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

Samuel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

Anyone working in the arts knows the feeling of being mischaracterized. Art is subjective, but it also a representation of you, and with that, there will always be those who simply don’t see your art (and thus you) for what it really is.
I know for me, I’ve always thought different. I try to be charming, yet I am very literal. I am great at projects I’m invested in, and dreadful at those I’m not. I’m very detail oriented to a self-incarcerating level. Yes, these traits have been difficult to manage, but it also is part of my journey and I’m glad to have the blessing of being made this way. I’ve learned a lot from them.
I think one of the best stories for is my stiltwalking business. Driven and focused people look at me very strangely when I fully express my self and my mind. I hear lots of “you gotta loosen up,” or, “sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do.” I completely agree; the way my mind works does not give me an excuse to be difficult to work with. Yet, that doesn’t change the experience I have trying to socialize, focus, and just live.
When I’m on stilts, I interact with dozens of people a minute. Everyone is interacting with the character in different ways, and my job is to tune into what they are looking for from the interaction at what intensity level. Kids can be overjoyed or overwhelmed. Teenagers are the most fun or the most dangerous. Adults sometimes let out their inner child, and usually alcohol makes the interaction a whole new ball game. For some reason, I thrive in this.
Being in costume loosens me up to just have fun with the crowd. My short attention span is perfect for the constant shifting between interactions with each new person, and I have no time to overthink the details in the fast-paced environment.
All that to say, this kind of work just works with my mind, and although people don’t understand me, my mind is what allows me to keep up with the demands of my job – of my art.

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?

I am a recent graduate from Old Dominion University with a B.S. in Cinema and TV Production. Having transferred from Tidewater Community College studying engineering, I decided that I needed to pursue my real passion in the arts. Out of all the options ODU had, I chose media production on a whim and by the grace of God found it to be the best choice.
I now am equipped to create videos of all sorts including documentary style, narrative projects, motion graphics, and others. Although I am young and fresh to the market, what I lack in experience I offer in an untainted artistic vision for capturing connection. My products are not corporate; they are real.
As mentioned in another question, I also stiltwalk for events. If you need a tall character for any reason, that’s me. I don’t know many stiltwalkers, but I know the job is difficult on the mind and body, and I am willing and able to provide such a niche service.
Ultimately, I’m just another man trying to make my way through the universe. My work is simple and honest, and my heart is for people, not just to accrue wealth. Honestly, I feel very wealthy already. I have met genuine people pursuing genuine work in a genuine community; to me that is true wealth. For anyone looking for that, I love meeting new people and making cool things, so hit me up! I’d be happy to meet you and collaborate on a project!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Personally, I want to have a family someday. Obviously I ought to make money and establish myself financially for such an endeavor, but I also want to learn how to connect well and live honorably for my family. Parents don’t only pass money to their children; they provide them their first and foundational scope into the world. I want to provide my kids the most accurate yet empowering view of the world, so they can live a fulfilling and impactful life.
Beyond that, I simply like doing meaningful projects with meaningful people. I’m educated in media production, but I’m open to doing anything with others. On this thought, there is not much of a specific goal guiding my journey – just a desire to share a fulfilling journey with others.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

First of all, I believe everyone has a form of creativity within them that serves them in their work. Engineers are incredibly creative, but their medium is AutoCad Inventor or PSPICE, not canvas or clay.
Most people who consider themselves as “non-creative” simply value other things than those who are “creatives.” Most people work a 9 to 5 job with benefits, which comes with a certain level of security as long as you work hard at the job. “Creatives” don’t have that security, regardless of how hard they work.
The term “creatives” refers to simply, “those who make money with art.” Let’s call them artists. What is art? Art is a product or service that works to express human emotion and experience. It is a subjective form that evokes this universal wholeness between people, sometimes strangers and even enemies. Art “moves” people and it isn’t designed with any other result in mind.
Obviously the disadvantage is that expressing human emotion falls secondary to meeting hard needs like food and shelter; people will buy bread before they buy a painting. However, the need is still there, and that is what I think many people miss. We need the artist as much as the builder, soldier, and farmer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smore009.wixsite.com/sg-moreno-eportfolio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgmoreno-513g24/

Image Credits

Stilt photos : Amelia Yacko
Production photos from ODU Advance Video Project class Spring 2024 : Hannah Moore and Gabriel Dempsey