We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mychal Sorensen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mychal below.
Alright, Mychal thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
For me, one of the most challenging unexpected problems I’ve faced in the creative industry is just how difficult it’s been to really break in. When I went to school for animation and film, my professors prefaced us that these industries were, comparatively speaking, niche and ultra-competitive, and I’ve, like many other artists, experienced it first hand. Lots of dead-end job applications, lots of portfolio and resume revisions, and lots of cut projects or things being relocated outside of Los Angeles. Naturally, this ends up becoming a tsunami of self-doubt. It has been really depressing at times, and this is coming from someone who usually prides himself on being optimistic! Overcoming these feelings can be really really hard, but constantly working on passion projects and maintaining openness with your feelings to family or friends has been instrumental in my persevering and pressing forward.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Howdy! My name is Mychal Sorensen and I am an animator, videographer and Creative Director in Los Angeles, CA. Ever since I was a little kid I was constantly creating; plays, drawings, comics, stories, and home movies. I’d direct the kids in my neighborhood to act out parts of nerdy fantasy films I would shoot on my parent’s camcorder, or draft out long-winded stories that I would then draw out into long-winded mangas. That is what led me to go back to school in 2017 to pursue a BFA in Animation and a minor in film. It’s been tough to crack into the industry directly, but I focus my work now on teaching, working with clients to shoot videos or photos for their projects, and leading the creative direction of a KPOP dance group called New Flavor!. I think what sets my work apart from others is that I love all facets of creating, and am always just as passionate about someone else’s ideas as I am my own. This builds a really happy and fun energy between my clients and myself, and makes for the entire collaborative process a total blast. I’m most proud of getting to work with new people who trust me and my work ethic. I’m honored to be able to work with people who allow me to bring their ideas to fruition. I’d love for anyone out there who’s reading to know that if ever you’d like to work together on any creative pursuit, we’d have a lot of fun in making magic!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
One of the biggest things driving my creative journey is the prospect that I could one day, through lots of hard work, become a Creative Director for a big musical artist or group. I am really driven by the art, direction and cultural output of KPOP groups such as Red Velvet and NewJeans, and I think my education in animation and film could lend a really unique spin to the creative direction for a new and upcoming pop act like that. Every facet of the production and creative pipelines is so exciting to me, and I’d love to elevate my skills someday to become a big-time Creative Director.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I’ve tried to convey so many times to my non-art family or friends that, within all serious artists, there’s an almost ancient yearning to create. It keeps you awake late at night, makes you daydream during your high school biology classes, and makes you see the world through kaleidoscope eyes. That’s why it’s so hard to accept feelings of disappointment when an opportunity or job falls through, or traditional applications for creative jobs etc. go unread; because you want it so badly and it lights your heart on fire. But you just have to keep pushing forward and creating work for yourself until you’re able to foster your own exceptional opportunities. It’s very difficult for an artist to just go, “Ah well, I’ll just do something else,” because our innate drive is to be like, “But I really want to make this thing! I won’t rest until it is done! Let me make it happen!” Creative people are way more resilient than I think most folks give them credit for – they have to be to keep creating.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mychalsorensen.com
- Instagram: @mychalsorensen
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/newflavor_official
Image Credits
Mychal Sorensen