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

Hi Lou, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I gave up a thriving legal practice to pursue a creative passion. Growing up, I had always wanted to be a writer, but as I was graduating college, I was hesitant to pursue the life of a creative and all the uncertainties that would bring. Therefore, I decided to go to law school. I convinced myself that I would have a legal career as a way to make a living while I continued to pursue my writing. However, the realities of private practice were even more demanding than I had anticipated. I had my own office, which added additional responsibilities and stress. Therefore, I stopped writing altogether.

It wasn’t until many years later, after I became ill to the point where I had to close my business, that I realized that I had given up completely on my dreams. While recovering from surgery, I decided that I would pursue my writing again. So rather than reopening my business once I was healthy again, I found a way to have some balance by finding a job that allowed me to write again. I definitely make way less money than I did before, but now, I have time to write and pursue other creative endeavors.

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?

Since I began writing again, I shifted to writing screenplays. That led to my making a film the year after, where I learned that I also liked directing. I slowly taught myself directing and filmmaking. Ironically, I found my experience as an attorney came in very handy when I started making films. It shows how every experience you have is just another stepping stone to your destiny.

Since that time, I have made seven feature films. The last one, “9 Windows,” was just released by Gravitas Ventures in North America. It is currently being shopped around to international distributors for licensing in other territories throughout the world.

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

The film industry is brutal. It is still an unknown how far I’ll be able to go, and even if I were to “make it” to the point where my name is widely known, there is no certainty I’ll be able to remain at that level of success. It’s something that I struggle with all the time, as I am normally drawn to having financial security. However, whether I make another film again or not, no one can take away the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met along the way. The filmmaking process is so collaborative, and that means that you end up working closely with a lot of like-minded individuals, and you all bond together in the madness of making some art together. I have made some truly wonderful friendships that hopefully will last for many, many years.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Of course, my friends from my previous life as a professional have a hard time understanding how I could give up a legal practice to be a filmmaker. That goes ten times more for my mother who was always so proud to tell people that her daughter was an attorney. She keeps asking me when I’m going to give up this silly dream and go back to my law practice. For me, however, there is no going back to a full-time job as an attorney. Life is too short. To do something that you don’t love, or at the very least like, is a waste of a life no matter how much money you might make. Short tem, you can sacrifice, but in the long run, you have to do what makes you happy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.whitelotusmovies.com
• Instagram: @mslousimon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mslousimon