We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Scotty Dunn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Scotty below.

Scotty, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Right now I’m not very fulfilled as a creative. I’m sure every artist feels like this at one point or another. There’s been so many recent changes in my life – I’m moving across country, starting a new job managing a company in Wisconsin that’s completely unrelated to filmmaking/YouTube. I’m raising a toddler and as of now I’ve switched over to making YouTube content. Lately, I’ve been getting bogged down with the notion that I have to please the dreaded “algorithm”. Which on my channel means making video essays. Those are what perform well on my channel. All of this to say, I’ve been getting burned out. So, I’ve decided to refocus and do work that’s important to me. It’s been a pleasure making 3 feature films, Co-starring on 3 episodes of a Disney show, and jumping into YouTube full bore. However, I’m thankful that I have this new job that’s unrelated because it’s a chance to broaden myself as a person and an artist.

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’m Scotty Dunn. I’m a filmmaker and content creator on YouTube.

I knew I wanted to work in film way back when I made movies with my friends using my dad’s camcorder. I read so many biographies of various actors and filmmakers and I liked to memorize box office numbers – for fun. I did not go to film school, I dropped out of college and moved to LA to pursue acting. It was a mixed bag of experiences. I got a recurring Guest Star role on Disney’s Kickin’ It, I made some short films, got booked on a few random projects, and I also pitched different show ideas to studios as a writer. I also almost booked a Power Rangers role once, but that’s a story for another time.

I hated having no creative control as a no-name actor in the studio system, so I went back to my filmmaking roots and embraced indie film with gusto. I wrote, directed, produced, edited, and starred in 3 feature films. My first film, SCHLEP, went to several film festivals and is available on my Scotty Dunn Originals YouTube channel. My second film, MANDAO OF THE DEAD, is a sci-fi/comedy that premiered at San Diego Comic Con in 2019. I was so in love with this story that I raised $26,509 on Kickstarter to make the sequel MANDAO RETURNS. Both films are also available on my Scotty Dunn Originals YouTube channel.

I learned the hard way that gatekeeping is rife in the indie film world. It was so hard to build recognition and opportunities. I was fed up with the insular mainstream media. So, my wife and producing partner Gina and I moved out of our roach-infested apartment in LA and moved to sunny Tucson, Arizona. This is all while Covid hit. We started our production company, DUNNIT FILMS while figuring out the next steps. And then my son Max was born. And as I mentioned before, we’re making Wisconsin our new home where we’ll be juggling a new full-time job, raising a family, and continuing to grow the YouTube channels. So…yeah, it’s been quite a ride.

Even though YouTube started way back in 2005, it didn’t occur to me until a couple years ago that it’s a serious alternative to mainstream media. It gives me the opportunity to share my viewing experience of popular films that shaped me as an artist and make video essays about them. It also gives me an outlet to share my original films and animations – without asking for permission. It truly brings an organic audience to a creator.

On my Scotty Dunn YouTube Channel, I make video essays and other videos about movies and filmmaking.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I am currently going through the biggest pivot of my life.

I am taking on a full time job in an industry that I have ZERO experience in. My wife and I will be managing a granite/home renovation company in Wisconsin to provide financial stability for our family. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and we realized after making several films and managing projects and teams that our experience in the entertainment industry is applicable to this new career.

I never thought I would work in any industry but filmmaking, BUT I’ve reached an age in my life where I actually want to expand myself and my experiences. I was getting to a point where I was feeling very isolated and uncreative. As an artist, the more experiences you have in the real world, the richer your content will be. I know it will be hard work to juggle very different careers at the same time, but I think it will be life changing in the best way possible.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I started YouTube consistently 10 years earlier. Had I known what a behemoth YouTube would become, I would not have spent as much money on Facebook ads or things like that to promote my movies. I would have just released them on my YouTube channel and used the marketing to send audiences directly there.

YouTube is the future of entertainment and I hope more filmmakers realize the power that is at their fingertips.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.DunnitFilms.com
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mandaomovie
• Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/@ScottyDunn