boggy Creek Boutique to bring together vendors, authors, storytellers, indie Bigfoot filmmakers, and a pop-up Bigfoot short film fest.
We also host annual Bigfoot short film competitions and frequently attend comicons and festivals to share our love of cryptid cinema.
If you or someone you know is making, or has made, a Bigfoot movie, we’d love to feature you on the podcast or in the magazine. And if there’s a film you think we should review, send it our way!
You can explore more at www.Filmsquatch.com and follow us at Facebook.com/Filmsquatch.

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?

I’ve always been a movie fanatic. When I was a kid, my parents gave me a cheap 8mm silent film camera, and I immediately started making short films with my friends and the neighborhood kids. If you’ve ever seen the movie Super 8, that was basically me, writing scripts, casting my friends, and directing three-minute movies because that’s all the film reel would allow. I’d use my allowance to buy the film, send it off to be developed, and wait weeks to finally see what I had captured. It was a slow process, but it taught me patience, planning, and how to bring a vision to life.
That’s where I first learned to direct, working with people, managing the camera, coaching performances. When VHS camcorders came along, I stepped things up by directing larger setups with mics, boom operators, and crew. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was also developing strong project management and leadership skills that would carry over into every job I’ve had since.
Another skill I picked up early was storytelling. Being able to craft and share a compelling story has been key to my work, whether I’m writing for newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, or producing films and podcasts. Storytelling even comes into play in professional settings, like pitching ideas, presenting to teams, or leading meetings.
If I had one piece of advice, it’s this: Start building skills early around what you truly love. Let your passion guide you. And if you ever find yourself in a job that doesn’t align with your interests, don’t worry, t’s just a temporary stop. Keep pushing forward, stay creative, and never give up.
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First, I think that finishing college was super important. I know a lot of people say they don’t need college for the type of work they are wanting to do, but college is where I made a lot of connections. It’s more than just an education. It’s where I learned to collaborate with others and made some lifelong friendships with like-minded people in my field of choice. It was my best decision.
Second,

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?

I’m looking to connect with individuals who are currently making, or dreaming of making, narrative Bigfoot films, whether shorts or features. My goal is to support these creators by helping promote their work, featuring them in interviews on the Filmsquatch podcast and in Filmsquatch Quarterly magazine, and even assisting with their productions when possible. I’m also eager to collaborate on original projects with others who share my passion. That includes costume designers, mask makers, indie film visionaries, creature feature fans, aspiring film composers… anyone who loves the genre as much as I do. Let’s bring more Bigfoot stories to life together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Filmsquatch.com
• Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Filmsquatch