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

Lee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

My first earnings as a creative came in a substantial amount—especially for a 24-year-old—when Lionsgate acquired my first two feature films in a two-picture buyout deal. However, that opportunity was built on years of independent work. Over six years, I self-funded and produced two micro-budget films, uncertain if they would ever secure distribution or generate revenue. Fortunately, Lionsgate picked up both in an amount that doubled both budgets.

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’m a writer, director, and editor running a production company in Colorado, where we bring stories to life from the ground up. Most recently, we produced Rally Caps, a film I wrote and directed, starring Judd Hirsch and Amy Smart.

What makes my approach unique is that I’ve spent years wearing multiple hats—writing, directing, editing, and producing—which means I see storytelling from every angle. I don’t just focus on the big picture; I’m obsessed with the little details that make a story feel real and hit home with an audience. Whether it’s shaping a performance, fine-tuning an edit, or building a world from scratch, I love making stories that stick with people.

At the end of the day, I’m all about crafting films that aren’t just entertaining, but that resonate—stories that make you feel something, that you carry with you after the credits roll.

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

When you look at the world and the people in it, every job is a contribution to society while also being a way to make a living. Art is a vital part of that cycle—it’s everywhere, from the logo on a milk carton to a song on the radio.

I believe art provides an escape from the routine of everyday life, offering a cathartic experience for those who engage with it. That’s what I strive for in my work—not just to entertain, but to create something that sparks real emotion. Whether it changes someone’s day, month, year, or even their life, that’s the impact I hope to have.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Making Rally Caps felt like running a marathon where the finish line kept moving further away—but somehow, we made it. We had to raise funds and secure resources at lightning speed, and at any point, we could’ve thrown in the towel and saved ourselves a lot of stress. But we would have felt like we let a lifetime opportunity slip away.

Instead, we powered through, tackling one impossible hurdle after another. Every time it felt like we’d hit a dead end, we found a way to keep going. It wasn’t always pretty (there may have been some caffeine-fueled all-nighters and a few “what have we gotten ourselves into?” moments), but we refused to quit. And in the end, all the chaos, problem-solving, and sheer determination made crossing that finish line even sweeter.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.crystalrockentertainment.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecipolla1983/

Image Credits

courtesy of rally caps, LLC