director — Creativity School - Episodes

“It’s important to embrace who you are, embrace your experiences and know that because you experience it it has value.”

— Evita Castine

Today’s episode digs into the power of owning your story and being authentically and unapologetically yourself in your work. Because what you create is a reflection of who you are – whether it’s a film, a photo, a business or a cupcake!

Being so honest can be pretty scary for most people, myself included. I struggle with this a lot, especially on social media. But this conversation reveals how when you can embrace your identity and the things that make you different, the more relatable, resonant and creative your work will be. And I truly believe this applies to LIFE IN GENERAL. Just swap out the word “work” for “life.”

Evita Castine is an Emmy Award winning producer, director, actor, and photographer. Her films have been recognized by the Cannes Film Festival, One Lens Festival, Warner Brothers, and more. In today’s conversation, she shares her journey to becoming an award winning filmmaker, why she says putting emotional intelligence into your work makes it stronger, and how being different is your super power.

Evita also shares how she uses her iPhone (yes, you read that right - her iPhone!) to create work for major clients like Spotify, musicians like Cody Chestnutt, and Fox Studios.

Mentioned in this episode:

Evita's journey to becoming a director and why she became inspired to begin telling her own stories
How being different and an outsider shapes her work and makes it unique
Why putting emotion into your work makes it stronger
How judging things inhibits your creativity
Why she says you don’t have to go to film school if you want to be a filmmaker
How she developed her artistic voice and unique visual style in her work
How she started creating work using her iPhone for major clients
Her formula for the “straightest” path to living a fulfilling creative life and making your dreams into reality
Why a teacher told her to go clown school

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Lesson 05: How a stay at home mom with young children discovered her passion for film making

*With Sylvia Ray*

Are you someone who feels like you don’t know what you like or what you’re good at? Do you feel like your life is so busy with work or parenthood, that you don’t even have the time to figure it out?

Trust me. We can relate.

Sylvia Ray says she didn’t know what she liked or was good at throughout most of her life. After becoming a mom of 2 young boys, she started feeling antsy but completely clueless about what she wanted to do.

Sylvia finally found the passion she had been looking for her entire life through filmmaking. Using what little time she had, she explored and looked for inspiration where she could, eventually teaching herself how to write, edit, produce and direct films. And in just 2 short years (without going to school!), her films have been screened coast to coast, her work has been featured on major websites like The Huffington Post, and more.

In this episode she shares about her journey from feeling stuck, to working through her fears of sharing her work, to become a rising filmmaker - all while being a busy mom of 2 young boys.

Mentioned in this episode:

The steps Sylvia took to start exploring what she liked and was good at
Her first steps to learning how to become a filmmaker without going to school
What one of the best gifts about being a new creative is
How to create your work while being a stay at home mom
How to balance the struggle with parenting and working
How moms without help and a support system can start to explore their creativity
How Sylvia gets used to her work being rejected and why keeping perspective is so essential
Her advice for those who have no idea what they want to do
Her process for filmmaking and getting her work out there
How her Korean/Mexican identity influences her storytelling and work
What an executive at NBC told her that shifted her mindset
How exploring your creativity can feel like therapy (in a good way!)
The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron
Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert
William P Young on Super Soul Conversations