Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chuck Copeland. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Chuck, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
Sooner. In highschool I was torn between pursuing a creative career and becoming a pilot. I pursued a pilot license, getting my glider license at 15, learning to fly before I could drive. Unfortunately my senior year was 9/11 and the airline industry collapsed. I pursued a business degree with the intention of a career in marketing. Unfortunately my last semester was the 2008 financial crisis and the only job I could find was in tax. I hated tax, I took a career break and travelled before deciding to pursue an artistic career. I was starting in my mid-30s and have faced some age discrimination, but it was well worth pursuing. I’m much happier. My worst day in entertainment is better than my best day in tax.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Chuck Copeland and I’m a recent graduate of UCLA’s MFA producing program. I worked at Lionsgate in their videogame division, before returning to my native Canada last summer.
I’m most proud of a short I directed at UCLA which played a multitude of festivals around the world. I’m also proud of a TV pilot I wrote which placed in a number of contests, reaching the top 3% of projects on the website Coverfly. I also workshopped the script with Meg LeFauve on her podcast. Finally, I’m proud of my UCLA thesis project, which I’m hoping to make as my first feature film.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I got rejected from film school twice before finally gaining admission on my third attempt. After each rejection, I did some self reflection and looked at what I could do to enhance my skills and make my application stronger and reapply. Too many people give up after the first rejection.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I often get labelled as a free spirit. I quit my first job after college after 2 years to travel around the world. A lot of people didn’t understand why I would do that, but I was deeply unsatisfied in my career and felt travelling would help me find my purpose, which I did. Non-creatives often tell me I’m not supposed to like my job, but life is too short to be miserable all the time. I’d rather make less money and be fulfilled in my job than rich and miserable.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuck.copeland006/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-copeland-ba41946/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-zEQv6v9h91idXh5uIVYw