We were lucky to catch up with Trustfall Collaborations recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Trustfall , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

It always goes back to the music. I grew up in a multicultural environment and often felt like I was in a constant, chaotic spin cycle of learning to have genuine human connection despite a diverse background of all my interactions. At a very young age I started to notice something I believed to be nothing less than magical. How could a room full of people with different days, backgrounds, stories, etc. all come together and get lost in the same energy? What was it about music that could make people move to the same rhythm, sing in unison and summon harmonies out of thin air? I was enchanted- mesmerized and obsessed. – Alexander Hiers

Since that day I’ve taken one step each and every day to grow my love and understanding for the magic I wholeheartedly believe is ever present in all art. From a kid who picked up a few rhythm instruments to learn how to create music, to the teenager who had the epiphany that music and image can be combined in one glorious concerto of the human experience, to the adult who has committed to creating in any medium necessary to tell captivating, inclusive and inspiring stories. The path has evolved as the journey has continued, but one thing remains the same- the commitment to reach a destination where real human connection can exist, in a safe and loving space called art.
– Alexander Hiers

I was extremely introverted and shy as a kid. Which turns out, a lot of artists were that way too. It’s a miracle and truly shocking how much of a 180 my life has taken to get me where I am today as a performer and artist. Growing up, I never dreamed that I would be an artist. However, I had a love and a deep fascination for art of all kinds. The best place in the world to me growing up was a movie theatre. I was enthralled by movies and television. I would also go see plays in Tulsa, OK, and I remember seeing Wicked for the first time as a kid, and didn’t want to leave the theatre. I knew what I saw was special, but still didn’t have the itch to be an artist, because I was still stuck in my shell. I knew though that I needed to break free from the introverted mindset because it was holding me back.

My school offered students the ability to go on mission trips, and what’s more scary than going to a place you’ve never been to before and talking to strangers? I was god-awful at the talking part, but they needed someone to play Jesus in the sketches. At age 12, I was already breaking stereotypes as an Asian American playing Jesus. I realized that I was a sponge- years and years of absorbing media- I dived deep into the role, and figured out one simple trick. You see, I cared deeply about what people thought of me. The secret was a light switch that I turned off in my brain- I stopped caring. From that first mission trip and onward, I challenged myself to let go and not care.

I was a senior in high school and it was time to make the tough decision of what I was going to do for the rest of my life (which is not true, because it’s never too late to change your dreams.) I still don’t quite know why I thought of pursuing acting… Is it because I was enamored with my love for film? Is it because I enjoyed making people laugh? Is it because I’m afraid to confront myself and want to portray someone else (too deep, too deep)? I don’t know. I decided though to go to college while in high school and start a path of obtaining my degree in theatre/film acting.

My dad told me growing up, “When choosing a career there’s only two things you need to take into mind. 1. Do what you love. 2. Do something that will never go out of business.” It was time to find out if I truly loved acting. I took Acting 101 with Mark Frank at TCC and I had a lot of work to do, but I knew, this was it. Mark and Bethanie Frank taught me a lot at TCC and helped me grow as an artist. One quote that I always hold dear from Mark is, “Every day is an audition.” I then transferred to Texas State University and received my Bachelor’s in Performance and Production for Theatre and Film. I was all in. When I moved to Austin for college, I met two people who would turn out to inspire me the most as an artist: Alexander Hiers and Allison Price. Meeting them both has had a huge impact on me and further solidified my aspirations of wanting to be an artist. With Alexander, Trustfall Collaborations was born, and what we like to say, the dream team.
-Jonah Fujikawa

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Trustfall Collaborations is an Austin-based company owned and operated by Alexander Hiers and Jonah Fujikawa. Alexander is a director and writer with 10+ years of experience working on various films including Boyhood. Jonah is an actor and comedian who has performed nationally in films and plays since graduating from Texas State University. Together, they create a variety of projects each year.

