We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Topher “CGI” Isabella a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Topher “CGI”, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
There’s a very obvious answer to this question, and that’s to block out what the haters are saying and only focus on the feedback of people who want to truly see you grow, and that of course holds very true… but I can think of a much more fun answer! I’m a firm believer in the power of spite. Proving others wrong is one of the most satisfying pleasures of life, and that goes double when it comes to creativity. When I have people telling me an idea I have isn’t worth pursuing (and I don’t simply mean that in the context of having an idea that isn’t all realized and just needs fleshing out, but when I’m discouraged from building upon an idea entirely), that just makes me want to create it more. I listen to what my haters don’t want me to do… only so I can exaggerate those concepts further and REALLY make them mad (and this method alone can spark ideas that I may not have had prior)! I love the look on my non-believers’ faces as they see that I gave them the metaphorical middle finger and moved forward with something I wanted to invest my time and creativity in, it’s priceless! It also just raises my overall self-confidence and pushes my drive to keep creating. What can I say? I thrive in the chaos I cause!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a filmmaker and photographer, and an alumni from College of Creative Studies. On the filmmaking side, I specialize in Writing, Assistant Directing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects Editing (I also love Directing too, but that’s such an overused self-claim and I wanted to offer the other roles I love taking on in film).
Aside from my obvious love of any form of storytelling, the real reason I love doing what I do is the people I continue to meet on this journey. I know, a super obvious answer. But being surrounded by people who are all passionate about making stories come to life, it’s truly something special. You get to know the people you work with on such a personal level that it genuinely becomes comparable to a family.
The main thing I’d want people to take away from my art is that I LOVE to push boundaries. Showing or saying the things that make you double-take. Creating is about setting a new bar, whether that be for yourself, your community, or for the industry. You’re not gonna do that playing it safe… and where’s the fun in that?!
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?
The three qualities that have carried me the furthest in journey are positivity, communication, and drive. To me being a filmmaker isn’t about just wanting to make a movie or even to tell a story. It’s to make memories. My number one goal every time I’m on set is to make as many friends and memories as possible. If you’re not having fun and making meaningful connections, what the hell is the point (besides money, but that’s obvious)? It’s hard to give advice on how others can go about this the same way I do, but I’d say just give as much as you can. You WILL be surprised by the amount of people who will have your back after you’ve spent several eight, twelve, or fourteen hour film days together!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
As I build my community of filmmakers, I find that I learn so much from everyone I surround myself with. With those who are more experienced than myself, they’re teaching me new skills and techniques to implement on future projects. Contrary, I’m learning through my interactions with those who are less experienced than me that I HAVE learned a lot over the last five years and I am actually capable of passing down that knowledge and being a mentor for others (sometimes it takes teaching someone to realize how much you really know). While I truly feel everyone in my circle builds me up every time I work with them, I do owe a very honorable mention to the first professor I had, John Carlson. I took his lighting class my freshman year at College for Creative Studies, and even well after graduating he continues to mentor and teach me and I would not be who I am without his guidance!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tophercgi.com
- Instagram: tophercgi456
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/topher.isabella
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TopherCGI
Image Credits
Emma Albert
Gabi Irarte
Rachel Altland
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
