We were lucky to catch up with Justin Poage recently and have shared our conversation below.
Justin, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
The process of learning to write and direct has been long. And honestly still ongoing. Teaching someone to be a good writer is impossible, in my opinion. I think you can teach the basics of storytelling to people but you can’t teach ideas. And that’s where the magic is. Now teaching someone to direct is another story. I was fortunate enough to learn at the feet of the master Lubomir Kocka while attending SCAD. I was a reckless cowboy until he taught me how to mold a story correctly and with purpose. He taught me subtlety, and patience, and how to play the long game.
Knowing what I know now, I honestly wouldn’t change a thing. In college we took every opportunity outside of class to write and shoot as many things as we could. Hell, Chris Terry and I would even make movies for our finals for classes that didn’t require or allow movies to be made for projects. I’m sure our Color Theory teacher hated us because instead of painting something we made a 22 minute movie about color.
As much as I say to people “I could have left school after year two and joined the workforce and started building my experience”, if I had done that, I wouldn’t have been able to have the freedom of classes to refine my craft and approach to filmmaking. The skills I learned in college laid the foundation for everything I do today. And if there were any obstacles in the way they were only the ones I put there myself. And that was more than likely me thinking I knew more than I did and leaping before looking.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’ve been a filmmaker ever since I was in the 6th grade, even if it was only in spirit. I was focused on it up until the point I was accepted to SCAD. SCAD taught me a lot. Not just about film, but about life as a whole. Regarding film, it taught me not just how to make movies but how to respect them as well. How to respect every job, every nuance of the process, and especially how to respect your audience. And in life, it taught me the meaning of struggle and the value of friendship and collaboration.
One of the main benefits of attending SCAD is that they teach you how to do everything. So when I’m on a project, wearing multiple hats becomes second nature for me. I’m also a control freak when it comes to my work so I always tend to end up wearing multiple hats without realizing that I’m doing it. I’ve been learning to let go of that though.
As a writer and director I try to keep my audience as close to everything as possible. I want you right there with me like you’re in the scene with the characters.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
The best way to support us is by letting us be. Don’t try and put us in boxes. Understand that we’re making things not only for you, but for ourselves as well. We’re choosing to be vulnerable with the world, something that’s not easy to do. So if you could do your best to receive our art with an open heart and mind, we’ll be very grateful.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Freedom. It doesn’t get any clearer than that word. Anything I can think of, I can create. Then there is the reception of your work. There’s nothing more rewarding than someone genuinely enjoying your art.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fifteenstudios.com
- Instagram: @the_poage
- Facebook: Justin Poage
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FIFTEENStudios