Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Antonio Schuelke. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Antonio, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
Being able to be a creative full time has made me a very lucky person. I have goals, dreams and I will not settle for anything less than what I am striving for. This comes Majority of the time people are not happy with what they do for a living, so being able to take photos, film videos, travel and create art is a blessing. Being obsessed with creating is the main aspect that keeps me driven. I’m in a position that if I decide to let up or take it easy then my opportunities will be gone just as fast as they came. I often do find myself with less free time because I tend to never say no to any opportunity to be creative because from my perspective, if I go out and party or just sit down and relax, then i won’t be deserving of the next opportunity. So the more I work and the more I feel the hard work means the more deserving it feels when more blessings come my way. I tend to grind every day and make sure I am the most reliable person in any room because there is always someone else out there who is hungry for the job and I need to make sure I’m hungrier than everyone else.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Before I even picked up a camera, I was set focused on becoming a History Teacher. My first month in college was a bit miserable and I knew I needed to change my major before I end up in a career that I do not love. When I was a senior I would tell my teachers and tutors that I wanted to pursue a career in the film industry they would say, “How about we pick a major that will actually make you money”. Further along in college I would have ex-girlfriends tell me to be “more realistic” and that just drove me to prove everyone wrong and made me work even harder to get to where I’m at and to where I will be going. If that meant sacrificing my relationships with those people in order to accomplish my goals then I was willing to do so. Everyday I wake up with the same goal of being a film director and it’s a goal I’ve been hungry to achieve ever since 2018. The most exciting aspect about chasing a dream is how close it gets to becoming my reality. Making my dreams into a reality also falls onto my own shoulders in the aspect that if I say I want it as bad as I do then I won’t stop working at it until I make it true. I’m currently in the writing stage of my first screenplay that I heavily intend to form into a motion picture and I will not accept anything less than hearing my name get called up for an Oscar’s for winning Best Picture.
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?
Not a lot of people understand the sacrifices it takes to be a full time creative. It takes time away from a lot of personal things in your life, however, a lot of people preach on about “working on yourself” and being a creative means that in order to work on yourself you need to be able to sacrifice a lot relationships and time. Though, sacrificing those things becomes a blessing because you get to meet new friends, see new places and build healthy relationships with the people that actually support you. Being able to also be the person who says ‘yes’ to everything goes a long way. It’s better to be a reliable and hard working person than being someone who is only good at what they do. Work ethic and discipline go a lot farther than talent alone. It’s also good to look at all forms of art mediums to have a vision. If you’re a creative, it’s best to look at all forms of media (movies, music, paintings, graphic designs, television shows and books) because it will make you more open to expand your creativity and make your work better.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
It’s important to understand that being overwhelmed is a common human emotion that everyone feels. However, the only thing I can really add to the topic of feeling overwhelmed is that if someone feels overwhelmed then that it the best time for personal growth. It’s completely fine to feel overwhelmed, but it’s also important to understand that if you’re not uncomfortable then you will never be comfortable to learn more skills. A lot of people have their limits, however, I’m still trying to find out what my limits are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://antonioschuelke.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schvelke/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-schuelke-37422025b/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQUHLHo0BMBhkOV1LlhKrhQ
