We were lucky to catch up with Paula Crichton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Paula, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

There is one thing I’ve known for sure since I was a child; I am an artist. At a young age I would spend my time drawing and writing elaborate scenarios and characters. I always seemed to gravitate towards artistic expression over other interests.

My path in the arts was really solidified when I attended oil painting classes as a kid. I remember my interest being peaked particularly at how my teacher captured lighting in her paintings. What I learned in those classes about the basics of visual arts such as color, light and composition, naturally developed an interest in photography during my teenage years. I spent my teens with a camera practically glued to my hand. I documented endless moments through my lens and became very comfortable with the medium.

Eventually I ventured into the world of cinema as another artistic outlet. I found myself feeling at home within it. Filmmaking combined all the other art forms that I had experimented with throughout my life, and allowed me to incorporate my various interests into one medium. So, I decided to pursue a career in film production.

Attending two film schools (Santa Fe University of Art and Design & Columbia College Hollywood) was a great decision for me. It provided me with a very hands-on experience, and allowed me to try out all the different roles in film. I felt drawn to pursuing an emphasis in cinematography because it felt like the most obvious course of action based on my past experience with painting and photography. I went through film school and into my freelance career working on the camera, grip and electric departments. This choice has been extremely beneficial in getting to build a community of countless brilliant filmmakers that I have worked with! However, deep down, I felt that I wanted to be doing something more authentic to myself. I think I always knew I was meant to be a writer/director, but I ignored that voice within me for far too long.

It took me years into my professional career to truly listen to my gut about what I wanted my path as an artist to be. I was letting the fear of being seen stand in my way. It felt emotionally safer to hide behind the camera. I’m not sure exactly what switched in me, but 2020 was a year that forced me to evaluate my long term goals and opened my eyes to all the ways I was obstructing my own success. I made a pact with myself to allow my artistic voice to be loud and unapologetic. No more hiding, even if it sometimes feels uncomfortable to be visible.

Paula, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Absolutely! I am a poetic storyteller of dreamy visuals and highly stylized imagery. Coming from a fine arts background has heavily influenced my visual storytelling approach as a film writer and director. I tend to tell stories with little to no dialogue, where the images themselves communicate most of the information. I find this kind of approach extremely effective in encouraging self reflection for both the filmmaker and the audience.

I gravitate towards telling the stories about the quietest person in the room. I find that these personality types generally live in a state of inner depth and complexity. As a wallflower in social scenarios myself, I understand this experience all too well. A lot of emotion is communicated through the unspoken, and it is that nuance that I find the most inspiring to capture visually.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

My art is a direct reflection of who I am. Filmmaking has been the most effective medium for me to express freely. It is liberating and limitless. The art form is experimental at its core, and that is one of the biggest factors that draws me and so many other filmmakers to it.

Film has an ability to connect people in very deep and subconscious ways. A sense of community follows through the entire process, from the creative laboring itself, to an audience viewing the final product. It brings people together and invites them to reflect on certain topics, even if it’s just for a moment.

So, creating something that is both personal and authentic to myself, while also making people feel seen and validated in their existence, is my greatest artistic endeavor.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I think that the biggest resource you can have as a filmmaker are your peers. Film is a purely collaborative medium, and the strength in a project lies in its crew. You might have an amazing script, but if you don’t have the right crew of people who are as committed to the craft as you are, the final film won’t be the best version of itself. It is important to nurture relationships with fellow filmmakers who you feel aligned with. Their presence in your life and their devotion to the art form will be a crucial puzzle piece to our collective success as indie filmmakers.

Also, accepting that you won’t have the answers to every question is essential. In this industry I find it important to be comfortable with asking your peers for support, and surrounding yourself with people who know more than you. As the quote goes, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” Embracing the mentality that there will always be space for growth is crucial. Learning is a never ending journey!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.paulacrichton.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulacrichton
• Other: IMDb (https://m.imdb.com/name/nm8447644/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk) Watch the trailer to “The English Rose” (https://vimeo.com/paulacrichton/theenglishrose-trailer)

Image Credits
Candice Rose, Abra Kadab, Kristen Semedo