Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Phillip Teasley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Phillip, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

With the golden age of social media, oftentimes we look at everyone’s successes online and only focus on the result without recognizing the entire process of hard work and dedication that lies behind it. And especially as a creative in the filmmaking industry and an aspiring DP (Director of Photography), I see the beautiful work of those that are further along their filmmaking journey than I am and sometimes I’ll find myself doubting my own skills, questioning why I’m not as good as they are, and wondering why I’m not as lucky as other people… And then comes the realization that success isn’t linear, and it isn’t the same for everyone.

Due to this very recent realization, I’ve now been able to find inspiration from the work of others, and I’ve realized that we as creatives inspire each other to do better work. Success isn’t an end goal, it is the never-ending process of getting 1% better everyday. After all, what else can we do? Plus, what even is true success? Is it recognition for your work? Are people who are rich but hate what they do for work successful? Are people who love what they do for work, but aren’t necessarily rich considered successful? Are one-hit wonders considered successful?

This line of questioning leads to a singular answer: success is determined by YOU, and no one else. So why even compare in the first place?

Phillip, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hey I’m Phillip! And I’m a Cinematographer & Filmmaker.

My background as a Video Producer in the commercial space has allowed me to bring storytelling techniques to create engaging content in the music industry, mini-documentaries, weddings, and helping small-businesses (which is my personal favorite) through engaging video content!

I am based in Raleigh/Durham, NC and I’ve recently been taking on projects that have pushed me to develop my skills with storytelling and lighting. Creativity is my passion, and I am always pushing myself to getting at least 1% better everyday.

Do you have a small business and want to create video content for your business and brand? Then let’s chat!

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

It is my personal belief that artistry and creativity is something that everyone is innately born with, and it manifests in different ways in different people. I believe that creativity is instinctual, and a significant part of the human experience.

With that being said, my career essentially began when I shot and edited my first wedding video in December of 2019. After that, things took off with me shooting more weddings and eventually getting my first job in video production shortly after. Naturally, the 9-5 style is typically more corporate and ‘cold’, but there is always a space to slip in your creative vision in any project if you can find out where it is appropriate to do so!

Because of this, to me the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is making the vision in your head become a reality. This can be as simple as inserting bits of your own creativity into a cold, corporate video, or it can be what I am currently in the process of doing which is finding ways to plug myself into bigger, warmer projects that tell a story that I actually connect with. I am beyond fortunate to be in a position in which this is my reality!

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Here is some advice to anyone that feels stuck in their creative (and even non-creative!) journey: Find a mentor. Reach out to someone whose work you admire or respect that is further along their journey than you are. This is certainly one of the best things I have done in my career. I contacted a local DP who is a badass, and I reached out to him on his website, complimented his work, and asked if I could pick his brain over coffee. I had no idea that this would end up turning into a friendship, and this relationship has grown my network of people and it’s given him work, and given me work.

Find the guts to write a nice warm email to someone who you look up to! And do it sooner rather than later!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.phillipteasley.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/filly.tea
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/phillipteasley/
• Other: https://vimeo.com/cadsmar