We recently connected with Tyler Walden and have shared our conversation below.

Tyler, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success lies in the small victories. I’ve found this applies to everything I do and have done in life.

To obtain it, you’re already faced with a steep, metaphorical mountain to climb, and scaling it takes a lot of work and discipline. I find that out the hard way again and again. I’ll lose focus. Get stuck on a screenplay. Frustrated by deadlines. Discouraged that I’m not as good as my peers. The peak may look further away than it did yesterday somehow. But in the end, I’ve found that’s okay.

I know that I’m not at the top my mountain. In my professional and day-to-day life, I still have a long way to go. So why do I feel proud of what I have accomplished so far? I do something I once never did: I celebrate the small victories. I revel in the moments where I realize where I’m at, and look back at where I used to be. Just a few years ago, working on feature-length films full-time seemed like such a far-away goal, but as I toil over budgeting the next project or designing the sounds of an alien world, I realize that I’m already doing the thing I set out to Los Angeles for in the first place.

It’s so easy to forget, but so important to remember. Every accomplishment, no matter how small, moves you forward. And that, to me, is success. There’s no need to sulk about how far away the peak may be, because if you keep climbing, keep moving on from next small victory to the next, one day you’ll find yourself already there.

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

I am a science-fiction, fantasy-film-junkie from Columbus, Ohio who has been here in Los Angeles living out a desire I’ve had since kindergarten: to tell stories. Whether it be short stories or even the beginnings of novels, writing and letting my imagination run wild was something I just couldn’t shake, and I’ve never wanted to.

It wasn’t until my early teenage years, after a sleepless night of processing The Dark Knight for the first time, when I shifted my attention fully to film and its power to immerse me unlike any other form of storytelling. I went from shorts shot on my iPhone in Ohio to feature film productions here in LA, and I discovered the joy in the collaborative and communal process of it all. There are few things in life more awesome than a bunch of creative, passionate people coming together to make a movie. Never easy, but always gratifying.

Beyond writing and directing, I’ve made my mark on sets as an assistant director, script supervisor and producer. Now, over the past year, I’ve entered into a new world of this filmmaking journey: post-production sound. With each project comes more and more responsibility, as I now not only edit sound for film, but supervise projects all the way to the final mix. Sound is the soul of a film, It is a privilege to be a part of it, and to continue telling and elevating stories in a completely new way.

Every project, no matter the scale or role, is a chance to improve. I’m fortunate that everyday I’m able to, and give the younger, kindergarten-version of Tyler someone to look up to.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

It’s sometimes a bit of a struggle to gain new clients for post production sound, especially if you’re just signing up. Thus, the harsh truth of freelance. Lucky for me, in my experience, there are a lot of filmmakers in LA searching for someone to bring their film home in audio. I’m often one of them.

How do I stand out amongst the sea of potential clients? I get out and network. I’ve found it’s often as simple as that. Never leave a party, festival or book club without mentioning you do sound for movies.

I take all the projects you can, until I have to pump the brakes. Yes, even ones that don’t pay. As I said before, every project is a chance to improve. Better yet, every project is a chance to meet more clients. Filmmakers know other filmmakers, and they’ll more than likely put in a good word for you if you do a good job. It may take a while, or may happen sooner than you think, but your portfolio and network will grow regardless. And you never know who people know.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Watching your characters come alive on set from the page. Creating an apocalyptic explosion. Getting the one shot that I needed, but didn’t know I wanted. These moments will never get old. But above all, filmmaking’s greatest reward is the moment that comes afterwards: the realization that I get to do all that for a living.

I can’t stress enough how grateful and fortunate I am to be in this position. The exciting thing is every day can bring a new, mind-blowing experience. This industry isn’t easy, and it’s constantly changing. However, that same realization after seeing my films finally complete, or a client grin ear to ear never gets old, either.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @tylerjwalden
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-walden-2b14aa219

Image Credits
Lydia Hall (four of us at Look Glendale red carpet)