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

Gabriel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

When I finished my undergraduate degree from Ohio University (I got my BC in Communications with an emphasis in Cinematography, as well as a minor in History) I took a year off at home with my mom while I figured out my next moves. I worked as a freelance one man crew for an art gallery called the T.L. Norris Gallery in Greenville, South Carolina, while also working day jobs and applying to Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts Graduate Program in Film Directing. I applied on a whim because my undergraduate school, Ohio University, had already denied me, and after doing lots of research I discovered the only graduate school in the world that offered everything I wanted, and felt like the perfect fit, was Chapman. At that time, Chapman was the 7th best film school in the world, and the program I was applying for was one of the most competitive graduate programs. I applied believing I fully wouldn’t make it in, but wanting it so badly. I loved the school structure, the program, the equipment, and most importantly, the faculty. The school was stacked with filmmakers I had looked up to my entire life, people I felt could change me into the type of director I always wanted to be. A few months later, my mom texted me when I was at work that the letter of response had come home. When I got home we opened it together and saw that I was accepted into this program.
I don’t come from a lot of money, and Chapman, like most other schools in the USA, is extremely expensive. When we did the math, we knew I would be leaving this three year program with over $250,000 in debt, money I didn’t know if I could ever pay off. At this time I had also been debating whether or not to drastically career shift into something more stable and pursue a law degree. My Mom and I talked for a long time about making the choice. Do I move across the country by myself with my dog, start a program way out of my budget, and pursue something I had been dreaming about since I was a child with an extremely high risk point? Or do I apply for some local Law Schools and become a lawyer like my mother, something I believed at the time I was mentally able to do. Some of my siblings encouraged me, like my sister Anna, and some of them told me the money was too much. My father told me the money and risk were too high and I shouldn’t take it. In the end, my mother told me I could create more change in the world if I was successful as an artist, and once you reach $100,000 in debt, everything after that is just figurative until you become wealthy. She told me there is no debtors prison, and classist guardrails that are set up to keep the middle class and lower class from achieving their dreams should be jumped whenever possible in the name of bringing change to the world.
I think all jobs can bring great change to the world and major improvements, but I think she was right for me specifically. I think she knew that art was the route for me. And I approach every project trying to make something that improves the world in some way, because I believe that is my gift. And it is a gift my mother gave me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Gabriel Carnick (she/her), I am a queer film director, writer, and cinematographer. I have been working professionally for 15 years and have been lucky enough to work all over the world, from Ghana, to Ireland, to Los Angeles, to Ohio, to Atlanta. I focus on projects (narrative, documentary, commercial, and music video) that focus on queer, femme, or BIPOC storylines trying to tell stories people haven’t heard and bring the reality of people’s existence to the general public. The world is full of stories we haven’t heard because the market has been saturated by white, cis, straight, male stories, and I love being part of the movement trying to introduce the world to more diversity. The more we see each, the more we can find peace, humanity, and compromise together.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wrote and directed a few really strong short films and documentaries in undergraduate and grad school and had no idea how important marketing and the film festival circuit was. I didn’t know how to navigate or prioritize film festivals or how to utilize what limited funds I have to their best effect. If I could go back I would run them through the circuit with strategy and more clearly defined goals. But you live and you learn and you can’t know any information that you aren’t given.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I want to make the world a better place through art. And create the things I needed as a child.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gabrielcarnick.com/
• Instagram: @gabrieldirectorcinematographer
• Other: https://youtu.be/i2dCuxaqSjc?si=JNKa1T6QkTw8wfcf