We recently connected with Emily Willson-Quayle and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Emily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

Legacy is a word I struggle with. It makes me feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders that I have to live up to; like an emperor hoping to leave their mark on the world before it’s too late. What I want from my life is to create stories that enrich the lives of others. It doesn’t need to be a huge commercial success or be the biggest indie darling at a festival (although these would be much appreciated), but the idea that something that I created can bring a room full of people together is what I can only strive for. Cinema has the power to bond a room full of strangers through laughter or tears, to allow them to feel their emotions freely is a power that cannot be understated. If I’m able to create something that impacts even one person and open their minds to another worldview, I know that my “legacy” has been cemented.

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.

When I was seven years old, I sat all the kids in my neighborhood down in front of my family’s little box TV and made them watch Singin’ in the Rain (1954). Within a few minutes, the kids decided they would rather do anything else than watch a movie that came out before 2005, but I sat with my eyes glued to the screen. My parents noticed and nurtured my keen interest in film and swiftly sent me to theater and filmmaking summer camps. When I was asked by my teachers what I wanted to do as an adult, I would answer the typical “doctor, lawyer, scientist” spiel but secretly I held onto the idea that I would be a filmmaker, specifically a screenwriter and director. It wasn’t until high school that I realized there had only ever been one option for me: I had to work in the movies. I attended Virginia Commonwealth University and was one of fifty in the Cinema department. There I had the opportunity to direct a short film, ‘Citizen’s Arrest’ and knew immediately I had no choice but to pursue film as a career. After graduating in 2021, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia and started looking for work. After PA-ing on various features, I landed my first job as a Production Coordinator for a movie that premiered on the Lifetime Movie Network. Since then, I’ve coordinated over 10 feature films that have been sold to Lifetime and Tubi.
I have continued to pursue my writing, directing, and producing in my free time and through my production company, A&E Films, I have half a dozen award winning short films under my belt. I am currently in pre-production for my next short film and cannot wait until I can share it with the public!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, being able to bring my vision to life and sharing it with an audience has to be one of the most rewarding (and nerve-racking) experiences of my life. Every time someone watches one of my films (whether it be ones I’ve written, directed, or produced) I hold my breath until the final credits roll. I feel extremely vulnerable when I share these projects, but I find that I am always proud of myself and my cast and crew for the product we were able to turn out. Being a creative, our passions feels so intertwined in our self worth that any sort of rejection feels like a stab in the heart, but subsequently any smile feels like I’ve conquered the world.
At the end of the day, if something I create impacts someone, I cannot ask for anything more.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I’ve learned through watching those around me that the best possible thing you can do to properly manage a team is through thorough listening and uplifting others. Filmmaking is an incredibly collaborative process, and I’ve been extraordinarily lucky to have such a creative team that supports and elevates my vision. Although it might sound cliché, communication truly is the key to success. Being able to tell your team what you need for them and creating a space where they are able to tell you what they can and cannot do, fosters an atmosphere that allows the project to flourish.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilywillsonquayle/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12502729/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 https://www.instagram.com/aefilms.present/