Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Athena Cheris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Athena, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success is not fluid. It takes many forms, and there are multiple ways to seek it out. I’ve met people who are successful financially but unhappy with their day jobs. I’ve met people who feel unsuccessful at work but come home to a family that makes them feel successful. As a filmmaker, you need to create your own idea of success and that will be different for everyone. For me, success is a good set where people are proud of their work.

To be successful, you have to understand your goals, but also know how to achieve them. Success is all about mindset and taking the initiative to make what you want happen.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a freelance filmmaker and writer who has worked both on films, commercials, and publications. I’ve created content for brands like Beats by Dre and Apple, but also written for publications like K. magazine and kitchen work. I most recently had the opportunity to work with my favorite pizzeria in San Francisco, Gialina, where I’ve been going to get pizza since I was 3 years old. It meant a lot to create a film for a business in my community, especially one that has given so much.

When I’m not working with brands or businesses, I like working as a producer for short films because it is gratifying to help someone achieve their vision and handle the logistics so they have the flexibility of being a creative. Film is just another way of creating community and I like helping build those spaces on set.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

You have to make sure your team knows they are valued. Take the time to check in with everyone to make sure they are doing well is important, but also celebrating the small wins as a group. Everyone just wants to feel like they are part of a team that cares about them as well as their work. Create the space for that by having one-on-ones, sharing meals, and allowing the space for team input on projects.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

It’s rewarding to see someone’s vision come to life. So many people have amazing ideas and stories that don’t get told , so being able to develop a medium for them is what makes being a filmmaker worth it. We all have stories, but not all of us have the tools to tell it, so as a filmmaker I want to bridge that gap.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.athenacheris.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azarath007/?next=%2Fseiying%2Ftagged%2F&hl=gu
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/athenacheris/

Image Credits

Chloe Fong, Athena Cheris, Gabriel Perez