Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Bliss. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Michael , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
For me, mastering my craft is by doing it. Studying my craft and failing at my craft. I have failed numerous times throughout my life and each time I have learned new skills on how to improve. Try and try again. When you fall pick yourself up and start over again.
The obstacles that stand in my way is money. It takes money to make money, especially being an artist and filmmaker. Filmmaking is so expensive, so I create with what I have. If I have a small budget or no budget I work around it and think outside the box. Doing this you gain skills that help you learn how to develop your craft. Getting music for my films can be expensive, so I bought a keyboard and started creating the music myself.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a photographer, filmmaker, artist and festival director. I started creating art as a child and in high school I took as many art classes as I was able to. In my video productions class I made my first few films and these films are still being seen to this day thanks to YouTube and Facebook. While in class I was told that my films really stood out above the rest and I decided to pursue a career in film and video productions. This was my dream and today I live by this dream. Now I am using this dream to teach others how to follow their bliss!
In 1996 I moved from Colorado to Austin, Texas and rented an art studio at The Artplex which was a creative oasis near the University of Texas. There was truly no place like it. A walk through the halls would take you past galleries and studios that contained painters, photographers, theater companies, filmmakers, and writers. It was my sanctuary. Gary Peden was one of the owners and he took me under his wing and helped me during some troubled times. In 1999 he passed away and to honor him and to celebrate life I created The Bliss Festival; a multimedia, cultural arts, film festival with a mission to create unity in our community that brings peace, love, harmony and bliss while celebrating creativity and individuality. This year the festival will be in its 23rd year.
While I was in Austin I met up with the film director Robert Rodriquez and asked him if he had any insight on how to become a successful filmmaker. He told me to get his book “Rebel without a Crew” and the next day I went to Barnes and Noble and found his book autographed with the words “Good Luck”. A couple months later I auditioned for his film “The Faculty” and ended up acting as three different characters. Robert is a huge inspiration in my life and being on the set of “The Faculty” was such an amazing experience that I will never forget.
These experiences have led me to who I am today. An award winning filmmaker and artist that loves our community.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative?
The most rewarding aspect is that I use art as a healing tool that helps me get through the traumas of my past. I struggle with PTSD, depression, severe panic and anxiety. Being creative helps me get through these dark times and has guided me towards a light of hope. Art brings me joy and gets me to a state of Bliss!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I think Joseph Campbell says it best:
“Follow your bliss.
If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living.
When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid,
and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn’t have opened for anyone else.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blissfest333.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bliss_productions333
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelbliss333
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bliss-2637331b/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Blissfest333
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMqIDvHtT7WkuRtnjcERgbw
- Other: Facebook Bliss Productions https://www.facebook.com/blissproductions333 Facebook Blissfest333 https://www.facebook.com/BlissFestival333