We recently connected with Ash Blodgett and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ash thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

The advice I want to give to all first time filmmakers is to just get out there and make films, and when I say films I mean films. Not YouTube videos. Not social media videos. Actual films. I spent so much of my time in my 20’s trying to be an “influencer” and chasing views, likes, and follows, but at the end of the day the film industry doesn’t really care how many views you have on a YouTube video. Believe me, I have one with over 19 million views and it did nothing for my filmmaking career because it wasn’t an actual film. Industry professionals want to know that you are participating in the industry and that you know how to actually make a film that tells a story and is something they can sell. Thus what they care more about is what film festivals your film got into and what awards your film has received.

In 2018 after five years of chasing views, I decided to stop focusing on YouTube videos and focus more on making short films. I shot my short film Zombie Debt and got into 17 film festivals and won six awards. What I found interesting about this is that people seemed way more excited and engaged with that even though the short itself didn’t have millions of views. There’s something more prestigious about getting into festivals and people take you more seriously as a filmmaker.

But beyond not getting distracted by social media content (and hey don’t get me wrong I’m still a YouTuber!), I also just recommend that first time filmmakers get out there and just do it. I know so many people who tell me they want to make a film but choose to sit on the couch instead. Filmmaking isn’t easy and that’s exactly why you have to get out there and practice. It’s ok if your first couple of films are bad, it’s just as hard to make a bad film as it is to make a good film, the point is the more you do it the better and better you’ll get at it. Plus you’ll start building your filmmaking community who can be there to support you when you finally make that really good film.

Ash, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a director and filmmaker specializing in narrative comedy who’s been making video content for almost two decades. I’ve directed several award winning short films, produced and directed multiple comedy shorts and shows for my YouTube Channels Laugh Stash TV and Film It Yourself totaling in over 20 million views. I’ve also traveled the world shooting a documentary for the International Olympic Committee, edited several season of the reality TV show Full Custom Garage, and currently work as a full time director for LinkedIn Learning where I direct their live action training courses.

In 2019 my award winning short film Zombie Debt took the film festival circuit by storm. It was accepted into 17 film festivals, won six awards (including a Wonder Woman Filmmaker award), and was nominated for 13 others. And in 2022 I was selected into the Women In Film Mentoring Program, where I’ve been matched up with an industry professional who will mentor me over the course of the year.

I got into filmmaking fairly early in life when I decided to take a TV Production class in high school and realized it combined my love of art, writing, and acting. I spent my youth running around with a Mini DV camera turning everything into a film set. I went on to attend Brooks Institute of Photography where I graduated with a BA in Cinematography and Film/Video Production.

What makes me unique is that I’m a female director who really does it all. I’ve written, produced, camera operated, edited, sound designed, and more. Because I’m a jack of all trades it helps me understand exactly what is doable when it comes to my vision as a director. Plus I love to be extremely thorough and have dubbed myself the Leslie Knope of filmmaking, complete with color coded binder and all!

What I’m most proud of though is giving opportunities to other women filmmakers when I can. My most recent film, Good Grief, had a production crew made of up 77% women, including the producer, director of photography, and the entire A unit camera crew. As a fellow woman filmmaker I know how hard it can be to find opportunities, so I always look to hire female crew members first when I can. You can learn more about this film at www.goodgrieffilm.com and you can learn more about me at www.ashblodgett.com.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Oh my gosh yes! I wish I had known there were so many resources out there, especially for women filmmakers! There are so many programs that are specifically made film filmmakers, such as labs, grants, initiatives, or even just groups. Most studios have their own director or writer programs that you can apply to that will place you on an actual TV show to shadow which is amazing! There are also labs and initiatives, such as Sundance, Blackmagic Collective, Film Independent, and the Stowe Story Labs.

I also recommend joining groups like Women In Film, Women In Media, or the Alliance of Women Directors. If you’re not a filmmaker that identifies as being a woman, then do some research and there’s bound to be another group that’s a good fit for you. Often these groups offer other programs, training, networking, and more which is an amazing resource to have!

I also recommend checking out Sundance Co//ab and MasterClass classes. They both offer a variety of great educational content about filmmaking. Sundance Co//ab offers both virtual in person and on demand training.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is making art that I’m proud of. I personally believe that if you’re not doing what you love, then you’re wasting your life. You only have one life to live, and I believe it should be spent doing the thing you’re most passionate about.

I was once stuck in a cubical job for a few years and I did not find it rewarding at all. It was so scary, but I decided to leave that very good paying job and go out there and do what I love. Sure I struggled financially for several years and it took me a total of eight more years to finally be hired as a professional director, but I wouldn’t trade that for financial security in a cubical job that didn’t full fill me creatively every day. At the end of the day, I say follow what you love not money and someday the money will follow you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ashblodgett.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/film_it_yourself/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashblodgett/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshsStash
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Film_It_Yourself
• Other: https://www.goodgrieffilm.com/

Image Credits
Photos by Nathalie Rodriguez, Lalita Silvas, Bryce Poole, and Rob Reich.