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

Tyler, appreciate you joining 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.

When I was a kid, I loved movies, so much so I wanted to make them when I grew up. I thought it would be simple, as often we do in the beginning, but the more I dove in, the more I realized just how complicated it could be from a purely technical stand point. It was frustrating because the world did not move as fast as I thought it did. Once I understood the why behind such needs, I began to shape and hone my abilities. The ground level of film is a subset of audio and visual items, inanition to the creative side. With each and every film, I learned one or two new concepts, and over the years began to experiment with using them in creative ways – be they in the writing, acting, lighting, shot compositions or even audio captures. The whole of film has become my love and passion, beyond the frustrations of time necessary in conducting it.

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

I think it actually started when I was a little kid. My family tells me I dressed up like characters from movies (Pee Wee Herman, Three Amigos) and that eventually graduated to Ghostbusters and James Bond. I loved dressing up and pretending to be the character, but I was very aware of the stories and the lore of each. I can remember in Kindergarten being put front and center on our Christmas program, where I was the villain of the story. Being on that stage felt right to me. Fast forward to middle school where I really figured out that acting was my thing. I was in a small play for our school called ‘Ain’t Nothing But a Werewolf’. I played a small part on the sidelines but loved every minute of it. The following year I had been downgraded in roles to one that barely spoke and so quit because I felt like it was just wasting time. That was when my mom helped me branch out and try for community theatre. I was surprised by one such audition for the role of Billy in ‘On Golden Pond’. Truly after I left I was in tears because I thought the director wouldn’t cast me. At the time I was dealing with insecurities of being very short for my age (which stemmed from starting school earlier in age than most). It was a prejudice I had grown used to, but still hated very much. Then, I got a call from that director, Glenn Fisher, who was ecstatic to cast me as Billy. I asked him why, and he stated ‘because of your height and maturity in the role’. It turned out the very thing I very ostracized by was the very thing that got me in. I laid that worry to rest during that production.
As the years went on, I was in more and more plays, either community or school. I knew in sixth grade from that first production that I wanted to be an entertainer, but it was only solidified by furthering the effort. I was always told the life would not be an easy one but I didn’t care. It was the thing that gave me purpose and I wasn’t going to give up on it.
During high school, I discovered writing and directing, and only after high school did I start understanding composition of the camera and editing.
For a long time I shot wedding videos, which began with my oldest sister’s. That taught me a lot about the camera and editing in such a way that narrative became clear.
I am truly gratified by all of the films I have made and released. Certainly some in the early days are not technically perfect, but had I not done them I would not have understood my style, and what I’ve created would not have been done in such evolved manners.

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

I read a book a few years ago that truly stuck with me. It was called ‘The Fountainhead’ by Ayn Rand. Most people know her because of ‘Atlas Shrugged’, but her previous pic novel is entirely about pursuit of your dreams. Actively going forward on creative endeavors is a long and difficult road, one that is neither paved nor clear. In that book, the protagonist, Howard Roark, is an architect and designs building that are not considered status quo. In fact, the entirely of his profession hates him for what he creates. Roark never falters, even upon bankruptcy, he re-tools, re-imagines, and tries again. This resiliency reflects the artist in a great many ways. I wish I had read it at an earlier age because the message of trial and error and victory would have spoken very clearly to me. In my own world, I have received numbers upon numbers of criticisms, but it never really bothered me. What did was when people simply ignored my work, as though it wasn’t even worth the time it would take to view. That taught me to find a way to get through with story and visuals. Now, the fact that people do criticize tells me that people are watching, and that I must be doing something correct to gain such audience.
Howard Roark taught me to keep my head down and try the next thing in my own way. Whether it pays off eventually or not is not up to me, all I can do is stay true to my creative side.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The audience. After a film I made called ‘Falling Sons’ came out, I had numerous people either approaching me or messaging me to say how much they appreciated the story and characters. How very like their own lives it felt and that the reflection was heartwarming to them. That unto itself is the only reward a creative man can ask for.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cole.tylercole/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/litpics
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-cole-6365506/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiIDdK0_kPSbTr3GLkdFAcw
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Sons-Tyler-Cole/dp/B0B6Q5YBWM https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/0OSG3JWH6VOBPJZHXI5B5WZZCB/ref=atv_dp_cnc_0_1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/0FJKEAGGPHRLQ94EE1KGM23FAS/ref=atv_dp_cnc_0_5