Life & Work with Stephen P. Davis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen P. Davis.

Hi Stephen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey in film technically started at a young age but I did not realize that was where my heart was until I was in my twenties. Before I first picked up a cinema camera at age 25 my previous experience with any cameras was growing up skateboarding and making little videos with a camcorder. In my twenties, I was working an office job in finance, unhappy with no drive and no idea where I would be going in life. Chasing money but not actual happiness.

One day I decided to push myself toward a goal I’m passionate about and when I thought about it I remembered my childhood and what brought me the most joy, was sitting down with my family to watch movies. In particular, I fondly remember watching movies Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, and The Goonies. So I decided I’d go full force into filmmaking. My only problem is that I had no idea where to start so I went the route of film school and it was there that I began learning my foundation of what is film and how it all works.

Using my skill set from the corporate world and the part of me that is ever creative I found a way to use them both to my advantage being able to create and imagine while knowing how to market myself and network. Since the beginning of my film career and even in school, Directing has always kept my interest. I love talking to people and interacting, delegating, coordinating, etc. but truthfully I love so many positions on set I can’t get enough.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s never a smooth road. But that’s okay! Especially in this industry, you have to be comfortable with both the ups and downs! Speaking for myself I know that there are plenty of times when doubt and discouragement creep in, it can break you down if you let it. I can speak for myself and say that the bumps in the road for my journey typically entail discouragement or feeling like I didn’t do my best.

But when that happens I remind myself that my failures are what help me grow and help me ultimately succeed. The lessons I learn help me increase my knowledge and know-how I’m this field and although it’s not always a fun feeling, it’s necessary.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a filmmaker, first and foremost I am a creative, storyteller. But, more specifically, Directing has my heart through and through. Let me start by saying I’m confident in most areas in the set and Directing is not all I do, it’s just what I’m most known for and admittedly what I enjoy the most and feel I succeed the most at. I pride myself on being decisive in my vision while remaining incredibly collaborative.

What I feel sets me apart from others is that although I’m confident and know what I’m looking for I covet teamwork and understanding that I’m not the smartest person in the room. It’s great to surround yourself with people that are smarter than you, I believe that a wise Director can collaborate well with others but still have discernment and know when to bend. Directing is all problem-solving and decision making so whether or not you collaborate or not ultimately you have the vision and you should know the intent behind every scene and every frame.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Speaking for all Filmmakers here, we’re all risk-takers. Working in film is a risk, this industry has no guarantees, no one way to “make it” and no one way to succeed. It’s a field that you can go to school for but doesn’t need to, a field that covers knowledge and vision just as much as hard skills and more tangible know-how.

This field can be quite gray and ambiguous so navigating it is quite risky and often anxiety-inducing, definitely not for the weak-willed or faint of heart. Risk is necessary for life to make it. Getting into this field I knew the risk but I told myself(and continue to tell myself) that the ones who didn’t make it just gave up. Now whether or not that is true I hold that thought close, never give up, you owe it to yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: stephenpdavis.net
• Instagram: instagram.com/stephenpdavisfilm
• Linkedin: Stephen P. Davis – Head Videographer – Sprouts Farmers Market | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-p-davis-aa80981b4