We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Knial Saunders. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Knial below.

Alright, Knial thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

My first inklings about what path I wanted to pursue came in high school. At that time I was a fledgeling writer, poet, and musician but being young and impressionable I allowed the projected fears of those around me to sow doubt in my mind about what I knew to be true for myself. And in my paralysis I passed on opportunities for fear that I wasn’t talented enough or deserving enough to take them.

In hindsight, I am fortunate to have had mentors during that time who saw this change and did not quit encouraging me to pursue what I loved most.

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.

I am reminded in this moment of a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Feist in which she says “a map is more unreal than where you’ve been or how you feel”. I mention this to say that looking back on how I came to where I am feels a bit surreal. I never anticipated that I would be in the industry that I am. The path has never been direct. But every twist, turn, misstep, and closed door led me to where I am and for that I am grateful.

I am fortunate to be at a stage in my career where I am preparing to take my biggest step yet – launching my own production company – words which make me a feel a bit giddy as I write this. I have been blessed to work for/with a number of companies and creatives over the years who have helped to prepare me to pursue striking out on my own.

In essence, Silent K Productions is a multimedia production company producing independent artistic films and short form content such as music videos and commercials. Regardless of genre, the core themes of every project we produce will be humanism, multicultural identity, and sexuality often explored through the lens of intimate coming of age narratives. This is going to be a platform for unifying disparate communities.

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

What comes to mind is the resource of community. Fostering commonality and rapport with persons who share your passions but can also introduce you to new experiences and information is invaluable – especially as a creative. Surrounding yourself with people who are more experienced and more talented and approaching situations with a genuine humility and willingness to learn will help elevate both the individual and the collective.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Pay us a living wage, is the obvious one, as made evident by the recent WGA and SAG-Aftra strikes. But what I believe that speaks to on a larger level is valuing us and what we contribute to society. Next time you walk into a room or drive down a street, take a look at the world around you and note the ways in which everything you see was conceived of and crafted by artists. From the curves of a classic car, to the music blaring from the open window of a craftsman house, to the perfectly coiffed landscaping outside an office building, and the billboard above advertising an exhibit at a local museum. It’s been such an interesting and yet maddening realization to observe the constant consumption and devaluation of all kinds of arts. Everything is art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.knialsaunders.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knial__/