Trustfall Collaborations’ main philosophy is to create original and unique art. We are a multipurpose entertainment company that creates in any media necessary to tell our stories. We write feature films, short films, stand-up, and literature. We also create music videos, albums, cinema, and books in a variety of genres. Our aim is to inspire anyone who engages with our work. We are an inclusive team- everyone has a voice and all stories are welcomed. Our hope is to empower everyone through meaningful works of art.

TC Publishing, an extension of Trustfall Collaborations, has 3 books available for purchase worldwide.

Hidden Treasures: Cathedral of Junk –
A photographic scavenger hunt exploring the Cathedral of Junk in Austin, TX.
Finally, the scavenger hunt you’ve been waiting for! It’s the official Cathedral of Junk book. Take a piece of Austin home in a coffee table book that’s bound to mesmerize anyone who sets their eyes on it.

When a House is a Home –
A lonely house tries everything to have a family call them a home, before discovering self-love comes first.
Take a heartwarming journey that advocates for extreme self-love. We dare you not to feel all of the feelings.

Elf E. Ramone –
Discover a new story in the folklore of the holiday season. It’s the tale of the elf who started the tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus.

Trustfall Collaborations’ guiding compass is to inspire, include, and empower, and in that spirit, we are committed to giving back to the community. With TC Gives, we donate 10% of proceeds to selected organizations and charities, uniquely chosen for each project. To find more information about our projects or how to donate, please visit www.trustfallcollaborations.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

There’s a way of thinking taught at an elementary level which is the absolutism of singularity. It’s true or false. It’s yes or no. It’s black or white. That often ripples into our adulthood as a singular life goal or a singular way of living. I believed so much that I had to pick a singular creative outlet, but now, I’ve embraced multiplicity. Your life can contain a variety of perspectives and you can create in a variety of ways. I set out to be a filmmaker, but what I’ve become is so much more fulfilling. The challenges of being an artist still remain, but I’m open to more than just the singular outcome. -Alexander Hiers

Similar to Alexander, the phrase that I heard often was “Jack of all trades, master of none.” This idea that the more mediums you work in, the less productive or less knowledgeable you will be as a whole. I thought I had to buy into this concept, and be only an actor, but I realized there was so much more that I wanted to be in life. Acting will always be my first love, but I am more. I believe you can be a multifaceted artist. If you are passionate and have the drive to learn more, why not take the chance to do so? At the end of the day, you have to follow your passion and not fall into the trap of what others think or say of you. Trust your instincts and trust your vision. At the end of the day, it’s only a trustfall.
-Jonah Fujikawa

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

What drives me is as constant as my heart beats and the breaths that I take. I know I have something to share. It’s not in an egotistical, self-fulling kind of way, but it’s driven by connectivity. However, like most profitable businesses, art too has become streamlined, which doesn’t allow for a diversity of thought or voice. What’s driving me is the voice inside of me that wants to stand up and say, “Hey, I have a story to tell- stories of immigrants, the multicultural, and the underrepresented. People like me who want to love on their neighbor through an uplifting story. With so much bad news in the world today, I’m driven by a hope that I think we all share. -Alexander Hiers

Being an artist is challenging- in fact being an artist is an insane career path. People judging your work, projects failing, the idea of will I make it (What even is making it?), and don’t even get me started on the financial burdens. Yet, with all these obstacles, there is nothing else I would rather do. Why? Well, there’s no eARTh if there’s no art. What drives me is the ability to create art and hopefully inspire people along the way to tell their stories. Collaboration is one of the most important aspects to me and having the opportunity to collaborate with artists across all mediums is something I will never take for granted. All I want in life is to make art and spread love.
-Jonah Fujikawa

Contact Info:

• Website: www.trustfallcollaborations.com
• Instagram: @trustfallcollaborations
• Facebook: Trustfall Collaborations
• Youtube: Trustfall Collaborations

Image Credits
Nicklaus Pereksta, Rikki Raquel, Brittany Berrish