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

Caryn, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In 1998 I wrote and directed my first film. It was a short film; a coming of age story about a young woman preparing to leave her family and home in a small town to attend a writing program in a distant city. I had graduated from film school then law school in Los Angeles and was back home in Colorado trying to figure out my path forward . I took a job at The Tattered Cover in LoDo to pass time and wound up meeting a wonderful cast of interesting and talented co-workers. I had also spent a number of years working on staff for the Telluride Film Festival with an equally talented group of staffers. I was surrounded by so many cool and talented people I decided that if I was ever going to take the leap and make a film, that was the time. Over one weekend in October, I pulled together a cast and crew from my friends from Telluride, the Tattered Cover, and my hometown of Berthoud. So many people contributed their time, money and other donations to make that film happen, I knew even then it would never be that way again. It was amazing to feel so supported, and though it’ll never be quite like that again, I still choose my projects based on the sense of community I felt with that first experience.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an independent filmmaker living and working in Loveland, Colorado. I graduated from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, and Loyola Law School in Los Angeles where I did an emphasis In Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property. I also received a fellowship to participate in the American Film Institute Directing Workshop for Women where I wrote, directed and produced my third film. I love learning and could easily spend my entire life in the education system! Having said that, however, I learned the most about the filmmaking process by actually making films. I learned about the art of the craft by watching great films.

I am seven years in on a documentary about the local music community and the current state of the job and craft of making music given the many changes happening in the industry. I moved back to Colorado after completing my AFI fellowship to be closer to my family and to reconnect with my Colorado roots. I enjoy working away from the industry and building a community primarily of artists and musicians as opposed to film industry people.

Pay them! I get so many requests for advice on a script or how to develop a documentary but often find people are surprised when I gently suggest they should pay me like any other consultant. It’s a problem I know many artists face. People forget that we have invested heavily in what we do and we deserve compensation just like any other professional.

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

I wish I had known more about the professional mentorship arrangements such as “shadowing” a television director on set to learn more about the job of directing. I was introduced to this concept during my AFI fellowship. I think we always think of mentoring as the occasional meeting to talk, but sometimes getting to do something more active out in the field is the most useful kind of industry exposure you can get.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: carynwitha_y