Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Walker.
Hi Casey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I began my journey in film and storytelling, I started where everyone starts, at the bottom. I had no safety net, no plan B; barely a plan A honestly. Only the will to pursue the thing I’m most passionate about, cinema. I come from a background of acting but soon found that my passions lie more behind the camera rather than in front.
I began as a production assistant and worked my way in any way I could, going from movie set construction to props, to set decorating, to greens man work (the glorified landscaper of the movie industry). In between all that, I’ve tried to practice and hone my craft by making and producing my own short films.
Now I’m at that stage in my career where I’m ready to spread my wings so to speak and make the ascension to the next big thing, making a feature film. The development of my first feature film has been taking up most of my mental space and is beginning to organically take precedence in my current life as I move closer and closer to production. I have a great script ready to go and now all that’s left is prepping for the actual thing and funding.
However daunting helming a project of this scale can be there is nothing I’d rather be doing or spending my focus on. This is just the beginning, my life’s work and dreams are coming to fruition but it’s just the tip of the iceberg for what I have planned.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Pursuing the art of any kind is a tremendously difficult road, not even because of the journey itself, but because of the true lack of support, you get from those around you. Family and friends alike all want you to be completely pragmatic about your journey and think they need to “bring you back down to reality” when in truth it’s their fear and lack of knowledge about said industry that manifests as doubt and realism.
What people on the outside don’t realize is art is just like anything else, it’s an industry people are paying for and an industry people are finding careers in. It takes just as much tenacity, dedication, and persistence as any other practical career choice, it’s just not as straightforward of a path as a degree career. But those fears of others aren’t entirely unwarranted.
Along with financial insecurity, job instability, and overall strenuous work habits when the work does come in, it can appear as if the career is not working out, but just like anything else the work ebbs and flows, waxes, and wanes but ultimately it’s all practice until you make a move and step up your game like I’m doing with my next film.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At my heart, I’m a storyteller. I love crafting narratives that will get people emotionally invested. Filmmaking is my passion and there’s nothing I’d rather be doing. It’s been my dream to direct movies ever since I was a kid, and now that I’m fulfilling my dream and making my way in the industry it’s almost surreal.
Of course with visual art there’s a lot that comes with it to make ends meet, whether it’s doing commercial work, still photography, corporate videos, music videos, or short films it’s all part of the process to get me where I’m going.
As a producer and director, all the work I do culminates to feature filmmaking. At the end of the day, everything leads to that, and some days, I pinch myself because it’s crazy to think I’m actually doing it.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
The film production industry in Salt Lake is well established. There are so many resources here in Utah for filmmakers from crew to equipment, it’s shocking there aren’t more productions moving to shoot here.
However, we all hope that changes here soon with the new SB49 bill that has passed to raise tax incentives to entice out-of-state producers to shoot here.
Even that won’t be enough though as the incentive isn’t all that great in comparison to places like Georgia which is benefiting immensely from their unlimited incentive program. Maybe one day our legislators will come to their senses.
Pricing:
- Headshots – $200
- Event Photography – $600
- Basic Video Package – $800
- Full Commercial Spot – starting at $2000
- Commercial Series – 3 Spots – starting at $5000
Contact Info:
- Email: onemilepictures@gmail.com
- Website: https://onemilepictures.wixsite.com/onemilepictures
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/onemilepictures
Image Credits
Alex Valente Photography
