Filmmaker

Art is a reflection of aspects of the self. Therefore, I believe that the exploration of the self enriches art, and the exploration of art enriches the self. I try to achieve a level of personal authenticity in my art and learn what it means to be an authentic person through the creation of it. Ultimately, art is a way for us to connect to both what makes us unique as individuals and what we have in common as human beings.

Growth and learning are two very important words for me. I love to learn, and I make a conscious effort to somehow grow as a person and an artist every single day. I am a big believer in the growth mindset, or in other words, erasing 'failure' from our collective vocabulary and replacing it with 'learning opportunity.' I love to throw myself into new experiences and learn through mentors and teachers, research, and experience. I hope that the work I do inspires people to think and act. I know it makes me a better person.

To me, perception is everything. Each of us has a completely unique way in which they see the world. I hope to bring my personal perception to my art to help others see through my eyes. I know my worldview has been so influenced by the art I've seen that's helped me to understand other people's points of view. To understand and empathize with others is essential, and I believe that's one of the things art is meant to do.

For several years, people have asked me why the creation of art is important to me. For me, this is quite a complex question,  but as I was asked it more and more, I developed an answer that captures why art is important to me in as simple a way as possible. Art is the vessel we as humans have built in which to hold our experiences. First, art is a global diary. We use it to remember and honor the experiences of the past. Second, art is a means for change. We use it to express the issues of the present. Finally, art is a blueprint for the future. Art gives people the freedom to be imaginative and creative, which enables them to dream up and envision a brighter and more innovative tomorrow. (The communicator from Star Trek was the inspiration for the flip phone!!) In summary, to me, the soul is to a human what art is to the world.

1. MULTIDISCIPLINARY BRAIN: I am neither left-brained nor right-brained, but instead I have a brain that absorbs, synthesizes, and processes both creative and analytical information. That's why I'm just as passionate about color coding, figuring out how things work, and logic puzzles as I am about generating ideas and creating.

2. SELF LEARNING AND DIRECTION: Learning makes my world turn, so much so that I've learned to be my own teacher. I've been teaching myself since the age of two, when I started to read random words off road signs on my own, and I haven't stopped since. I am highly curious, always looking for new ways to innovate and optimize. This hunger for knowledge has made me highly self-motivated and unafraid to deviate from the beaten path to search for new solutions.

3. EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT: Finally, I think what really makes me stand out and imbues my work with a signature quality is the fact that I'm not afraid to be emotionally invested in my life and what I do. I have come across so many people who equate maturity with jadedness, and I used to do the same. But I let that belief go and jumped wholeheartedly into a sense of natural wonder about all that our world is and can be. I've discovered how worth it it is to be brave enough to give yourself over to the beauty of this ride we call life. I have strong interpersonal skills because I desire authentic connection and understanding. I am unapologetically empathetic, excitable, and passionate, and that's part of what makes me me.