We were lucky to catch up with Phillip Crum recently and have shared our conversation below.

Phillip, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

There are two of equal significance and meaning.

1) In November of 2023, I set off from Los Angeles for my home state of West Virginia to direct a short film I wrote titled Above the Salt. My home informs so much of what I do as an artist and how I operate in the world as a human. To create there for the first time, and bring along a cast and crew of 20+ people from around the country, was a profound and transformative experience.

2) In November of 2022, with the help of many, I held a solo art show in Los Angeles…exhibiting nearly 30 of my own paintings. Painting is a deeply personal art form. It’s just you, the paint, and the canvas. An exercise in vulnerability. Seeing a few hundred people (including my parents) come through the gallery over a 3 day period reassured me that exposing myself in that way and giving your art to the world is the way.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a West Virginia raised, Los Angeles based artist. ‘Artist’ can be interpreted many ways. The last decade for me it’s been as an actor, writer, painter, and filmmaker. Knowing a creative life was what I wanted to lead from a young age, I instead took on the role of the avoidant paralyzed by fear…keeping ideas and aspiration to myself. It wasn’t until I joined an acting studio here in LA at the ripe age of 31. that that persona started to breakdown. Thank God. The acting led to some writing that led to some directing that led to some painting. It’s all storytelling. It’s all connected.

More recently, the focus has been on the aforementioned painting and filmmaking. The art show in Los Angeles was titled ‘At Your Feet, Not Your Neck’, and explored the notion of relenting control in favor of surrender. Exactly one year later, I wrote and directed ‘Above the Salt’. It’s a sci-fi drama that I am very proud of. Something about November I suppose.

What sets me apart from others? Seeing an idea through from infancy to completion and surrounding myself with the right people to execute it.

What are you most proud of? My five nieces and nephews.

What are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your work? It’s all storytelling. It’s all connected.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The old adage “write what you know.” Any creative pursuit can (and will) be informed by the story of you. It’s inescapable. But as Christopher Nolan said, “It’s nonsense. You should write whatever you want.”

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

A song — ‘Burgs’. It’s a track released in 2015 by the band Mt. Wolf featuring the spoken word of Guy Burgs who is the founder of the organization The Art of Meditation. I find myself coming back.to it several times a year. A good reminder.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @phillipgc

Image Credits

Image credits – Jorge Grau