We were lucky to catch up with Micah Williams Kelly recently and have shared our conversation below.

Micah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

In my opinion, a well-known quote by none other than Steve Jobs perfectly sums up the answer to this question: ‘Real artists ship.’ It took me a few years to fully grasp the meaning of this statement, but ever since I directed and released my last film, the lessons, opportunities and obstacles I’ve encountered on the way have made me a true believer in Jobs’ famous words. In my experience, his saying pairs well with another, maybe less-known and slightly harsher quote from North-Eastern England, which essentially translates to: ‘Shy people get nothing.’ While both of these pithy statements are fun and provocative to recite, they can be tough to live by in practice. Creating and sharing work that matters to you takes a toll on your time and energy, and there’s a certain social safety net that comes with being shy. However, I genuinely believe that as an artist, especially a filmmaker, embracing both of these maxims has been essential to moving forward. That said, I don’t mean this as advice (because that would be presumptuous), but rather as something that has proven true in my own experience. It’s been a privilege to document my film’s festival run in publications like this throughout the year. I can only hope that the related stories and ideas I share are helpful to someone out there, or at the very least, entertaining.

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.

My name is Micah, and I’m a filmmaker based in LA. Before moving to Southern California I grew up in an interracial family in Sacramento, with a Caucasian mother and an African American father. Culturally, the idea of ‘fitting in’ has always been elusive for me. Maybe that’s why shyness is a trait that I was naturally drawn to. However, in retrospect, I’m grateful for my upbringing, as it made me more open-minded, empathetic and curious—all of which have shaped my creative identity.

In 2021, I wrote, produced and directed a film titled Cross. The story follows the intersecting routines of a boxer and a janitor working side-by-side in their shared environment. I based the concept on my own experience, having spent the previous 7 years of my career creating content for influencers and marketers. It had been a long time since I’d created something that truly crystallized my own voice and point of view, but the global pandemic compelled me to take a philosophical look in the mirror and honestly reflect on where I was, how I’d gotten there, and where I actually wanted to go. Like the characters in my story, I think most of us see ourselves as fighters, but life’s trials often draw us into becoming the custodians of others’ agendas. The film went on to be screened as an official selection, most notably at New Filmmakers LA, the Beverly Hills Film Festival, and the Pasadena International Film Festival. It will conclude its festival run in my hometown at the Sacramento International Film Festival this coming December. Each screening has provided an invaluable opportunity—equal parts rewarding and terrifying—to meet new people, gain insights, and recalibrate my next steps in a constantly shifting industry.

Regardless of where my journey takes me from here, I will always look back on this project—and the moment in my life it symbolizes—with gratitude and pride. During a time of intense global turmoil, I had successfully created and ‘shipped’ my work to the public. I had made myself open and vulnerable to connecting with new people thanks to a temporary platform that I had created. Those connections, in turn, had led me further down a rabbit hole of opportunities that, otherwise, I may never have discovered.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

“So you made a film, and nobody cared, right?” That was a question my friend asked me as my festival run began nearing its end. Weeks later, I was still trying to think of a witty comeback to that question, even as I sat in on a panel at the penultimate festival where my film was screening. My thoughts were interrupted by the speaker asking if anyone in the audience had ever considered pursuing a career in commercial acting. Everyone remained silent. I was already sinking lower into my seat, but then something came over me. I had worked very hard to make a film and get it into this festival. I had also chosen to proactively attend every panel and workshop that the festival was offering. Now, someone on the panel was offering a potential opportunity, and my natural reaction was to keep my mouth shut? I raised my hand and told him I was interested. He gave me his card. A few weeks later I was sitting in an acting class. A few days after the class I was lucky enough to deliberate between two different agencies that had shown interest in me. My acting teacher advised me to go with whomever showed more enthusiasm. Fortunately, that made it a very easy choice. After 14 years of living in Los Angeles I had finally, albeit unexpectedly, signed with my first creative rep.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

2023 was a very tough year filled with relocation, unexpected job changes, and a few high-profile labor strikes. The excitement of making and promoting my film had long since faded, replaced by the question: ‘What now?’ I spent countless hours searching job boards and emails, looking for any career opportunities I might have missed. Then, one day, I received an email from New Filmmakers LA, the very first festival to premiere my film over a year ago. The message was a general invitation to attend a Zoom conference about the Commercial Directors Diversity Program, an initiative designed to develop commercial directors from underrepresented backgrounds. I had never heard of it before and only discovered it because my film had played at that particular festival. I submitted my demo reel, and the following year, I was invited to attend directing workshops at Smuggler. It’s hard to fully describe the gratitude and validation that comes from receiving such an opportunity, knowing that a competitive organization has chosen to invest its time and resources into you. It’s humbling. As I enter the program as a finalist, I’m reminding myself to stay open and present to the people I meet, to learn as much as possible, and to apply that knowledge to both the production and promotion of my next projects. Shy people get nothing and real artists ship.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://micahwilliamskelly.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micahwkelly/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-williams-kelly-53929276/

Image Credits

Samantha Louise Lopez
Alisa Banks
Stage 5