We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Blake Kinsey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Blake below.

Blake, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I think about this a lot – as happiness is sort of an essential factor for anyone who creates things/art/whatever to find personal fulfillment and meaning in their work life… I’d say that ultimately, yes, I am happy as an artist. Happy is kind of an odd term because it equates to one single feeling, but it’s a feeling that pops up in me often as I do the work.

Content, now that’s a different story. I work hard, every day, to feel content. To be satisfied with what I have. It is an enormous privilege to be afforded the time and space to create. Not all have the luxury.

I think it’s hard to feel satisfied living a life dedicated to craft because we do not live in a system that supports careers for creative people. Sure, there’s creative services, selling your beloved gift of creativity as an asset to fuel the economy – no shame in that, I do some of it myself. But generally, the arts is a tireless effort, filled with ups and downs and “does anyone care about the work” self doubts. However, I always land in the same place. It’s not about the acclaim, or if people resonate. It’s not even about the personal fulfillment. It’s just about doing the work. Experiencing the flow-state of creating, and knowing that your project will ultimately land somewhere, hopefully to be remembered, or perhaps to drift away – that is out of your control.

So yes, I am happy as an artist. I even still work some “regular jobs,” and often find them to be very present, meaningful, and full of rich life experience perfect for the lightning strike of inspiration.

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

I fell in love with filmmaking at an early age – 13 or so. Even further back, I first fell in love with writing, a practice and discipline I still carry on with to this day.

Filmmaking sort of just became the place that I landed. It checked many boxes for all the creative practices I had become interested in. But, mainly, it was a way to become an engineer of worlds. A way to take the stories rattling around my brain and bring them into reality. Plus, I just love the process. Even shooting & editing video allows me the same sense of satisfaction.

Primarily, my laser-focus is on creating narrative films, though I work all across the aisle of filmmaking. My company, Back Porch Films, serves as a home for original works, as well as a service for those in need of film/video to boost their business, emphasize mission, make fun things, etc. I’m open to all sorts of work in that realm. I approach each new client with an openness to their project’s needs & allow myself to align with the designated feeling the film or video hopes to achieve. Whether it’s a narrative passion project or a two-minute video aimed at client satisfaction, I’m well-equipped for any new challenge and a strong builder of networks & business relationships.

Additionally, my work spans into community & culture building with a group/organization titled the New Carolinas Film Collective, co-founded by my excellent actor friend Austin Pigza & myself. We aim to serve the filmmaking community by creating opportunities for resources to be made more easily available to any person on a creative/filmmaking journey. Our initiatives include social events, workshops & community screenings.

As far as inspirations, I’m highly inspired by the wacky & genre-bent work of Jim Cummings, who is probably my current favorite filmmaker. I’m also driven by and admire the work of many different indie filmmakers across the south. Justin Robinson is a filmmaker in Texas whose work I am greatly attuned to. Erika Arlee & Kristi Ray of Honey Head Films are two members of the industry & filmmaking community in North Carolina that are shining rays of light in a sometimes brutal industry, and I look up to them greatly.

Ultimately, if you have a story to tell, or are interested in my stories, my lines are open and I’m always happy to hit a local coffee shop, order a London Fog & chat.

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 don’t really believe in the term “non-creatives.” Everyone is creative – it just takes a little awakening. My fiancee swears she’s not creative, but consistently cooks some of the most beautiful & delicious meals I’ve ever seen. Creativity shows up in leadership, problem solving, business, etc. It’s everywhere.

The difference is that not everyone chooses to harness that gift & pursue it with all they have. Something consistent in my journey is simply a strong need for space. Without creative space, it’s hard to reach flow. And often life won’t allow you the space – and sometimes that’s okay. Life can’t always be a constant blinders-up vacuum of creativity. Living a rich existence is important too.

But, when the work is calling, the work must be done. So, sometimes when folks around me are using their free time in other ways, I find myself lost in a beautiful void of creation. Creative space makes for some of the most profound realizations, gleeful moments, breakthroughs, and ultimately a finished product to be immensely proud of. So, I’m sorry to my friends that I sometimes turn down on social requests – it simply means that the work is calling.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

If you want to support artists, then support artists. It’s as simple as that. Attend events/showcases/screenings/etc. Talk to the artist about the work. Tell them your takeaway. Share with your friends. And if you’re rich… pay for our next project. Haha. Just kidding (mostly).

The creation is pointless without the audience who absorbs it. Filmmaking in particular is an extremely audience-facing medium. While I ultimately care most about just doing the work, I can’t help but admit that I really do care how the audience responds. I care if they laugh/cry/jump when I want them to, and I hope for an emotional connection to the work in the hearts of the audience. So, be the audience that creators want. Even if you don’t connect with the work.

As a grander society, arts are generally underfunded, under-appreciated and undervalued as a career. Any sort of initiatives that introduce a craft as a real, plausible career option are always inherently valuable. Creative work is a meaningful way to contribute to the world – let’s make that known.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://back-porch-films.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backporchfilms/ & https://www.instagram.com/ncfilmco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555076343303 & https://www.facebook.com/groups/ncfilmco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-kinsey-22335b230/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blakekinseyfilms/featured