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

Hi Morgan, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success is such a complicated thing. One person can be successful by achieving great things, while others may garner success by making impressive works. For me it’s about leaving something in the world that makes it better than when you found it.

I’ve been making film and video in Atlanta for more than 15 years and it’s been such an amazing process learning and growing as an artist. My most recent project, my first feature film: REWIND, is what I would call my biggest success yet. It has yet to be touted by the media, and it hasn’t won any awards just yet, but it’s been such an amazing journey creating something that means so much to me. It’s a film about hardship and the inevitability of fate. It tackles thought-provoking themes of regret, identity, and the relentless pursuit of the truth.

I finished working on this film just this year, 2025 and I am excited to make it available to people from all over the world because it represents such a big success to me. I have enjoyed making something that can encourage people to fight in the face of adversity and never give up the search for truth.

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?

Growing up in Atlanta, I’ve been immersed in southern culture for most of my life, and it has deeply influenced my storytelling. My love affair with movies began at a young age, sparking a lifelong obsession that led me to produce films across every genre and stage of production. With over 15 years of experience—more than half my life—I’ve dedicated myself to creating films that resonate with audiences, aiming to inspire, instill hope, and shift perspectives.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to receive numerous awards and an Emmy nomination in 2018, which stand as testaments to my passion and drive. Remarkably, I’ve achieved much of this success working independently, demonstrating my versatility and determination in an industry known for its challenges. Recently, I co-founded the Howling Warlocks production team, marking a new chapter in my filmmaking journey. Together, we’re committed to producing groundbreaking films that will continue to captivate and inspire audiences for years to come.

My new feature film REWIND features a diverse cast that authentically represents a variety of ethnicities and LGBTQ identities, seamlessly integrated into a narrative that transcends identity alone. At its heart, this film is a gripping story about confronting the past, perseverance in the face of failure, and the universal desire for redemption.

Audiences will connect with the film’s exploration of these themes through characters whose experiences reflect the complexity of modern life. Instead of focusing solely on identity, REWIND weaves these perspectives into a thrilling, character-driven plot that feels fresh and relatable. With its dynamic storytelling and visually striking real-world locations, the film offers a unique experience that speaks to the diversity of today’s audiences—bringing representation into the mainstream without losing its intense, action-packed core.

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

My goal with REWIND is more than just making a film—it’s about building a foundation for future stories that inspire resilience and hope. I want to create films that encourage people to fight through the hardships in their own lives and strive to be better, no matter how impossible the odds may seem. Through storytelling, I aim to show that great evils—both external and internal—can be confronted and overcome. This is just the beginning of a larger journey to craft films that motivate and empower audiences.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Fundraising for this film was honestly one of the toughest things I had to do. We had an incredibly ambitious budget of $25,000 for the project which is leaps and bounds more than any project I have produced in the past. With this film we were dedicated to making it the best we could do and budgeting for a larger cast and crew than ever before was daunting.

We started with a fundraiser on Seed & Spark, a fundraising site that is focused on Filmmakers and storytellers. My team with the Howling Warlocks was integral in connecting with thousands of people and getting hundreds of backers that believed in our work and our project. With our biggest supporter being Dale Cardwell from the home grown Atlanta business TrustDALE, we were able to reach our fundraising goal.

We sent out literally thousands of emails to everyone on our email contact list asking for their help to meet our needs for this project. I personally reached out to hundreds of friends on social media and through email asking them to help share our project to thousands all across the country.

It was amazing to see the feedback and the support from so many friends; it was truly humbling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Howlingwarlocksproductions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howlingwarlocks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howlingwarlocks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@howlingwarlocks
• Other: http://bit.ly/Rewind2025