We were lucky to catch up with Dave Harlequin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dave, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Well, it’s no secret that finding ways to make money in the film industry, or really any industry dealing with the arts, is pretty difficult, but the ways I’ve found that help the most with that is to really branch out and diversify what it is that you do.

For example, in addition to writing and directing my own projects and trying to sell those through various streaming and home media platforms, I’ve made myself very available to hire onto other people’s projects in various roles from Assistant Director to Production Manager, to everything in between. I’ve also been hosting the Stranger Days Independent Film Festival for the past 7 years and serve as the Film Track Director for ConCarolinas for the past 2. It takes a lot of creativity and flexibility with what all you’re willing to do, but making a full time living from creative work is absolutely possible if you’re willing to get out there and get after it all the time. But, after all, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Being creative!

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

I am a professional screenwriter, director, producer, and entertainment personality from Charlotte, North Carolina. I’ve been involved with independent filmmaking for almost 13 years now, working on my first serious film at the tender young age of 30 years old! For me, film was my second career, as before that I was a professional journalist for the better part of my 20s. I’m currently the Creative Director of A Stranger Concept Films – an independent film/media production house, as well as the Festival Director of the Stranger Days Independent Film Festiva and the Film Track Director of ConCarolinas, Inc. where I also serve on the board of directors executive committee. To date, I have won over 80 festival awards for my work as a filmmaker, with two short films currently actively touring the film festival circuit.

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

I’d say the most rewarding thing about being an artist is a combination of a couple things. Obviously, the art itself is one of them. Being able to see something you poured yourself into become a real, tangible thing that people can experience. It’s really, for me at least, one of the best things in life. Just getting to see something I wrote, directed, produced, and/or worked on in any way come to life as something other people can enjoy, and especially so when I’ve written it, because it’s a story I’ve told and that’s always been my ultimate goal… to be a storyteller. The other half of that equation is getting to meet and bond with so, so many amazing and talented people. Film is such a collaborative process from top to bottom and everywhere in-between, and I am so thankful for all the experiences I’ve got to share and memories I now have with all of these incredible individuals, many of whom I would’ve never otherwise gotten the opportunity to know, or at least not know in such a special way as the bond we share when we create something together.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Just keep showing up. Over and over again, just keep showing up. No matter what. As the old saying goes, “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” And talent is great, it’s an amazing gift for sure, but there’s always plenty of other talented people out there, many of whom far more talented than you. But the ones who always show up, always work hard, and always give everything they have to every single project they’re on and thing they do? Yeah, those are the people that get the work out there. So just keep showing up and it’ll eventually get really hard to dismiss you… especially when someone else doesn’t!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.strangerdaysfilmfestival.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrangerconcept
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AStrangerConcept
• Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5683918

Image Credits

All Images Courtesy of A Stranger Concept Films