We recently connected with Chance Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Chance, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Being a filmmaker, my life is full of taking necessary risks to achieve the results, whether I’m directing or helping behind the camera in another way. Everything I do, from writing to VFX, requires that I make calculated guesses as to what works and what doesn’t – what plays and what won’t – and what people will enjoy. Inevitably, each time I push the line of creativity, I always see a better result. There’s something about forcing yourself today to compete with yourself yesterday that brings you closer to your goals. The first day of shooting for our first Tales of Jovia short film, Liv, was spend in the rain, moving around massive set pieces, and not getting a single shot. We had used up our entire fundraised budget, and didn’t have anywhere else to turn. But I pressed on. A year later, Liv won multiple awards at the Houston Short Short Short Film Festival. Was it worth it? Absolutely. So, I said I would do it again, and again, and push myself and my team further and further. Now, we’re in pre-production for our first Feature Film, The Mauve Artifact. It was all worth it.

Chance, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Narrative filmmaking is my passion at the core of my being. I started Inwood Park Productions in 2022 to make a difference in the Houston film community and bring together the movies that it deserves. I started by crowdfunding for my first feature film, Happiness, a coming of age story of a teenager in Houston who struggles with depression and the onset of drug addiction. After working on various projects around Houston, I eventually started a T.V. anthology called “Tales of Jovia” including award winning short films, Liv and Recontact on Blume, and can be streamed online and watched on Stash TV. Along the way, I was joined by an amazing and dedicated crew, and we’re moving into our first Sci Fi feature film, The Mauve Artifact.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

You need to have reasonable and consistent expectations and rewards. Make everyone feel part of the team. Encourage people to learn new things. Disagreement isn’t always a bad thing. A film crew needs a good leader, but also needs to have a friendly connected set of individuals.

How did you build your audience on social media?

You can always find me on TikTok, and all other social media, at Inwood Park Productions. I’ve garnered thousands of followers by discussing things that matter most in the film community, both in my city and on a national level.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@inwoodparkproductions?lang=en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwood_park_productions/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/6yHJ2HGLZfA?si=nFkZEqcz9ANGH4cy

Image Credits
Aaron Reissig took my image. All others are BTS shared by cast/crew, stills from the films, and film posters.