We were lucky to catch up with Tate Hoffmaster recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tate, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I’ve practiced a multitudes of crafts, often taking breaks from one, working on another, and then coming back to fine tune. Producing films is no different than producing music or any other medium. I prefer a hybrid of education and experience. I think experience, however, should take more prominence. Work on your projects and build a portfolio. I’d say the bulk of what I learned from filmmaking, I learned while interning at Troma and picking up projects while there. The most ample lesson was making my first feature, Psychic Vampire. It was also good that I had a lot of knowledge of screenwriting from college as well as books, but at the end of it all you’re breaking the rules to make the art you want. Same goes for the filmmaking itself. Some of the best acting and writing I’ve come across was improvised. Some of the best shots were created to compensate for a lack of budget. I think the biggest obstacles a creative has to encounter is perfectionism. Letting the art piece be what it is. Everyone involved is capable of something greater than you will see in them, and then creating an environment where this precipitates. Letting mistakes happen. I love to include mistakes it my art. It’s the best mark of a genuine craft.

Tate, 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?

Hi, I’m Tate Hoffmaster, I produce/write/direct/edit films and music. I act and do stand up. I have one feature called Psychic Vampire currently on TromaNow and VHSHaven. I have put out five albums with my band Screaming Eyeballs. I would recommend our EP, Snack. I am very excited for my production company’s upcoming release: Pizza Guy 8. I am also self publishing my first novel, Fake IDs for Everyone, this year.

If you need a music video, music for your film, article writing, or a screenplay: I’m your guy.

I got my BFA in Film from School of Visual Arts. I started as an intern at Troma. Then, taking on various jobs like production assistant, boom operator, or extra for various networks. Currently, I work full time in marketing while making my art on the side.

I’d describe my art as campy and raw. Highly stylized. I am a huge fan of prime Liquid Television and Adult Swim. I like art that is experimental and playful in both structure and skill. I do try to make every piece unique, I usually change genre after each project to ensure this. My art never takes itself too seriously.

I would say that I specialize in providing low budget high concept scripts. I’m most proud of finding ways to be more efficient and autonomous. I am also so grateful to be surrounded by creatives who help me push my techniques and skills to new levels.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The art itself. At the end of the day, you can never ensure an audience, so I’d recommend making art that makes you happy. Art that you can stand by no matter what anyone says. Creating is the process of self discovery, and that’s such a beautiful thing, especially when your sense of self extends outside of your world. My rule of thumb when writing a comedy is to include the joke if it makes you or your friends laugh when you share. Even if your art doesn’t seem to take off at first, share share, share. The most pulchritudinous thing about art is the community you create along the way. Not to sound cliche, but it’s true. The friends, memories, and the art itself are the essence of experience. Anything else is superfluous and you have to ask yourself if you really love the art or the pursuit of desire in the name of art. If the former, welcome aboard creative. Art is beautiful. Sharing your art is beautiful. Sharing a laugh with your friends is the whole world.

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

As a filmmaker I would without a doubt recommend “Rebel Without A Crew” by Robert Rodriguez to any beginner producer. “The Command to Look” by William Mortensen for cinematographers and photographers. “How Music Works” by David Byrne and “All You Need to Know About the Music Business” by Donald S. Passman for music. To write, read everything, but if you must choose read “Hero With a Thousand Faces” by Joseph Campbell and “The Uses of Enchantment” by Bruno Bettelheim supplemented by “Women Who Run with Wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. I could go on.

Watch good and bad movies! Consume everything, anything can be a point of reference!

I’d recommend teaming up with a like minded creative, the feedback loop provided is your most constant point of growth.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xfilescabinet/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tate-hoffmaster-083258118/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBnUfU0vWOy8PuTH3w4vYiQ
• Other: For any and all professional inquiries: [email protected]

Image Credits
Dylan Mars Greenberg, Kaatia Fedrow, Skylar Kleinman, Zelle Westfall