Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren McGarrett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lauren, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

It’s no secret that the best way to learn filmmaking is by making films. Your films don’t need to be big budget productions with seasoned talent; you can start with simple videos or skits filmed on your phone with your friends and family. My first films were recreations of my favorite segments from “All That,” filmed on my family’s camcorder. I also first started editing as a teenager, creating fan videos on YouTube. Back then, I just considered it a fun hobby and had no idea how I could turn it into an actual career. It wasn’t until college, when I began working at the school TV station and was learning on the job, that I really started to pursue a life in production. Nowadays, between YouTube, TikTok and even Twitter, there are endless resources of people sharing their best tips for filmmaking, so it really is something everyone can try.

It’s a very common sentiment in the indie filmmaking community that you don’t need film school to learn how to make films; and that’s true. You can learn by working on other’s film sets, through online courses or through your own trial and error. However, all that said, there’s still a part of me that thinks if I had gone to a university that specializes in film production, I would have learned a lot more in less time. The university I attended only had two hands-on video production classes during my time there, and it was very general coverage. Most of my knowledge came from the jobs I worked, rather than any of my classes. Still, I don’t regret going to that university, because it allowed me to meet a handful of fellow creatives and filmmakers that I still collaborate with to this day.

In my opinion, the most essential thing for a filmmaker to have is perseverance. This is a difficult industry and it’s hard to find opportunities that can take you where you want to be. It can be years before you reach that “big break” moment; I’m still trying to make mine happen. It’s important that you keep up with your vision and always find something you’re passionate about to work on, so you’ll be ready when that golden opportunity knocks.

Lauren, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a filmmaker, video producer and editor. My creative projects and collaborations include short and feature films, both narrative and documentary. I also edit a number of promo-style content and have done work in the fashion, luxury and cruise-line industries. As a freelancer, I’ve filmed for weddings, events and also behind-the-scenes for local productions. I love creating engaging film and video content that viewers enjoy and want to see over and over again.

One of my favorite things to do with my personal film projects is experiment, whether that be with new writing-styles, cinematography techniques, editing or genres. Last year, I produced a horror film and a coming-of-age story, two genres I had never tried before. So far this year, I’ve directed a documentary, a sci-fi short, and am in the planning process for another drama film. I make the stories that I want to see, and I hope that others enjoy seeing them as well. My dream is to direct feature films and television, so I’ve been working to make it a reality.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

The best part about being a creative is taking a little idea in my mind and bringing it into the world, building something entirely new that others can watch and enjoy. And then maybe, that project that started as a single thought can give someone else an idea, and they can bring their own piece of art to life. As a filmmaker, it’s so rewarding to sit in a screening and have the audience react to your work, forming their own opinions, regardless of if they liked it or not.

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

You’ve probably heard the complaint that Hollywood does too many reboots and remakes, that they’ve run out of ideas so they’re just rehashing the same things over again. But, there are new and fresh stories out there, you just have to look for them. Independent filmmakers have such a wide range of stories to tell, and relatively little support from the general public. Audiences want new ideas, and filmmakers want viewers. No matter where you live, I can guarantee you indie filmmakers are somewhere around you. We’re everywhere. Support local talent by going to screenings, small festivals or contributing to crowd-funding campaigns. Take some time to watch short films on YouTube or Vimeo. Once you start looking around, you might even find a new favorite up-and-coming filmmaker whose projects you can look forward to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://laurenmcgarrett.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afilmbylau/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AFilmByLau
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/laurenmcg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@afilmbylau