We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Corey Crandall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Corey , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was deciding to bet on myself and become a freelance worker in film and television.

Growing up, we all feel like we are supposed to have a plan. Graduate high school, go to college, and get a job with a 401K and a nice salary.

I made it though most of those steps, but late into my senior year of colloege I realized that the path I was currently on, wasn’t one that I could do forever. I can remember how stressful it was, to no longer have a plan. I decided to finish college and graduate with a degree in Fine Arts and try to figure out the rest of my life after.

My step-dad offered me a job working with him in his contracting business and I took it while I figured out my next steps. I remember we were putting up drywall in a building across from Red Studios in Hollywood. I looked at that building, the people working there, and decided that I was going to do whatever it took to work there too.

I was incredibly lucky that I had a friend, Nicole, that helped me get started. She got me onto a team working on some Youtube series shows and from there the rest was histroy.

Corey , 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?

As mentioned earlier, I was lucky to have a friend in Nicole. She knew that I was interested in getting into film, and helped me get onto an art team.

I wasnt familiar with all of the departements and jobs that were available in the industry, but having a degree in fine art, I felt that it would be a good fit.

I got to learn a lot on the job. I was really lucky to work with people who constantly supported me and tought me what I know now.

The industry is very much about who you know and who you can make a connection with. I always say that being kind to everyone is the most important rule of self employment. It was because I was kind that I was offered a job as a talent wrangler on The Gong Show.

I had never worked a stage show before, and I didnt realise how different it would be to scripted projects. But when I got onto that stage I realized that being a stage manager was what I wanted to be for the rest of my life.

I spend the nest 5 years working my way up the ladder and eventually, I made it to my goal and was accepted as a Stage Manager in the DGA.

It was a hard road to get to where I am today, but I’m so happy that I did it.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal has always been to make people happy. Throughout my life I didnt know how I could turn that into a career, but I’ve realized that the shows that I help in making are ones that everyone in a family can watch and enjoy. To get to work with my friends and leave that sprinkle of happieness to a persons day is the goal that I aim to hit every day I come to work,

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect is the comrodary and sense of family that you build throughout each show process. The film industry is a lot smaller than people think and to get to see my friends on almost every show I do. I see most of them more than I see my own family, but at the end of a long day its always nice to know that I’ve done it with people that I love and respect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10177860/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_q_corey%2520crandall
• Instagram: _ccrandall