We recently connected with Tim Cairo and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tim thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

The industry standard in Hollywood is to take the safest path possible. This is why so many movies are based on established franchises from other mediums and why they insist on having recognizable stars. It’s great, but it’s not the only path in my opinion. I think there’s a space for niche interests and eccentric movie making outside of the popular format. It has worked for underground music in North America, it only seems natural that the same should apply to cinema. What is the cinematic equivalent of the great indie, rap, or punk music labels? That’s what I’d like to see.

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

I was born and raised in Edmonton Alberta, Canada where I studied film theory and got a law degree, Then I moved to LA and did a Masters in Screenwriting at the American Film Institute. Out of film school I wrote and produced some short form comedy and hip-hop videos for artists like Hit-Boy and Kendrick Lamar. In 2017 I co-wrote and Produced my debut feature, LOWLIFE. It was released by IFC Midnight and Quentin Tarantino praised it as a “real stroke of genius” (that part still feels like I dreamt it). I’ve been working within the Hollywood system as a screenwriter, but also producing movies (more or less) outside of the system. OFF RAMP is the second feature that I co-wrote and produced. We’re currently on an awesome festival run where we’ve picked up a lot of awards, and and we’ll be announcing our distribution plan soon. In general, as an artist and through my company CAIRO PICTURES, I’m always looking for opportunities to creatively push boundaries while still capturing something universal. Sometimes people in Hollywood will take a chance on those things, and sometimes you need to do them independently. It’s always interesting to try and find where that line exists exactly.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I’m not sure there is such a thing as a “non-creative” person. For whatever reason, creativity has been devalued in today’s society, particularly when there is no direct financial benefit that flows from it. Creativity should be thought of as a basic human need, rather than something whimsical or frivolous. I really think if society recontextualized the way we think about creativity, people would be a lot happier, even so-called “non-creatives”.

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

My creative goal is to make movies for people who are looking for something extra. I want to connect with audiences and help create a community that is looking for a tweaked or more thought-provoking alternative to what is already out there. Something with more soul. Ultimately it’s really about connecting with kindred spirits.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @tim_cairo

Image Credits

All images are property of Tim Cairo