Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to William Sims. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, William thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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.

Film directing is one of those things that has a basic foundation but over time it develops into your own craft. For me it started oddly enough with acting. Acting gave me the foundation of how to talk to actors and what the mindset I’m trying to emulate. A director whether it be in film or theatre is a collaborator. After I felt my passions shift into the director chair I did majority independent study. I started with a book called Directing Actors by Judith Weston. From that book it gave me the foundation of the mindset I should bring to any project. Knowing what I know now I could have sped up the process of learning it by doing more short films or joining in theatrical groups just act more because that gets you in front of a new directing style that you might want to take from eventually. There is no easy way to have skipped any of the lessons I learned. There is a host of skills that can be vital in directing but that all depends on the director. Directing is one of those things that you develop your own style over time but if there is any key skills to have is to be patient and to listen. There are times where you may face an actor who you creatively collide with and it is up to you to guide them where your thinking without causing friction. The largest obstacle for anyone who wants to direct is most definitely the cost. On the independent side it’s very hard to get any ball rolling on any big projects without the funds, however from those times breeds the creativity of working within your means. You might surprise yourself.

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.

After leaving the military I wanted to go into entertainment. So I went to film school originally wanting to act but after directing my first short film I found directing more of my taste. Through 5 short films and many more to come I’m only getting better at story telling. I bring the nuances needed to take people out of their worlds and suspend them in whatever story I’m telling via the screen. I love making movies and love entertaining people. My mission statement is to take people out of their worlds. Currently I’m working on my first feature film and in the process of getting it produced.

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

It would be telling stories that suspend people in realms beyond their imagination. Away from the stresses and the mundane of day to day life. At the end of the day if the crowd comes away with a sense of being uplifted that’s all I want.

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

Directing Actors by Judith Weston

Save the Cat! By Blake Snyder

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-sims-b88040235
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@willfilms7297?si=BpzR8a5RZMNSravw